Waterproof casing for a flat panel display

• US 7,733,642 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hannspree Incorporated (HannStar Display Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hannspree Incorporated (HannStar Display Corporation)
• Inventors: Liou, Guan-De, Lai, Li-Li, Tsai, Stephen, Huang, Chia-Pine
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US11/704,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.21, 361/679.41, 174/525, 367/131
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133311 Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

A waterproof casing includes a first casing having a first base wall and a first surrounding wall, and a second casing having a second base wall and a second surrounding wall. The first surrounding wall surrounds a periphery of the first base wall to cooperatively define a first receiving recess therewith, and has a first wall surface confronting the first receiving recess, and a first groove provided in the first wall surface. The second surrounding wall is connected to the second base wall proximate to the first surrounding wall to cooperatively define a second receiving recess therewith, and has a second wall surface outwardly of the second receiving recess, and a second groove provided in the second wall surface and corresponding to the first groove. A resilient member is fitted between and closes the first and second grooves. The first and second receiving recesses cooperatively receive a flat panel display.

Claims

1. A waterproof casing for a flat panel display, comprising:

a first casing including

a first base wall, and

a first surrounding wall surrounding a peripheral edge of said first base wall and cooperating with said first base wall to define a first receiving recess, said first surrounding wall having a first wall surface confronting said first receiving recess and a first groove provided in said first wall surface;

a second casing including

a second base wall spaced apart from said first base wall, and

a second surrounding wall extending along a peripheral edge of said second base wall and toward said first surrounding wall, and cooperating with said second base wall to define a second receiving recess, said second surrounding wall having a second wall surface outwardly of said second receiving recess, and a second groove provided in said second wall surface and corresponding to said first groove; and

a surrounding resilient member fitted between and closing said first and second grooves such that said first and second receiving recesses are adapted to cooperatively receive the flat panel display.

2. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 1, wherein:

said first surrounding wall has a first extension wall portion disposed at an outer periphery thereof proximate to said second casing and surrounding said first receiving recess, said first wall surface being located on an inner side of said first extension wall portion; and

said second surrounding wall has a second extension wall portion disposed at an inner periphery thereof proximate to said first casing and surrounding said second receiving recess, said second extension wall portion abutting against said inner side of said first extension wall portion, said second wall surface being located on an outer side of said second extension wall portion and confronting said first wall surface, said first groove confronting said second groove.

3. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 1, wherein said resilient member includes a root portion, and a first protrusion and a second protrusion connected to two opposite sides of said root portion, said first protrusion being fitted into said first groove, said second protrusion being fitted into said second groove.

4. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 1, wherein said resilient member includes an insert body fitted between said first and second grooves, and at least one blocking portion connected to said insert body and interposed between said first and second wall surfaces.

5. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing fastening unit to secure said first and second casings firmly together, said reinforcing fastening unit including:

a first fastening member including a hollow body connected to a side of said first base wall which is proximate to said second casing, and a threaded portion formed on an inner wall surface of said hollow body;

a second fastening member including a sleeve portion projecting from a side of said second base wall which is proximate to said first casing, and a sleeve hole extending through said second base wall and said sleeve portion for receiving said hollow body; and

an auxiliary fastening member extending through said sleeve hole and into said hollow body, and including a threaded portion formed on an outer surface thereof to engage said threaded portion of said first fastening member such that said first and second casings are capable of being secured firmly together.

6. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 1, wherein said first and second casings are formed from a transparent material.

7. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second casings has a through hole extending through a corresponding one of said first and second base walls and communicated with a corresponding one of said first and second receiving recesses,

said waterproof casing further comprising:

an adapting unit disposed in said first and second receiving recesses and adapted to be connected electrically to the flat panel display for transmitting and processing signals; and

an electrical wire unit having one end connected electrically to said adapting unit and the other end extending outwardly of said through hole.

8. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 7, further comprising a gasket unit wrapped around said electrical wire unit and corresponding to said through hole in position so as to provide a tight seal between said electrical wire unit and said one of said first and second casings.

9. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 7, wherein said adapting unit includes a circuit module for processing signals, and a signal transmitting unit for transmitting signals;

said circuit module being accommodated within said first and second receiving recesses and being connected electrically to said electrical wire unit; and

said signal transmitting unit including at least one signal transmitting member, said signal transmitting member being disposed on and being connected electrically to said circuit module and being adapted to be connected electrically to the flat panel display.

10. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second casings has a through hole extending through a corresponding one of said first and second base walls and communicated with a corresponding one of said first and second receiving recesses,

said waterproof casing further comprising:

an adapting unit disposed in said first and second receiving recesses for transmitting and processing signals;

a signal wire unit adapted to establish electrical connection between said adapting unit and the flat panel display; and

an electrical wire unit having one end connected electrically to said adapting unit and the other end extending outwardly of said through hole.

11. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 10, further comprising a gasket unit wrapped around said electrical wire unit and corresponding to said through hole in position so as to provide a tight seal between said adapting unit and said one of said first and second casings.

12. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 10, wherein said adapting unit includes a circuit module for processing signals and a signal transmitting unit for transmitting signals, said circuit module being mounted in said first and second receiving recesses, said signal transmitting unit including at least one signal transmitting member disposed on said circuit module and connected electrically to said circuit module;

said signal wire unit including at least one signal transmission line for establishing electrical connection between said signal transmitting member and the flat panel display;

said electrical wire unit being connected electrically to said circuit module.

13. A waterproof casing for a flat panel display, comprising:

a casing unit including interconnected first and second casings that cooperatively define a receiving space, and having a through hole extending through one of said first and second casings and communicated with said receiving space, said receiving space being adapted for receiving the flat panel display;

a surrounding resilient member fitted between said first and second casings to close said receiving space; and

an adapting device disposed in said receiving space of said casing unit and having one end adapted to be connected electrically to the flat panel display and the other end extending outwardly of said through hole so as to be adapted for electrical connection to an external device, wherein said adapting device includes;

an adapting unit mounted in said receiving space of said casing unit and adapted to be connected electrically to the flat panel display; and

an electrical wire unit having one end connected electrically to said adapting unit and the other end extending outwardly of said through hole for establishing electrical connection to the external device, and wherein said adapting unit includes a circuit module and a signal transmitting unit,

said circuit module being disposed in said receiving space and being connected electrically to said electrical wire unit, and

said signal transmitting unit including at least one signal transmitting member, said signal transmitting member being disposed on and being connected electrically to said circuit module and being adapted to be connected electrically to the flat panel display.

14. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 13, further comprising a gasket unit wrapped around said adapting device and corresponding to said through hole in position so as to provide a tight seal between said adapting device and said casing unit.

15. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 13, wherein said casing unit is formed from a transparent material.

16. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 13, wherein:

said first casing includes a first base wall and a first surrounding wall surrounding a peripheral edge of said first base wall and cooperating with said first base wall to cooperatively define a first receiving recess, said first surrounding wall having a first wall surface confronting said first receiving recess and a first groove provided in said first wall surface;

said second casing includes a second base wall spaced apart from said first base wall and a second surrounding wall extending along a peripheral edge of said second base wall and toward said first surrounding wall, said second base wall and said second surrounding wall cooperatively defining a second receiving recess, said second surrounding wall having a second wall surface outwardly of said second receiving recess, and a second groove provided in said second wall surface and corresponding to said first groove; and

said resilient member is fitted between and closes said first and second grooves.

17. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 16, wherein:

said first surrounding wall has a first extension wall portion disposed at an outer periphery thereof proximate to said second casing and surrounding said first receiving recess, said first wall surface being located on an inner side of said first extension wall portion; and

said second surrounding wall has a second extension wall portion disposed at an outer periphery thereof which is proximate to said first casing and surrounding said second receiving recess, said second extension wall portion abutting against said inner side of said first extension wall portion, said second wall surface being located on an outer side of said second extension wall portion and confronting said first wall surface, said first groove confronting said second groove.

18. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 16, wherein said resilient member includes a root portion, and a first protrusion and a second protrusion connected to two opposite sides of said root portion, said first protrusion being fitted into said first groove, said second protrusion being fitted into said second groove.

19. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 16, wherein said resilient member includes an insert body fitted between said first and second grooves, and at least one blocking portion connected to said insert body and interposed between said first and second wall surfaces.

20. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 13, further comprising a reinforcing fastening unit to secure said first and second casings firmly together, said reinforcing fastening unit including:

a first fastening member including a hollow body connected to a side of said first casing which is proximate to said second casing, and a threaded portion formed on an inner wall surface of said hollow body;

a second fastening member including a sleeve portion projecting from a side of said second casing which is proximate to said first casing, and a sleeve hole extending through said second casing and said sleeve portion for receiving said hollow body; and

an auxiliary fastening member extending through said sleeve hole and into said hollow body, and including a threaded portion formed on an outer surface thereof to engage said threaded portion of said first fastening member such that said first and second casings are capable of being secured firmly together.

21. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 13, wherein said adapting device includes:

a signal wire unit received in said receiving space and adapted to establish electrical connection between said adapting unit and the flat panel display.

22. The waterproof casing for a flat panel display according to claim 21, wherein

said signal wire unit includes at least one signal transmission line for establishing electrical connection between said signal transmitting member and the flat panel display.