Enclosed television with improved enclosure sealing arrangement

• US 8,714,665 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ciil Technologies, LLC. (Peerless Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ciil Technologies, LLC. (Peerless Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Campagna, Michael A., McKeague, Jack, Molberger, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US13/354,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 312/7.2, 312/296, 348/836, 348/839, 348/843, 348/794, 361/679.02, 361/679.22, 345/173, 345/87, 349/58
• US Class Current: 312/7.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/645 Mounting of picture tube on chassis or in housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display for viewing that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The enclosure comprises a bezel, a substantially transparent front cover, and an enclosure housing. The bezel has a peripheral surface defining an enclosure area, an inner edge defining a display opening, and a rear surface. The substantially transparent front cover is operatively connected to the bezel and covers the display opening. The enclosure housing has a front opening and a flange disposed about and extending from the front opening. The bezel and the enclosure housing are joined together at a joining region that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The bezel, the front cover, and the enclosure housing define the enclosure, which is configured to receive a flat panel display therein.

Claims

1. An enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display, comprising:

a bezel having a peripheral surface, the bezel defining an enclosure area and a display opening, the bezel including;

a bezel front surface extending inwardly from a peripheral front edge of the peripheral surface to a bezel inner edge, the bezel inner edge defining the display opening, and

a bezel rear surface comprising a bezel interface, a front cover interface, and a bezel seal groove disposed within the bezel interface, the front cover interface recessed from the bezel interface, forming a bezel front cover ledge, the front cover interface extending from the bezel front cover ledge to the bezel inner edge;

a substantially transparent front cover operatively connected to the bezel and covering the display opening;

an enclosure housing defining a front opening and having an enclosure housing interface disposed about a periphery of the front opening; and

a bezel seal disposed within the bezel seal groove and positioned between the bezel and the enclosure housing, wherein the bezel is operatively connected to the enclosure housing interface,

wherein the bezel, the front cover, and the enclosure housing define the enclosure configured to receive a flat panel display therein, and wherein the enclosure is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein when the bezel is operatively connected to the enclosure housing interface, the bezel seal is compressed, sealing the bezel seal groove and an interface between the bezel and the enclosure housing interface.

3. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the bezel seal comprises an o-ring.

4. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the o-ring is constructed of silicone.

5. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the enclosure housing interface comprises a flange disposed about the periphery of the front opening.

6. The enclosure of claim 5, wherein the peripheral surface includes a peripheral rear edge extending rearwardly beyond the bezel rear surface, and wherein when the flange is operatively connected to the bezel, the peripheral rear edge extends rearward beyond the flange.

7. An enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display, comprising:

a bezel having a peripheral surface defining an enclosure area, an inner edge defining a display opening, and a bezel rear surface, the bezel rear surface including a front cover interface defining a front cover ledge;

a substantially transparent front cover operatively connected to the bezel and covering the display opening;

an enclosure housing having a front opening; and

a flange disposed about and extending from the front opening, wherein the bezel and the enclosure housing are joined together at a joining region that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress, and wherein the bezel, the front cover, and the enclosure housing define the enclosure configured to receive the flat panel display therein, and wherein the front cover is disposed within the front cover interface and joined to the bezel by a seal disposed between the front cover interface and the front cover.

8. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the joining region further comprises a bezel seal.

9. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein a bezel seal groove is disposed within the bezel rear surface, and wherein the bezel seal is disposed at least partially within the bezel seal groove such that, when the bezel is operatively connected to the flange, the bezel seal is compressed, sealing the bezel seal groove and the interface between the bezel and the enclosure housing flange.

10. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the bezel seal comprises an o-ring.

11. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the o-ring is selected from the group consisting of silicone, Teflon, fluorosilicone, urethane, HNBR, polyacrylate, neoprene, butyl, hypalon, and rubber.

12. The enclosure of claim 7 further comprising a flat panel display disposed within the enclosure.

13. The enclosure of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of connecting brackets coupled to the bezel and to the flat panel display.

14. A method of preparing a substantially sealed enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display device, comprising:

providing a bezel defining an outer peripheral surface and a display opening, the bezel including a bezel seal groove formed within a rear surface thereof;

providing a front cover to the bezel, the front cover covering the display opening;

providing a bezel seal;

positioning the bezel seal within the bezel seal groove; and

attaching an enclosure housing to the bezel such that the bezel seal is disposed within the bezel seal groove and between the bezel and the enclosure housing, sealing the bezel seal groove and an interface between the bezel and the enclosure housing such that the interface between the bezel and the enclosure housing is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a flat panel display device to the bezel, wherein the flat panel display device includes a display area viewable through the front cover.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the bezel seal comprises an o-ring.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the o-ring is selected from the group consisting of silicone, Teflon, fluorosilicone, urethane, HNBR, polyacrylate, neoprene, butyl, hypalon, and rubber.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the bezel rear surface includes a front cover interface recessed from the bezel interface and defining a front cover ledge, and wherein the front cover is disposed within the front cover interface and joined to the bezel by a seal disposed between the front cover interface and the front cover.