Sealed transparent liquid crystal display assembly

• US 9,535,293 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Rude, Timothy L
• Application Number:
  US14/740,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/005 with glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0071 for perishable goods
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/022 for watches or for bracelets therefor A47F7/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/28 for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles , tins, milk packs racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• 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: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13332 Front frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13398 Spacer materials; Spacer properties

Abstract

A sealed, transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly is disclosed. The assembly preferably contains a front and a rear glass panel. The assembly also preferably has a spacer element that is positioned around a perimeter of, and sandwiched between, the front and rear glass panels, thereby providing a gaseous seal. The LCD panel is positioned between the front and rear glass panels. In an exemplary embodiment, a two way light guide would be used within the assembly.

Claims

1. A sealed transparent LCD assembly comprising:

a front glass panel;

a rear glass panel;

a spacer element positioned around a perimeter of the front and rear glass panels and sandwiched in between the front and rear glass panels to provide a gaseous seal between the front glass panel and the spacer element as well as between the rear glass panel and the spacer element; and

a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel positioned between the front and rear glass panels, further comprising;

a light guide positioned between the LCD and the rear glass panel, wherein;

the light guide is a two way light guide, and

the spacer element is a flexible foam comprising a desiccant and a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.

2. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said light guide is held between a front bracket and a rear bracket.

3. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the light guide is permitted to move vertically but cannot move towards or away from an intended viewer.

4. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the LCD is attached to a front surface of the front bracket.

5. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the LCD is sealed within the assembly so that exterior air cannot contact the LCD.

6. A sealed transparent LCD assembly comprising:

a front glass panel;

a rear glass panel;

a liquid crystal display comprising a two way light guide positioned between the front glass and rear glass panels;

a spacer element which surrounds the liquid crystal display and is sandwiched in between the front and rear glass panels, wherein;

the spacer element is a flexible foam comprising a desiccant and a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.

7. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 6, wherein:

the spacer element is bonded to the front and rear glass panels.

8. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the spacer element creates a gaseous seal between the front glass panel and the spacer element, as well as between the rear glass panel and the spacer element.

9. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the gaseous seal does not allow gas from outside the assembly to contact the LCD.

10. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the gaseous seal does not allow gas from inside the assembly to escape.

11. A sealed transparent LCD assembly comprising:

a front glass panel;

a rear glass panel;

a spacer element positioned around a perimeter of the front and rear glass panels and sandwiched in between the front and rear glass panels to define a gaseously sealed cavity; and

a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel positioned within the cavity and a

a two way light guide positioned between the rear glass and the LCD, wherein;

the spacer element is a flexible foam comprising a desiccant and a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.

12. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

an inert gas which substantially fills the cavity.

13. The sealed transparent LCD assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of LEDs arranged along an edge of the light guide.