GLASS ASSEMBLY

• US 20180200999A1
• Filed: 03/12/2018
• Published: 07/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William, LeCave, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,730,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10908 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10954 by using an aligning laminating device
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/202 LCD, i.e. liquid crystal displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13332 Front frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133331 Cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1089 of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1241 Nonplanar uniform thickness or nonlinear uniform diameter [e.g., L-shape]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2419 Fold at edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24999 Inorganic

Abstract

A frame for bonding a first glass component to a second glass component with a desired thickness of adhesive is disclosed. The frame has a horizontal top portion sized to overlap the top surface of the first glass component. The horizontal top portion has a distal surface which is configured to contain the adhesive when poured on the top surface of the first glass component. The horizontal top portion is thicker than the layer of adhesive to be used so that the second glass component may be placed within the frame to abut the distal surface. The frame also has a vertical side portion which extends downward from the horizontal top portion and is sized to wrap around the first perimeter.

Claims

1. A frame for bonding a first glass component to a second glass component with a desired thickness of adhesive, the first glass component having a top surface and a first perimeter and the second glass component having a second perimeter, the frame comprising:

a horizontal top portion configured to extend along the first perimeter and overlap the top surface of the first glass component, wherein said horizontal top portion comprises a distal surface located on a distal end of the horizontal top portion; and

a vertical side portion extending downward from the horizontal top portion and sized to wrap around the first perimeter of the first glass component;

wherein said distal surface is configured to contain the adhesive poured on the top surface of the first glass component such that said adhesive abuts said distal surface when so poured;

wherein said horizontal top portion has a thickness greater than the desired thickness of the adhesive such that the second perimeter abuts said distal surface when the second glass component is placed atop the adhesive and within the frame.

2. The frame of claim 1 wherein:

the horizontal top portion and vertical side portion have a unitary body.

3. The frame of claim 1 wherein:

the horizontal top portion and vertical side portion are separate components bonded together.

4. The frame of claim 1 wherein:

wherein the horizontal top portion and the vertical side portion form an ‘

L’

shaped cross-section.

5. The frame of claim 1 wherein:

the horizontal top portion has a thickness less than the combined height of the desired thickness of adhesive and the second glass component.

6. A protective glass assembly comprising:

a first glass component having a top surface and a perimeter;

a frame overlapping the top surface and the perimeter;

a layer of adhesive placed on the top surface; and

a second glass component having a second top surface and a second perimeter, the second glass component positioned atop the layer of adhesive such that the layer of adhesive is interposed between the first and second glass components and directly abuts the portion of the frame overlapping the first top surface.

7. The glass assembly of claim 6 wherein the frame comprises:

a horizontal top portion, which overlaps the top surface; and

a vertical side portion, which overlaps the first perimeter.

8. The glass assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the first glass component is an LCD display.

9. The glass assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the adhesive is an index-matched optical adhesive.

10. The glass assembly of claim 9 wherein:

the adhesive comprises 1 part resin to 1 part catalyst.

11. The glass assembly of claim 9 wherein:

the adhesive comprises 1 part resin to 3 parts catalyst.

12. The glass assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the surface area of the top surface is larger than the surface area of the second top surface.

13. The glass assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the second glass component is sized to fit within the frame when the second glass component is placed atop the layer of adhesive.

14. The glass assembly of claim 13 wherein:

the frame is sized such that the second top surface extends above the frame when the second glass component is placed atop the layer of adhesive.

15. A protective glass assembly for a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a top surface and a perimeter, the protective glass assembly comprising:

a frame overlapping the top surface and perimeter of the LCD;

a layer of optical adhesive placed atop the top surface of the LCD; and

a front glass component placed atop the layer of optical adhesive so as to interpose the adhesive between the LCD and the front glass component;

wherein said frame is configured to receive and contain said layer of optical adhesive;

wherein the frame has a first surface which extends along the perimeter of the LCD and a second surface which extends substantially vertically from the top surface of the LCD when frame is placed atop the top surface of the LCD;

wherein the layer of optical adhesive directly and continuously abuts the second surface when interposed between the LCD and the front glass component;

wherein the perimeter of the front glass directly and continuously abuts the second surface when the front glass is placed atop the layer of optical adhesive.

16. The protective glass assembly of claim 15 wherein the frame comprises:

a horizontal top portion connected to a vertical side portion.

17. The protective glass assembly of claim 15 wherein:

the frame is metallic.

18. The protective glass assembly of claim 15 wherein:

the adhesive comprises 1 part resin to 1 part catalyst.

19. The protective glass assembly of claim 15 wherein:

the adhesive comprises 1 part resin to 3 parts catalyst.

20. The protective glass assembly of claim 15 wherein:

the adhesive is index-matched.