Display device

Abstract

An LCD includes a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit, a rear cover, a mold frame and a front cover that slides down over and couples with the rear cover to form a space within which the liquid crystal panel, mold frame and backlight unit are protectively enclosed. The front cover has a lateral part with a first coupling part and a feature for receiving a lateral projection on the mold frame. The rear cover has a mold frame lateral wall with a second coupling part adapted to slidably engage and couple with the first coupling part when the front cover is slid down on the rear cover, and the mold frame has a lateral projection that is received in the front cover receiving feature when the front and rear covers are fully assembled together. The foregoing features enable deformation of the lower cover to be minimized during assembly of the device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2006-0002433, filed Jan. 9, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to display devices, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and more particularly, to display devices in which the deformation of a rear cover of the display is minimized during the assembly thereof.

Increasingly, flat panel display devices, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, are being adopted to replace larger, heavier and bulkier cathode ray tube (CRT) display devices.

LCDs comprise a thin film transistor substrate, a color filter substrate and a layer of a liquid crystal material interposed between the two substrates to form a liquid crystal panel. Additionally, as the LCD does not itself emit light, it is typically provided with a “backlight” unit that is positioned behind the thin film transistor substrate to serve as a source of light for the liquid crystal panel.

The liquid crystal panel and backlight unit are typically mounted between and supported by a front cover and a rear cover of the display's housing. The rear cover and the front cover must necessarily be thin and light in weight, yet must be strong enough to protect the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit against external shocks. Coupling parts are typically provided in the front and rear covers, which enable the two parts to be slidably coupled with each other.

However, the rear cover may easily become deformed by pressure when the coupling parts are slidably engaged with each other. When the rear cover becomes deformed, the LCD device cannot be assembled properly.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments thereof disclosed herein, the present invention provides a display device in which the deformation of the rear cover of the device during assembly is minimized.

In one exemplary embodiment thereof, a display device comprises a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit for providing light to the liquid crystal panel, and a rear cover that comprises a bottom plate disposed in parallel with the liquid crystal panel, and a rear cover lateral wall extending perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forming a space within which the backlight unit is received.

A mold frame is positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit, and comprises a frame disposed around the peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel, and a mold frame lateral wall that extends perpendicularly from the frame. A front cover is slid down over and coupled with the rear cover to define a space in which the liquid crystal panel, the mold frame and the backlight unit are enclosed, and comprises a front frame part having a display opening that exposes a part of the front surface of the liquid crystal panel therethrough, and a front cover lateral part extending perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part.

The front cover lateral part comprises a front cover coupling part and a projection receiving feature, e.g., a recess or an opening, disposed adjacent to the front cover coupling part. The rear cover lateral wall comprises a rear cover coupling part that is adapted to slidably engage and couple with the front cover coupling part when the front cover is slid down over the rear cover. The mold frame lateral wall includes a lateral projection that serves to space the front cover coupling part from the rear cover coupling part laterally when the front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagement thereon, and is received in the projection receiving feature of the front cover when the front cover is fully assembled on the rear cover.

In one aspect of the present invention, an elongated inward protrusion is formed adjacent to the front cover coupling part on the lateral part of the front cover, and the projection receiving feature is formed between the elongated protrusion and the front cover frame part. In another aspect, the lateral distance of the elongated protrusion from the front cover lateral part toward the the mold frame lateral wall is larger than the lateral distance of the front cover coupling part to the lateral wall of the mold frame.

In another aspect, the elongated protrusion comprises an inclined plane face on a rear end thereof that slidably contacts the lateral projection of the mold frame. In another aspect, the lateral projection includes an inclined plane face on a front edge thereof that slidably contacts the rear end of the elongated protrusion.

In another aspect, the distance from a lower end of the elongated protrusion to the bottom plate of the rear cover is less than the distance from a lower end of the front cover coupling part to the rear cover bottom plate.

In another aspect, the front cover coupling part comprises an inclined ramp face which protrudes from the front cover lateral part and slidably contacts the rear cover coupling part. In another aspect, the rear cover coupling part comprises an inclined ramp face which protrudes from the rear cover lateral wall and slidably contacts the front cover coupling part.

In another aspect, the front cover coupling part protrudes outward from the front cover lateral part and the rear cover coupling part protrudes outward from the rear cover lateral wall and is partially received in an opening of the front cover coupling part when the two covers are fully engaged with each other.

In another aspect, the rear cover coupling part is pressed toward the rear cover lateral wall and the front coupling part protrudes inwardly from the front cover lateral wall, and has an forward end disposed in abutment with a rear end of the rear cover coupling part when the two covers are fully engaged with each other.

In another aspect, the lateral wall of the mold frame comprises a seating recess in which the elongated protrusion is stably received, and further includes an opening through which the rear cover coupling part is exposed.

In another aspect, the front cover lateral part comprises a front cover coupling opening disposed adjacent to the front cover coupling part and adapted to couple with the rear cover coupling part.

In another exemplary embodiment, a display device comprises a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit that provides light to the liquid crystal panel, and a rear cover that comprises a bottom plate disposed parallel to the liquid crystal panel and a rear cover lateral wall extending perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forming a space in which the backlight unit is received.

A mold frame is positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit, and comprises a frame disposed around a peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel and supported by the rear cover lateral wall, and a lateral wall extending perpendicularly from the frame.

A front cover is slid down over and coupled with the rear cover to form an accommodation space in which the liquid crystal panel, the mold frame and the backlight unit are enclosed. The front cover comprises a front frame part having a display opening exposing a part of the front surface of the liquid crystal panel therethrough, and a front cover lateral part extending perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part. The front cover lateral part comprises a front cover coupling part and a lateral projection receiving opening disposed adjacent to the front coupling part.

The rear cover lateral wall comprises a rear cover coupling part adapted to slidably engage and couple with the front cover coupling part when the front cover is slid down over the rear cover.

The lateral wall of the mold frame includes a lateral projection that spaces the front and rear cover coupling parts apart from each other at a selected lateral distance when the front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for sliding engagement therewith, and the lateral projection is received in the lateral projection receiving opening of the front cover lateral part when the front and rear covers are subsequently fully engaged with each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the lateral height of the lateral projection from the lateral wall is larger than the sum of the lateral height of the front cover coupling part from the front cover lateral wall and the lateral height of the rear cover coupling part from the rear cover lateral wall.

A better understanding of the above and many other features and advantages of the LCD devices of the present invention may be obtained from a consideration of the detailed description of some exemplary embodiments thereof below, particularly if such consideration is made in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of an LCD in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is partial upper perspective view a front cover of the exemplary LCD of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the LCD front cover of FIG. 2 being slidably engaged with a rear cover and mold frame of the exemplary LCD;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are partial cross-sectional views of the front cover, mold frame and rear cover, as seen along the section lines IV-IV taken in FIG. 3, respectively illustrating the parts before and after their engagement with each other during assembly;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial cross-sectional views of the front cover, mold frame and rear cover, as seen along the section lines V-V taken in FIG. 3, respectively illustrating the parts before and after their engagement with each other during assembly;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial cross-sectional views of a front cover, mold frame and rear cover of a second exemplary embodiment of an LCD in accordance with the present invention, respectively illustrating the parts before and after their engagement with each other during assembly;

FIGS. 6C and 6D are partial cross-sectional views of the front cover, mold frame and rear cover of the second exemplary LCD embodiment, respectively illustrating the parts before and after their engagement with each other during assembly;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial cross-sectional views of a front cover, mold frame and rear cover of a third exemplary embodiment of an LCD in accordance with the present invention, respectively illustrating the parts before and after their engagement with each other during assembly; and,

FIGS. 7C and 7D are partial cross-sectional views of the front cover, mold frame and rear cover of the third exemplary LCD embodiment, respectively illustrating the parts before and after their engagement with each other during assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, exemplary embodiments of a “direct” type of LCD device are described. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to such display types, but is also applicable to other types of display devices, such as edge type LCD devices.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of an LCD 1 in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the LCD 1 comprises a liquid crystal panel 10 that displays an image thereon, a driver 20 that drives the liquid crystal panel 10, a mold frame 25 that supports a peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel 10, a backlight unit 30 that provides light to the liquid crystal panel 10, a rear cover 80 that supports the mold frame 25 and within which the backlight unit 30 is disposed, and a front cover 90 that slides down over and is coupled with the rear cover 80 and covers a front peripheral edge portion of the liquid crystal panel 10.

The liquid crystal panel 10 comprises a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate 11, a color filter substrate 12 that faces the TFT substrate 11, and a layer of a liquid crystal material (not illustrated) that is interposed between the TFT substrate 11 and the color filter substrate 12. The liquid crystal panel 10 further comprises polarizing plates 13 and 14 that are respectively disposed ahead of the color filter substrate 12 and behind the TFT substrate 11 to polarize light passing through the liquid crystal panel 10. Cells of the liquid crystal material are arranged in a matrix form in the liquid crystal panel 10. The liquid crystal panel 10 displays an image by adjusting the amount of light transmitted through each of the liquid crystal cells in accordance with image signal information supplied thereto from the driver 20.

A grid of mutually orthogonal gate wires and data wires are formed on the TFT substrate 11 to define a rectangular matrix of pixels thereon. A TFT is formed at an intersection of each of the gate wires and the data wires. A signal voltage transmitted from the driver 20 is supplied to a pixel electrode and a common electrode of the color filter substrate 12 (described below) through the TFT. The molecules of the liquid crystal material disposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode are arranged in accordance with the signal voltage applied to the electrodes to determine the amount of light transmitted through each pixel.

The color filter substrate 12 comprises the common electrode described above, along with red, green and blue color filters, or alternatively, cyan, magenta and yellow color filters, which are formed on the substrate in repetitive patterns. The common electrode comprises a transparent conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO). The color filter substrate 12 is typically smaller in area than the thin film transistor substrate 11.

The front polarizing plate 13 and the rear polarizing plate 14 function to polarize light passing therethrough. The rear polarizing plate 14 polarizes light incident on the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 10, and the front polarizing plate 13 serves as an analyzer of the light passing through the front surface thereof.

The driver 20 is provided at a lateral side of the TFT substrate 11 to supply a driving signal. The driver 20 comprises a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 21, a driving chip 22 provided on the FPC 21, and a printed circuit board (PCB) 23, which is connected with a lateral side of the FPC 21. The driver 20 in the particular exemplary embodiment illustrated employs a chip on film (COF) method, but is not limited thereto. The driver 20 may alternatively employ other known methods, including a tape carrier package (TCP) and a chip on glass (COG), and the like. The driver 20 may be formed on the thin film transistor substrate 21 during a wire-forming process. The driver 20 comprises a terminal for making an electrical connection. The terminal of the driver 20 is mounted on the thin film transistor substrate 11 for connection with an end part of the gate wires and the data wires of the TFT substrate 11, which extend from a display region to a non-display region thereof.

In the particular first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the mold frame 25 is disposed at the peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel 10 and is generally rectangular in shape, and the liquid crystal panel 10 is spaced forward of the backlight unit 30 by the mold frame 25. As illustrated in the detail breakout view of FIG. 1 and the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3-4A, the mold frame 25 comprises a frame part 26 that is disposed around the peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel 10 and is supported by a U-shaped lateral wall 83 of the rear cover 80 (described in more detail below), a lateral wall 27 that extends perpendicularly downward from the frame 26, and a lateral projection 24 that protrudes laterally outward from the frame 26.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the upper surface of the frame 26 of the mold frame defines a surface for supporting a peripheral edge of the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. The rear surface of the supporting surface is in turn supported by the U-shaped rear cover lateral wall 83. As illustrated in the detail breakout view of FIG. 1 and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A, the external peripheral surface of the mold frame lateral wall 27A defines a lateral seating recess 28 and a opening 29 through which a rear cover coupling part 84 (described below) is exposed. An elongated protrusion 95 (described below) is formed on the inner walls of the front cover 90 and is arranged to be stably seated within the seating recess 28 (see FIGS. 3 and 4B) when the front cover 90 is slid down over and fully engaged with the rear cover 80, in the manner described below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the lateral projection 24 protrudes outward from an end part of the frame part 26 of the mold frame 25. As illustrated in FIGS. 3, SA and 5B, a front cover coupling part 93 is spaced apart laterally from the rear cover coupling part 84 by the projection 24 before the two coupling parts engage each other during assembly. When the front cover 90 and the rear cover 80 have been assembled together, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B, at least a part of the lateral projection 24 is received in a projection receiving recess 98 of the front cover 90, as illustrated in FIG. 4B. In a preferred embodiment, the sum of the lateral distance “d4” (see FIGS. 6A and 7A) from the rear cover lateral wall 83 to the outer end the lateral projection 24 and the lateral height “d2” (see FIG. 2) of the elongated front cover protrusion 95, is greater than the sum of the lateral height “dl” (see FIG. 3) of the front cover coupling part 93 and the height “d6” (see FIG. 7C) of the rear cover coupling part 84. Additionally, an inclined contact surface “a” (see FIGS. 4A and 5A) is preferably provided at a front edge of the lateral projection 24 end part to slidably contact the rear end of the elongated protrusion 95 of the front cover in a cam-like engagement when the latter is slid down over the mold frame 25.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the backlight unit 30 comprises an optical sheet 40 that is disposed in parallel with the liquid crystal panel 10, a light source unit 50 that provides light to the liquid crystal panel 10 through the optical sheet 40, a light source supporting member 60 that is attached to the rear cover 80 to support the light source unit 50, and a reflector sheet 70 that is disposed between the light source unit 50 and the rear cover 80, and which serves to reflect light from the light source unit 50 toward the liquid crystal panel 10.

The optical sheet 40 comprises a protection sheet 41, a prism sheet 43 and a diffusion sheet 45 that are disposed behind the liquid crystal panel 10. The diffusion sheet 45 comprises a base plate and a coating layer containing bead-like shapes that is formed on the base plate. The diffusion sheet 45 serves to diffuse light from a light source main body 51 and radiates it onto the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. The diffusion sheet 45 may be provided in two or three folds. The prism sheet 43 comprises triangular prisms that are disposed at selected intervals thereon. The prism sheet 43 serves to collect the light diffused by the diffusion sheet 45 and direct it in a perpendicular direction toward the liquid crystal panel 10. The prism sheet 43 is typically provided in two sheets. Micro prisms having a selected angle therebetween are formed on each of the prism sheets 43. Light from the prism sheet 43 radiates in a direction perpendicular to the sheet to provide light of a uniform brightness to the liquid crystal panel 10. The protection sheet 41 is provided on the prism sheet 43 to protect it from being scratched.

The light source unit 50 comprises the light source main body 51 that emits light and a light source electrode 53 that is formed on an end part of the light source main body 51. The light source unit 50 receives electrical power from an inverter (not illustrated). The plurality of light source units 50 are arranged in parallel below the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. The light source unit 50 may comprise a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), or alternatively, an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) that provides light of a high brightness, and which is reasonably priced, consumes less power and drives the plurality of light source units 50 through a single inverter (not illustrated). The light source units 50 may also comprise a flat fluorescent lamp (FFL) (not illustrated) that can provide light of a uniform brightness in a flat panel shape, and which therefore generates light without an increased thickness. The FFL provides highly uniform brightness, consumes less power and has a longer lifespan, than other conventional light sources.

The light source supporting member 60 comprises a main support body 61 having a platelike shape, a light holder 62 that protrudes upward from the main support body 61 and supports the light source main body 51 of the light source unit 50, and a plurality of hooks (not illustrated) that protrude from the main support body 61 and are respectively received in a corresponding coupling holes 81 in the rear cover 80, as described below. The light source supporting member 60 is thereby coupled to the rear cover 80 and serves to support the light source unit 50 and protect it from external shock.

The reflector sheet 70 is provided between the light source unit 50 and the rear cover 80 and serves to reflect light from the light source unit 50 to the diffusion sheet 45. The reflector sheet 70 may comprise a plastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polycarbonate (PC). The reflector sheet 70 is attached to a bottom surface of the rear cover 80. A plurality of holes 71 are formed in the reflection sheet 70 in positions corresponding to those of the coupling holes 81 in the rear cover 80. The hooks of the light source supporting member 60 pass through respective ones of the holes 71 in the reflection sheet. With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4A and 4B, the rear cover 80 comprises a bottom plate 82 that is disposed parallel to the liquid crystal panel 10, and the rear cover lateral wall 83, which is extends forwardly from the bottom plate 82 and forms a space within which the backlight unit 30 is accommodated. That is, the space for the backlight unit is defined by the upper surface of the bottom plate 82 and the inner wall surfaces of the rear cover lateral wall 83, and is of an appropriate size and shape to accommodate the backlight unit 30 therein. As described above, the plurality of coupling holes 81 are provided in the bottom plate 82 for engagement with respective ones of the hooks of the light source supporting member 60. The backlight unit 30 is thus stably seated on the upper surface of the bottom plate 82.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rear cover coupling part 84 protrudes laterally outward from the rear cover 80 and is disposed on the outer wall of the U-shaped rear cover lateral wall 83. An inclined ramp face “d” (see FIG. 5B) is formed on the rear cover coupling part 84 to slidably contact the front cover coupling part 93 during assembly of the front cover to the rear cover such the two coupling parts 84 and 93 engage each other in a resilient, sliding, over-center, snap-in engagement during the assembly thereof, as illustrated in the before- and after-engagement cross-sectional views of FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively.

Returning to FIG. 2, the front cover 90 comprises a front frame part 91 having an opening therein in which a display part of the front surface of the liquid crystal panel 10 is framed, and a front cover lateral part 92 that extends perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part 91. The front cover 90 is slid down over and coupled with the rear cover 80 so as to cover and enclose the liquid crystal panel 10 and the mold frame 25 protectively therein.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 5A and 5B, the front cover lateral part 92 comprises the front cover coupling part 93, which, in the particular embodiment illustrated, protrudes laterally inward, a front cover coupling opening 94, which is formed forward of the front cover coupling part 93, and a pair of the elongated protrusions 95, which are disposed on opposite ends of the front cover coupling part 93 and protrude laterally inward from the inner surface of the front cover lateral part 92. The front cover coupling part 93 couples with the rear cover coupling part 84 as described above, and their respective positions before and after the coupling together of the front and rear covers are respectively illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, an inclined ramp face “c” is provided on the front cover coupling part 93 to slidably engage the corresponding inclined ramp face “d” of the rear coupling part 84 during assembly, and as illustrated in FIG. 5B, after assembly, a front end of the front cover coupling part 93 is disposed in opposing abutment with a rear end of the rear cover coupling part 84, and at least a part of the rear cover coupling part 84 is engaged in the front cover coupling opening 94, thereby ensuring that the front and rear covers 92 and 80 are stably coupled with each other after assembly.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the front-to-rear distance from the lower end of the elongated protrusion 95 on the front cover 90 to the rear surface of the rear cover bottom plate 82 is less than that from the front end of the front cover coupling part 93 to the rear surface of the rear cover bottom plate 82. The front-to-rear height of the elongated protrusion 95 is larger than that of the front cover coupling part 93, and the protrusion is disposed further forward on the front cover lateral part 92 than the front cover coupling part 93. An inclined ramp face “b” (see FIG. 4A) is formed on the rear end of the elongated protrusion 95 to slidably contact the lateral projection 24 of the front cover during assembly. The projection receiving recess 98 of the front cover 90 is located forward of the elongated protrusion 95 and below the front cover frame part 91, and serves to receive the projection 24 therein when the front cover is pressed down onto the mold frame 25 and bottom cover 80, as illustrated in FIG. 4B.

With the foregoing configuration in mind, a method for assembling the display device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1 is described below in conjunction with FIGS. 3 to 5B.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front cover 90 is pressed down over the mold frame 25 and rear cover 80. As discussed above, the distance from the rear ends of the elongated protrusions 95 to the bottom surface of the bottom plate 82 of the rear cover 80 is less than that from the front end of the front cover coupling part 93 to the bottom surface of the rear cover bottom plate 82. Thus, the rear ends of the elongated protrusions 95 contact the front cover lateral projection 24 first during the assembly of the front cover 90 onto the rear cover.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the inclined ramp face contacting surface “b” on the rear end of the elongated protrusion 95 slidably contacts the inclined ramp face contact surface “a” of the front edge of the lateral projection 24. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the protrusion 95 is disposed further forward on the front cover lateral part 92 than the front cover coupling part 93. Thus, the lateral projection 24 serves to space the front cover coupling part 93 apart laterally from the rear cover coupling part 84 at a selected distance d3. That is, the front and rear cover coupling parts 93 and 84 are disposed concentrically with respect to each other and spaced laterally apart from each other by the protrusions 95 and the lateral projection 24 at the beginning of the assembly procedure. This advantageously results in less pressure being applied to the rear cover 80 while being coupled with the front cover 90, thereby minimizing deformation of the rear cover during assembly. Indeed, the pressure generated when the front cover 90 and the rear cover 80 are coupled with each other is instead applied to the mold frame 25, which is supported by the rear cover 80, thereby minimizing the deformation of the rear cover 80 due to the pressure.

When the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are assembled together, at least a part of the lateral projection 24 of the mold frame 25 is disposed within the projection receiving recess 98 of the front cover 90, and the elongated protrusions 95 are stably seated in the lateral seating recess 28 of the mold frame lateral wall 27, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B. The front end of the front cover coupling part 93 abuts against and is fully engaged with the rear end of the rear cover coupling part 84, and at least a part of the rear cover coupling part 84 is engaged within the front cover coupling opening 94.

Display devices according to second and third exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to FIGS. 6A to 7D. FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate a display device in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, and FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate a display device in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment.

As may be seen in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 6A-6D, a front cover 90 of the second embodiment of display device does not include the elongated protrusions 95 of the first embodiment. Instead, the front cover 90 of the second embodiment includes a mold frame lateral protrusion receiving opening 99, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. A corresponding lateral projection 24 protrudes laterally outward from the mold frame 25 to dispose front cover coupling parts 93 and rear cover coupling parts 84 concentrically with respect to each other and space them apart laterally from each other when the front cover 90 is initially disposed on the rear cover 80 for subsequent engagement therewith, as illustrated in FIG. 6B. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the lateral distance d4 of the end of the lateral projection 24 from the rear cover lateral wall 83 is larger than the sum “d5” of the lateral distances from a front cover lateral part 92 and from the rear cover lateral wall 83 to the rear cover coupling part 84.

Following is a detailed description of the assembly of the second embodiment of display device. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the front cover 90 is initially pressed down onto the rear cover 80, the front cover lateral part 92 slidably contacts the mold frame lateral projection 24. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the lateral distance d4 from the rear cover lateral wall 83 to the outer end of the projection 24 is larger than the lateral distance d5 (FIG. 6C), and accordingly, the front cover coupling parts 93 are disposed concentrically with respect to the rear cover coupling parts 84 and spaced laterally apart from them at a selected distance d3, as illustrated in the detail breakout view of FIG. 6C. That is, the front cover coupling parts 93 are disposed concentrically about and spaced apart from the rear cover coupling parts 84 by the mold frame lateral projection 24 during the assembly of the front cover to the rear cover. Thus, the rear cover 80 receives less pressure while being coupled with the front cover 90, thereby minimizing the deformation of the rear cover. The pressure generated while coupling the front cover 90 to the rear cover 80 is instead applied to the mold frame 25, and as the mold frame 25 is supported by the rear cover 80 during assembly, the deformation of the rear cover 80 due to the assembly pressure is thereby eliminated.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, when the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are assembled together completely, at least a part of the lateral projection 24 of the mold frame 25 is disposed in the projection receiving opening 99 of the front cover 90, and a part of the front cover lateral part 92 is stably seated within the lateral seating recess 28 (see FIG. 6A) of the mold frame lateral wall 27, as illustrated in FIGS. 6B and 6A. When the front and rear cover coupling parts 93 and 84 are coupled with each other, the front end of the front cover coupling part 93 is disposed in facing abutment with the rear end of the rear cover coupling part 84, and at least a portion of the rear cover coupling part 84 is disposed within a front cover coupling opening 94, as illustrated in FIG. 6D.

FIGS. 7A to 7D respectively illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of a display device in accordance with the present invention. With reference to these figures, a front cover coupling part 93 of the third embodiment protrudes laterally outward from a front cover lateral part 92. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the sum of the lateral height d2 of an elongated inward protrusion 95 on an inner surface of the lateral part 92 of the front cover 90 and a lateral height d4 of a lateral projection 24 on the mold frame 25 from an outer surface of the lateral wall 83 of the rear cover 80 is greater than the lateral height d6 of a rear cover coupling part 84.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, when the front cover 90 is pressed down over the mold frame 25 and rear cover 80, the protrusion 95 on the front cover slidably contacts the projection 24 first. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, as the sum of the lateral height d2 of the inward protrusion 95 and the lateral height d4 of the lateral projection 24 is greater than the lateral height d6 of the rear cover coupling part 84, and the front cover coupling parts 93 are therefore disposed concentrically about and spaced apart laterally apart from corresponding ones of the rear coupling parts 84 at a selected radial distance d3. That is, respective ones of the front cover coupling parts 93 are spaced apart from the rear cover coupling parts 84 by the projection 24 while the front cover 90 is being assembled onto the rear cover 80. Therefore, less pressure is applied to the rear cover 80 while the front cover 90 is being coupled with it, thereby minimizing deformation of the rear cover 80. The pressure generated while the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are being assembled together is instead applied to the mold frame 25, and as the mold frame 25 is supported by the rear cover 80 during assembly, the deformation of the rear cover 80 due to the pressure is thereby minimized.

As illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are completely assembled together, at least a part of the lateral projection 24 of the mold frame 25 is disposed in the lateral projection receiving opening 99, and the inward protrusion 95 of the front cover is stably seated within the lateral seating recess 28 of the mold frame lateral wall. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 7D, when the front and rear cover coupling parts 93 and 84 are fully engaged with each other, at least a rear end part of the rear cover coupling part 84 is engaged within the front cover coupling opening 94.

A fourth exemplary embodiment of a display device in accordance with the present invention is now described with reference to FIG. 5A. In this embodiment, the rear cover coupling part 84 is resiliently deflected into the rear cover lateral wall 83 during assembly. Except for this difference, the configurations of the other components are the same as in the first embodiment described above. With the foregoing configuration, as the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are assembled together, at least a part of a front cover coupling part 93 is accommodated and coupled with respect to the rear coupling part 84 in the fully assembled condition.

By now, those of skill in this art will appreciate that many modifications, substitutions and variations can be made in and to the LCD devices of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. In light of this, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to that of the particular embodiments illustrated and described herein, as they are only exemplary in nature, but instead, should be fully commensurate with that of the claims appended hereafter and their functional equivalents.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel;

a backlight unit providing light to the liquid crystal panel;

a rear cover, comprising a bottom plate disposed in parallel with the liquid crystal panel and a rear cover lateral wall extending perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forming a space within which the backlight unit is received;

a mold frame positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit and comprising a frame disposed around a peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel and a mold frame lateral wall extending perpendicularly from the frame; and,

a front cover adapted to slide down over and couple with the rear cover so as to form an accommodating space within which the liquid crystal panel, the mold frame and the backlight unit are protectively enclosed, and comprising a front frame part having a display opening exposing a part of a front surface of the liquid crystal panel therethrough, and a front cover lateral part extending perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part, and wherein:

the front cover lateral part includes a front cover coupling part and a lateral projection receiving feature disposed adjacent to the front cover coupling part,

the rear cover lateral wall includes a rear cover coupling part adapted to slidably engage and couple with the front cover coupling part when the front cover is slid down over the rear cover, and

the mold frame lateral wall of the mold frame includes a lateral projection that spaces the front and rear cover coupling parts apart from each other at a selected lateral distance when the front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagement therewith, and which is received in the lateral projection receiving feature of the front cover lateral part when the front and rear covers are fully engaged with each other.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein an elongated inward protrusion is formed adjacent to the front cover coupling part of the front cover lateral part, and the lateral projection receiving feature is formed between the elongated inward protrusion and the front cover frame part.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the lateral height of the elongated protrusion from the front cover lateral part toward the mold frame lateral wall is larger than that of the front cover coupling part.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the elongated protrusion comprises an inclined ramp face on a rear end thereof that contacts the lateral projection of the mold frame lateral wall for sliding movement relative thereto when the front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagement therewith.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the lateral projection of the mold frame lateral wall comprises an inclined ramp face on a front edge thereof that contacts the inclined ramp face on the rear end of the elongated protrusion for sliding movement relative thereto when the front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagement therewith.

6. The display device of claim 3, wherein the distance from a lower end of the elongated protrusion to the rear cover bottom plate is less than a distance from a lower end of the front cover coupling part to the rear cover bottom plate.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the front cover coupling part comprises an inclined ramp face which protrudes laterally from the front cover lateral part for sliding engagement with the rear cover coupling part.

8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the rear cover coupling part comprises an inclined ramp face disposed in opposition to the inclined ramp face of the front cover coupling part for sliding movement relative thereto when the front cover is slid down over the rear cover.

9. The display device of claim 6, wherein the front cover coupling part protrudes laterally outward from the front cover lateral part and the rear cover coupling part protrudes laterally outward from the rear cover lateral wall and is at least partially received within an opening of the front cover coupling part when the front cover is fully engaged with the rear cover.

10. The display device of claim 6, wherein the rear cover coupling part is pressed inwardly toward the rear cover lateral wall and the front cover coupling part protrudes inwardly from the front cover lateral wall and has an upper end in disposed in abutment with a lower end of the rear cover coupling part when the front cover is fully engaged with the rear cover.

11. The display device of claim 6, wherein the mold frame lateral wall includes an opening through which the rear cover coupling part is exposed and a lateral seating recess adapted to receive and stably seat the elongated protrusion of the front cover lateral part when the front cover is fully engaged with the rear cover.

12. The display device of claim 6, wherein the front cover lateral part further comprises a front cover coupling opening disposed adjacent to the front cover coupling part, and a rear end of the rear cover coupling part is at least partially disposed in the front cover coupling opening when the font cover is fully engaged with the rear cover.

13. A display device, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel;

a backlight unit providing light to the liquid crystal panel;

a rear cover comprising a bottom plate disposed parallel to the liquid crystal panel and a rear cover lateral wall extending perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forming a space within which the backlight unit is received;

a mold frame positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit and comprising a frame disposed around a peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel and supported by the rear cover lateral wall, and a mold frame lateral wall extending perpendicularly from the frame; and,

a front cover adapted to slide down over and couple with the rear cover and thereby form an accommodating space within which the liquid crystal panel, the mold frame and the backlight unit are protectively enclosed, and comprising a front frame part having a display opening exposing a part of a front surface of the liquid crystal panel therethrough, and a front cover lateral part extending perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part, and wherein

the front cover lateral part includes a front cover coupling part and a lateral projection receiving opening disposed forward of the front coupling part,

the rear cover lateral wall includes a rear cover coupling part adapted to slidably engage and couple with the front cover coupling part when the front cover is slid down over the rear cover, and

the mold frame lateral wall of the mold frame includes a lateral projection that spaces the front and rear cover coupling parts apart from each other at a selected lateral distance when the front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagement therewith, and which is received in the lateral projection receiving opening of the front cover lateral part when the front and rear covers are fully engaged with each other.

14. The display device of claim 13, wherein the lateral height of the lateral projection from the mold frame lateral wall of the mold frame is larger than the sum of the lateral height of the front cover coupling part from the front cover lateral wall and the lateral height of the rear cover coupling part from the rear cover lateral wall.