Coupling device and flat panel display device utilizing the same

Abstract

A coupling device includes a mounting frame mounted on a rear surface of a front shell of a display housing and having a plate portion disposed adjacent to a front surface of a bracket of the display and formed with a through hole. A coupling plate is mounted on the mounting frame such that the plate portion of the mounting frame is disposed between the coupling plate and the bracket. A fastening member extends through a through hole in the bracket, and the through hole in the plate portion of the mounting frame, and is fastened to the coupling plate so as to couple the bracket to the front shell.

1 . A coupling device for a display housing that includes a front shell having a rear surface, and a bracket having a front surface and formed with a through hole, said coupling device comprising: 
 a mounting frame adapted to be mounted on the rear surface of the front shell, having a plate portion adapted to be disposed adjacent to the front surface of the bracket and formed with a through hole that is adapted to correspond to the through hole in the bracket, said mounting frame further having at least one flexible portion such that said plate portion is movable relative to the front shell along a direction generally parallel to said plate portion;    a coupling plate mounted on said mounting frame such that said plate portion of said mounting frame is disposed between said coupling plate and the bracket; and    a fastening member adapted to extend through the through hole in the bracket, extending through said through hole in said plate portion of said mounting frame, and fastened to said coupling plate so as to couple the bracket to the front shell.    
   
   
       2 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said coupling plate includes an anchoring portion having a first surface adjacent to said plate portion of said mounting frame, and a second surface opposite to said first surface and distal from said plate portion of said mounting frame, said anchoring portion of said coupling plate being formed with a fastening hole that extends from said first surface to said second surface, said fastening hole having a through-hole section that extends from said first surface of said anchoring portion and that converges toward said second surface of said anchoring portion, and a threaded-hole section extending from said second surface of said anchoring portion and connected to said through-hole section, said fastening member further extending through said through-hole section and engaging threadedly said threaded-hole section.  
   
   
       3 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plate portion of said mounting frame has a curved section.  
   
   
       4 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plate portion of said mounting frame is flat.  
   
   
       5 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said mounting frame further includes opposite flexible lateral supporting portions connected respectively to opposite lateral sides of said plate portion and adapted to extend toward the rear surface of the front shell.  
   
   
       6 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each of said lateral supporting portions has a projecting member extending inwardly toward the other one of said lateral supporting portions, said coupling plate being disposed between and adjacent to said plate portion and said projecting members of said lateral supporting portions.  
   
   
       7 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said projecting member of each of said lateral supporting portions includes two projecting lugs disposed respectively adjacent to two opposite sides of said plate portion.  
   
   
       8 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said coupling plate has two opposite sides, each of which is formed with a flange extending rearwardly, said plate portion of said mounting frame being disposed between and adjacent to said flanges such that said coupling plate is positioned relative to said plate portion of said mounting frame.  
   
   
       9 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a pair of engaging members adapted to be fixed on the rear surface of the front shell so as to define an open-ended engaging groove between the rear surface of the front shell and each of said engaging members, said mounting frame further including a pair of engaging flanges extending respectively from ends of said lateral supporting portions away from each other and engaging respectively said engaging grooves.  
   
   
       10 . The coupling device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of said engaging flanges of said mounting frame is generally U-shaped, and has two opposite side flange portions, and a middle flange portion engaging a respective one of said engaging grooves and interconnecting said side flange portions to define a notch among said middle flange portion and said side flange portions, said engaging members engaging respectively and fit tightly said notches in said engaging flanges of said mounting frame so as to posit-ion said engaging flanges on the rear surface of the front shell.  
   
   
       11 . A flat panel display device comprising: 
 a display housing including a front shell having a rear surface, and a bracket having a front surface and formed with a through hole; and    a coupling device including 
 a mounting frame mounted on said rear surface of said front shell, disposed between said front shell and said bracket, and having a plate portion disposed adjacent to said front surface of said bracket and formed with a through hole that corresponds to said through hole in said bracket, said mounting frame further having at least one flexible portion such that said plate portion is movable relative to said front shell along a direction generally parallel to said plate portion,  
 a coupling plate mounted on said mounting frame such that said plate portion of said mounting frame is disposed between said coupling plate and said bracket, and  
 a fastening member extending through said through hole in said bracket and said through hole in said plate portion of said mounting frame, and fastened to said coupling plate so as to couple said bracket to said front shell.  
   
   
   
       12 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said coupling plate includes an anchoring portion having a first surface adjacent to said plate portion of said mounting frame, and a second surface opposite to said first surface and distal from said plate portion of said mounting frame, said anchoring portion of said coupling plate being formed with a fastening hole that extends from said first surface to said second surface, said fastening hole having a through-hole section that extends from said first surface of said coupling portion and that converges toward said second surface, and a threaded-hole section extending from said second surface of said coupling portion and connected to said through-hole section, said fastening member further extending through said through-hole section and engaging threadedly said threaded-hole section.  
   
   
       13 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said plate portion of said mounting frame has a curved section.  
   
   
       14 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said plate portion of said mounting frame is flat.  
   
   
       15 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said mounting frame further includes opposite flexible lateral supporting portions connected respectively to opposite lateral sides of said plate portion and extending toward said rear surface of said front shell.  
   
   
       16 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each of said lateral supporting portions has a projecting member extending inwardly toward the other one of said lateral supporting portions, said coupling plate being disposed between and adjacent to said plate portion and said projecting members of said lateral supporting portions.  
   
   
       17 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said projecting member of each of said lateral supporting portions includes two projecting lugs disposed respectively adjacent to two opposite sides of said plate portion.  
   
   
       18 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said coupling plate has two opposite sides, each of which is formed with a flange extending rearwardly, said plate portion of said mounting frame being disposed between and adjacent to said flanges such that said coupling plate is positioned relative to said plate portion of said mounting frame.  
   
   
       19 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said coupling device further includes a pair of engaging members fixed on said rear surface of said front shell so as to define an open-ended engaging groove between said rear surface of said front shell and each of said engaging members, said mounting frame further including a pair of engaging flanges extending respectively from ends of said lateral supporting portions away from each other and engaging respectively said engaging grooves.  
   
   
       20 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein each of said engaging flanges of said mounting frame is U-shaped, and has two opposite side flange portions, and a middle flange portion engaging a respective one of said engaging grooves and interconnecting said side flange portions to define a notch among said middle flange portion and said side flange portions, said engaging members engaging respectively and fit tightly said notches in said engaging flanges of said mounting frame so as to position said engaging flanges on said rear surface of said front shell.  
   
   
       21 . The flat panel display device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said rear surface of said front shell is formed with a hollow tubular body extending rearwardly toward said coupling plate for supporting said coupling plate so as to maintain a predetermined distance between said coupling plate and said rear surface of said front shell, said anchoring portion of said coupling plate having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of said tubular body.