Mounting bracket for display panel

Abstract

The bracket includes an elongated base member having a series of first apertures for receiving (1) metallic connectors for making electrical contact with the electrodes of a display panel, and for receiving (2) a pair of alignment members for properly aligning the panel when it is coupled to the bracket. The elongated base member also includes an array of second apertures which are adapted to receive a plurality of vertical support members which are constructed so that they can be secured to a printed circuit board or the like. The vertical members can also be provided with movable arms for engaging and holding the display panel. The base member and the upright members are designed so that two base members can be connected together in series, and they can be held together mechanically by an upright member which engages both base members simultaneously.

What is claimed is:  .[.1. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising 
     
        which is pivotably secured thereto..]. 9. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated base member having a series of apertures formed along its length,   an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures,   a panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first and before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member,   said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel,   at least one upright support member secured to said base member and adapted to support said display panel carried by said bracket, and   a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and   
     
     
        adapted to engage an edge of said panel. 10. The bracket defined in claim 9 and including a plurality of elevating means on the lower surface of said base member for spacing said base member from a support member when 
     
     
        said bracket is secured to said support member. 11. The bracket defined in claim 9 wherein said guide members are positioned at the ends of said 
     
     
        series of apertures. 12. The bracket defined in claim 9 wherein said upright member includes a hole for receiving a bolt for securing said 
     
     
        bracket to a support member. 13. The bracket defined in claim 9 wherein said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and a generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned between said arms and 
     
     
        bearing against said lips. 14. The bracket defined in claim 13 wherein said upright member includes a recess formed in its rear surface and receiving a portion of said L-shaped member which is pivotably secured 
     
     
        thereto. 15. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-part top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated base member having a series of first apertures formed along its length,   an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures,   a panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first and before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member,   said connectors and said guide members thus being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel,   a series of second apertures formed along the length of said base member,   at least one upright member secured to said base member and having legs inserted in selected ones of said second apertures, and   a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and   
     
     
        adapted to engage an edge of said panel. 16. The bracket defined in claim 15 wherein said upright member includes a hole for receiving a bolt for 
     
     
        securing said bracket to a support member. 17. The bracket defined in claim 15 wherein said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and a generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned between said arms 
     
     
        and bearing against said lips. 18. The bracket defined in claim 17 wherein said upright member includes a recess formed in its rear surface and receiving a portion of said L-shaped member which is pivotably secured 
     
     
        thereto. 19. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated insulating base member having a series of first apertures formed along its length and having a top surface and a bottom surface,   a flexible electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said first apertures and having first portions which project to substantially the same height above said top surface of said base member for insertion into said panel, and second portions which project beneath the lower surface of said base member for insertion into a printed circuit board or the like,   a rigid panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first, before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is coupled to said base member,   said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel,   a series of second apertures formed along the length of said base member, and   at least one upright member secured to said base member and having legs inserted in selected ones of said second apertures,   said panel having its bottom plate bearing against said upright member   
     
     
        whereby mechanical support is provided therefor. 20. The bracket defined in claim 19 and including two of said upright support members spaced apart 
     
     
        and clamping said panel in place. 21. The bracket defined in claim 19 and including a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright 
     
     
        member and adapted to engage an edge of said panel. 22. The bracket defined in claim 21 wherein said upright member includes a hole for 
     
     
        receiving a bolt for securing said bracket to a support member. 23. The bracket defined in claim 19 wherein said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and a generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned 
     
     
        between said arms and bearing against said lips. 24. The bracket defined in claim 23 wherein said upright member includes a recess formed in its rear surface and receiving a portion of said L-shaped member which is 
     
     
        pivotably secured thereto. 25. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising a pair of elongated base members, each having a series of first apertures and a series of second apertures formed along its length, said base members being disposed end to end, with the series of first apertures being aligned and the series of second apertures being aligned,   an electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said first apertures,   a panel guide member inserted in at least one of said first apertures,   said guide members extending above said connectors, and   an upright member having a pair of legs coupled to said pair of elongated base members, with one leg engaging a second aperture in one member and the other leg engaging a second aperture in the other member. .Iadd. 26. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising   an elongated insulating base member having a series of apertures formed along its length and having a top surface and a bottom surface,   a flexible electrical connector secured to each of a plurality of said apertures and having first portions which project to substantially the same height above said top surface of said base member for insertion into said panel, and second portions which project beneath the lower surface of said base member for insertion into a printed circuit board of the like,   a rigid panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first, before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is brought into engagement with said base member,   said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel,   at least one upright support member secured to said base member transverse to said axis whereby the bottom plate of said panel can rest on and be supported by said support member when said display panel is carried by said bracket, and   a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and adapted to engage and clamp to an edge of said panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 27. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising   an elongated insulating base member having a series of apertures formed along its length and having a top surface and a bottom surface,   a flexible electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures and having first portions which project to substantially the same height above said top surface of said base member for insertion into said panel, and second portions which project beneath the lower surface of said base member for insertion into a printed circuit board or the like,   a rigid panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first, before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is brought into engagement with said base member,   said connectors and said guide member being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel, and   an upright member secured to said base member and extending upwardly from said top surface thereof, said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and a generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned between said arms and bearing against said lips. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 28. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced-apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising an elongated insulating base member having a series of apertures   formed along its length and having a top surface and a bottom surface,   a flexible electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures and having first portions with project to substantially the same height above said top surface of said base member for insertion into said panel, and second portions which project beneath the lower surface of said base member for insertion into a printed circuit board of the like,   a rigid panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first, before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is brought into engagement with said base member,   said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel,   at least one upright support member secured to said base member transverse to said axis whereby the bottom plate of said panel can rest on and be supported by said support member when said display panel is carried by said bracket, and said upright member includes a hole for receiving a bolt for securing said bracket to a support member, and   a pivotable clamping member pivotally coupled to said upright member and adapted to engage and clamp to an edge of said panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 29. A mounting bracket for a thin, flat display panel having spaced apart top and bottom plates which carry electrical contacts along adjacent aligned edges thereof, said bracket comprising   an elongated insulating base member having a series of apertures formed along its length and having a top surface and a bottom surface,   a flexible electrical connector secured in each of a plurality of said apertures and having first portions which project to substantially the same height above said top surface of said base member for insertion into said panel, and second portions which project beneath the lower surface of said base member for insertion into a printed circuit board of the like,   a rigid panel guide member inserted in at least two of said apertures, each said guide member extending above said connectors and positioned to engage said panel first, before said connectors engage said panel when a panel is brought into engagement with said base member,   said connectors and said guide members being oriented along a common axis for insertion into the space between said top and bottom plates of said panel, and   said upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart arms, each of said arms having a support lip and generally L-shaped member pivotably secured to said upright member and positioned between said arms and bearing against said lips, and said upright member includes a recess formed in its rear surface and receiving a portion of said L-shaped member which is pivotably secured thereto. .Iaddend.