FR2544112A1 - DISPLAY PANEL ASSEMBLY MECHANISM - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS MECHANISM DESIGNED TO ASSEMBLE A DISPLAY PANEL 22 TO A COMPUTER CASE 24 INCLUDES A FIRST ASSEMBLY 72 FIXED TO THE CRANKCASE AND A SECOND ASSEMBLY 74 SLIDING ASSEMBLY ON THE FIRST ASSEMBLY AND ON WHICH THE DISPLAY PANEL IS ROTATED WITH INTERPOSITION OF FRICTION MEANS WHICH ALLOW TO IMMOBILIZE THE PANEL IN AT LEAST TWO DISPLAY POSITIONS. A SPRING 100 MOUNTED BETWEEN THE TWO ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS HAS SLIDED THE SECOND ASSEMBLY COMPONENT AWAY FROM THE CASING WHEN THE LATTER IS RELEASED BY A TRIGGER 114, 116, 130 WHICH HOLD THE SECOND ASSEMBLY AND THE PANEL IN THEIR POSITION CLOSE TO THE CRANKCASE. THE MECHANISM ALSO INCLUDES A LATCH (NOT SHOWN) WHICH IS AUTOMATICALLY RELEASED BY MOVING THE PANEL AWAY FROM THE HOUSING WHICH OCCURS WHEN THE RELEASE DEVICE IS ACTIVATED.

Description

The present invention relates generally

  rale, to mechanisms designed to assemble a display panel

  file to other objects and it relates more particularly-

  with a display panel assembly mechanism

  suitable for assembling a display panel to other elements

computer system.

  Many computer equipment includes a pan-

  display panel to display calculation messages, such as the results of calculations made by the computer or commands entered by the user on the keyboard, or

  other messages from the author of the software It is

  table that the display screen is fixed to the body of the computer

  main donor at a convenient angle for the user It

  it is also desirable to provide an assembly mechanism

  wiring that allows easy transport of the display panel

  file with computer equipment without being born

  stop detaching the panel from the equipment.

  The assembly mechanism of the present invention

  comes to assemble a display panel to the housing of a

  computer as well as peripheral cases if the

  care is felt The casing which is assembled to a pan-

  display level by the assembly mechanism will be called

a computer system case.

  The subject of the invention is therefore an apparatus for assembling

  bler a display panel to a computer system housing

  The display panel has a display surface suitable for displaying calculation messages The device

  of the invention comprises an assembly device which

  appears to pivot the display panel to the housing

  so that the display surface can be moved around

  tation away from the casing and towards a vertical plane The apparatus of the invention further comprises friction means coupled to the assembly device so that the friction forces generated by the frying means maintain the display area in at least two different predetermined stop positions which

  make two different angles with the horizontal plane.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus serving to assemble between them the display panel and a computer system casing comprises a first assembly member fixed to the casing and a second assembly member assembled to the panel display The second assembly member is arranged so that it can be slidably coupled to the first assembly member so that, when the display panel is slid away from the housing before rotating the display surface, the display panel is moved to a position farther from the housing which allows better access to the elements of the

casing, such as the keyboard.

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, the apparatus

  of the invention comprises a latching device for as-

  seem to them first and second objects in a dis-

  stop position The two objects to be assembled can be

  a display panel and a computer system housing.

  The latching device is used to lock two objects together when they have already been assembled in such a way that they can be brought into an arrangement in abutment by one or the other of the two movements: (i) in moving the first object toward the second object along a predetermined line relative to the second object; and (ii) in

  rotating the first object towards the second object

  jet The latching device of the invention comprises a female assembly member which is located in the second

  object and includes an approximately elongated housing

  parallel to the predetermined line The latching device

  further comprises a male assembly member which

  carries a spring and a latch mounted on the first object.

  The latch of the male assembly member is mounted in such a way

  so on the first object that it can slide approximately

  following the predetermined line when the two objects are brought into abutment against each other The latch comprises

  a latching end which extends beyond the first ob-

  jet Such an end is shaped so as to fit

  in the housing of the female assembly device The lo-

  quet of the assembly member is arranged in such a way with respect to the first object that: (i) when the first object is moved towards the second object along the predetermined line, the latching end of the latch penetrates in the housing to secure the two objects together; and (ii) when the first object is rotated in the direction of the second object, the latching end comes into contact

  with the second object near the edge of the housing

  as for the sliding of the latch in the direction of the first object until it has climbed and crossed the edge of the housing and

  is aligned with the housing The spring of the suction element

  male appearance is assembled to the latch, urging it to

  smooth away from the first object so that, when the latching end is aligned with the housing, the force of the spring causes this end to enter the

  housing to secure the two objects between them.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the description which follows

  and on examining the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer with its display panel in the open position, this view

  showing a preferred embodiment of the present in-

vention;

  Fig 2 is a side elevational view of the computer

  Figure 1, with its display panel shown in different open, closed and raised positions to illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig 3 A is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of parts of a display panel and of a

  computer housing and illus-

  trant the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig 3 B is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the parts of the display panel and of the computer casing and of the assembly device of Fig 3 A, view

  in which the hinge part of the assembly device

  has been moved relative to the upper console part

  hinge port; Fig 4 A is a perspective view of the hinge part of the assembly device of Fig 3 A; Fig 4 B is a perspective view of the hinge part of the assembly device of Fig 3 B, in which the hinge part has slid upwards relative to the support console part; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hinge and support console parts of the assembly device of FIG. 3A and of a part of the display panel, a view in which parts of the display panel and of the

  hinge part of the assembly device were ar-

  rachées to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of parts of the display panel and the computer case and a latch device showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig 7 is an elevational view taken along line 7-7 of Fig 6; Fig 8 A and 8 B are sectional views of the parts

  the display panel and the computer cover and the

  positive display shown in Fig 6, showing the operation of the latching device; and Figs 9 A and 9 B are side elevational views of the computer housing and the display panel showing two positions of the panel when it is rotated toward the housing to illustrate the embodiment

  preferred of the present invention.

  Fig 1 is a perspective view of a computer which

  shows the preferred embodiment of this invention.

  vention As shown in FIG. 1, the computer 20 comprises

  takes a display panel 22 and a computer case 24.

  The electronic components of the display panel 22 and the computer casing 24 are connected together by a cable 26 As shown in FIG 1, the display panel 22 includes a display screen 34 for displaying calculation messages, such as only calculation results, commands

  user or messages from the author of the software.

  The computer 20 has a keyboard 36 which projects through an opening 38 formed in the casing 24 The outer edge of the opening is included in a plane 40 For

  the convenience of description, we will call plan 42 of

  the base of the computer casing 24 the horizontal plane The keyboard 36 and the plane 40 both make a small angle with the horizontal plane The computer 20 has a table of

  control 44 arranged on a control plane 48 for the com-

semiconductor mandes.

  The display panel 22 is assembled to the casing 24

  computer by two assembly devices 52 and 54 ap-

  approximately similar Since the two available

  assembly sitive are roughly similar, no one describes

  ra below only one of these assembly devices

  two assembly devices 52 and 54 are such that they

  cause the display panel 22 as a whole to slide upward in a direction approximately parallel to the control plane 48 and that they make it possible to rotate the panel 22 around its edge away from the computer casing (up to in a position such as that shown in Fig 1) to allow access to the keyboard 36 and the

  control panel 44 By rotating the control panel

  plug 22 up after sliding it towards

  the top, we get better access to the keyboard and to the pan-

  The two assembly devices are such that they can carry the display panel 22 at different angles to the horizontal plane so that the position of the display screen can be adjusted 34

  to adapt it to the height and position of the user

  or to avoid reflections from the ice covering the screen 34 The detailed functions will be described below

assembly devices.

  Fig 2 is a side elevational view of the computer.

  nator of Fig 1 which shows its display panel in different open, closed and raised positions

  to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the pre-

  sente invention As shown in Fig 2, the panel

  display 22 (in solid lines) is in its closed position

  after panel 22 has slid upwards sensitive-

  ment along line 56 approximately parallel to the plane 48 of the casing, the new position of the display panel, hereinafter called the raised position, is designated by the reference 22 a (lines in dashed lines). billboard up The five

  different display positions 22 b to 22 f of the display panel

  lines have been shown in broken lines on the

Fig 2.

  We will now describe the sliding function

  rée by the two assembly devices with reference to Fig 3 A, 3 B, 4 A and 4 B Fig 3 A is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a part of the display panel 22 , part of the computer case 24

  and of the assembly device 54 The cable 26 has not been re-

  presented to simplify the Figure The assembly device

  block 54 comprises parts 72 and 74 slidably mounted one on the other In the preferred embodiments,

  part 72 is a hinge support console and the part

  tie 74 is a hinge The individual configurations of parts 72 and 74 have been more clearly represented in Fig 5 As shown in Fig 5 in which

  will refer, the hinge 74 has two lateral grooves

  rails 76 in which two guide members or ribs 78 provided on either side of the console 72 support

  hinges are slidably mounted, allowing the hinge to

  nière 74 to slide along the guide members Thus the hinge 74 is slidably mounted on the support console

  72 The support console 72 is enclosed inside the housing

  ter 24 to which it is fixed by conventional means, for example, by screwing two legs of the support console to the

  casing 24 Hinge 74 is assembled to the display panel

  chage 22 so that when the hinge slides relative

  port to the support console 72, the display panel 22

  smooth relative to the casing 24 The display panel 22 a is in abutment against the rear part 80 of the hinge 74 (see FIGS. 3 A and 3 B) so that, when the hinge slides upward, the entire display panel 22 is raised above the plane 40 of the computer casing, in direction 56. As shown in FIG. 3, the support console 72 comprises two plates 86, 88 of generally triangular shape connected at their apex , on one side, by a rod 90 and a

  plate 92 As also shown in FIG. 5, the char-

  nière 74 has a rod 96 at its bottom and

  springs 100 are mounted between rods 90 and 96 The char-

  nière 74 is prevented from sliding upwards unless it is unlocked as explained above When the hinge is thus prevented from sliding upwards, the springs 100 are tensioned so that, when the hinge is unlocked, the potential energy stored by this elongation causes the hinge 74 to move upwards against gravity, in the direction of the guide members 78, until the forces exerted

  by the springs 100 are balanced by the weight of the pan

  level 22 and hinge 74 The support console 72 is

  looked like at casing 24 so that the plane of the two or-

  ganes 78 is approximately parallel to plane 48 so

  that the action of the springs causes the displacement of the char-

  74 and panel 22 in direction-56, approximately

  parallel to plane 48 (Fig 2, 3 A and 3 B).

  As shown in Fig 5 to which reference is made

  ra, a trigger mechanism 110 prevents the hinge

  74 to slide upwards under the stress of the

  spells 100, unless button 112 of the trigger mechanism

  be pressed The trigger mechanism 110 com-

  takes the button 112, a rod 114 assembled to the button 112, at one of its ends, a pawl 116 mounted on the rod 114 and a spring 118 wound around the rod 114 and bearing, on one side, against the pawl 116 and , on the other, against the plate 88 The pawl 116 has a generally cylindrical shape, part of the cylinder being housed in a hole 120 formed

  in the plate 86 The cylindrical part of the pawl 116 comprises

  carries two protrusions 122 and the hole 120 is formed in a way

  ower to receive and adapt to the two protuberances.

  The protrusions 122 prevent the pawl 116 from rotating.

  The pawl 116 has a tongue 124 designed to bear against the hinge 74 and prevent it from sliding upwards The spring 118 pushes the pawl 116 back into the

  hole 120 in plate 86 Hinge 74 has a shoulder

  ment 130, arranged below the upper part of one of the grooves 76 Unless the button 112 is pressed, the force of the spring 118 has the effect that the tongue 124 is positioned below the elongated guide member 78 and

  in position to bear against the shoulder 130.

  When the pawl 116 is in this position, its projecting part 124 is in abutment against the shoulder 130 to

  prevent hinge 74 from sliding upwards.

  ratchet and shoulder positions have also been re-

  shown in Fig 3 A and 4 A Fig 4 A is a perspective view of the hinge which represents the tongue of the

  pawl in abutment against the shoulder of the hinge and

  angling the hinge to slide up.

  Fig 4 B is a perspective view of the hinge of Fig 4 A which shows the tongue of the pawl out of support against the shoulder of the hinge the hinge being in the raised position which it has reached by sliding next

  arrow 56 When pushing button 112 in the di-

  rection 132, as shown in Fig 4 B, against the force of the spring 118, the rod 114 moves in the direction of the casing 24 (it moves to the right in Fig 4 B and to the left on the Fig 5) thus moving the tongue 124 so as to place it outside the displacement path

  of the shoulder 130 so that the hinge 74 can slide

  go up in the direction of the arrow 56 These posi-

  The pawl and shoulder are shown in Figs 3B and 4B. The outline in broken lines in Figs. 3 B represents the position of the hinge before it has slid upwards. The hinge 74 and the display panel 22 can be brought back to their original position by pushing the hinge 74 downwards (in the opposite direction from the arrow 56) so that it slides in the direction of the organs of

  elongated guides 78 until the shoulder 130 has passed

  chi the tongue 124 The spring 118 then pushes the tongue 124 (in the direction opposite to the arrow 132 in FIG. 4) so that it comes into abutment against the shoulder 130 and maintains the hinge 74 in the low position until than

  button 112 is pressed again.

  The construction described above of the support console

  72 and the hinge 74 of the assembly device 54 consisting of

  kills the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

  It will be understood that it is possible to use other configurations.

  rations and other constructions that fall within the scope

  of the present invention Although two devices are used

  assembly components 52, 54 in the pre-embodiment

  a single device of this type placed in the center of the pan

  display and computer cover may be sufficient

  health and such a construction is part of the pre-

invention.

  In the preferred embodiment, the suction device

  display 54 is fixed to the computer casing 24 and hinged to the display panel 22 Consequently, the display panel 22 can be rotated around the assembly device

  54 and the housing 24 The articulation between the suction device

  semblage 54 and display panel 22 has been shown

  in Fig 5 The upper part of the hinge 74 com-

  carries a horizontal passage 140 designed to receive pivot means 142, on which the display panel

is pivotally mounted.

  As shown in Fig 5, the passage or channel 140 has a shape suitable for receiving pivoting means

  142 which include two bodies 144 of generally cylindrical form

  drique, two circular rubber buffers 146 and one

  sort 148 The two cylindrical members 144 fit in the passage 140, on each side of the hinge Each of the two cylindrical members 144 has a bore which faces the other cylindrical member, the spring 148 being mounted

  in these bores Thus, the spring 148 pushes the or-

  cylindrical glands 144 outward from the interior

  pass of the passage 140 The cylindrical organs 144 com-

  carry cylindrical parts 144 a which protrude

  beyond the two sides of the hinge 74 and are designed to cooperate with the display panel 22 and serve as a pivot for the latter The members 144 also have protrusions 144 b on their cylindrical surface which fit into corresponding grooves formed in the passage 140 The protrusions 144 b prevent the organs 144 from

  rotate relative to the display panel when the pan-

  display 22 turns around the cylindrical ends

  144 has organs 144 As shown in Fig 5, the pan-

  display 22 has a recess 160 in which is

  received the upper part of the hinge 74 The two sur-

  lateral faces 162 of the recess 160 have two holes

  cylindrical 164, one on each side, in which are

  the cylindrical ends 144 a Thus, the spring 148 pushes the ends 144 a into the cylindrical holes 164 to pivotally assemble the hinge 74 to the display panel 22 The rubber buffers 146 are placed between the ends 144 a and the surfaces annular holes 164 to increase the friction between the display panel 92 and the hinge 74 A screw 150 which passes through the buffers 146 the spring 148 has a shape suitable for

  fit into holes 152 (formed in the circular surfaces

  holes 164) and serves to reinforce the pivoting means

  142 Therefore, if we leave the display panel

  chage 22 falling under the force of gravity, the forces

  friction between the rubber plates 146, the char-

  74 and display panel 22 will cause resistance

  friction against the force of gravity and will reduce the impact of the display panel against the housing

from the computer.

  Passage 140 is also shaped to receive a

  positioning mechanism 170 The positioning mechanism

  ment 170 comprises two positioning members 172 and a

-2544112

1 1

  spring 174 Each of the positioning members 172

  carries a cylindrical part 172 a for housing the spring 174.

  The positioning members 172 are placed in the passage

  with the cylindrical parts 172a facing inwards

  laughing and the spring 174 pushes the positioning members 172 out of the passage 140 and towards the

  lateral surfaces 162 of the recess 160 of the display device

  display Each positioning member 172 has sail-

  elongated lees or ribs 172 b which face the surface

  side 162 of the display panel 22 The protruding projections

  172 b are arranged radially and extend in

  radial directions from the center of the cylinder ends

  drique 144 a Each pair of adjacent elongated projections 172 b defines an intermediate groove 172 c Two pins 180 are mounted in two holes 182, one on each side of

  the recess 160, formed in the two lateral surfaces 162.

  Each of the two pins 180 has an elongated head 184, part of which fits in the hole 182 The length of each head 184 is oriented in a radial direction relative to the center of the cylindrical hole 164 The holes 182

  are positioned so that when the display panel

  plug and hinge 74 are pivotally assembled

  aunt (by mounting the pivoting means 142 in the

  holes 164), the heads 184 are engaged in grooves cor-

  172 c on each side of the hinge 74 The head 184 and the grooves 172 c have shapes such that the friction forces generated between them are sufficient to carry the display panel 22 in positions 22 c, 22 d and 22 e of Fig 2, as explained below The frictional forces, however, are not excessive so

  that the rotating panel can be moved manually up to

  than at a different desired position When the panel 22 is rotated manually, the heads 184 of the pins 180 climb an elongated projection 172 b so that the panel

  display can reach a new desired position.

  In the preferred embodiment, each of the positioning members 172 comprises four elongated projections 172 b which form three grooves 172 c between the successive pairs of adjacent projections As shown in FIG 2, the display panel 22 can be worn in the any one of five display positions 22 b to 22 f When the heads 184 are in one of the three grooves 172 c, the display panel 22 is in one of the three positions 22 c, 22 d and 22 e When the display panel 22 is in position 22 b or in position 22 f, the heads 184 are not engaged in any of the grooves When the display panel is in position 22 b, it is supported, by means of the heads

  184, by the first projections 172 b which are reached when

  that the display panel is moved in rotation from the raised position 22 a When the panel 22 is in the position 22 f, it is carried by the surface 176 of the casing 24 of the computer (see Fig 2) On will understand that we can

  set any number of stop positions by choosing-

  the number of elongated projections 172 b appropriate The angle

  between any two adjacent stop positions of the pan-

  level is approximately 150, which allows, therefore,

  quent, placing the display screen in five different positions

  ferententes within an angular interval of 60 It will be understood that one can change such an angle by modifying the angles between the pairs of adjacent elongated projections 172 b and their positions on the positioning members 172 The positioning members 172 also feature

  projections 172 d which fit into corresponding grooves

  dantes formed in passage 140 to prevent positioning members 172 from rotating in passage 140 Good

* that the structure described above of the position mechanism-

  ment 170 is used in the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that other structures can be used

  without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  In the preferred embodiment, the console 72 sup-

  hinge port is assembled to casing 24 and the hinge

  74 is assembled to the display panel 22 It is well

  tight, however, that the positions of the hinge and the console can be reversed, the latter then being assembled to the casing 24 and the console to the display unit 22 and that, in this case, the assembly device operates

  in a similar manner to that described above.

  In the preferred embodiment, the layout plan

  mande 48 and the plane 40 of the opening receiving the keyboard formed in the computer casing form a recess and the display panel 22 has a suitable shape to fit in this recess so that when the pan-

  Display is in the closed position, the housing and the panel can be easily transported together A

  latching device is used to lock the pan-

  display at the computer case so that the display panel stays in the closed position for

transportation.

  The latching device of the present invention has been shown in Figs 6, 7, 8 A, 8 B, 9 A and 9 B Fig 6 is a sectional view of part of the display panel 22 and part of the computer housing 24 and of a latching device 200 The latching device 200 comprises

  a female assembly member which is constituted by a lo-

  elongated segment 202 formed in the computer housing Housing 202 is approximately parallel to line 56

  of the sliding movement of the display panel deter-

  mined by reference to the computer case The line of

  this sliding movement has been shown in FIG. 6.

  The latching device has a male assembly member which includes a latch 212 and a spring 214 The latch 212 is mounted so on the display panel

  that it can slide along a line approximately pa-

  parallel to line 56, when the display panel is brought into contact with the computer casing In the preferred embodiment, the latch 212 consists of a plate which has, in cross section, approximately

  the shape of an H The shape of the plate 212 was clearer

  rement shown in Fig 7 Two plates 222 assem-

  attached to the display panel have edges which are engaged in the grooves of the H-shaped plate 212 thus establishing the direction of sliding movement of the plate 212 The plate 212 has a latching extension

  or end 212 a which is flat and not H-shaped (eg

  Lement shown in Fig 1) and which has a suitable form

  required to fit in housing 202 The lower part of the H-shaped part of the plate 212 rests on a shoulder 224 of the display panel which prevents the plate from sliding down beyond the shoulder In

  the preferred embodiment, the spring 214 can be formed

  mé by a spring wire shown more clearly in Fig 7 In the preferred embodiment, the spring 214 is fixed to one of the plates 222 and is in contact with the upper part of the plate 212, urging the plate to move down To ensure more assembly

  sure, the upper part of the plate 212 has a hook

  chet 212 b in which one end of the resistor fits

goes out 214.

  Figs 8 A and 8 B show the operation of the device.

  positive latching shown in Fig 6 and 7 So,

  when pushing the display panel 22 downwardly

  rection of the computer casing 24 along line 56 of Fig 6, the operation of the latching device 200 is as shown in Fig & B Since the housing 202 and the latching end 212a of the plate

  212 are aligned and are both approximately parallel

  Related to line 56, the latching end 212a simply slides into housing 202 to lock the display panel to the computer case and prevent the

  panel can be rotated upwards.

  As explained above, when the panel 22 is pushed down against the biasing force of the springs 100, the tongue 124 of the pawl 116 abuts against the shoulder 130 to prevent the hinge 74 and, by

  Therefore, the display panel will slide up.

  The display panel 22 is thus locked to the computer casing on one side by the pawl 116 and latched,

  the other side, to the casing by the latching device 200.

  By pressing the button 112, the springs 100 are allowed to move the hinge 74 upwards along the guide members 78, as described above. Since the line 56 is approximately parallel to the plane 48 and, thus, to the guide members 78, when the display panel 22 slides upwards, along the locking members

  78, the latch extension 212 has an automatic slide-

  upwards with the display panel along a line parallel to the members 78 and out of the housing 202 Consequently, to unlock the display panel 22 from the closed position, it is sufficient to press the button 112

  so there is no need to unlock the pan separately

latch device.

  Figs 9 A and 9 B are side elevational views of the computer housing and the display panel showing two positions of the panel when it is rotated toward the computer to illustrate the function of the display device. latching The latching device 200 is constructed so that even if the display panel is not pushed down in direction 56 but

  is rotated in the direction of the computer case

  latch 202 still functions so as to assemble them

  bler Thus, when the display panel 22 is turned in the direction of the computer casing in the direction of the arrow 250, from the position of FIG. 9 A to that of FIG. 9B, the operation of the device of latching is as shown in Fig 8 A The tip of latching extension 212a does not penetrate directly into the housing

  202 but comes up against a part of the computer case-

  tor near the edge of the housing 202 When the display panel is more completely pivoted towards

  bottom, the reaction force exerted by the computer casing

  nator slides the plate 212 upward against the biasing force of the spring 214 while the tip of the latching end 212 has slides along a

  part of the edge of the housing that it climbs Plate 212 con-

  continues to slide until the display panel 22 is about to come into contact with the casing 24 of the computer and, at this time, the latching end finishes crossing part 202 a from the edge of the housing so that

  the extension 212 a and the housing 202 are again supplied

  When this happens, there is no more reaction force.

  tion acting on the plate 212 and the spring 214 makes the part 212 a penetrate into the housing 202 to assemble between them the display panel and the computer casing To facilitate the displacement of the extension 212 a on the part 202 on the edge of the housing and beyond, in the housing, the

  sharp edge of this part has been cut so that this posi-

  tion has a truncated surface.

  In the structure described above, the assembly member

  male connector is mounted on the display panel and the organ

  female assembly is mounted on the computer housing.

  It will be understood, however, that the male assembly member

  could, on the contrary, be mounted on the computer casing

  tor while the female assembly member is mounted

  on the display panel and that, in this case, the device

  tif latching would still work the same way.

  In the preferred embodiment, the line of the sliding movement 56 of the panel makes an acute angle with the surface 40 of the computer housing. It will be understood that the latching device functions in the same way even if the sliding movement makes a right angle or angle

  obtuse with this surface It is not necessary that the ele

  ment 212 of the male assembly member is constituted by an H-shaped plate and its sliding mounting in the display panel need not be as that which has been shown For example, a rod mounted

  in a bore formed in a display panel and

  seated downwards by a spring mounted in the upper part

  the bore would play the same role Other types of construction of the latching device also enter

  in the context of the present invention.

  In the preferred embodiment, the display panel

  plug and computer housing including the adjoining parts

  centering at the hinge support console and at the hinge

  and which are assembled there, as well as the system

  are all made of plastic, preferably by an injection molding process. According to a variant,

  a cast metal can be used, such as aluminum

  minium, to build the display panel and the housing

  The console 72 hinge support and the hinge

  74 can be made of molded plastic

  by injection or in shell-cast metal In the mechanic

  trigger 110, button 112 is made of

  plastic, the rod 114 is made of metal and the pawl 116 can be made of metal or plastic The plate 212 of the

  latching device can also be manufactured in ma-

  plastic or metal molded in shell The springs used in the preferred embodiment, such as springs 100, 118, 148, 174 and 214 are spring wire or piano wire They can be manufactured in any one

  many known materials for the manufacture of res-

  spells, such as phosphor bronze, copper beryl-

  lium, steel and stainless steel.

  In the above description, it has been assumed that the me-

  assembly mechanism was used to assemble a display panel to a computer housing It is understood, however, that such an assembly mechanism can be used to assemble a display panel to the housing of a unit

  computer peripheral or, even, to any other object.

  The above description of the process and construction

  tion has been given only by way of illustration of the invention and various modifications can be made to the forms,

  dimensions, materials or other details of the process

  dice and construction without going beyond the scope of the claims

annexed.

Claims (25)

  1 An apparatus for assembling a display panel (22)   to a computer system case (24), this panel includes   as a suitable display area for displaying measurements   calculation wise, this apparatus being characterized in that it comprises: an assembly device (52, 54) fixed to the computer system casing and articulated to the display panel, so that the display surface can be rotated away from the computer system housing and toward a vertical plane; and means of friction   (170) coupled to the assembly device and the display panel   so that the frictional forces are generated   dredged by the friction means maintain the surface of af-   plugging in at least two predetermined stop positions   which make different angles with the horizontal plane.   2 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that   the adjacent surfaces of the assembly device and the pan-   display level form first and second surfaces and   in that the friction means (170) comprise: a pre-   mier friction member (180, 184) assembled at the first sur-   face (162) above which it projects; and a se-   cond friction member (172) assembled to the second surface   and comprising several elongated projections (172 b) which extend   lift above the second surface and form, between the pairs of adjacent elongated projections, a series of grooves   (172 c) each arranged to receive the sail part   lante (184) of the first friction member, this second member   of friction being arranged so that when the   projection of the first friction member is located in any of the grooves, the display surface is in one of the predetermined stop positions and the friction forces between the first friction member and the pair   elongated protrusions contact with it prevent essential-   The display panel will fall under the force of the gravity.   3 Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that   each of the elongated projections (172 b) has a cross-section 2544 1 12   1 9 dirty triangular so that the grooves formed   between them are notched.   4 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a spring (174) assembled to one of the two friction members, urging this friction member towards the other friction member to increase the friction forces eniter them and to reduce the risk   accidental release of the two friction members.   Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that one of the two surfaces has a passage (140) designed to accommodate the spring (174).   6 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent surfaces of the assembly device (52, 54) and the display panel (22) have first and second surfaces, the first surface (162) having a hole ( 164) and the second a passage (140), the apparatus further comprising a pivot (144) designed to fit in the passage and in the hole so as to pivotally assemble the assembly device between them and the billboard.   7 Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises: a spring (148) mounted in the passage for pushing a part (144 a) of the pivot (144) into the hole (164); and friction means (166) mounted in   the hole resting against the surface of the pivot and against the over-   face of the hole to generate a frictional resistance to   against the force of gravity which acts on the pan-   display (22), thereby reducing the impact force   when placed on the display panel when dropped   definitely on the computer system case.   8 Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing (24) of the computer system comprises a   control panel (48) suitable for the installation of   calculation commands and in that the assembly device (52, 54) is arranged so that the display panel   (22) can slide in a direction approximately pa-   parallel to this control plane and away from the housing   (24) computer system so that when cut   smooth the display panel in this direction and then rotate it away from the computer system housing, the control panel (44) is more easily accessible. 9 An apparatus for assembling a display panel (22)   to a computer system case (24), this panel includes   as a display surface suitable for displaying calculation messages, this device being characterized in that it comprises: an assembly device fixed to the display panel and articulated to the computer system housing;   so that the display surface can be rotated   away from the computer system housing and   direction of a vertical plane; and means of friction ac-   coupled to the assembly device and the housing such that the frictional forces generated by the friction means maintain the display surface in at least two predetermined stop positions which form angles   different with the horizontal plane.   10 Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjacent surfaces of the assembly device and the   computer system housing form first and second   according to surfaces and in that the friction means comprise: a first friction member assembled to the first surface above which it projects; and a second organ   of friction assembled to the second surface and comprising more   elongated protrusions which rise above the   conde surface and form between the pairs of protruding protrusions   adjacent series of grooves, each arranged to receive the projecting part of the first friction member, this second friction member being arranged so   that when the projecting part of the first fric-   tion is located in any of the grooves, the over-   display side is in one of the preset stop positions   completed and the friction forces between the first or-   friction sleeve and the pair of elongated projections in con-   tact with it basically prevent the affi-   chage to fall under the force of gravity.   11 Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that   that each of the elongated projections has a cross section   dirty triangular shape so that the grooves formed therebetween are notched. 12 Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a spring assembled to one of the two friction members, urging this friction member towards the other friction member to increase the forces of   friction between them and to reduce the risk of a release-   accidentally of the two friction members.   13 Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that one of the two surfaces has a passage designed to house the spring.   14 Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjacent surfaces of the assembly device and the computer system casing comprise first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising a hole and the second a passage, the apparatus comprising , in addition, a pivot designed to fit in the passage and in the hole   so as to pivotally assemble the device positive assembly and housing.   Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises: a spring mounted in the passage for pushing back part of the pivot in the hole and friction means mounted in the hole in abutment against the surface of the pivot and against the surface of the hole to generate   a frictional resistance against the force of pe-   health that acts on the display panel, thereby reducing the impact force applied to the display panel when it is accidentally dropped on the computer system case. 16 Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the computer system housing comprises a plane of   control suitable for the installation of cal-   ass and in that the assembly device is arranged so that the display panel can slide in 25441 12   a direction approximately parallel to this plane of com-   away from the computer system case so that when you slide the display panel   in this direction and then rotate it further away   computer system case, control panel   is more easily accessible.   17 An apparatus for assembling a display panel (22), suitable for displaying calculation messages, to a housing   (24) having a control plane (48) suitable for the installation   1-0 calculation commands (44), this apparatus being character   laughed in that it comprises: a first assembly member (72) fixed to the casing; and a second assembly member (74)   assembled to the display panel, this second assembly member   being arranged so that it can be slidably coupled to the first assembly member, sliding in a direction approximately parallel (56) to the plane of   control (48) and over a predetermined distance.   18 Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the display panel (22) is rotatably mounted around   of the second assembly member (74).   19 Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the first assembly member (72) has a projection   guide (78) approximately parallel to the plane of com-   mande (48) and in that the second assembly member (74) has a groove (76) designed to adapt to the projection   guide, or vice versa, so that the second suction member   appearance can slide in relation to the first suction member   semblance and so that when the second assembly organ   sliding on the guide projection or in the groove,   the display panel slides in an approximate direction   tively parallel to the control plane (48).   Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a spring (100) mounted between the two assembly members (72, 74) to urge the second assembly member (74) to slide towards the top   until the force exerted by the spring is approxi-   matively balanced by the total weight of the second organ   assembly (74) and display panel (22), said device   predetermined force being determined by the force exerted by the spring and by the total weight of the second assembly member and the display panel (22).   21 Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that it further comprises triggering means (116,   ) to prevent the second assembly member (74) from   smooth up under the action of spring bias   (100) until the triggering means have been activated tionnés.   22 An apparatus for assembling a display panel (22), suitable for displaying calculation messages, to a computer system housing (24) having a control plane (48)   which extends obliquely to the horizontal plane, appro-   required for the installation of calculation controls (44), this device being characterized in that it comprises: a first assembly member (72) fixed to the spreader, this first assembly member comprising a guide projection ( 78) or a guide groove approximately parallel to the control plane (48) and further comprising a passage (120); a   second assembly member (74) assembled to the display panel   chage (22), this second assembly member comprising a rai-   guide channel (76), if the first assembly member   has a projection and a guide projection, if the first member has a groove, designed to fit on the   protrusion or, respectively, in the groove of the first or-   gane so as to be able to slide in relation to said first   assembly member, the second assembly member also having   Lement a shoulder portion (130) which faces one of the two directions of the sliding movement of the second assembly member; a spring (100) mounted between the two   assembly members and requesting the second assembly member   to slide with its groove on the projection of the first assembly member, or vice versa, in a direction such that it causes the display panel to slide in   away from the computer system case in one direction   approximately parallel to the control plane; and a trigger rod (114) designed to fit in the passage (120) formed in the first assembly member, this rod comprising a pawl (116) designed to bear against the shoulder part (130) so as to prevent the second member from sliding relative to the first assembly member under the action of biasing the spring unless   that the rod is moved relative to the first suction member   fitting to release the pawl from the shoulder part.   23 Apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that it further comprises a second spring (118) mounted between   the trigger rod (114) and the first assembly member   blockage (72) to urge the rod towards a position in the   which the pawl (116) is in contact with the shoulder part   element (130) in order to prevent the second assembly member (74)   to slide relative to the first assembly member (72).   24 A latching device (200) for assembling together a first object (29) and a second object (24) in a stop arrangement, the two objects having been coupled so that they are brought into a stop arrangement by either of two movements: (i) by displacement of the first object in the direction of the second object along a predetermined reference line (56); and (ii) by rotation of the first object in the direction of the second object, these measures   of latching being characterized in that it comprises: an or-   female assembly gane arranged in the second object and   comprising an approximately parallel elongated housing (202)   related to the predetermined line (56); and a male assembly member which comprises: (a) a latch (212) mounted in the first object so that it can slide approximately along the predetermined line when the two objects are brought into abutment against each other, this latch having a latching end (212a) which extends beyond the first object,   the latch end having a shape suitable for   adapt in the housing of the female assembly member, the latch being arranged in such a manner relative to the first   object only: (i) when the first object is moved directly   tion of the second object along the predetermined line, the extreme   latch miter the latch enters the housing for   assemble the two objects; and that (ii) when the first ob-   jet is moved in rotation towards the second object,   the latch end comes into contact with -the second ob-   jet in the vicinity of the housing edge, which causes the latching end to slide in the direction of the first object until it has climbed and crossed this edge and is   is aligned with the housing; and (b) a spring (214) assembled   wheat with latch (212) urging it to slide away   of the first object so that when the fouling end   stage is aligned with the housing, the spring force pro-   evokes the penetration of the latch end into the lo-   so as to assemble the two objects together, preventing   singing so basically the first object to turn in distance from the second object.   Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the first object is a display panel (22) and the   second object is a computer system housing (24).   26 Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the two objects (22, 24) are coupled together with a   in such a way that when brought into a disposal-   tion in stop, they are locked in this arrangement unless a trigger mechanism (110) is actuated and in that the actuation of such a mechanism causes the sliding of the first object away from the second object along the predetermined line (56) so that, when this mechanism is actuated, the latching end of the latch   (212) is removed from the housing (202) along the predefined line   completed (56) thus loosening the two objects.   27 Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that   that the latch (212) is a member which has, in cross section   dirty, the shape of an H thus forming two grooves, one on each side, and in that the first object has two plate edges which are slidably mounted in the two grooves, the plate edges being oriented so   that the direction of the sliding movement is approxi-   matively parallel to the predetermined line (56).   28 Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the elongated housing (202) makes an acute angle with the   surface of the second object adjacent to the housing.   29 Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the part of the edge of the housing climbed and crossed by the latching end (212 a), when the first object is   moved in rotation towards the second object, has an over- truncated face (202 a).