Rear projection television receiver optical screen mounting system

Abstract

A mounting system for an optical display screen of a rear projection television receiver, provides tension to the optical display screen thereby eliminating, or substantially reducing any tendency of the optical display screen to bowing or curvature. Elastic mounting bracket assemblies are attached, using an appropriate adhesive, to. the periphery of the optical display screen at strategically optimum positions. These mounting bracket assemblies are then stretched to engage corresponding mounting bosses formed in the housing of the rear projection television receiver, thereby imparting a stretching force on the optical display screen.

1 . A mounting system for use in mounting an optical display screen in a rear projection television receiver, said mounting system comprising mounting means ( 124 ) on a housing ( 120 ) of said rear projection television receiver, and a plurality of mounting bracket assemblies ( 100 ,  100 ′), each of said mounting bracket assemblies comprising: 
 means ( 102 ,  104 ,  102 ′,  130 ) for connecting said mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ,  100 ′) to said optical display screen ( 132 );    means ( 106 ,  108 ,  106 ′,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 ,  144 ) for attaching said mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ,  100 ′) to said mounting means ( 124 ); and    means ( 110 ) for elastically coupling said connecting means ( 102 ,  104 ,  102 ′,  130 ) to said attaching means ( 106 ,  108 ,  106 ′,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 ,  144 ), wherein said elastic coupling means ( 110 ) applies a stretching force from said attaching means ( 106 ,  108 ,  106 ′,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 ,  144 ) to said optical display screen ( 132 ) via said connecting means ( 102 ,  104 ,  102 ′,  130 ) thereby eliminating any bowing in said optical display screen ( 132 ).    
   
   
       2 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said connecting means ( 102 ,  104 ,  102 ′,  130 ) comprises an area of said mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ,  100 ′) for bonding said mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ,  100 ′) to said optical display screen ( 132 ).  
   
   
       3 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said area of said mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ,  100 ′) comprises a u-shaped channel ( 104 ) formed in said mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ) for receiving an edge of said optical display screen ( 132 ).  
   
   
       4 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said mounting means ( 124 ) comprises bosses strategically formed in the housing ( 120 ) of the rear projection television receiver, and said attaching means ( 106 ) comprises a through-hole ( 108 ) formed in each of the mounting bracket assemblies ( 100 ) for engaging, respectively, the bosses ( 124 ) formed in the housing ( 120 ).  
   
   
       5 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said area ( 102 ′) of said mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ′) comprises a pad ( 130 ) formed in each of said mounting bracket assemblies ( 100 ′) for bonding each of said mounting bracket assemblies ( 100 ′) to said optical display screen ( 132 ).  
   
   
       6 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said attaching means comprises a U-shaped channel ( 134 ,  134 ′) formed in one end ( 106 ′,  106 ″) of each mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ′), and a mounting rail ( 136 ) having a tongue section ( 138 ) for engaging each of the U-shaped channels ( 134 ,  134 ′) in the mounting bracket assemblies ( 100 ′), said mounting rail ( 136 ) having means ( 142 ,  144 ) for engaging the mounting means ( 124 ) in the housing ( 120 ) of said rear projection television receiver.  
   
   
       7 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said tongue section ( 138 ) of the mounting rail ( 136 ) is bonded to each of said mounting bracket assemblies ( 100 ′) in the  15  respective U-shaped channel ( 134 ).  
   
   
       8 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said tongue section ( 138 ) of the mounting rail ( 136 ) is secured to each of said mounting bracket assemblies ( 100 ′) in the respective U-shaped channel ( 134 ) by friction.  
   
   
       9 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each of said U-shaped channels ( 134 ′) is formed with projections ( 146 ) therein for frictionally engaging the tongue section ( 138 ) of said mounting rail ( 136 ).  
   
   
       10 . The mounting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elastic coupling means ( 110 ) comprises said mounting bracket assembly ( 100 ,  100 ′) being formed by a rubber-like material at least between said connecting means ( 102 ,  102 ″) and said attaching means ( 106 ,  106 ′,  106 ″), said rubber-like material allowing the elastic coupling means ( 110 ) to stretch by a predetermined amount thereby exerting tension on the optical display screen ( 132 ).