Replaceable protective layer on flat screen display

Abstract

A display panel assembly. A flat display panel has a front surface configured to display images and a peripheral edge surrounding the front surface. A protective film is disposed upon and in full contact with the front surface of the flat display panel. A sealant seals the protective film to the flat display panel at a location at or near the peripheral edge of the display panel and around the periphery thereof with the sealant being situated at the edge surface of the display panel and an outer edge surface of the protective film to produce a peripheral sealed edge. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display panel assembly, comprising:
 a flat display panel having a front surface configured to display images and a peripheral edge surrounding the front surface;   a protective film disposed upon and in full contact with the front surface of the flat display panel; and   a sealant sealing the protective film to the flat display panel at a location at or near the peripheral edge of the display panel and around the periphery thereof with the sealant being situated at the edge surface of the display panel and an outer edge surface of the protective film to produce a peripheral sealed edge.   
     
     
         2 . The display panel assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bezel that covers the sealant and obscures the sealant from view. 
     
     
         3 . The display panel assembly according to  claim 1 , where the sealant comprises a sealing compound. 
     
     
         4 . The display panel assembly according to  claim 1 , where the sealant comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The display panel assembly according to  claim 1 , where the sealant comprises an adhesive tape. 
     
     
         6 . The display panel according to  claim 1 , where the protective film forms a substrate, and further comprising a protective layer coated on the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The display panel according to  claim 1 , where the protective film forms a substrate, and further comprising a protective layer grown on the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The display panel according to  claim 1 , where the protective film is held in contact with the front surface of the display panel by static attraction. 
     
     
         9 . The display panel according to  claim 1 , where the protective film comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         10 . A display panel assembly, comprising:
 a flat display panel having a front surface configured to display images and a peripheral edge surrounding the front surface;   a protective film disposed upon and in full contact with the front surface of the flat display panel and held in full contact by static attraction;   a protective layer disposed upon the protective film; and   a sealant sealing the protective film to the flat display panel at a location at or near the peripheral edge of the display panel and around the periphery thereof with the sealant being situated at the edge surface of the display panel and an outer edge surface of the protective film to produce a peripheral sealed edge.   
     
     
         11 . The display panel assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising a bezel that covers the sealant and obscures the sealant from view. 
     
     
         12 . The display panel assembly according to  claim 10 , where the sealant comprises a sealing compound. 
     
     
         13 . The display panel assembly according to  claim 10 , where the sealant comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The display panel assembly according to  claim 10 , where the sealant comprises an adhesive tape. 
     
     
         15 . The display panel according to  claim 10 , where the protective layer is coated on the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The display panel according to  claim 10 , where the protective layer is grown on the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The display panel according to  claim 10 , where the protective film comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         18 . A display panel assembly, comprising:
 a flat display panel having a front surface configured to display images and a peripheral edge surrounding the front surface;   a protective polymer film disposed upon and in full contact with the front surface of the flat display panel and held in full contact by static attraction;   a protective layer disposed upon the protective film;   a sealing compound sealing the protective film to the flat display panel at a location at or near the peripheral edge of the display panel and around the periphery thereof with the sealant being situated at the edge surface of the display panel and an outer edge surface of the protective film to produce a peripheral sealed edge; and   a bezel that covers the sealant and obscures the sealant from view.   
     
     
         19 . The display panel according to  claim 18 , where the protective layer is coated on the substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The display panel according to  claim 18 , where the protective layer is grown on the substrate.