Lamp holding apparatus, backlight device for display device including same, display device including same and liquid crystal display device including backlight device for display device

Abstract

A lamp holding apparatus for mounting a lamp to a lamp mounting member includes a mounting plate provided with a locking portion which protrudes to a base side, inserted into a mounting hole provided at the base and is lockable to a peripheral edge of a back side thereof. The mounting plate is provided with a pin which protrudes to an opposite side from the base side and is capable of being gripped by an operator at a time of being attached to and detached from the base. The locking portion is disposed at a position corresponding to a back side of the pin. As a result, when the locking portion is inserted into the mounting hole while gripping the pin, both the locking portion and the mounting hole are easily positioned. Thus, at a time of insertion, bending forces are reduced.

1. A lamp holding apparatus for mounting a lamp to a lamp mounting member including a base, the lamp holding apparatus comprising:
 a mounting plate which is to be mounted to said base of said lamp mounting member at a first surface of said mounting plate; 
 a plurality of lamp holding portions provided on a second surface of said mounting plate opposite to said first surface to hold at least one lamp; 
 a gripping portion located on said second surface of said mounting plate and between said lamp holding portions, having a greater height dimension measured from said mounting plate than the lamp holding portions, and arranged to be gripped by an operator at a time of attaching and detaching the mounting plate to the base of said lamp mounting member; and 
 a locking portion which protrudes from said first surface of said mounting plate and is inserted into a mounting hole provided in the lamp mounting member to be lockable to a peripheral edge of a rear surface of the lamp mounting member, the locking portion and the mounting plate defined by a single monolithic element and including a base portion and a pair of elastic pieces extending diagonally upward from an end of the base portion, the pair of elastic pieces arranged to engage inner surfaces of the mounting hole; wherein 
 said locking portion and said gripping portion are disposed opposite to each other with the mounting plate disposed therebetween, and said locking portion and said gripping portion are located closer to each other in a lateral direction extending along the first and second surfaces of the mounting plate than a location of said locking portion relative to a closest one of said plurality of lamp holding portions. 
 
     
     
       2. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking portion is arranged to at least partially overlap said gripping portion with respect to a vertical direction that is substantially perpendicular to said lateral direction. 
     
     
       3. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said gripping portion is arranged to be capable of abutting an optical member disposed to be opposite to said at least one lamp. 
     
     
       4. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said gripping portion has a pin shape. 
     
     
       5. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said gripping portion has a tapered shape. 
     
     
       6. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said lamp holding apparatus is made of a synthetic resin and has a white surface. 
     
     
       7. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking portion is concentric with said gripping portion. 
     
     
       8. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said gripping portion is arranged to be capable of abutting an optical member disposed to be opposite to said at least one lamp. 
     
     
       9. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said gripping portion has a pin shape. 
     
     
       10. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said gripping portion has a tapered shape. 
     
     
       11. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said lamp holding apparatus is made of a synthetic resin and has a white surface. 
     
     
       12. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gripping portion is arranged to be capable of abutting an optical member disposed to be opposite to said at least one lamp. 
     
     
       13. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gripping portion has a pin shape. 
     
     
       14. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gripping portion has a tapered shape. 
     
     
       15. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lamp holding apparatus is made of a synthetic resin and has a white surface. 
     
     
       16. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of elastic pieces includes a stepped locking surface arranged to engage the inner surface of the mounting hole. 
     
     
       17. A backlight device, comprising:
 the lamp holding apparatus of  claim 1 ; and 
 at least one lamp. 
 
     
     
       18. A display device, comprising:
 the backlight device of  claim 17 ; and 
 a display panel. 
 
     
     
       19. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
 the backlight device of  claim 17 ; and 
 a liquid crystal panel. 
 
     
     
       20. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
 a lamp mounting member including a base; 
 a lamp holding apparatus including:
 a mounting plate mounted to said base of said lamp mounting member at a first surface of said mounting plate; 
 a plurality of lamp holding portions provided on a second surface of said mounting plate opposite to said first surface to hold at least one lamp; 
 a gripping portion located on said second surface of said mounting plate and between said lamp holding portions, having a greater height dimension measured from said mounting plate than the lamp holding portions, and arranged to be gripped by an operator at a time of attaching and detaching the mounting plate to the base of said lamp mounting member; and 
 a locking portion which protrudes from said first surface of said mounting plate and is inserted into a mounting hole provided in the lamp mounting member to be lockable to a peripheral edge of a rear surface of the lamp mounting member, the locking portion and the mounting plate defined by a single monolithic element and including a base portion and a pair of elastic pieces extending diagonally upward from an end of the base portion, the pair of elastic pieces arranged to engage inner surfaces of the mounting hole; and 
 
 a liquid crystal panel which transmits light from said at least one lamp held in the plurality lamp holding portions; wherein 
 said locking portion and said gripping portion are disposed opposite to each other with the mounting plate disposed therebetween, and said locking portion and said gripping portion are located closer to each other in a lateral direction extending along the first and second surfaces of the mounting plate than a location of said locking portion relative to a closest one of said plurality of lamp holding portions. 
 
     
     
       21. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 20 , wherein said locking portion is arranged to at least partially overlap said gripping portion with respect to a vertical direction that is substantially perpendicular to said lateral direction. 
     
     
       22. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein each of the pair of elastic pieces includes a stepped locking surface arranged to engage the inner surface of the mounting hole. 
     
     
       23. A lamp holding apparatus for mounting a lamp to a lamp mounting member including a base, the lamp holding apparatus comprising:
 a mounting plate which is to be mounted to said base of said lamp mounting member at a first surface of said mounting plate; 
 a plurality of lamp holding portions provided on a second surface of said mounting plate opposite to said first surface to hold at least one lamp; 
 a gripping portion located on said second surface of said mounting plate and between said lamp holding portions, having a greater height dimension measured from said mounting plate than the lamp holding portions, and arranged to be gripped by an operator at a time of attaching and detaching the mounting plate to the base of said lamp mounting member; and 
 a locking portion which protrudes from said first surface of said mounting plate and is inserted into a mounting hole provided in the lamp mounting member to be lockable to a peripheral edge of a rear surface of the lamp mounting member, the locking portion and the mounting plate defined by a single monolithic element, the locking portion including a base portion extending from the mounting plate and a pair of elastic locking pieces extending diagonally upward from an end of the base portion; wherein 
 said locking portion and said gripping portion are disposed opposite to each other with the mounting plate disposed therebetween, and said locking portion is arranged to at least partially overlap said gripping portion with respect to a vertical direction that is substantially perpendicular to said first and second surfaces of said mounting plate. 
 
     
     
       24. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein each of the pair of elastic pieces includes a stepped locking surface arranged to engage an inner surface of the mounting hole. 
     
     
       25. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
 a lamp mounting member including a base; 
 a lamp holding apparatus including:
 a mounting plate mounted to said base of said lamp mounting member at a first surface of said mounting plate; 
 a plurality of lamp holding portions provided on a second surface of said mounting plate opposite to said first surface to hold at least one lamp; 
 a gripping portion located on said second surface of said mounting plate and between said lamp holding portions, having a greater height dimension measured from said mounting plate than the lamp holding portions, and arranged to be gripped by an operator at a time of attaching and detaching the mounting plate to the base of said lamp mounting member; and 
 a locking portion which protrudes from said first surface of said mounting plate and is inserted into a mounting hole provided in the lamp mounting member to be lockable to a peripheral edge of a rear surface of the lamp mounting member, the locking portion and the mounting plate defined by a single monolithic element, the locking portion including a base portion extending from the mounting plate and a pair of elastic locking pieces extending diagonally upward from an end of the base portion; and 
 
 a liquid crystal panel which transmits light from said at least one lamp held in the plurality lamp holding portions; wherein 
 said locking portion and said gripping portion are disposed opposite to each other with the mounting plate disposed therebetween, and said locking portion is arranged to at least partially overlap said gripping portion with respect to a vertical direction that is substantially perpendicular to said first and second surfaces of said mounting plate. 
 
     
     
       26. The lamp holding apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the pair of elastic pieces includes a stepped locking surface arranged to engage an inner surface of the mounting hole. 
     
     
       27. A lamp holding apparatus for mounting a lamp to a lamp mounting member including a base, the lamp holding apparatus comprising:
 a mounting plate which is to be mounted to said base of said lamp mounting member at a first surface of said mounting plate;   a plurality of lamp holding portions provided on a second surface of said mounting plate opposite to said first surface to hold at least one lamp;   a gripping portion located on said second surface of said mounting plate and between said lamp holding portions;   a locking portion which protrudes from said first surface of said mounting plate and is inserted into a mounting hole provided in the base to be lockable to a peripheral edge of the mounting hole of a rear surface of the base, the locking portion and the mounting plate defined by a single monolithic element and including a base portion and a pair of elastic pieces extending diagonally upward from an end of the base portion, the pair of elastic pieces arranged to engage inner surfaces of the mounting hole; wherein   said locking portion and said gripping portion are located closer to each other in a lateral direction extending along the first and second surfaces of the mounting plate than a location of said locking portion relative to a closest one of said plurality of lamp holding portions;   the gripping portion has a greater height dimension measured from said mounting plate than the lamp holding portions; and   said locking portion and said gripping portion are disposed opposite to each other with the mounting plate disposed therebetween.   
     
     
       28. The lamp holding apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said locking portion is arranged to at least partially overlap said gripping portion with respect to a vertical direction that is substantially perpendicular to said lateral direction. 
     
     
       29. The lamp holding apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said locking portion is concentric with said gripping portion. 
     
     
       30. The lamp holding apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said lamp holding apparatus is made of a synthetic resin and has a white surface. 
     
     
       31. The lamp holding apparatus according to claim 27, wherein each of the pair of elastic pieces includes a stepped locking surface arranged to engage the inner surface of the mounting hole. 
     
     
       32. A backlight device, comprising:
 the lamp holding apparatus of claim 31; and   at least one lamp.   
     
     
       33. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
 the backlight device of claim 32; and   a liquid crystal panel.   
     
     
       34. A backlight device, comprising:
 the lamp holding apparatus of claim 27; and   at least one lamp.   
     
     
       35. A display device, comprising:
 the backlight device of claim 34; and   a display panel.   
     
     
       36. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
 the backlight device of claim 34; and   a liquid crystal panel.