DISPLAY APPARATUS
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention contains subject matter
related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2006-061797
filed in the Japanese Patent Office on March 7, 2006, the
entire contents of which being incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display
apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a display apparatus having a thin plate form
display device such as an organic EL (Electronic
Luminescent) display, a plasma display and a liquid
crystal display, there is one having a front cover
covering a display surface of a display device and a rear
cover covering the opposite side of the display surface
(refer to Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 5-103284).
In such a display apparatus, rectangular window
(opening) is provided on the front cover, for example, to
expose display surface of the display device to frontward
from inside of the window.
In such a display apparatus, the part of the front
cover is located, like a picture frame, in an annular
region along the outer edges of the display surface of
the display device. Therefore, a step is generated
between the front cover part and the display surface, so
that the front cover part occupies a space on the front
side of the display surface, in an amount corresponding
to the magnitude of the step. This is disadvantageous in
reducing the space occupied by the display apparatus in
the direction orthogonal to the display surface of the
display device, in other words, the size of the display
apparatus in the thickness direction thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, the present applicant has
proposed a display apparatus in which a transparent film
(front cover) is adhered to the whole area of a display
surface of a thin plate form display device, the outer
edges extending from the film part adhered to the display
surface to the outer sides of the display surface and
constituting end parts in the extension directions are
joined to side walls of a rear cover, and a front surface
of the display apparatus is composed of the film
(Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2006-221058).
According to this display apparatus, the front
surface of the display apparatus is composed of the
transparent film attached to the whole area of the
display surface. Unlike the related art, therefore, the
front cover is absent on the outside of the display
surface, which is advantageous in reducing the space
occupied by the display apparatus in the direction
orthogonal to the display surface, i.e., the size of the
display apparatus in the thickness direction thereof.
Meanwhile, in such a display apparatus, for
securing appearance quality of the joint parts between
the outer edges of the film and the side walls of the
rear cover, it may be necessary to minimize the
clearances (gaps) between the outer edges of the film and
the side walls of the rear cover. Therefore, it would be
necessary to enhance the dimensional accuracy of the
outer edges of the film and the side walls of the rear
cover, so that the yields of the film (front cover) and
the rear cover would be low, which is disadvantageous in
reducing the manufacturing cost.
Accordingly, in the embodiments of the present
invention, it is desirable to provide a display apparatus
which is advantageous in securing appearance quality
while contriving a reduction in manufacturing cost.
According to an embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a display apparatus including: a
rectangular thin plate form display device with a surface
on one side in the thickness direction thereof as a
display surface for displaying a image and with a surface
on the other side as a back surface; rigid substrates
each connected to an edge of the display device through a
flexible substrate, operative to drive the display device,
and each being elongate along the edge of the display
device; a front cover covering the display surface of the
display device; a rectangular thin plate form reinforcing
plate attached to the back surface of the display device;
and a rear cover covering the back surface of the display
device and a back surface of the reinforcing plate, the
front cover having a front surface part located on the
front side of the display surface, and side surface parts
bent respectively from four edges of the front surface
part to the rear side, wherein the rigid substrates are
bent to the rear side respectively via the corresponding
flexible substrates and are respectively overlapped with
and attached to the four edges of the back surface of the
reinforcing plate; substrate covers are provided for
respectively covering the rigid substrates overlapped
with the four edges of the back surface of the
reinforcing plate; the substrate covers each have a back
surface part located on the rear side of the rigid
substrate, and a side surface part bent from an end
portion of the back surface part to the front side, and
are movable in the directions for spacing away
respectively from the edges of the reinforcing plate in
the plane of the reinforcing plate; and outside surfaces
of front portions of the side surface parts of the
substrate covers are set in contact with, and joined to,
the inside surfaces of the side surface parts of the
front cover.
In the embodiments of the present invention,
utilization of the substrate covers covering the rigid
substrates ensures that the outside surfaces of the side
surface parts of the substrate covers and the inside
surfaces of the side surface parts of the front cover can
be joined to each other, respectively, in the condition
where the outside surfaces of the side surface parts of
the substrate covers and the inside surfaces of the side
surface parts of the front cover are in contact with each
other, respectively. Therefore, the appearance quality of
the joined portions of the front cover can be enhanced,
without enhancing the dimensional accuracies of the
substrate covers and the front cover.
Accordingly, unlike in the related art, the front
cover and the rear cover can be manufactured without need
for high dimensional accuracies with respect to the front
cover and the rear cover. This is advantageous in
enhancing the appearance quality of the display apparatus
while contriving a reduction in the manufacturing cost.
The above and other features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred
embodiments of the present invention by way of example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reinforcing
plate;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mounting
of a display device, the reinforcing plate, a flexible
substrate, a rigid substrate, and a substrate cover;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a substrate cover,
and FIG. 4B is a view along arrow B of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a substrate cover,
and FIG. 5B is a view along arrow B of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 6 illustrates the condition where the
substrate cover is attached to the reinforcing plate;
FIG. 7 illustrates the condition where the
substrate cover is tentatively fixed to the reinforcing
plate;
FIG. 8 illustrates the condition where the
substrate cover is put in contact with a front cover; and
FIG. 9 illustrates the condition where a rear cover
is attached to the reinforcing plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, embodiments of the display apparatus in the
present invention will be described in detail below,
based on the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the
display apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the display apparatus 10
includes a front cover 12, a display device 14, a heat
conductive sheet 16, a reinforcing plate 18, four
substrate covers 20, a rear cover 22 and the like.
The display device 14 is formed in a rectangular
thin plate-like shape being small in thickness, a display
surface 1402 is provided on one side in the thickness
direction of the display device 14, and the surface on
the other side in the thickness direction is a back
surface 1404.
In this embodiment, the display device 14 is
composed of an organic EL (Electronic Luminescent)
display, and is so configured that a image including a
still image, a motion image, characters, symbols or the
like is displayed on the display surface 1402, based on
drive signals.
The organic EL display is composed of a first glass
plate and a second glass plate laid over each other, and
phosphors (illuminants), electrodes, etc. provided
between the glass plates, wherein a display part for
displaying the above-mentioned image is composed of the
phosphors, electrodes, etc.
A surface, fronting on the opposite side of the
display part (the front side), of the first glass plate
constitutes the display surface 1402, and a surface,
fronting on the opposite side of the display part (the
rear side), of the second glass plate constitutes the
back surface 1404.
Rigid substrates 26 are connected to the four sides
of the display device 14 through flexible substrates 25,
respectively.
Each rigid substrate 26 is for driving the display
device 14 through the flexible substrate 25, is formed in
an elongate shape along each side of the display device
14, and extends in parallel to each side.
More in detail, electronic parts (chip parts)
constituting a drive circuit and a power circuit are
mounted on each rigid substrate 26.
Incidentally, the drive circuit is operative to
generate the drive signal based on a signal supplied from
the exterior and to supply the drive signal to the
display device 14. Here, the signal supplied from the
exterior is, for example, a signal representing
characters, symbols, a still image and/or a motion image
which is supplied from a control unit of a personal
computer, or a signal representing a still image and/or a
motion image which is supplied from a DVD player, a TV
tuner, a video camera or the like; the system of
supplying the signal may be a wired system or a wireless
system.
The power circuit is operative to generate a power
source for driving the display device 14 or a power
source for driving the drive circuit, based on a power
supply in the exterior or the inside of the display
apparatus 10 and to supply the power sources to the
display device 14 and the drive circuit. Incidentally,
the power supply may be based on utilization of a battery
provided in the display apparatus 10, or may be supplied
from the exterior either wiredly or wirelessly. In
addition, the display apparatus 10 is not limited to the
above-mentioned one supplied with the signal from an
external apparatus; namely, the present invention is
applicable also to the cases where, for example, the
display apparatus 10 is incorporated in any of various
electronic apparatuses such as TV set, personal computer,
PDA, mobile phone, etc.
The front cover 12 covers the display surface 1402
of the display device 14 and side portions of the display
device 14 and the reinforcing plate 18. The front cover
12 is transparent. The front cover 12 is adhered to the
display surface 1402 by, for example, a transparent
pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape adhered to
the whole area of the display surface 1402.
The front cover 12 has a front surface part 1202
located on the front side of the display surface 1402,
and side surface parts 1204 bent rearwards from the four
sides of the front surface part 1202 and located on
lateral sides of the display device 12 and the
reinforcing plate 18 (see FIG. 7).
The front surface part 1202 is formed in a
rectangular shape larger in area than the display surface
1402. The four sides of the front surface part 1202 are
located on the outer sides of, and are respectively
parallel to, the four sides of the display surface 1402
(see FIG. 7) .
In this embodiment, the front cover 12 is a film
treated with an AR (anti-reflection) coating so as to
prevent mirroring (reflection) into the display surface
1402 of the display device 14. The film is formed of a
synthetic resin material such as PET (polyethylene
terephthalate), acrylic resin, PC (polycarbonate), etc.
and has a thickness of, for example, about 0.2 mm.
As shown in FIG. 1, the heat conductive sheet 16 is
thermally conductive, and is attached to the whole area
of the back surface 1404 of the display device 14.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reinforcing
plate 18, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the
mounting of the display device 14, the reinforcing plate
18, the flexible substrates 25, the rigid substrates 26,
and the substrate covers 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcing plate 18 has a
rectangular thin plate-like shape, and is attached to the
heat conductive sheet 16 through a pressure sensitive
adhesive double coated tape. Therefore, the reinforcing
plate 18 is attached to the back surface 1404 of the
display device 14 through the heat conductive sheet 16.
The reinforcing plate 18 is formed of a metallic
material having a rigidity sufficient for reinforcing the
display device 14 and has a high thermal conductivity and
an excellent heat radiating property. Examples of the
metallic material include magnesium and aluminum. This
ensures that the rigidity of the display device 14 is
secured, and the heat generated in the display device 14
is efficiently radiated through the heat conductive sheet
16 and the reinforcing plate 18.
The reinforcing plate 18 includes a body plate part
24, a frame 28, and a rib 30.
The body plate part 24 has a rectangular thin
plate-like shape, and has a profile equal in shape and
size to the back surface 1404 of the display device 14.
The body plate part 24 has a structure in which one
side in the thickness direction is a front face 2402
opposite to the back surface 1404 of the display device
14 and the other side in the thickness direction is a
back surface 2404.
The frame 28 has a rectangular frame-like shape
smaller in size than the body plate part 24, and is
provided in the center of the back surface 2404 of the
body plate part 24, while having its four edges
respectively parallel to the four edges of the body plate
part 24.
A rectangular frame-like region 32 is formed
between the four edges of the frame 28 and the four edges
of the body plate part 24.
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the rigid plates 26 is
bent backwards through the corresponding flexible
substrate 25, is laid on the rectangular frame-like
region 32, and is attached to the region 32 through a
pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape or the
like.
The rib 30, on the inner side of the frame 28, has
a rectangular frame-like shape smaller in size than the
frame 28, and is provided in the center of the back
surface 2404 of the body plate part 24, while having its
four edges respectively parallel to the four edges of the
body plate part 24.
The frame 28 and the rib 30 have the function of
reinforcing the body plate part 24 and enhancing rigidity.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, one pair of
opposed edges (major edges), of the four edges of the
back surface 2404 of the body plate part 24, are each
projectingly provided with three boss parts 2410 which
are located at regular intervals along the extending
direction thereof, have a height equal to the height of
the frame 28 and are provided with screw holes 2412 in
tip portions thereof.
Besides, the other pair of opposed edges (minor
edges) are each projectingly provided with boss parts
2410 which are located at positions near both ends in the
extending direction thereof, have a height equal to the
height of the above-mentioned three boss parts 2410 and
are provided with screw holes 2412 in tip portions
thereof.
In addition, of the four sides of the frame 28, one
pair of opposed edges (major edges) are each projectingly
provided with guide pins 2420 at positions near both ends
in the extending direction thereof, and the other pair of
opposed edges (minor edges) are also each projectingly
provided with guide pins 2420 at positions near both ends
in the extending direction thereof.
Besides, the one pair of opposed edges (major
edges) of the frame 28 are each provided with three screw
holes 2430 at regular intervals along the extending
direction thereof, and the other pair of opposed edges
(minor edges) are also each provided with screw holes
2430 at positions near both ends in the extending
direction thereof so that the two guide pins 2420 are
located between the screw holes 2430.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a substrate cover
20A, and FIG. 4B is a view along arrow B of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a substrate cover
2OB, and FIG. 5B is a view along arrow B of FIG. 5A.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the substrate covers 20
are provided respectively for the four edges of the
reinforcing plates 18. The substrate covers 20 extend
over the whole lengths of the four edges of the
reinforcing plate 18, respectively. The substrate covers
20 cover the rigid substrates 26 and the flexible
substrates 25 which are laid over the four edges of the
back surface 2404 of the reinforcing plate 18,
respectively.
The substrate covers 20 are formed of a material
rigid enough to support the front cover 12 and rigid
enough to protect the rigid substrates 26 and the
flexible substrates 25. Example of such a material
include metallic materials and rigid synthetic resins.
As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate covers 20 are
composed of two major-edge-side substrate covers 20A
provided correspondingly to the two major edges of the
reinforcing plate 18, and two minor-edge-side substrate
covers 2OB provided correspondingly to the two minor
edges of the reinforcing plate 18.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the substrate cover
20A on the major edge side has a back surface part 2002
located on the rear side of the rigid substrate 26, and a
side surface part 2004 bent from an end portion of the
back surface part 2002 to the front side and located on a
lateral side of the flexible substrate 25.
The back surface part 2002 of the substrate cover
20A is provided with screw passing holes 2010 at
positions corresponding respectively to the three boss
parts 2410 of the reinforcing plate 18. The screw passing
holes 2010 are each formed in a slot shape extending in
the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of
the substrate cover 20A.
In addition, the back surface part 2002 of the
substrate cover 20A is provided with slots 2020 at
positions corresponding respectively to the two guide
pins 2420 of the reinforcing plate 18. The slots 2020
each extend in the direction orthogonal to the extending
direction of the substrate cover 20A, and are each guided
16
by the guide pin 2420 in the extending direction thereof.
Besides, the back surface part 2002 of the
substrate cover 20A is provided with screw passing holes
2030 at positions corresponding respectively to the three
screw holes 2430 of the reinforcing plate 18. The screw
passing holes 2030 each have a slot shape extending in
the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of
the substrate cover 20A.
In addition, the back surface part 2002 of the
substrate cover 20A is provided with jig engaging holes
2040 at positions adjacent respectively to the slots 2020
The jig engaging holes 2040 are for engagement with jig
engaging pins (not shown) for moving the substrate cover
20A in a predetermined direction at the time of assembly.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the substrate cover
2OB on the minor edge side, like the substrate cover 20A
on the major edge side, has a back surface part 2002
located on the rear side of the rigid substrate 26, and a
side surface part 2004 bent from an end portion of the
back surface part 2002 to the front side and located on a
lateral side of the flexible substrate 25.
The back surface part 2002 of the substrate cover
20B is provided with screw passing holes 2010 at
positions corresponding respectively to the two boss
parts 2410 of the reinforcing plate 18. The screw passing
holes 2010 each have a slot shape extending in the
direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the
substrate cover 2OB.
In addition, the back surface part 2002 of the
substrate cover 20B is provided with slots 2020 at
positions corresponding respectively to the two guide
pins 2420 of the reinforcing plate 18. The slots 2020
each extend in the direction orthogonal to the extending
direction of the substrate cover 20B, and are each guided
by the guide pin 2420 in the extending direction thereof.
Besides, the back surface part 2002 of the
substrate cover 20B is provided with screw passing holes
2030 at positions corresponding respectively to the two
screw holes 2430 of the reinforcing plate 18. The screw
passing holes 2030 each have a slot shape extending in
the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of
the substrate cover 2OB.
In addition, the back surface part 2002 of the
substrate cover 20B is provided with jig engaging holes
2040, similar to those in the substrate cover 20A, at
positions adjacent respectively to the slots 2020.
As shown in FIG. 1, the rear cover 22 covers the
back surface 1404 of the display device 14 and the back
surface 1804 of the reinforcing plate 18, and also covers
the outer side of the reinforcing plate 18. In this
embodiment, the display device 14 and the reinforcing
plate 18 are formed in profiles equal to each other in
shape and size, so that the rear cover 22 covers the back
surface 1804 of the reinforcing plate 18.
The rear cover 22 has a back surface part 2202
located on the rear side of the back surface 1404 of the
display device 14 and the rear side of the back surface
1804 of the reinforcing plate 18, and side surface parts
2204 bent from the four edges of the back surface part
2202 to the front side and located on lateral sides of
the reinforcing plate 18 and the substrate cover 20 (see
FIG. 9).
The back surface part 2202 is formed in a
rectangular shape larger in area than the reinforcing
plate 18. The four edges of the back surface part 2202
are located on the outside of, and parallel respectively
to, the four edges of the reinforcing plate 18.
Now, assembly of the display apparatus 10 will be
described below.
FIG. 6 illustrates the condition where the
substrate cover 20 is attached to the reinforcing plate
18, FIG. 7 illustrates the condition where the substrate
cover 20 is tentatively fixed to the reinforcing plate 18,
FIG. 8 illustrates the condition where the substrate
cover 20 is put in contact with the front cover 12, and
FIG. 9 illustrates the condition where the rear cover 22
is attached to the reinforcing plate 18.
As shown in FIG. 7, the front cover 12 is attached
to the display device 14, the reinforcing plate 18 is
attached to the display device 14 in the condition where
the heat conductive sheet 16 is interposed therebetween,
and the ridge substrates 26 are overlapped on and
attached to the rectangular frame-like region 32.
In this condition, the ridge substrates 26 are
covered with the substrate covers 20, and the substrate
covers 20 are tentatively fixed to the reinforcing plate
18.
Specifically, the back surface parts 2002 of the
substrate covers 20 are set to front on the rigid
substrates 26, the side surface parts 2004 of the
substrate covers 20 are set to front on lateral sides of
the flexible substrate 25 and to front on the inside
surfaces of the side surface parts 1204 of the front
cover 12. In this condition, the back surface parts 2002
of the substrate covers 20 are mounted on the frame 28
and the boss parts 2410, and the guide pins 2420 are
passed through the slots 2020.
As a result, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the slots
2020 are guided by the guide pins 2420, and the substrate
covers 20 can be moved in the directions for spacing away
from the reinforcing plate 18 in the directions
orthogonal to the extending directions of the four edges
of the reinforcing plate 18, respectively. Namely, the
substrate covers 20 are disposed so as to be movable in
the directions for spacing away respectively from the
four edges of the reinforcing plate 18 in the plane of
the reinforcing plate 18.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, with the back
surface parts 2002 of the substrate covers 20 mounted on
the boss parts 2410 and the frame 28 of the reinforcing
plate 18, accommodating spaces S sufficient in size for
accommodating the rigid substrates 26 and the flexible
substrates 25 are formed between the back surface part
2002 and the back surface part 2404 of the reinforcing
plate 18, the back surface parts 2002 of the substrate
covers 20 are disposed to be spaced from the rigid plates
26, and the side surface parts 2004 of the substrate
covers 20 are disposed to be spaced from the flexible
substrates 25; therefore, irrational forces would not be
exposed on various electronic parts mounted on the rigid
substrates 26 or on the flexible substrates 25.
Next, engaging pins of jigs (not shown) are engaged
with the holes 2040 in the substrate covers 20, the
substrate covers 20 are moved in the directions for
spacing away from the reinforcing plate 18 in the
directions orthogonal to the extending directions of the
four edges of the reinforcing plate 18, and, as shown in
FIG. 8, the outside surfaces of front portions of the
side surface parts 2004 of the substrate covers 20 are
put into contact with the inside surfaces of the side
surface parts 1204 of the front cover 12.
In this condition, as shown in FIG. 6, screws 2 are
screw engaged with the screw holes 2412 and 2430 through
the screw passing slots 2010 and 2030, whereby the
substrate covers 20 are fastened to the reinforcing plate
18.
Subsequently, in the condition where the outside
surfaces of the front portions of the side surface parts
2004 and the inside surfaces of the side surface parts
1204 are in contact with and pressed against each other,
the outside surfaces of the front portions of the side
surfaces 2004 and the inside surfaces of the side surface
parts 1204 are joined to each other by fusing them to
each other by heating, for example. As a result, the
front cover 12 is attached to the reinforcing plate 18
through the substrate covers 20.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the front ends of the
side surface parts 2204 of the rear cover 22 are set to
front on the rear ends of the side surface parts 1204 of
the front cover 12, and a plurality of portions of a back
surface part 2202 of the rear cover 22 are attached to
the reinforcing plate 18 through screws 4 passed through
tubular spacers 6.
In this manner, the assembly of the display
apparatus 10 is completed.
According to this embodiment, the outside surfaces
of the side surface parts 2004 of the substrate covers 20
and the inside surfaces of the side surface parts 1204 of
the front cover 12 are joined to each other, without
generating any gap therebetween, by utilizing the
substrate covers 20 protecting the rigid substrates 26.
Therefore, it is possible to achieve fine joining through
preventing deformation of the side surface parts 1204 of
the front cover 12.
In addition, since the rear ends of the side
surface parts 1204 of the front cover 12 and the front
ends of the side surface parts 2204 of the rear cover 22
are set to front on each other, there is no need to
enhance the dimensional accuracy of both the front cover
12 and the rear cover 22, unlike in the related art.
Therefore, the yields of the front cover 12 and the rear
cover 22 can be enhanced, which is advantageous in
enhancing the appearance quality of the display apparatus
10 while contriving a reduction in the manufacturing cost
Besides, at the time of joining the outside
surfaces of front portions of the side surface parts 2004
of the substrate covers 20 and the inside surfaces of the
side surface parts 1204 of the front cover 12 to each
other, the outside surfaces of the side surface parts
2004 of the substrate cover 20 and the inside surfaces of
the side surface parts 1204 of the front cover 12 can be
pressed against each other simply and assuredly by moving
the substrate covers 20, as above-mentioned. Therefore,
it is possible to achieve finer joining, which is
advantageous in enhancing the appearance quality of the
display apparatus 10.
In addition, unlike in the related art, the front
cover 12 and the rear cover 22 are not joined to each
other. Therefore, the rear cover 22 can be easily
detached from the reinforcing plate 18, which is
advantageous in contriving efficient adjustment work and
maintenance work for the display device 14.
Incidentally, while in this embodiment description
has been made of the case where the outside surfaces of
the side surface parts 2004 of the substrate covers 20
and the inside surfaces of the side surface parts 1204 of
the front cover 12 are joined to each other by fusing
under heating, the joining between the front cover 12 and
the substrate covers 20 may be conducted by adopting any
of various joining methods publicly known, such as
adhesion with an adhesive or a pressure sensitive
adhesive double coated tape.
In addition, while a configuration in which the
rear cover 22 is provided with the side surface parts
2204 and the front ends of the side surface parts 2204
are set to front on the rear ends of the side surface
parts 1204 of the front cover 12 has been adopted in this
embodiment, the structure of the side surface parts of
the front cover 12 and the rear cover 22 may be
contemplated in various ways and are arbitrary. For
example, there may be adopted a structure in which the
side surface parts 2204 of the rear cover 22 are extended
on the outside of the side surface parts 1204 of the
front cover 12 to the outer periphery of the front
surface part 1202 of the front cover 12, or a structure
in which the side surface parts 1204 of the front cover
12 are extended to the outer periphery of the back
surface part 2202 of the rear cover 22 and the rear cover
22 is composed only of the back surface part 2202.
Besides, while the case in which the front cover 12
is treated with the AR coating has been described in this
embodiment, various films which have been known can be
adopted insofar as the front cover 12 is transparent.
In addition, while the case where the display
device 14 is an organic EL display device has been
described in the present embodiment, various thin plate
form display devices which have been known, such as
plasma display and liquid crystal display, can naturally
be used as the display device 14.
It should be understood those skilled in the art
that various modifications, combinations, subcombinations
and alterations may occur depending on
designs and other factors insofar as they are within the
scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A display apparatus comprising:
a rectangular thin plate form display device with a
surface on one side in the thickness direction thereof as
a display surface configured to display an image and with
a surface on the other side as a back surface;
rigid substrates each connected to an edge of said
display device through a flexible substrate, operative to
drive said display device, and each being elongate along
said edge of said display device;
a front cover covering said display surface of said
display device;
a rectangular thin plate form reinforcing plate
attached to said back surface of said display device; and
a rear cover covering said back surface of said
display device and a back surface of said reinforcing
plate;
wherein said front cover having a front surface
part located on the front side of said display surface,
and side surface parts bent respectively from four edges
of said front surface part to the rear side, and
said rigid substrates are bent to the rear side
respectively via the corresponding flexible substrates
and are respectively overlapped with and attached to the
four edges of the back surface of said reinforcing plate,
wherein substrate covers are provided for
respectively covering said rigid substrates overlapped
with the four edges of said back surface of said
reinforcing plate,
said substrate covers each have a back
surface part located on the rear side of said rigid
substrate, and a side surface part bent from an end
portion of said back surface part to the front side, and
are movable in the directions for spacing away
respectively from the edges of said reinforcing plate in
the plane of said reinforcing plate, and
outside surfaces of front portions of said
side surface parts of said substrate covers are set in
contact with, and joined to, the inside surfaces of said
side surface parts of said front cover.
2. The display apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said rear cover has a back surface part
located on the rear side of said back surface of said
display device and said reinforcing plate, and side
surface parts bent respectively from four edges of said
back surface part; and
the front ends of said side surface parts of said
rear cover front respectively on the rear ends of said
side surface parts of said front cover, and a back
surface part of said rear cover is screwed to said
reinforcing plate.
3. The display apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said substrate covers extend respectively over
the whole lengths of the four edges of said reinforcing
plate.
4. The display apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said side surface parts of said substrate covers
are located respectively on lateral sides of said
flexible substrates, and cover said flexible substrates
respectively.
5. The display apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said back surface parts of said substrate covers
are disposed to be spaced respectively from said rigid
substrates, and said side surface parts of said substrate
covers are disposed to be spaced respectively from said
flexible substrates.
6. The display apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said substrate covers are formed by use of a
metallic material or rigid synthetic resin which is rigid
enough to protect said rigid substrates and to support
said front cover.
7. The display apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said reinforcing plate is formed by use of a
metallic material having excellent heat radiating
property, and is attached to said back surface of said
display device through a heat conducive sheet.
8. The display apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said display device is an organic EL display.
9. The display apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said front cover is formed by use of a synthetic
resin material.