GB2402032A

GB2402032A - Releasable,decorative fascia for TV,monitor or VDU

Info

Publication number: GB2402032A
Application number: GB0311917A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Paul Rees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-23
Filing date: 2003-05-23
Publication date: 2004-11-24
Also published as: GB0311917D0

Abstract

A television monitor 1 is provided with a releasable, decorative fascia 10. The fascia may be interchangeable to present a variety of different appearances, according to the user's choice. The fascia may carry its own decoration, or it may carry decorative articles such as ceramic tiles. The fascia may be attached to the monitor by a clip-on arrangement or by the use of hook-and-loop fastenings.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MONITORS

1] This invention concerns improvements in or relating to monitors.

2] In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention has reference to television monitors which are usually provided with a fixed casing housing the tube and the associated electronics and presenting a viewing screen at the front. The appearance of the monitor is established at the time of manufacture.

3] As is well known, in this day and age property owners, especially those who are DIY enthusiasts, frequently change the decor of the residences in which they live. The colour scheme chosen together with the nature of the decorations will often leave expensive pieces of equipment incongruous to the extent that their appearance does not fit the new decor.

10004] It is becoming increasingly popular to install television monitors in for example bathrooms and my co-pending UK Patent Application 0121005. 3 among others is directed to inventions in

this field.

5] It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitor with a versatility of appearance and to provide the means therefor.

6] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a monitor provided with mounting means, and a removable fascia adapted for releasable attachment to the mounting means.

10007] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a fascia adapted for releasable attachment to a monitor.

10008] The fascia may be in the form of a surround intended to frame the screen of the monitor. The fascia may include within the surround a transparent window.

9] The fascia is intended to be interchangeable such that a set of surrounds would be available for the user, there being a variety of different designs presenting variations in visual appearance in terms of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament and having differing chromatic characteristics. The user would thus be able to select the appropriate fascia that would match the decor selected, or purely for novelty sake to change the appearance of the monitor whenever desired.

[00010] The transparent window may be clear or may have a tint.

Again the window tint would be available in a variety of colours for selection by the user.

[00011] The mounting means may be of any suitable form. For example, the mounting means may provide for a clip-on arrangement that would facilitate interchangeability of the fascia.

The varying designs of monitor, particularly television monitors, may dictate a variety of differing mounting means therefor.

[00012] In the alternative the mounting means may employ VELCRO strips or pads of suitable dimension and shape providing adequate strength to ensure retention of the fascia to the monitor.

[00013] It is envisaged that the fascia would be marketed with appropriate mountings provided for both the monitor and the fascia itself for ease of installation by the consumer.

[00014] In the case of a monitor installed within a bathroom environment, the fascia may be produced in such manner as to allow the application of for example tiling to match the decor or to provide a contrast thereto. In this event, the fascia may be provided with suitable re-entrant for accommodating a decorative lO panel element, such as a tile or other decoration. The intention of providing a fascia with a re-entrant would be to enable the consumer to customise the fascia.

[00015] By way of example one embodiment of monitor and fascia therefor according to the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [00016] Figure 1 is schematic front elevation of a television monitor; and [00017] Figure 2 is a schematic front elevation of a fascia.

[00018] Referring to the drawings there is shown schematically in Figure l a television monitor 1 provided with the usual casing 2 with a screen 4 at the front thereof.

[00019] The border 6 embracing the screen 4 is provided with mounting means 8 at each corner for releasable engagement with complementary formations on a fascia lO shown in Figure 2.

[00020] The fascia 10 is in the form of a frame the bounding sides of which are of decorative character, although the illustration does not show this aspect of the invention since the decoration could be of any desired type. As intimated above, the fascia is provided with complementary formations (not shown) on its side facing the monitor, the formations interengaging in releasable manner with the mounting means 8 on the front of the television monitor.

[00021] In use when it is desired to change the appearance of the monitor, the fascia lO is removed by dismounting from the monitor front and replaced with an alternative displaying a different presentation.

[00022] The mounting means may be of any convenient type, for example VELCRO strips or pads, or releasable clip-on arrangements. It is to be understood that the mounting means may be provided at any suitable location either on the front of the monitor or on its sides or top and bottom.

[00023] The fascia may have a transparent window which may be tinted or untinted as desired.

[00024] The invention thus provides a unique way of altering the appearance of a monitor by interchanging the fascia. The monitor may be a television monitor or a monitor for a PC.

Claims

1. A monitor provided with mounting means, and a removable fascia adapted for releasable attachment to the mounting means.

2. A monitor according to Claim 1 in which the fascia is in the form of a surround intended to frame the screen of the monitor.

3. A monitor according to Claim 2 in which the fascia includes within the surround a transparent window.

4. A monitor according to Claim 2 in which the transparent window may be clear or tinted.

5. A monitor according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fascia carries a surface decoration.

6. A monitor according to Claim 5 in which the fascia is provided with a re-entrant adapted to accommodate the surface decoration.

7. A monitor according to Claim 6 in which the re-entrant is adapted to accommodate a ceramic tile.

8. A monitor according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fascia is shaped.

9. A monitor according to any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting means provides for a clip-on arrangement.

10. A monitor according to any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting means employs VELCRO strips or pads.

11. A monitor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A fascia adapted for releasable attachment to a monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

13. A fascia substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.