Clip for heat sink

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to clips, and particularly to a clip which readily and firmly secures a heat sink to an electronic device.

2. Related Art

Computer electronic devices such as central processing units (CPUs) frequently generate large amounts of heat. Oftentimes, a heat sink is attached onto a top surface of a CPU by using any of a variety of currently available clips. By removing heat from the CPU, the heat sink protects the CPU and associated components from instability and damage.

A conventional clip for a heat sink is disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. 313,278. The clip includes four parts, and is therefore unduly difficult to assemble. This unnecessarily inflates costs, particularly in mass-production facilities. U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,112 discloses a single-piece clip attaching a heat sink to an electronic device. However, the assembly, disassembly and reassembly of these parts require the use of tools and an unduly high degree of skill.

Thus, a clip means which solves the above-mentioned problems is strongly desired.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a clip which readily and firmly secures a heat sink to an electronic device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clip which does not need tools in assembly or disassembly, and thus lowers costs.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a clip in accordance with the present invention for securing a heat sink to an electronic chip mounted on a socket comprises a substantially V-shaped body, first and second legs depending from respective opposite ends of the body, and a handle formed at the second leg for facilitating manual operation. The body has a horizontal pressing section. Each leg defines a first opening for engagingly receiving a respective projection of the socket. The handle is integrally formed by cutting and bending material from the body and the second leg, and comprises a V-shaped body and an operating section. The operating section of the handle projects out from the second leg. Pressing the handle enables the second leg to be resiliently engaged with the corresponding projection of the socket.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a clip of the present invention, together with a heat sink, and an electronic chip mounted on a socket; and

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 1, a clip 10 of the present invention is used to attach a heat sink 20 to an electronic chip 40 mounted on a socket 30 .

The heat sink 20 comprises a base 21 , and a plurality of fins 22 extending upwardly from the base 21 . A channel 23 is defined through a center of the fins 22 .

The socket 30 has a pair of projections 32 extending from opposite sides thereof respectively. Each projection 32 defines an undercut (not labeled) for enhancing the engagement of the clip 10 therewith.

The clip 10 comprises a substantially V-shaped body 11 , first and second legs 14 , 15 depending from opposite ends of the body 11 respectively, and a handle 17 formed at the second leg 15 for facilitating manual operation. The body 11 has a central lowermost horizontal pressing section 12 . Each leg 14 , 15 defines a first opening 16 for engagingly receiving a respective projection 32 of the socket 30 . A distal end of each leg 14 , 15 is flared, for facilitating engaging of the legs 14 , 15 with the projections 32 of the socket 30 . The handle 17 is integrally formed by cutting and bending material from the body 11 and an upper part of the second leg 15 . A second opening 18 is thus defined in a joint portion of the body 11 and the second leg 15 . The handle 17 comprises a V-shaped body 171 and an operating section 172 . The V-shaped body 171 is bent inwardly and downwardly from an edge of the second leg 15 that is at an end of the second opening 18 , and further folded outwardly and upwardly. The operating section 172 extends from a distal end of the V-shaped body 171 , and projects out from the second leg 15 for facilitating operation thereof.

In assembly, the heat sink 20 is placed on the electronic chip 40 mounted on the socket 30 . The clip 10 is received in the channel 23 of the heat sink 20 , and the pressing section 12 of the clip 10 rests on an upper surface of the base 21 of the heat sink 20 . The first opening 16 of the first leg 14 engagingly receives a corresponding one of the projections 32 of the socket 30 . Then the operating section 172 of the handle 17 is depressed to cause the second leg 15 to move downwardly until the first opening 16 thereof receives the other projection 32 of the socket 30 . The handle 17 is released, and the second leg 15 is resiliently and firmly engaged with said other projection 32 . Spring tension of the clip 10 keeps it firmly engaged with the socket 30 . The heat sink 20 is thereby securely attached to the electronic chip 40 mounted on the socket 30 .

In disassembly, the handle 17 is pressed downwardly and outwardly. The amount of force applied to the operating section 172 of the handle 17 must be sufficient to overcome the spring tension of the clip 10 , to cause the second leg 15 at the first opening 16 to disengage from said other projection 32 of the socket 30 . Then, the first leg 14 is removed from said one projection 32 of the socket 30 . The heat sink 20 is then readily removed from the electronic chip 40 mounted on the socket 30 .

It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present example and embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.