Heat sink clip with plurality of pressing portions

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heat sink clips, and more particularly to a heat sink clip which easily and securely attaches a heat sink to an electronic device such as a central processing unit (CPU) that is mounted on a socket.

2. Description of Prior Art

Continued development of CPUs has enabled them to perform more and more functions. Heat generated by CPUs has increased commensurately. Measures must be taken to efficiently remove the heat from the CPU. Typically, a heat sink having great heat conductivity is mounted on the CPU to remove heat therefrom. A clip is frequently used to firmly attach the heat sink to the CPU, thus achieving greater efficiency of heat dissipation.

A conventional clip for securing a heat sink, a CPU and a CPU socket together is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,155. Referring to FIG. 3, the clip comprises a horizontal portion 514 , a first leg 588 , a second leg 594 , and a handle 592 . A coiled pressing portion 552 is formed in a middle part of the horizontal portion 514 , for pressing a heat sink 400 against a CPU 600 . A pair of looped hooks 590 is respectively formed at distal ends of the first and second legs 588 , 594 . The hooks 590 are resiliently engaged with ears 710 formed at opposite sides of a CPU socket 700 . However, the pressing portion 552 provides only two contact points pressing against the heat sink 400 . The clip does not apply enough force to securely retain the heat sink 400 against the CPU 600 , particularly when the assembly is subjected to vibration or shock during use.

Thus, a heat sink clip which can overcome the above-mentioned problems is desired.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat sink clip which easily and securely attaches a heat sink to an electronic device such as a CPU that is mounted on a socket.

In order to achieve the object set out above, a heat sink clip in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is for securing a heat sink to a CPU mounted on a CPU socket. The clip is shaped from a single piece of metal wire. Opposite ends of the metal wire are bent to form a generally twin strand structure that is the clip. The clip comprises a central pressing portion, two resilient connecting portions extending outwardly and upwardly from the pressing portion, and two arms depending from distal ends of the connecting portions. The pressing portion comprises four contact points at a bottom thereof, for pressing the heat sink onto the CPU. A pair of hooks is inwardly formed from distal ends of the arms respectively, for engaging with a pair of retaining ears at opposite sides of the CPU socket. The contact points of the pressing portion enable the heat sink to be securely fastened to the CPU on the CPU socket.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a heat sink clip in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the clip of FIG. 1 securing a heat sink to a CPU mounted on a CPU socket, with part of the heat sink cut away for clear illustration; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic, isometric view of a conventional heat sink clip securing a heat sink to a CPU mounted on a CPU socket.

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat sink clip 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is for securing a heat sink 20 to a CPU 30 mounted on a CPU socket 40 . The heat sink 20 comprises a chassis 22 , and a plurality of parallel heat sink fins 24 extending upwardly from the chassis 22 . A pair of retaining ears 42 is outwardly formed from opposite sides of the CPU socket 40 respectively.

The heat sink clip 10 is shaped from a single piece of metal wire. Opposite ends of the metal wire are bent to form a generally twin strand structure that is the heat sink clip 10 . The heat sink clip 10 comprises a central pressing portion 12 , a pair of resilient portions 18 extending outwardly and upwardly from opposite sides of the pressing portion 12 respectively, and two arms 14 depending from free ends of the resilient portions 18 respectively. The pressing portion 12 comprises two circular units (not labeled) providing stabilization of the whole clip 10 , and two contact points (not labeled) which, in this embodiment, are essentially outside of periphery of the corresponding circular unit, are located around a bottom portion thereof, thus assuring deformation of the circular unit not to effect the contact points. Alternately, such contact points may be a part of the corresponding circular unit under different embodiments, if different shaped resilient portion 18 is equipped therewith. A pair of hooks 16 , 16 ′ is inwardly formed from free ends of the arms 14 respectively.

In use, the heat sink 20 is placed on the CPU 30 that is mounted on the CPU socket 40 . The heat sink clip 10 is placed between two centermost of the fins 24 of the heat sink 20 . The pressing portion 12 of the clip 10 rests on the chassis 22 of the heat sink 20 . The resilient portions 18 at the arms 14 are depressed so that the hooks 16 , 16 ′ of the arms 14 are snappingly engaged with undersides of the retaining ears 42 of the CPU socket 40 . Thus the chassis 22 of the heat sink 20 is resiliently and firmly pressed against the CPU 30 by the pressing portion 12 at the four contact points thereof. The heat sink 20 is securely fastened to the CPU 30 on the CPU socket 40 by the heat sink clip 10 .

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.