Heat sink clip

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a clip, and particularly to a clip for attaching a heat sink to an electronic device.

2. The Related Art

Many electronic devices, such as Central Processing Units (CPUs), generate large amounts of heat during operation. This deteriorates their operational stability. To overcome this problem, a heat sink is often mounted to a CPU for removing heat therefrom. Various means have been used for attaching a heat sink to a CPU.

Taiwan Patents Nos. 309128 and 270563, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,981 disclose various clips for attaching heat sinks to CPUs. In Taiwan Patent No. 309128, a conventional heat sink clip comprises a spring body and a leg forming a plurality of protrusions to engage with one end of the spring body. However, considerable force is required when assembling the clip, and the assembly process takes an unduly long time. Furthermore, the clip cannot exert a large spring force on the heat sink.

Another prior art structure, described in Taiwan Patent No. 270563, comprises a clip having a spring portion and a handle pivotally connected to the spring portion and a leg. However, two pins are required to assemble these components together, which is unduly complicated and cumbersome.

Still another prior art structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,981 comprises a clip having a pair of legs with latching ports respectively defined therein. Using the clip does not require tools. However, a user requires both hands simultaneously during parts of the installation procedure. This is inconvenient and unduly inefficient.

Thus a new heat sink clip is desired to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a clip for readily attaching and detaching a heat sink and an electronic device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clip for securely attaching a heat sink to an electronic device.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a heat sink clip comprises a body and a fastener. The body comprises a pressing portion, and first and second spring portions extending from respective opposite ends of the pressing portion. A connecting section extends outwardly and upwardly from a free end of the second spring portion, and then outwardly and downwardly. The uppermost portion of the connecting section forms a ridge. A longitudinal slot is defined in the second spring portion and the connecting section, to provide elastic deformability. The end of the connecting section forms a pair of barbs. The fastener has a vertical arm, and an operation portion extending away from the arm. The arm defines an opening for engaging with the connecting section of the body, thereby attaching the fastener to the body.

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

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a clip in accordance with the present invention, for attaching a heat sink to a CPU mountable on a socket connector;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the clip of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 1, with the clip of the present invention in an unlocked position; and

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but showing the clip in a locked position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a clip 10 of the present invention attaches a heat sink 30 to a CPU 52 which is mounted on a socket connector 54 . The heat sink 30 , the CPU 52 and the socket connector 54 are all conventional. The heat sink 30 includes a slot 36 defined through a middle portion thereof, for receiving the clip 10 . The socket connector 54 includes a pair of external tabs 56 formed on respective opposite sides thereof, for engaging with the clip 10 .

The clip 10 includes a body 14 and a fastener 17 . The body 14 includes a central pressing portion 142 , and first and second spring portions 144 , 154 extending from respective opposite ends of the pressing portion 142 . A first leg 146 with a first aperture 148 defined therein depends from a free end of the first spring portion 144 . A bifurcated connecting section 156 extends outwardly and upwardly from a free end of the second spring portion 154 , and then further extends outwardly and downwardly. The uppermost portion of the connecting section 156 forms a ridge 168 . A longitudinal reinforcing rib 166 is formed on the body 14 , extending along the first spring portion 144 , the pressing portion 142 and part of the second spring portion 154 . The remaining part of the second spring portion 154 defines a longitudinal slot 162 which extends through the entire connecting section 156 , to provide elastic deformability for the connecting section 156 . The second spring portion 154 forms a pair of protrusions 164 on respective opposite lateral sides thereof, near the connecting section 156 . A pair of barbs 158 extends from respective opposite lateral sides of an end portion of the connecting section 156 .

The fastener 17 includes a vertical arm 170 , and a connecting portion 174 extending from a top edge of the arm 170 at an angle slightly more than 90 degrees. The arm 170 defines a second aperture 172 , and a T-shaped opening 175 above the second aperture 172 . A widened operation portion 177 extends from a free end of the connecting portion 174 such that the operation portion 177 is disposed perpendicular to the arm 170 . An extension portion 179 extends outwardly and upwardly from a free end of the operation portion 177 .

Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the body 14 is pushed against the fastener 17 . The barbs 158 of the body 14 are driven into a wide portion of the T-shaped opening 175 of the fastener 17 . The connecting section 156 thereby elastically deforms to allow the barbs 158 to fully pass through the wide portion of the T-shaped opening 175 of the fastener 17 . The body 14 is continued to be pushed until the protrusions 164 of the body 14 abut the arm 170 of the fastener 17 . A pivotal connection is thereby formed between the body 14 and the fastener 17 . The CPU 52 is mounted on the socket connector 54 . The heat sink 30 is placed on the CPU 52 . The clip 10 is placed in the slot 36 of the heat sink 30 . The first and second apertures 148 , 172 respectively engage with tabs 56 of the socket connector 54 . At this stage, the clip is defined to be in an “unlocked” or loose position.

Referring also to FIG. 5, the operation portion 177 is pulled outwardly. The T-shaped opening 175 slides along the connecting section 156 over the ridge 168 until it abuts the barbs 158 . The first and second spring portions 144 , 154 are thereby elastically deformed. The elastic energy of the first and second spring portions 144 , 154 in cooperation with the ridge 168 of the body 14 hold the fastener 17 in abutment with the barbs 158 . The elastic energy of the first and second spring portions 144 , 154 also cause the pressing portion 142 to firmly press the heat sink 30 onto the CPU 52 . At this stage, the clip is defined to be in a “locked” or tight position.

In disassembly, the operation portion 177 of the fastener 17 is depressed, thereby releasing the second aperture 172 of the fastener 17 from the tab 56 of the socket connector 54 . The first aperture 148 of the body 14 is then readily detached from the other tab 56 of the socket connector 54 . Thus the heat sink 30 is readily detached from the CPU 52 .

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