Fan holder

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holder, and particularly to a fan holder for attaching a fan to a heat sink.

2. Description of Related Art

Computer electronic devices such as central processing units (CPUs) generate a lot of heat during normal operation. This can deteriorate their operational stability and damage associated electronic equipment. Thus the heat must be removed quickly to ensure normal operation. A heat dissipation device is often attached to a top surface of a CPU, to remove heat therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 5, a conventional heat dissipation device 1 comprises a heat sink 2 and a fan 4 . The fan 4 is secured on the heat sink 2 by screws 3 engaging with threads defined in fins of the heat sink 2 .

Contemporary CPUs generate unprecedented amounts of heat, which has resulted in large height-to-width ratios of fins of modern heat sinks. The fins of such heat sinks are thin. Thus, in assembly, the fins of the heat dissipation device 1 are prone to deform. Later, during normal operation of the heat dissipation device 1 , the screws are liable to disengage from the fins.

Furthermore, during securing of the screws 3 with the fins of the heat sink 2 , fragments are often torn away from the fins. The fragments are deposited in spaces between the fins of the heat sink, thereby decreasing the efficiency of heat dissipation.

Examples of conventional heat dissipation devices are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Applications Nos. 85207163 and 86216714.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fan holder which can securely attach a fan to a heat sink.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fan holder which has a simple structure.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a fan holder for attaching a fan to a heat sink in accordance with the present invention comprises a base defining an opening therethrough, two pair of hooks, two pairs of posts around the opening, a pair of positioning blocks, and two pairs of slots defined in the base. The hooks depend from the base, and engage in grooves defined through fins of the heat sink. The posts extend upwardly from the base, and are received in corresponding holes of the fan. Each post has a resilient engaging portion and a notch, which allow the engaging portion to elastically compress and firmly attach the fan on the fan holder. The positioning blocks are formed under the base, on opposite sides of the opening and perpendicular to the hooks. The slots are adjacent the hooks, and allow easy disassembly of the fan holder from the heat sink.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan holder of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fan holder of FIG. 1, viewed from another aspect;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the fan holder of the present invention, for securing a fan to a heat sink;

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of a fan attached to a heat sink by a conventional fan holder.

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

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a fan holder 10 of the present invention comprises a rectangular base 11 . The base 11 has a top surface 12 , and a bottom surface 13 opposite to the top surface 12 . An opening 18 is defined in a center of the base 11 . Two pairs of opposing hooks 14 respectively depend from opposite side edges of the base 11 , each hook being near a respective corner of the base 11 . Four slots 15 are respectively defined in the base 11 , each slot 15 being disposed adjacent and inwardly from the corresponding hook 14 . A pair of elongate positioning blocks 22 is formed on the bottom surface 13 of the base 11 , on opposite sides of the opening 18 respectively. The positioning blocks 32 are generally perpendicular to the hooks 14 .

Two pairs of hollow posts 16 extend upwardly from the top surface 12 of the base 11 , each post 16 being disposed between a respective corner of the base 11 and the opening 18 . Each post 16 has a resilient engaging portion 24 extending downwardly and outwardly from an upper portion thereof. A notch 25 is defined in each post 16 , opposite the engaging portion 24 .

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the fan holder 10 of the present invention, for attaching a fan 30 to a heat sink 40 . Four holes 32 are respectively defined in four corners of the fan 30 , corresponding to the posts 16 of the fan holder 10 . The heat sink 40 has a plurality of upwardly extending fins 42 , with spaces 44 defined between adjacent fins 42 . A pair of grooves 46 is defined through ends of upper portions of the fins 42 , the grooves 46 being disposed at opposite sides of the heat sink 40 .

Referring also to FIG. 4, in assembly, the fan holder 10 is placed on the heat sink 40 . The positioning blocks 22 of the fan holder 10 are located above two outmost spaces 44 of the heat sink 40 respectively. The fan holder 10 is pressed downwardly until the hooks 14 thereof engage in the grooves 46 of the heat sink 40 . The positioning blocks 22 are received in the outmost spaces 44 , with opposite sides of each positioning block 22 abutting against adjacent fins 42 of the heat sink 44 . The fan 30 is then placed on the fan holder 10 , with the holes 32 of the fan 30 receiving the posts 16 of the fan holder 10 . The fan 30 is pressed downwardly until it contacts the top surface 12 of the fan holder 10 . The engaging portions 24 of the posts 16 are elastically compressed and tightly abut against the fan 30 in the holes 32 , thereby firmly attaching the fan 10 on the fan holder 32 . Thus the fan holder 10 securely attaches the fan 30 on the heat sink 40 .

In disassembly, the fan 30 is detached from the fan holder 32 . A tool (not shown) is then inserted in one slot 15 of the fan holder 32 , and is pressed inwardly and downwardly. This causes the hooks 14 on one side of the fan holder 10 to disengage from the corresponding groove 46 of the heat sink 40 . Thereupon the fan holder 32 is easily detached from the heat sink 40 .

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.