Heat dissipation fixture seating structure

Details Heat dissipation fixture seating structure Heat dissipation fixture seating structure

1999-12-27

2001-07-24

Thompson, Gregory (Department: 2835)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C165S080300, C165S185000, C174S016300, C257S718000, C257S719000, C361S715000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06266245

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to a heat dissipation fixture seating structure for installing a heat dissipation fixture onto a computer central processing unit (CPU) that provides mounting componentry capable of assembly and disassembly from the exterior of the heat sink, thereby enabling easy installation and removal, while facilitating seating and adjustment.
2) Description of the Prior Art
To reduce heat generated by computer central processing units (CPU), personal computers currently have heat dissipation fixtures or devices installed over the CPU to maintain computer operating stability. Due to the continuous development of high performance integrated circuits and the miniaturization of chip dimensions, CPU manufacturers utilize modular designs that directly enclose the CPU in a hollow housing having fastening holes which provide for both heat dissipation and mounting. However, as indicated in
FIG. 1
, the conventional mounting structure for assembling the heat dissipation fixture to the CPU utilizes a clip component
1
and mounting posts
2
to attach the heat sink
3
to the CPU housing
4
, wherein the said clip component
1
is horizontally straddled over the heat sink
3
, with the hooked sections
11
at each of the two ends engaged in the fastening holes
41
of the CPU housing
4
. The conical snap sections
21
at the lower end of the mounting posts
2
are inserted into both the through-holes of the heat sink
3
and the fastening holes
41
of the CPU housing
4
, utilizing the rebound compression action of the conical snap sections
21
to attach the heat sink
3
to the top of the CPU housing
4
. In such mounting structures, since the clip component
1
is straddled on the heat sink
3
, the structure of which consists of vertically arrayed fins, the height of these elements constrain the application of force during installation and removal, which is especially so while undertaking removal because of the resilient anti-compressive nature of the conical snap sections
21
that tend to increase removal difficulty. To further facilitate assembly and installation, certain manufacturers have consequently developed an active mounting method of improved design which, as indicated in
FIG. 2
, consists of a movable rod
6
and tensile clips
7
configured onto the heat sink
5
, wherein inward curved retaining sections
71
are formed on the ends of the tensile clips
7
and tabs
61
are disposed on the movable rod
6
to counter the elastic flexion of the tensile clips
7
, thereby enabling the retaining sections
71
to securely hold the heat sink
5
on the CPU housing
8
. Although this type of mounting structure supports easier assembly, since the movable rod
6
is a manually adjustable component and, furthermore, protrudes from exterior side of the heat dissipation fixture, it is subject to becoming loosened or dislodged if impacted during the assembly process, which sometimes results in having to assemble the unit twice and increases the degree of difficulty involved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the mounting structure drawbacks of the conventional heat dissipation fixtures that lead to numerous installation and removal inconveniences, the present invention is based on years of related experience and features an improved mounting structure that addresses the above drawbacks. In the invention herein, the horizontal section of the holddown component is held flush against the heat sink base plate, one end extends upward from the horizontal section at an angle and is then bent downward vertically, with a tensile catch seat formed at the bend. Notch-like limiter sections are formed in level juxtaposition on the two edges situated vertically below the catch seat, and an inward facing latch hook is formed at the bottom end of the catch seat, while the other end extends upward from the horizontal section at an angle. This physically narrower end is then bent downward vertically, a tensile hook seat is formed at the bend, a pair of slots are disposed in parallel in the hook seat, and an inward facing latch hook is formed at the bottom of the hook seat; also assembled to the holddown component is a lifter link component. The lifter link component is U-shaped and has an adjustment saddle vertically formed on one end. A threaded hole is tapped in the adjustment saddle and forked adjustment arms extend in parallel from the two sides. A reinforcing section is formed along the center extent of the forked adjustment arms, and a curved shank hook is formed at the bottom ends. When assembled, the adjustment saddle is situated against the outer side of the catch seat, the body of the forked adjustment arms are inserted and positioned in the limiter sections, and the curved shank hooks at the bottom end are engaged in the slots of the hook seat, at which time a space remains between the adjustment saddle and the catch seat. When a screw is fastened into the threaded hole of the adjustment saddle, the screw moves through the threaded hole as it is rotated and is brought against the catch seat; if the screw is tightened, due to the tensile action of the curved shank hooks, the catch seat and the hook slots move inward simultaneously, causing the latch hooks to clasp inwardly against the interior lateral edge of the through-holes of the CPU housing, with the resultant upward supporting force produced utilized to achieve a tightly seated union between the base plate and the CPU housing, thereby precluding vibration-induced loosening and movement. Since the adjustment saddle and the catch seat are in a vertically oriented configuration, after the heat dissipation fixture assembly is completed, they are positioned at the opening in the exterior side of the upper cover. As such, when removing, it is only necessary to loosen the screw in the opposite direction through the opening in the exterior side of the heat dissipation fixture, which requires a gentle application of force and, furthermore, installation is also simple and convenient.
The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide a heat dissipation fixture seating structure, wherein the seating structure is comprised of a holddown component and a lifter link component. The holddown component has a catch seat, at one end of which are formed limiter sections that position and retain the adjustment arms of the lifter link component. A hook seat is situated at the other end and slots are formed in the hook seat to provide for the engagement of curved shank hooks at the end of the adjustment arms. A screw in the threaded hole of the adjustment saddle is accessible from the exterior side of the heat sink and can be tightened against the catch seat to cause the catch seat and the hook seat to move inwardly, followed by the inward clasping of the latch hooks at their two ends to thereby achieve tight union with the CPU.
To enable a further understanding of the overall innovative structure of the present invention, the brief description of the drawings below are following the detailed description of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5870288 (1999-02-01), Chen
patent: 5903434 (1999-05-01), Chiou
patent: 5932925 (1999-08-01), McIntyre
patent: 5979025 (1999-11-01), Horng
patent: 6025994 (2000-02-01), Chiou
patent: 6049457 (2000-04-01), Lee

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