Heat sink assembly

Details Heat sink assembly Heat sink assembly

2000-12-26

2001-11-06

Flanigan, Allen (Department: 3743)

Heat exchange

With retainer for removable article

Electrical component

C165S121000, C361S697000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06311766

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat sink assembly, and particularly to a heat sink assembly having a fixing device for readily and firmly attaching a fan to a heat sink.
2. Related Art
Developments in today's highly information-intensive society have led to remarkable improvements in performances of electronic devices. During operation of many contemporary electronic devices, large amounts of heat are produced. Such heat must be quickly removed from the electronic device, to prevent the system from becoming unstable or being damaged. Typically, a heat sink is attached to an outer surface of the device to facilitate removal of heat therefrom. Fans are often attached to the heat sink to provide forced convection therefrom.
Taiwan Patents Nos. 331947, 319404, and 255511 disclose various heat sink assemblies which include fans. In Taiwan Patent No. 331947, a conventional heat sink assembly comprises a fixing device to attach fins to a heat dissipating base. A fan is mounted on a top surface of the fixing device with screws. A pair of legs depends from respective opposite sides of the fixing device. The legs define catches at distal ends thereof, to engage with apertures in side walls of the base. However, securing the fan to the fixing device with screws is cumbersome and time-consuming. Furthermore, the fixing device is attached to the base by means of just two catches engaging with two apertures. This leaves the assembly prone to dislodgement when subjected to shock or vibration during normal operation.
Taiwan Patent No. 319404 comprises a pair of U-shaped fixing tabs respectively attaching two concertinaed fins on a heat dissipating base. A fan is then mounted on the fixing tabs using screws, which is unduly cumbersome. Moreover, the structure is unduly complicated because it contains many components.
Taiwan Patent No. 255511 comprises at least four fixing members to assemble a fan, a heat sink and a micro-processor together. The four fixing members must be installed one by one. Although it does not require screws, the installation process is unduly lengthy and complicated.
An improved means of securing a fan to a heat sink, which overcomes the above problems, is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat sink assembly having a fixing device which firmly and reliably attaches a fan to a heat sink.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat sink assembly which is readily assembled and disassembled.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a heat sink assembly comprises a heat sink, a fan and a fixing device. The heat sink has a chassis which defines a pair of diagonally opposite grooves in respective opposite side walls thereof. The fan defines a vertical through hole at each corner thereof. The fixing device has a rectangular base. A pole having a barb extends upwardly from each corner of the base, for engaging with the corresponding through hole of the fan. A pair of legs depends from respective opposite ends of each side of the base. A catch is formed at a distal end of each leg, for engaging with the heat sink. Two guard boards depend from respective opposite ends of each side of the base, adjacent to and integral with respective legs. A pair of bosses is formed at distal ends of two diagonally opposite guard boards on respective opposite sides of the base, for engaging with the grooves of the heat sink.
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 the attached drawings, in which:


REFERENCES:
patent: 5590025 (1996-12-01), Clemens
patent: 6017185 (2000-01-01), Kuo
patent: 6118657 (2000-09-01), Clemens

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