Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-22
2004-01-13
Tolin, Gerald (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C165S121000, C165S080300, C257S722000, C415S177000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06678158
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heat sink assemblies, and particularly to a heat sink assembly having a fixing device for readily and firmly attaching a fan thereto.
2. Prior 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 such as CPUs, large amounts of heat are produced. Such heat must be quickly removed from the electronic device, to prevent the device from becoming unstable or being damaged. Typically, a heat sink together with a fan is attached to an outer surface of the device to facilitate removal of heat therefrom.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, a conventional heat dissipating assembly comprises a heat sink
200
, a fan
300
, and a fixing device
100
for attaching the fan
300
to the heat sink
200
. The heat sink
200
has a base
210
, and a plurality of fins
220
extending upwardly therefrom. A pair of threaded holes
230
is defined in each of opposite side faces of the base
210
. The fixing device
100
comprises a frame
120
, a pair of legs
140
depending from each of opposite sides of the frame
120
, and four locking posts
110
extending upwardly from four corners of the frame
120
. An aperture
150
is defined in a distal end of each leg
140
, corresponding to one of the threaded holes
230
of the heat sink
200
. A screw
250
is extended through each aperture
150
of the fixing device
100
and engaged in a corresponding threaded hole
230
of the heat sink
200
, thereby attaching the fixing device
100
to the heat sink
200
. Crisscrossed slots
160
are defined in a top portion of each post
110
, for providing elastic deformability. Four through holes
320
are defined in four corners of the fan
300
. In assembly, the top portions of the posts
110
are resiliently extended through the through holes
320
of the fan
300
. Once the top portions protrude from a top of the fan
300
, they resiliently expand back to their original orientations. The fan
300
is thereby attached to the heat sink
200
by the fixing device
100
.
However, the fixing device
100
and the heat sink
200
are two separate parts. The fixing device
100
must be attached to the heat sink
200
with numerous screws
250
, which makes the assembly process unduly complicated and cumbersome. Furthermore, in operation, the screws are prone to be loosened by vibration and create noise.
An improved means of securing a fan to a heat sink which overcomes the above problems is desired.
BRIEF 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 thereto.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat sink assembly which is easily assembled and thus lowers costs.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a heat sink assembly of the present invention comprises a fixing device, a fin member and a fan. The fixing device is integrally formed by extruding aluminum. The fixing device comprises a base, two side plates extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base, and an upper plate connecting the side plates and being parallel to the base, thereby defining a space therebetween accommodating the fin member. Four threaded holes are defined in four corners of the upper plate of the fixing device. The fin member is formed by continually bending a metal sheet to yield a concertina-like structure. The fan is box-shaped, and has four through holes defined in four corners thereof. Four screws extend through the through holes of the fan and engage in the threaded holes of the fixing device, thereby attaching the fan to the fixing device.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with the attached drawings, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 5494098 (1996-02-01), Morosas
patent: 5630469 (1997-05-01), Butterbaugh et al.
patent: 5701951 (1997-12-01), Jean
patent: 6104609 (2000-08-01), Chen
patent: 6330906 (2001-12-01), Wang
patent: 6343013 (2002-01-01), Chen
patent: 6419008 (2002-07-01), Wu
Lee Tsung-Lung
Li Liang Hui
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