Heat sink clip and assembly and method of manufacture
First Claim
1. A heat sink clip for attaching a power dissipation device to a heat sink, comprising:
- a generally U-shaped clip constructed of resilient spring material and having a central apex portion and at least two arm portions forming arms of said U shape, each of said arm portions extending away from associated opposite ends of said central apex portion, respectively, and forming an open end of said clip between said arm portions;
one of said arm portions having a surface thereof for contacting said power dissipation device and biasing it toward said heat sink; and
said central apex portion having a slot therein extending through said central apex portion, whereby said slot permits passage of either a portion of said power dissipation device to be heat sunk or permits passage of an insertion tool which facilitates attaching said heat sink clip about said power dissipation device and said heat sink.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A through slot is provided in the central apex portion of a U-shaped heat sink clip and results in an advantageous assembly and method of manufacture. A heat sink and power transistor are clamped together by arm portions of the clip. The slot is used either to permit the passage of an insertion tool for holding the clip open during attachment of the clip to the heat sink and power transistor device or to permit passage of external leads of the power transistor. In either case, the resultant heat sink assembly does not require opening of the clip by providing access to ends or outer projections of the clip arm portions by mounting tools or by providing additional exterior clip projections. Thus a much more compact and readily manufacturable heat sink assembly is provided.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A heat sink clip for attaching a power dissipation device to a heat sink, comprising:
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a generally U-shaped clip constructed of resilient spring material and having a central apex portion and at least two arm portions forming arms of said U shape, each of said arm portions extending away from associated opposite ends of said central apex portion, respectively, and forming an open end of said clip between said arm portions; one of said arm portions having a surface thereof for contacting said power dissipation device and biasing it toward said heat sink; and said central apex portion having a slot therein extending through said central apex portion, whereby said slot permits passage of either a portion of said power dissipation device to be heat sunk or permits passage of an insertion tool which facilitates attaching said heat sink clip about said power dissipation device and said heat sink. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A heat sink clip assembly comprising:
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a heat sink having a surface to which a power dissipation device is to be thermally coupled; a power dissipation device to be attached to said heat sink and having a surface intended for heat transfer coupling to said heat sink surface; and a heat sink clip for attaching said power dissipation device to said heat sink by providing a force for biasing said power dissipation device surface toward and in thermal conductive contact with said heat sink surface, wherein said heat sink clip comprises; a generally U-shaped clip constructed of resilient spring material and having a central apex portion and at least two arm portions forming arms of said U shape, each of said arm portions extending away from associated opposite ends of said central apex portion, respectively, and forming an open end of said clip between said arm portions; one of said arm portions having a surface thereof coupled to said power dissipation device, said one of said arm portions biasing said power dissipation device surface toward said heat sink surface; and said central apex portion having a slot therein extending through said central apex portion, whereby said slot permits passage of either a portion of said power dissipation device to be heat sunk or permits passage of an insertion tool which facilitates attaching said heat sink clip about said power dissipation device and said heat sink. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for manufacturing a heat sink assembly, comprising the steps of:
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providing a heat sink having a surface to which a power dissipation device is to be thermally coupled to; providing a power dissipation device to be attached to said heat sink and having a surface intended for heat transfer coupling to said heat sink surface; providing a heat sink clip having a generally U shape and constructed of resilient spring material, said clip having a central apex portion and at least two arm portions extending away from associated opposite ends of said central apex portion, respectively, and forming an open end of said clip between said arm portions, one of said arm portions having a surface thereof to be coupled to said power dissipation device for biasing said power dissipation device surface toward said heat sink surface, said central apex portion having a slot therein extending through said central apex portion; using at least one tool inserted between said arm portions of said clip to provide said arm portions of said clip further apart than normal; providing the combination of said heat sink and power dissipation device between said arm portions of said clip while said arm portions are spaced apart further than normal by said one tool; and removing said one tool and allowing said arm portions to attempt to return to their normal spacing, thus clamping said device and heat sink therebetween, whereby said slot permits passage of either a portion of said power dissipation device to be heat sunk or permits passage of an insertion tool which facilitates attaching said heat sink clip about said power dissipation device and said heat sink. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification