Heat sink assembly having fastening means for attaching fan to heat sink

• US 6,449,151 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Foxconn Precision Component Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Foxconn Precision Component Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chen, Chun-Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): TOLIN, GERALD P
• Application Number:
  US09/882,891
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 257/722, 454/184, 312/236, 361/690, 361/694, 361/695, 361/697, 361/703, 361/704, 361/717-719, 361/722, 415/177, 415/178, 415/213.1, 415/214.1, 248/316.7, 248/505, 248/510, 124/16.3, 165/80.3, 165/185, 165/121-126, 244/53, 244/57, 244/58, 246/25
• US Class Current: 361/697
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3672 Foil-like cooling fins or heat sinks being part of lead-frames H01L23/49568
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/4093 Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/467 by flowing gases, e.g. air H01L23/473 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured

Abstract

A heat sink assembly includes a heat sink (10), a frame (30), a fan (50), and a fastener (70). The heat sink has a pair of diagonally opposite vertical poles (20). An annular step (201) is formed on each pole at a position higher than a top extremity of fins (107) of the heat sink. An annular groove (203) is defined in the vicinity of a top end of each pole. The frame has a central opening (303), and a pair of apertures (301) at diagonally opposite corners of the frame. Four through hole (501) are defined in four corners of the fan. The fastener has two mutually perpendicular fixing arms (702). Each fixing arm defines a semicircular cutout (705) at an inner edge of a free end thereof. The fixing arms at the cutouts engage in the grooves of the poles, thereby securing the fan to the heat sink.

Claims

1. A heat sink assembly comprising:

a heat sink having a base, a plurality of fins extending from the base, and a pair of poles at diagonally opposite corners of the fins;

a frame positioned on the heat sink, the frame defining a central opening and further defining a pair of apertures at opposite corners of the frame, the apertures receiving the poles of the heat sink;

a fan attached to the frame, a pair of through holes being defined in opposite corners of the fan, the through holes receiving the poles of the heat sink; and

a fastener placed onto the fan, the fastener comprising two fixing arms and engaging means on each fixing arm, the engaging means engaging with the corresponding poles of the heat sink and thereby fixing the fan to the heat sink.

2. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 1, wherein an annular step is formed at an upper portion of each pole.

3. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 2, wherein each step is higher than a top extremity of the fins, to support the frame and keep the frame a predetermined distance from the fins.

4. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 2, wherein an annular groove is defined in the vicinity of a top end of each pole, for engaging with the engaging means of the fastener.

5. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 1, wherein a pair of slots is defined in diagonally opposite corners of the fins, for accommodating the poles.

6. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the frame is rectangular and has a plurality of flanges depending from edges thereof.

7. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the fastener is a metal strip which is bent to form the fixing arms such that the fixing arms are mutually perpendicular.

8. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the engaging means comprises a semicircular cutout defined in an inner edge of a free end of each fixing arm.

9. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 1, wherein a reinforcing beam is formed upwardly from an outer edge of each fixing arm.

10. A heat sink assembly comprising:

a heat sink comprising a base, a plurality of heat dissipating fins extending upwardly from the base, and at least one post extending upwardly from the base;

a frame mounted to the at least one post;

an electrical fan mounted on the frame, wherein the at least one post extends through the frame and also the fan; and

a fastener fastened to a top end of the at least one post to fix the fan, frame and heat sink together.

11. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 10, wherein the at least one post defines an annular groove near its top end, and wherein the fastener is fastened to the top end of the at least one post by fittingly engaging in the annular groove.

12. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 10, wherein the at least one post forms a step located higher than a top extremity of the fins, and wherein the frame is mounted to the at least one post by sitting on the step.

13. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 10, wherein two posts extend upwardly from the base, each post defining an annular groove near its top end, and wherein the fastener has a generally L-shaped configuration with two outmost ends thereof fittingly engaging in the grooves of the posts respectively.

14. The heat sink assembly as described in claim 13, wherein each post forms a step located higher than a top extremity of the fins, and wherein the frame is mounted to the posts by sitting on the steps.

15. A heat sink assembly, comprising:

a heat sink providing a plurality of fins;

a frame disposed above the heat sink wherein said frame is spaced from top extremity of the fins with a predetermined distance;

an opening defined in said frame; and

a fan located upon said frame and in alignment with said opening, said frame being fastened to said heat sink, and said fan being retainably seated upon the frame;

wherein

said predetermined distance between the frame and the top extremity of the fins provides sufficient air space to achieve optimal heat dissipating efficiency.