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US 2003/0110603 A1Published application
Easily removed heatsink clip
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsGregory C. Franke, Donald J. Hall, Jeffrey A. Lambert
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Abstract
A clip is disclosed which is capable of applying significant retention force via a rotatable cam arm while being easily removable due to the cam arm and a separate removal arm. A method of using the clip is also disclosed which uses the advantages of the clip, particularly in the context of computer design and construction.
Claims25
A retainer clip comprising:
- an elongated body wherein the elongated body comprises a top surface and a bottom surface and a first end and a second end;
- a first retaining arm extending from the first end generally downward from the bottom surface;
- a second retaining arm extending from the second end generally downward from the bottom surface;
- a removal arm extending from either the first or second end generally upward from the top surface;
- and
- a cam arm attached to the elongated body by a hinge mechanism and extending outwardly from the top surface wherein the cam arm may be rotated toward the removal arm to lock a retained component to a retaining member.
3 more elements
A retainer clip comprising:
- a main body;
- a connector member to engage the main body to a retaining member;
- a rotatable arm wherein the arm may be rotated between a locked position and an unlocked position such that the locked position causes a securing force to be applied to a retained component disposed between the main body and the retaining member;
- and
- a disengaging member disposed such that a pinching force may be applied to the disengaging member and to the rotatable arm in the unlocked position such that the connector member disengages the main body from the retaining member.
2 more elements
A method of removing a retainer clip comprising:
- raising a rotatable cam arm from a first position relative to a retainer clip body to a second position;
- squeezing the cam arm and a removal arm together so that the retainer clip body is temporarily deformed such that a first latching portion and a second latching portion of the retainer clip are separated;
- and
- lifting the retainer clip from a retaining member.
1 more element
A method of installing a retainer clip comprising:
- squeezing a removal arm located on one end of a retainer clip body and a rotatable cam arm located generally in the center of the retainer clip body, wherein the cam arm is rotated to a position generally parallel to the removal arm, such that the squeezing temporarily deforms the retainer clip body such that a first latching portion and a second latching portion of the retainer clip are separated;
- lowering the retainer clip onto a retaining member such that the first latching portion and the second latching portion advance beyond respective first and second engagement structures located on the retaining member;
- and
- releasing the removal arm and the cam arm such that the retainer clip body is no longer deformed and the first and second latching portions engage with their respective first and second engagement structures.
1 more element
A heatsink retaining clip designed to secure a heatsink to a heatsink retainer comprising:
- a body portion;
- a first retaining arm coupled to the body portion;
- a second retaining arm coupled to the body portion;
- a disengagement arm coupled to the body portion;
- and
- a cam arm coupled to the body portion, wherein the cam arm is partially rotatable from a locked position to an unlocked position.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.