Heat pipe connector and electronic apparatus and radiating fins having such connector

An electronic apparatus comprising:

• a housing having openings;
• at least one printed wiring board assembly inserted through one of the openings in said housing and mounted in said housing;
• a back cover for covering another of the openings in said housing;
• a heat pipe connecting said printed wiring board assembly and said back cover;
• and
• at least one heat pipe connector detachably connected to one end of said heat pipe,
• said heat pipe connector being fixed to at least one of said printed wiring board assembly and said back cover,
• said heat pipe connector comprising:
• a housing having a large opening and a small opening which connect to form a hole which is defined by one or a plurality of side surfaces and has a shape, at least generally, of a selected one of a cone or pyramid;
• a plurality of clamp pieces which, when combined, have a shape corresponding to the shape of said hole, said clamp pieces being combined and fit within said hole and forming a heat pipe insertion opening at a central part thereof, said heat pipe insertion opening being adapted to receive a heat pipe;
• and
• a plurality of springs for urging said clamp pieces towards the small opening of said hole by spring forces,
• each of said clamp pieces pushing against the side surfaces which define said hole as a result of the spring forces and clamping the heat pipe when the heat pipe is inserted into said heat pipe insertion opening from the small opening of said housing so as to push said clamp pieces against the spring forces of said springs.

An electronic apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a heat pipe having one end connected to a heat generating portion within said housing and another end projecting from said housing;
• and
• a radiator fin structure having a heat pipe connector which is detachably connected to the other end of said heat pipe,
• said heat pipe connector comprising:
• a housing having a large opening and a small opening which connect to form a hole which is defined by one or a plurality of side surfaces and has a shape, at least generally, of a selected one of a cone or pyramid;
• a plurality of clamp pieces which, when combined, have a shape corresponding to the shape of said hole, said clamp pieces being combined and fit within said hole and forming a heat pipe insertion opening at a central part thereof, said heat pipe insertion opening being adapted to receive a heat pipe;
• and
• a plurality of springs for urging said clamp pieces towards the small opening of said hole by spring forces,
• each of said clamp pieces pushing against the side surfaces which define said hole as a result of the spring forces and clamping the heat pipe when the heat pipe is inserted into said heat pipe insertion opening from the small opening of said housing so as to push said clamp pieces against the spring forces of said springs.

A radiator fin structure comprising:

• a fin member having a plurality of fins;
• and
• a heat pipe connector fixed to said fin member and detachably connected to one end of said fin member and detachably connected to one of a heat pipe,
• said heat pipe connector comprising:
• a housing having a large opening and a small opening which connect to form a hole which is defined by one or a plurality of side surfaces and has a shape, at least generally, of a selected one of a cone or pyramid;
• a plurality of clamp pieces which, when combined, have a shape corresponding to the shape of said hole, said clamp pieces being combined and fit within said hole and forming a heat pipe insertion opening at a central part thereof, said heat pipe insertion opening being adapted to receive a heat pipe;
• and
• a plurality of springs for urging said clamp pieces toward the small opening of said hole by spring forces,
• each of said clamp pieces pushing against the side surfaces which define said hole as a result of the spring forces and clamping the heat pipe when the heat pipe is inserted into said heat pipe insertion opening from the small opening of said housing so as to push said clamp pieces against the spring forces of said springs.