# US 5,437,561 A · Self-locking tab

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- Number: US 5,437,561 A
- Document ID: US5437561A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/283,216
- Filed: 1994-07-29
- Granted: 1995-08-01
- Earliest claimed: 1991-12-09
- Assignees: Aavid Engineering, Inc.
- Inventors: George F. Earl; Jack Churchill; Jeffrey J. Panek; Allen F. Hillman, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5437561A

## CPC

- H05K 7/12: Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure
- H01R 12/7005: {Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors (for printed circuit boards H05K)}
- H10W 40/641: {Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips}
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

A connector for attaching a heat sink or other device to a circuit board comprising an attachment portion for connecting to the device, the attachment portion having a pair of legs, each with a projection on its end, the legs being spring-biased so that once the projections pass through the hole, the projections expand and engage the surface of the board or edges of the holes opposite the device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector for attaching a heat sink to a printed circuit board comprising:
an attachment means,
said attachment means comprising a single, integral piece which is folded along a fold to form a first plate and a second plate, said plates being disposed adjacent to each other and contacting each other along their respective adjacent surfaces, at least one said plate having a means for connecting said plate to the heat sink, and
extension means,
said extension means comprising a first leg and a second leg, said first leg being integral with one end of said first plate and having a first projection with a first engagement surface at its opposite end, said second leg being integral with one end of said second plate and having a second projection with a second engagement surface at its opposite end, said legs being disposed adjacent to but apart from each other and being adapted to flex towards each other,
whereby said connector holds the heat sink to the board by directing said first and second projections into a hole in the board so that said legs are compressed together and when said first and second projections have passed through said hole so that said attachment means is on the other side of the board, said legs flex back to a position whereby said first and second engagement surfaces contact the board opposite the heat sink thereby holding the heat sink to the board
and at least one stand-off leg extending from at least one of said plates, which is adapted to engage the printed circuit board when said connector and the heat sink are in place.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1 wherein said plates define an opening which extends therethrough and which is adapted to receive a portion of the heat sink.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1 wherein each said engagement surface is a lip disposed at an acute angle to each said leg.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1 wherein each said projection includes a curved surface, each said curved surface being disposed opposite each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1 wherein said attachment means and said extension means are formed from a single piece of metal.