Methods and apparatus for attaching a heat sink to a circuit board component

A heat sink assembly comprising:

• a heat sink;
• and
• a retainer for securing the heat sink to a circuit board component, the retainer having:
• a base portion having a rail configured to engage a slot along a perimeter portion of the circuit board component,
• a plurality of arms coupled to the base portion, and
• a plurality of tabs coupled to the plurality of arms, each of the plurality of tabs configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to the base portion, the base portion, the plurality of arms, and the plurality of tabs configured, when the plurality of tabs move from the first position to the second position, to capture at least a portion of the heat sink and at least a portion of the circuit board component to secure the heat sink to the circuit board component.

A circuit board assembly comprising:

• a circuit board and a circuit board component mounted to the circuit board;
• and
• a heat sink assembly for cooling the circuit board component, the heat sink assembly including:
• a heat sink in thermal communication with the circuit board component, and
• a retainer for securing the heat sink to the circuit board component, the retainer having:
• a base portion having a rail configured to engage a slot along a perimeter portion of the circuit board component,
• a plurality of arms coupled to the base portion, and
• a plurality of tabs coupled to the plurality of arms, each of the plurality of tabs moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the base portion, the base portion, the plurality of arms, and the plurality of tabs capturing, when the plurality of tabs move from the first position to the second position, at least a portion of the heat sink and at least a portion of the circuit board component to secure the heat sink to the circuit board component.

A retainer for securing a heat sink to a circuit board component, the retainer means comprising:

• a base portion means having a rail configured to engage a slot along a perimeter portion of the circuit board component;
• a plurality of arm means coupled to the base portion means;
• and
• a plurality of tab means coupled to the plurality of arm means, each of the plurality of tab means moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the base portion means, the base portion means, the plurality of arm means, and plurality of tab means configured, when the plurality of tabs move from the first position to the second position, for capturing at least a portion of the heat sink and at least a portion of the circuit board component to secure the heat sink to the circuit board component.

A retainer for securing a heat sink to a circuit board component, the retainer comprising:

• a base portion;
• at least one arm coupled to the base portion;
• and
• a tab coupled to the at least one arm, the tab configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to the base portion and configured to position between two adjacent fins of the heat sink, the base portion, the at least one arm, and the tab configured, when the tab moves from the first position to the second position, to capture at least a portion of the heat sink and at least a portion of the circuit board component to secure the heat sink to the circuit board component.

A retainer for securing a heat sink to a circuit board component, the retainer comprising:

• a base;
• at least one arm coupled to the base;
• and
• a tab coupled to the at least one arm, the tab configured to bend relative to the at least one arm and the retainer configured to secure the heat sink to the circuit board component when the tabs bend relative to the arms from a first position to a second position to capture at least a portion of the heat sink and at least a portion of the circuit board component.