Heat sink clip mechanism
AssigneeMolex Incorporated
InventorsEric M. Lotter, Daniel S. Price
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat sink clip is provided for attaching a heat sink assembly to a universal retention module (URM). The heat sink clip includes a body and a lever attached to the body by way of a pin. The body of the heat sink clip includes engagement portions which engage posts of the URM. The lever of the heat sink clip is pivotally attached to the heat sink assembly. As the lever is pivoted from an open position to a closed position, the pin moves along a bearing surface of the body. Also as the lever is pivoted, the engagement portions of the body interact with the posts of the URM to secure the heat sink assembly to the URM.
Claims31
A heat sink clip for use in attaching a heat sink to a mounting structure, the mounting structure including at least first and second posts, the heat sink clip comprising:
- a body having an outer panel, an inner panel, a bearing surface on at least one of the outer and inner panels, a first engagement portion, and a second engagement portion;
- a lever pivotally attached to the heat sink;
- a pin attached to the lever and in communication with the bearing surface of the body;
- and
- wherein when the lever is pivoted from an open position to a closed position, the pin contacts the bearing surface of the body, the first engagement portion engages the first post of the mounting structure and the second engagement portion engages the second post of the mounting structure.
A heat sink cover and at least one heat sink clip, in combination:
- the heat sink cover comprising a left panel and a right panel;
- the heat sink clip comprising a body having an outer panel, an inner panel, a bearing surface on at least one of the outer and inner panels, a first engagement portion, a second engagement portion, a lever pivotally attached to the left or right panel of the heat sink cover, a pin attached to the lever and in communication with the bearing surface of the body;
- and
- wherein when the lever is pivoted from an open position to a closed position, the pin moves along the bearing surface of the body.
A mounting structure, a heat sink cover, and at least one heat sink clip in combination:
- the mounting structure comprising a base including at least first and second posts extending upwardly therefrom;
- a cover comprising left and right panels;
- the heat sink clip comprising a body having an outer panel, an inner panel, a bearing surface on at least one of the outer and inner panels, a first engagement portion, a second engagement portion, a lever pivotally attached to the left or right panel of the heat sink cover, a pin attached to the lever and in communication with the bearing surface of the body;
- and
- wherein when the lever is pivoted from an open position to a closed position, the pin moves along the bearing surface of the body, the first engagement portion engages the first post of the mounting structure and the second engagement portion engages the second post of the mounting structure.
A method of attaching a heat sink assembly having a heat sink cover to a mounting structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a mounting structure have a base and at least first and second posts extending upwardly therefrom;
- providing a heat sink cover comprising left and right panels;
- providing a body of a heat sink clip having an outer panel, an inner panel a bearing surface on at least one of the outer and inner panels, a first engagement portion, and a second engagement portion;
- providing a lever;
- providing a pin;
- mounting the lever within the body;
- and pivotally attaching the lever to the cover;
- aligning the cover and heat sink clip with the mounting structure such that the left or right panel of the cover is positioned between the first and second posts of the mounting structure and the first engagement portion of the body extends proximate the outer surface of the first post of the mounting structure;
- pivoting the lever from an open position to a closed position so as to move the pin along the bearing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.