Electrically insulated quick disconnect heat sink

Claim 1

A cooling apparatus, comprising: a cooling member having a first tongue at one end thereof and a second tongue at the other end thereof; a first stationary bracket having a first longitudinal groove along the edge thereof for receiving said first tongue; a second stationary bracket having a notch along the edge thereof; a clamping bracket for attachment to said second stationary bracket, said clamping bracket being adjustable such that the end portion of the lower surface thereof overlaps said notch to form a second longitudinal groove for receiving said second tongue; first retaining means for preventing movement of said first tongue along the longitudinal axis of said first groove, the combination of said first retaining means and said first stationary bracket allowing movement of said cooling member in a first direction only, said first direction directed outward from said first longitudinal groove; and second retaining means for preventing movement of said second tongue along the longitudinal axis of said second groove, the combination of said second retaining means, said second stationary bracket and said clamping bracket only allowing movement of said heat sink in a second direction that is opposite said first direction, said cooling member being retained when said clamping bracket is attached to form said second groove and said cooling member being removable when said clamping bracket is adjusted to allow movement of said second tongue in a direction perpendicular to both said second direction and the notch in said second bracket.

Claim 15

An apparatus comprising: a base; a heat sink a first tongue disposed at one end of the heat sink; a second tongue disposed at the other end of the heat sink; said first tongue having a first insert disposed on the surface thereof and said second tongue having a second insert disposed on the surface thereof; a first longitudinal bracket mounted on said base, said first bracket having a first longitudinal groove disposed on the surface thereof adjacent said base for receiving said first tongue and a first slot disposed adjacent to said first longitudinal groove for receiving said first insert wherein the insertion of said first tongue and said first insert into said first groove and said first slot, respectively, allows movement of the heat sink in a first direction only, said first direction directed outward from said first groove; a second longitudinal bracket mounted on said base, said second bracket having a longitudinal notch disposed on the edge thereof opposite said base, said first and second bracket fabricated of electrically insulating material; and a rectangular bracket movably mounted on the surface of said second bracket opposite said base, the end portion of said rectangular bracket covering a portion of said notch to form a second longitudinal groove for receiving said second tongue, said rectangular bracket also having a second slot on the end thereof for receiving said second insert wherein the insertion of said second tongue into said groove and said second insert into said second slot respectively allows movement in a second direction only, said second direction directed outward from said second groove and opposite said first direction, thus retaining the heat sink, said rectangular bracket removable to provide an additional direction of motion orthogonal to said first and second directions such that the heat sink can be removed.

Claim 16

An apparatus comprising: a base; a heat sink a first tongue disposed at one end of the heat sink; a second tongue disposed at the other end of the heat sink; said first tongue having a first insert disposed on the surface thereof and said second tongue having a second insert disposed on the surface thereof; a first longitudinal bracket mounted on said base, said first bracket having a first longitudinal groove disposed on the surface thereof adjacent said base for receiving said first tongue and a first slot disposed adjacent to said first longitudinal groove for receiving said first insert wherein the insertion of said first tongue and said first insert into said first groove and said first slot, respectively, allows movement of the heat sink in a first direction only, said first direction directed outward from said first groove; a second longitudinal bracket mounted on said base, said second bracket having a longitudinal notch disposed on the edge thereof opposite said base, said first and second bracket fabricated of electrically insulating material; and a rectangular bracket movably mounted on the surface of said second bracket opposite said base, the end portion of said rectangular bracket covering a portion of said notch to form a second longitudinal groove for receiving said second tongue, said rectangular bracket also having a second slot on the end thereof for receiving said second insert wherein the insertion of said second tongue into said groove and said second insert into said second slot respectively allows movement in a second direction only, said second direction directed outward from said second groove and opposite said first direction, thus retaining the heat sink, said rectangular bracket removable to provide an additional direction of motion orthogonal to said first and second directions such that the heat sink can be removed.