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US5466970A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hooked spring clip

Assignee: Aavid Thermalloy LLC
•
Filing: 1992-08-24
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Granted: 1995-11-14
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Expires: 2012-08-24
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Abstract

Abstract A spring clip having a flat base and a spring portion extending from the base portion intermediate its ends supporting a finger is used to hold an electronic device package in thermal contact with a heat sink by hooking one end of the base into a groove in the heat sink.

Inventors

  • 👤 Matthew C. Smithers

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 22:22
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/60; H10W40/641

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
A spring clip for attaching an electronic device package to a heat sink comprising a unitary body defining: (a) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face; (b) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends and projecting in a direction opposite said substantially flat face; and (c) a finger portion extending from said spring portion and adapted to mate with an electronic device package and urge the device package into contact with a heat sink; wherein said substantially flat face lies in a first plane and said finger portion projects from said spring portion toward said first plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
A spring clip for attaching an electronic device package to a heat sink comprising a unitary body defining: (a) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face; (b) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends and projecting in a direction opposite said substantially flat face; and (c) a finger portion extending from said spring portion and adapted to mate with an electronic device package and urge the device package into contact with a heat sink; wherein said substantially flat face lies in a first plane and said finger portion projects from said spring portion toward said first plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 124 words
A spring clip for attaching an electronic device package to a heat sink comprising a unitary body defining: (a) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face; (b) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends and protecting in a direction opposite said substantially flat face; and (c) a finger portion extending from said spring portion and adapted to mate with an electronic device package and urge the device package into contact with a heat sink; wherein said substantially flat face lies in a first plane and said finger portion projects from said spring portion toward a second plane substantially normal to said first plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 124 words
A spring clip for attaching an electronic device package to a heat sink comprising a unitary body defining: (a) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face; (b) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends and protecting in a direction opposite said substantially flat face; and (c) a finger portion extending from said spring portion and adapted to mate with an electronic device package and urge the device package into contact with a heat sink; wherein said substantially flat face lies in a first plane and said finger portion projects from said spring portion toward a second plane substantially normal to said first plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 102 words
A spring clip for attaching an electronic device package to a heat sink comprising a unitary body defining: (a) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face; (b) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends and projecting in a direction opposite said substantially flat face; (c) a finger portion extending from said spring portion and adapted to mate with an electronic device package and urge the device package into contact with a heat sink; and (d) an aperture in said spring portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 102 words
A spring clip for attaching an electronic device package to a heat sink comprising a unitary body defining: (a) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face; (b) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends and projecting in a direction opposite said substantially flat face; (c) a finger portion extending from said spring portion and adapted to mate with an electronic device package and urge the device package into contact with a heat sink; and (d) an aperture in said spring portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 129 words
A spring clip for attaching an electronic device package to a heat sink comprising a unitary body defining: (a) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face; (b) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends and projecting in a direction opposite said substantially flat face; (c) a finger portion extending from said spring portion and adapted to mate with an electronic device package and urge the device package into contact with a heat sink; and (d) an insulating material secured to said finger portion; wherein said insulating material is an insulating cover which defines a pocket and said finger portion of said spring clip is secured within said pocket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 129 words
A spring clip for attaching an electronic device package to a heat sink comprising a unitary body defining: (a) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face; (b) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends and projecting in a direction opposite said substantially flat face; (c) a finger portion extending from said spring portion and adapted to mate with an electronic device package and urge the device package into contact with a heat sink; and (d) an insulating material secured to said finger portion; wherein said insulating material is an insulating cover which defines a pocket and said finger portion of said spring clip is secured within said pocket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 140 words
The combination comprising: (a) a heat sink having a first surface, a second surface and a shoulder extending from the plane of said second surface with a groove in said shoulder substantially forming an extension of said second surface; (b) an electronic device package having a face positioned adjacent said first surface; and (c) a spring clip securing said device package adjacent said first surface comprising a unitary body defining: (i) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face positioned adjacent said second surface with said first end positioned in said groove; (ii) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends; and (iii) a finger portion extending from said spring portion urging said device package into contact with said first surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 140 words
The combination comprising: (a) a heat sink having a first surface, a second surface and a shoulder extending from the plane of said second surface with a groove in said shoulder substantially forming an extension of said second surface; (b) an electronic device package having a face positioned adjacent said first surface; and (c) a spring clip securing said device package adjacent said first surface comprising a unitary body defining: (i) a base portion having first and second ends extending in opposite directions from and substantially coplanar with a substantially flat face positioned adjacent said second surface with said first end positioned in said groove; (ii) a spring portion extending from said base portion intermediate said first and second ends; and (iii) a finger portion extending from said spring portion urging said device package into contact with said first surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said first surface and said second surface lie in substantially parallel planes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said first surface lies in a plane which is substantially normal to the plane of said second surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said second surface is defined by said shoulder and a second shoulder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the distance between said shoulder and said second shoulder is less than the length of said base portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
The combination defined in claim 5 including an insulating material secured to said finger portion and positioned between said finger portion and said electronic device package.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said insulating material is an insulating cover which provides a predetermined creep distance between the electronic device package and said finger.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 17 words
The combination defined in claim 11 wherein said insulating cover is pivotally attached to said finger portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5068764A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-11-13 1999-05-15 1999-11-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-11-13 2003-05-15 2003-11-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-11-13 2007-05-15 2007-11-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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