US6115253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strap spring for heat sink clip assembly
Assignee: Aavid Thermalloy LLC
•
Filing: 1999-01-19
•
Granted: 2000-09-05
•
Expires: 2019-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A strap spring mounts a heat sink to an electronic device by snapping holes in the leg over ears of a catch on the socket. Two perpendicularly extending springs have an opening between them so that the springs fit between the fins of a heat sink and are latched in ratched indentations.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Clemens
- 👤 Matthew C. Smithers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:07
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/60; H10W40/641; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/45; Y10T24/45225; Y10T24/45471; Y10T24/45524; Y10T24/45545; Y10T24/45581
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A strap mounting a heat sink having a plurality of spaced apart fins to an electronic device with an electrically insulating frame, comprising: two flat, straight legs releasably gripping opposing sides of the frame urging the heat sink into thermal contact with the face of the electronic device, each one of the legs having an opening mating with an ear on said frame; at least two longitudinal spring members extending generally perpendicularly to the legs with an opening between said spring members, said spring members fitting between said fins of said heat sink to hold said heat sink; a tab formed on each one of the two legs, urging against a side of the heat sink to grip the heat sink; whereby the tabs hold the strap spring in place relative to the heat sink.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A strap mounting a heat sink having a plurality of spaced apart fins to an electronic device with an electrically insulating frame, comprising: two flat, straight legs releasably gripping opposing sides of the frame urging the heat sink into thermal contact with the face of the electronic device, each one of the legs having an opening mating with an ear on said frame; at least two longitudinal spring members extending generally perpendicularly to the legs with an opening between said spring members, said spring members fitting between said fins of said heat sink to hold said heat sink; a tab formed on each one of the two legs, urging against a side of the heat sink to grip the heat sink; whereby the tabs hold the strap spring in place relative to the heat sink.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The strap of claim 1 wherein a first one of the legs grips a side of the frame and the second one of the legs grips an opposing side of the frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The strap of claim 2 wherein each leg has a pair of parallel slots that form the tab.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The strap of claim 2 wherein the tab is capable of engaging ratchet indentations formed on the side of the heat sink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The strap of claim 2 wherein each leg is substantially parallel to the side of the heat sink and each tab is bent inward to engage the side of the heat sink.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus comprising: a heat sink having a plurality of spaced fins; an electronic device having an electrically insulating frame and a socket, said frame having a first ear and a second ear, the first ear and the second ear disposed on opposing sides of the frame; and a strap comprising: two flat, straight legs releasably gripping the frame urging the heat sink into thermal contact with the face of the electronic device, a first one of the two legs having a first opening mating with the first ear, a second one of the two legs having a second opening mating with the second ear; at least two longitudinal spring members extending generally perpendicularly to said legs with an opening between said spring members, said spring members fitting between said fins of said heat sink to hold said heat sink; and a first tab formed on the first one of the two legs and a second tab formed on the second one of the two legs, the first tab urging against a side of the heat sink and a second tab urging against an opposing side of the heat sink.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus comprising: a heat sink having a plurality of spaced fins; an electronic device having an electrically insulating frame and a socket, said frame having a first ear and a second ear, the first ear and the second ear disposed on opposing sides of the frame; and a strap comprising: two flat, straight legs releasably gripping the frame urging the heat sink into thermal contact with the face of the electronic device, a first one of the two legs having a first opening mating with the first ear, a second one of the two legs having a second opening mating with the second ear; at least two longitudinal spring members extending generally perpendicularly to said legs with an opening between said spring members, said spring members fitting between said fins of said heat sink to hold said heat sink; and a first tab formed on the first one of the two legs and a second tab formed on the second one of the two legs, the first tab urging against a side of the heat sink and a second tab urging against an opposing side of the heat sink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The strap of claim 6 wherein each one of the legs has a pair of parallel slots that form the tabs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The strap of claim 6 wherein the heat sink has at least one ratchet indentation formed on the sides thereon, the tabs engaging the at least one ratchet indentation to grip the heat sink.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The strap of claim 6 wherein each one of the legs is substantially parallel to the side of the heat sink and each one of the tabs are bent inward to engage the side of the heat sink sides.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4660123A
Cited
US4745456A
Cited
US4884331B1
Cited
US4884331A
Cited
US4888637A
Cited
US5485351A
Cited
US5282111A
Cited
US5068764A
Cited
US5099550A
Cited
US5357404A
Cited
US5208731A
Cited
US5307239A
Cited
US5276585A
Cited
US5313099A
Cited
US5329426A
Cited
US5396402A
Cited
US5371652A
Cited
US5386338A
Cited
US5448449A
Cited
US5381305A
Cited
US5436798A
Cited
US5594624A
Cited
US5889653A
Cited
US5477916A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-05 | 2004-03-06 | 2004-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-05 | 2008-03-06 | 2008-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-05 | 2012-03-06 | 2012-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |