US20050269059A1

US20050269059A1 - Heat sink and its assembly

Info

Publication number: US20050269059A1
Application number: US10/859,228
Authority: US
Inventors: Tsan-Jung Chen
Original assignee: Makuhari Corp
Current assignee: Makuhari Corp
Priority date: 2004-06-03
Filing date: 2004-06-03
Publication date: 2005-12-08

Abstract

The present invention discloses a heat sink assembly comprising a plurality of heat sinks having the same shape and being latched by at least one fixing bar, so that the heat sinks and the fixing bar can be connected together to form the heat sink assembly, enabling each heat sink to be placed individually onto a flat surface and be erected securely on the flat surface without falling down.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heat sinks, more particularly to a heat sink assembly comprising a plurality of heat sinks having the same shape and being latched by a fixing bar, so that the heat sinks and the fixing bar can be connected together to form the heat sink assembly, enabling each heat sink to be placed individually onto a flat surface and be erected securely on the flat surface without falling down.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, the development of information technology has entered into a new era, and various information products are derived from the computer. The development process of information products is not only fast, but also brings tremendous convenience and improvements to our life, and thus these information products become an integral part of our life. In recent years, the population of computer users increases constantly, and consumers have more and more requirements on computers. In addition to the light, thin, short and compact requirements, but the computer also requires a fast computation speed, a high stability, a dense component function and a low price. With such requirements, the clock of the central processing unit (CPU) and the density of transistors keep on increasing. As a result, the power consumed is getting larger and larger, and thus the quantity of heat produced is getting amazingly higher and higher.
Since the density of transistors of a conventional CPU is not high and the traditional CPU will not produce too much heat, therefore it is not necessary to install a heat sink onto the conventional CPU. On the other hand, the present products produce too much heat, and thus if a CPU is not installed onto the surface of the CPU, the CPU will have a risk of being destroyed by overheat. Therefore, the ways of lowering the temperature at the surface of the CPU during its operation such that the computer will not crash due to overheat and effectively maintaining the normal operation of the computer have become an important urgent issue now.
Further, with the high demands from the e-Commerce market, computer system manufacturers will make substantial changes, because the personal computer not only requires a fast computation speed and a large storage capacity, but also treats the personal computer as a server which is turned on all year round and plays the important roles of an internal system management, an external link and data access. Therefore, the stability of the personal computer is very important, and the system crash due to overheat is a big issue and inconvenient matter to computer users. The way of effectively achieving the heat dissipations for CPU is a big challenge to the computer industry. In other words, it is necessary to solve the issue of the heat dissipation for CPUs when developing a computer with a higher speed. In addition, the heat dissipation for other electronic components (such as a memory) in a computer is also a major issue as well as a hot discussion topic in the computer industry.
The structure of the conventional heat dissipating components for CPUs is divided into aluminum compressed fins or copper fins, and these fins come with various different shapes and structures. Many patents have been granted for these structures. Please refer to FIG. 1 for one of the conventional heat sink assemblies, which comprises a heat sink 1 having a main plate 10 and two corresponding horizontal sections 12, wherein the horizontal section 12 comprises a latch groove 120 and a protrusion 122 extended from the front side of the latch groove 120. The protrusion 122 comprises a latch member 124, such that the adjacent heat sinks 1 are connected with each other to constitute a heat sink assembly 2 by the foregoing latch groove 120 and the latch member 124 at the protrusion 122.
However, there are many slots or openings in most of the heat sink assembly designs and the heat sinks may fall easily before the heat sinks are connected with each other. It makes the manufacturing process very complicated, increases the overall price, and slows down the manufacture of the heat sink assembly. As to the economy, it is a win-win situation for both of the manufacturers and consumers to achieve a fast assembling with a low cost while keeping the same or even better effects (such as the heat dissipation effect). Therefore, the way of developing an appropriate heat sink to achieve the foregoing objectives with ease not only brings tremendous convenience to the extensive consumers, but also makes a substantial breakthrough for the information industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention conducted extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a heat sink and its assembly in accordance with the invention.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a heat sink assembly which comprises a plurality of heat sinks, each heat sink further comprises a board member, a plurality of first extended boards and at least one second extended board; wherein the first extended board is disposed at one edge of the board member and extended towards one lateral surface away from the board member, and the second extended board is disposed between any two adjacent first extended boards and extended towards another lateral surface away from the board member. The board members, the first extended board or the second extended board comprises at least one embedded connection hole, at least one fixing bar, and a plurality of first latch members disposed on the fixing bar, and the first latch member is latched into the embedded connection hole, such that when the heat sinks are connected next to each other, the second extended board is inserted into the position of the first extended boards between two adjacent heat sinks, so that the second extended board of the heat sink is clamped between the first extended boards adjacent to the heat sink, and the moving direction of the second extended boards is restricted by the first extended board and integrated to form a heat sink assembly. The first latch member of the fixing bar is latched into the embedded hole of each heat sink, so that the heat sink and the fixing bar are connected together without being loosened apart. In addition, if each heat sink is placed individually onto a flat surface, the heat sink will be erected securely on the flat surface without falling down due to the support provided by the first and second extended boards.
Another objective of the present invention is to set a latch member on the fixing bar at the position corresponding to each embedded connection hole, such that each of the heat sinks connected to the fixing bar will not be loosened apart.
A further objective of the present invention is to set one first latch member on the fixing bar at an interval of at least one embedded hole, and the embedded hole is latched by the first latch member of different fixing bars, so that the heat sinks are latched individually onto different fixing bars and will not be loosened apart.
Another further objective of the present invention is to latch any one of the fixing bars into an embedded hole of at least one heat sink of another fixing bar, so that the heat sinks at different fixing bars are connected to other fixing bars at the same time, and thus giving a more secure connection to the heat sinks.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior-art heat sink assembly.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heat sink according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heat sink assembly of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heat sink according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the heat sink according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the heat sink according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the heat sink and the fixing bar according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the heat sink according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the heat sink and the fixing bar according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fixing bar according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the fixing bar being connected to each heat sink according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fixing bar according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fixing bar according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the fixing bar being connected to each heat sink according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 2 for a heat sink and its assembly of the present invention. The heat sink 3 comprises a board member 4; a plurality of first extended boards 5 disposed on at least one end of the board member 4, and the first extended boards 5 are extended in the direction towards a lateral side away from the board member 4; and a second extended board 6 is disposed on the board member 4 between any two adjacent first extended boards 5, and the second extended board 6 is extended in the direction towards another lateral side of the board member 4. Please refer to FIG. 3. In a plurality of heat sinks 3 in the foregoing shape and structure, the second extended board 6 between any two of the heat sinks 3 is inserted into a position between any two adjacent first extended boards 5, such that the second extended board 6 of the heat sink 3 is clamped between the adjacent first extended boards 5 and the direction of the displacement of the second extended board 6 is restricted by the first extended boards 5, and the heat sinks 3 constitute the heat sink assembly 7. Further, please refer to FIG. 3. The first extended board 5 or the second extended board 6 comprises at least one embedded hole 8, at least one fixing bar 9 and a first latch member 90 disposed on the fixing bar 9. The first latch member 90 is latched into the embedded connection hole 8, so that when the heat sinks 3 are assembled next to each other to constitute the heat sink assembly 7, the first latch member 90 is latched into the embedded connection hole 8, and the heat sinks 3 are connected together with the fixing bar 9 and will not be loosened apart. If the heat sink assembly 7 is placed on a flat surface, the heat is conducted by the heat sinks 3. Further, each heat sink 3 is placed on a flat surface, and the heat sink 3 is erected securely on the flat surface and will not fall down due to the support provided by the first extended boards 5 and the second extended board.
Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a preferred embodiment of the present invention. the board member 4, the first extended board 5 or the second extended board 6 individually comprises at least an embedded connection hole 8, at least one fixing bar 9, a plurality of first latch members 90 disposed on the fixing bar 9, and the first latch member 90 is latched into the embedded hole 8, such that the heat sinks 3 are connected with the fixing bar 9 and will not be loosened apart.
Please refer to FIG. 4. In the preferred embodiment, the embedded connection hole 8 is disposed at an end of the board member 4, such that when the fixing bar 9 is installed at an edge of the board member 4, the first latch connection member 90 is inserted precisely into the embedded connection hole 8.
Please refer to FIG. 5 for another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The board member 4 comprises a plurality of cutting lines, and after the board member 4 is folded along a part of the cutting line to form a folded section 40, the embedded connection hole 8 is disposed on the folded section 40, such that when the fixing bar 9 is installed onto another edge of the board member 4, the latch member 90 is inserted precisely into the embedded hole 8.
Please refer to FIG. 6 for a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. The board member 4 at one end comprises a plurality of first extended boards 5, and the first extended board is extended in a direction away from a lateral side of the board member 4; a second extended board 6 disposed between any two adjacent first extended boards 5 and the second extended board 6 is extended in the direction from another lateral side away from the board member 4; a flat board 42 disposed on another edge of the board member 4, such that when the heat sink 3 is placed onto any flat surface, the heat sink 3 is supported by the first extended board 5 and the second extended board 6 and erected securely onto the flat surface (such as the surface of a CPU) for conducting heat.
Further, please refer to FIG. 3 again. For the plurality of the heat sinks with the foregoing shape and structure, any second extended board 6 of the heat sink between two heat sinks 3 is inserted into the position of the first extended board 5 between any two adjacent heat sinks 3, so that the displacing direction of the second extended board 6 is restricted by the first extended boards 5, and the heat sinks 3 are assembled to constitute a heat sink assembly 7. The other end of the heat sinks 3 forms a horizontal flat surface by the flat boards 42, and thus when the heat sink assembly 7 is placed on a flat surface, the heat sinks 3 can conduct heat.
Please refer to FIG. 7. Since the fixing bars 9 are installed onto the heat sink 3 and the fixing bars 9 are protruded outside the board member 4, the first extended boards 5, the second extended board 6 or the flat board 42 such that the board member 4, the first extended boards 5, the second extended boards 6 or the flat board 42 cannot be attached smoothly on the flat surface, therefore the board member 4, the first extended boards 5, the second extended boards 6 or the flat board 42 according to the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 8 individually comprises a recession 80 disposed around the embedded connection hole 8, so that when the fixing bars 9 are installed onto the heat sink 3, the fixing bar 9 will not protruded outside the heat sink 3 (as shown in FIG. 9).
Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 10. The first latch members 90 according to the preferred embodiments are disposed on at least one linear position of the fixing bars 9, and the latch member 90 is bent from the surface of the fixing bar 9 to a position vertical to the flat surface of the fixing bar 9. When the fixing bar 9 drives the first latch member 90 to be installed in the direction of the embedded connection hole 8, the first latch member 90 will be inserted into the embedded connection hole 8, so that the fixing bar 9 uses the first latch members 90 to connect with the plurality of heat sinks 3.
The first latch member 90 according to a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 11 is disposed on at least one linear position of the fixing bars 9, and the first latch members 90 are aligned with each embedded connection hole 8, so that when the first fixing bars 9 are installed onto the heat sinks 3, the first latch member 90 is latched into the embedded connection hole 8 adjacent to the heat sinks 3, and thus all heat sinks 3 are connected to the fixing bar 9 and will not be loosened apart.
Please refer to FIGS. 10, 12 and 13. In these embodiments, the first latch member 90 is disposed on at least one linear position of the fixing bar 9, and the latch members 90 on different linear positions are separated by at least one embedded connection hole 8, so that any two adjacent heat sinks 3 are latched by the different fixing bars 9 of the first latch members 90 (as shown in FIG. 14), and the heat sinks 3 are latched onto different fixing bars 9. In addition, one of the fixing bars 9 is latched into an embedded connection hole 8 of at least one heat sink 3, so that the heat sinks 3 at different fixing bars 9 are connected to one of the fixing bars 9, and thus the heat sinks 3 can be connected securely together.
Please refer to FIG. 7 for the embodiment. The first latch member 90 comprises a neck section 92, and an end of the neck section 92 is coupled to the fixing bar 9 and the other end comprises two shoulder sections 94. The shoulder section 94 is tapered from the end connected to the neck section 92 to the end away from the two shoulder sections 92, such that both sides of the shoulder 94 form an aslant surface 96, and an open groove 98 is disposed between the two shoulder sections 94, such that the external appearance of the first latch member 90 looks like an arrow sign indicating the direction. When the first latch member 90 is inserted into the corresponding embedded connection hole 8, the aslant surfaces 96 on both sides of the first latch member 90 contact the embedded connection hole 8, the open groove 98 can provide the space required for the deformation and displacement. When the aslant surface 96 passes completely through the embedded connection hole 8, the first latch member 90 faces the shoulder section 94 disposed on a surface of the embedded connection hole 8, and precisely presses against the positions on both sides of the embedded connection hole 8 adjacent to the heat sink 3.
Further, please refer to FIG. 9. The first latch member 90 comprises a neck section 92, and one end of the neck section 92 is connected to the fixing bar 9, and the other end has a shoulder section 94, and the shoulder section 94 is tapered from the end connected to the neck section 92 to the end away from the neck section 92, such that when the first latch connection member 90 is inserted into the corresponding embedded connection hole 8, the first latch member 90 faces the shoulder section 94 disposed on a side of the embedded connection hole 8 and precisely presses against the position on one side of the embedded connection hole 8 adjacent to the heat sink 3.
While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A heat sink assembly, comprising:

a plurality of heat sinks, and said each heat sink further comprising:

a plurality of first extended boards, being disposed on at least one edge of a board member and extended in a direction towards a lateral side away from said first extended board; and

at least one second extended board, being disposed on said first extended board between any two adjacent board members and extended in a direction towards another lateral side away from said first extended board;

thereby said second extended board of said heat sink being inserted into a position of said first extended board between any two adjacent heat sinks, so that said second extended board of said heat sink being clamped between said adjacent first extended boards and said heat sinks constituting said heat sink assembly.

2. The heat sink assembly of claim 1, wherein said board member of said heat sink, said first extended board and said second extended board comprises at least one embedded connection hole and at least one fixing bar, and said fixing bar individually comprises a first latch member, and said first latch member is latched into said embedded connection hole, so that said heat sink assembly is latched into said embedded connection hole by said first latch member to couple said heat sinks with said fixing bar.

3. The heat sink assembly of claim 2, wherein said board member comprises a plurality of cutting lines, such that a folded section is formed by folding board member between some of said cutting lines and said embedded connection hole is disposed on said folded section.

4. The heat sink assembly of claim 2, wherein said board member, said first extended board and said second extended board individually comprises a recession around said embedded connection hole.

5. The heat sink assembly of claim 2, wherein said first latch member is disposed on at least one linear position of said fixing bar, and said first latch member aligns precisely with said each embedded connection hole, and said first latch member is latched precisely into said embedded connection hole of said adjacent heat sinks, such that said all heat sinks are coupled with said fixing bar.

6. The heat sink assembly of claim 2, wherein said first latch member is disposed on at least one linear position of said fixing bar, and said first latch member is aligned precisely with said each embedded connection hole and said first latch member is latched precisely into said embedded connection hole of said adjacent heat sinks, so that said all heat sinks are coupled with said fixing bar.

7. The heat sink assembly of claim 2, wherein said first latch member is disposed on at least one linear position of said fixing bar, and at least one embedded connection hole is disposed between said first latch members at different linear positions, such that any two adjacent heat sinks are latched by said first latch members of different fixing bars and said heat sinks are latched onto said different fixing bars.

8. The heat sink assembly of claim 2, wherein said first latch member comprises a neck section, and one end of said neck section is coupled with said fixing bar, and the other end of said neck section comprises two shoulder sections, and said shoulder section is tapered from the end coupled to said neck section to the end away from said neck section, so that both sides of said shoulder section form an aslant surface, and said two said shoulder section comprises an open groove.

9. The heat sink assembly of claim 2, wherein said first latch member comprises a neck section, and one end of said neck section is coupled with said fixing bar, and the other end of said neck section comprises a shoulder section, and said shoulder section is tapered from the end coupled to said neck section to the end away from said neck section, so that said shoulder section forms an aslant surface.

10. The heat sink assembly of claim 7, wherein said one fixing bar is latched to said embedded connection hole of said at least one heat sink latched to said other fixing bar.

11. A heat sink assembly, comprising:

a plurality of heat sinks, each comprising:

a plurality of first extended boards, being disposed on an edge of said board member and extended in a direction away from a lateral side of said board member;

at least one second extended board, being disposed between any two adjacent first extended boards and extended in a direction away from another lateral side of said board member; and

a flat board, being disposed on another edge of said board member;

thereby said second extended board of said heat sink being inserted between any two adjacent first extended boards, and said second extended board of said heat sink being clamped between said adjacent first extended boards, and said heat sinks constitute a heat sink assembly.

12. A heat sink, comprising:

a board member;

a plurality of first extended boards, being disposed on at least one edge of said board member and extended in a direction away from a lateral side of said board member; and

at least one second extended board, being disposed between any two adjacent first extended boards and extended in a direction away from another lateral side of said board member.