CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Application Serial Number 16/593,414, filed October 4, 2019, entitled “REUSABLE HOLDING COMPONENT FOR HEATSINK,” and to U.S. Application Serial Number 16/282,997, filed February 22, 2019, entitled “REUSABLE HOLDING COMPONENT FOR HEATSINK.” The entireties of U.S. Application Serial Number 16/593,414 and U.S. Application Serial Number 16/282,997 are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure is related to a reusable holding component for a heatsink.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In a conventional computer assembly, heat dissipation is performed by attaching a heatsink on the top of a central processing unit (CPU). The heatsink may include a plurality of cooling fins on the top or sides of the heatsink to conduct heat from the top of the CPU to the bottom of the heatsink. Heat will be dissipated by the cooling fins.

[0004] The heatsink can be attached to a frame of a computer using a variety of attachment mechanisms, such as clamps, screws, and other hardware. One conventional fastener includes a screw with a head, a tapered ring, and a sealing ring. The tapered ring may be disposed on the screw below the head of the screw, and may have a tapered lower peripheral surface. The sealing ring may be disposed on the screw and engaging the tapered lower peripheral surface of the tapered ring. The conventional fastener may be disposed within a bore in the heatsink and threaded into a load frame for securing the heatsink to the load frame.

[0005] However, the structure of the conventional fastener for securing the heatsink to the load frame is complex. In addition, securing the heatsink by the conventional fastener to the load frame might take multiple steps and might destroy the structure of either the fastener or the load frame. Therefore, there is a need for improving the structure of the fastener and the heatsink.

SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a reusable holding component for a heatsink, a heat transfer device, and an electronic device with a heatsink. In one embodiment, a reusable holding component is provided. The reusable holding component may comprise a frame with a fastener receiving opening extending from a first surface of the frame to a second surface of the frame, and at least two pins disposed on and extending away from the second surface of the frame, wherein each of the at least two pins includes a head portion, at least one elongated segment connected to a portion of the head portion, and a hook disposed on the at least one elongated segment.

[0007] In another embodiment, a heat transfer device is provided. The heat transfer device may comprise a reusable holding component comprising: a frame with a fastener receiving opening extending from a first surface of the frame to a second surface of the frame, and at least two pins disposed on and extending away from the second surface of the frame, wherein each of the at least two pins includes a head portion, at least one elongated segment connected to a portion of the head portion, and a hook disposed on the at least one elongated segment, and a heatsink connected to the reusable holding component by the at least two pins, wherein the heatsink has a fastener receiving opening aligned with the fastener receiving opening of the frame, and at least two guiding openings corresponding to the at least two pins of the reusable holding component.

[0008] In yet another embodiment, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device may comprise an electronic component supported by a base, a heatsink connected to the base for dissipating heat from the electronic component, a reusable holding component connected the heatsink comprising: a frame with an opening extending from a first surface of the frame to a second surface of the frame, and at least two pins disposed on and extending away from the second surface of the frame, wherein each of the at least two pins includes a head portion, at least one elongated segment connected to a portion of the head portion, and a hook disposed on the at least one elongated segment, wherein the heatsink has a fastener receiving opening aligned with the fastener receiving opening of the frame, and at least two guiding openings corresponding to the at least two pins of the reusable holding component, wherein the base has a fastener receiving opening, wherein the fastener receiving opening of the base is aligned with the fastener receiving opening of the frame and the fastener receiving opening of the heatsink, a fastener configured to secure the reusable holding component and the heatsink to the base through the fastener receiving opening of the frame, the fastener receiving opening of the heatsink, and the fastener receiving opening of the base.

[0009] The above and other embodiments of the present disclosure are described in more details in the following contexts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] So that the manner in which the above described features of the present disclosure can be understood, a more specific description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. However, the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. It is to be understood that the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments, and therefore the appended drawings should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

[0011] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a reusable holding component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] Fig. 2 illustrates another schematic view of the reusable holding component as shown in Fig. 1 .

[0013] Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic view of a pedestal of a heatsink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Fig. 4 illustrates another schematic view of the pedestal of the heatsink as shown in Fig. 3.

[0015] Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-section view of the pedestal of the heatsink taking from line A-A of Fig. 3.

[0016] Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a reusable holding component in combination with a pedestal of a heatsink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Fig. 7 illustrates another schematic view of the c reusable holding component in combination with the pedestal of the heatsink as shown in Fig. 6.

[0018] Fig. 8 illustrates a schematic view of another reusable holding component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Fig. 9 illustrates another schematic view of the reusable holding component as shown in Fig. 8.

[0020] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common in the figures. For the sake of clarity, the various embodiments shown in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and are illustrative representations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Now the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in details with reference to the drawings.

[0022] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a reusable holding component 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig. 2 illustrates another schematic view of the reusable holding component 100 of Fig. 1 . As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the reusable holding component 100 may include a frame 102 with a fastener receiving opening 106 and at least one pin 104. The fastener receiving opening 106 is formed in the frame 102 and extends from a top surface of the frame 102 to a bottom surface 1 18 of the frame 102. The at least one pin 104 is disposed on and extending away from the bottom surface 1 18 of the frame 102. The at least one pin 104 may pass through at least one corresponding hole of a heatsink, such that the reusable holding component 100 may be attached to the heatsink. As such, the reusable holding component 100 may hold the heatsink in place, so as to facilitate the subsequent mounting of the fastener into the base.

[0023] The reusable holding component 100 may further include a fastener guiding wall 108. The fastener guiding wall 108 is disposed on and extending away from the top surface 1 16 of the frame 102. In order to guide the placement of the fastener, the fastener guiding wall 108 may surround the fastener receiving opening 106 of the frame 102. In such way, the fastener guiding wall 108 will direct the fastener into the fastener receiving opening 106 of the frame 102 during installation of the fastener.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, the at least one pin 104 may include at least two elongated segments 1 12 with hooks 1 14. The hooks 1 14 are disposed on a head portion of each of the at least two elongated segments 1 12, and the hooks 1 14 are tapered off to a point of the head portion of each of the at least two elongated segments 1 12. The at least one pin 104 may extend vertically from the bottom surface 1 18 of the frame 102. The at least two elongated segments 1 12 are parallel with each other, and there is a gap 1 10 between the at least two elongated segments. In some embodiments, the at least two elongated segments 1 12 may be angled with each other.

[0025] The frame 102 may have a rectangular shape, and at least two pins 104 may be disposed substantially at diagonal corners on the bottom surface 1 18 of the frame 102. When the reusable holding component 100 is attached to the heatsink by the at least two pins 104, the at least two pins 104 at diagonal corners may ensure that the reusable holding component 100 is attached to the heatsink securely.

[0026] Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic view of a pedestal 300 of a heatsink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 4 illustrates another schematic view of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-section view of the pedestal of the heatsink of Fig. 3.

[0027] Typically, heatsinks are formed with fins, pins or other similar structures to increase the surface area of the heatsink and thereby enhance heat dissipation. Heatsinks are typically formed of metals, such as copper or aluminum. The heatsinks are attached to a base using a variety of attachment mechanisms, such as clamps, screws, and other hardware for dissipating heat from an electronic component, and the electronic component is supported by the base to contact with heatsinks.

[0028] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the pedestal 300 of the heatsink has a top surface 306 and a bottom surface 308, and has a fastener receiving opening 302 and at least one guiding opening 304. The fastener receiving opening 302 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink and the at least one guiding opening 304 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink may extend from the top surface 306 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink to the bottom surface 308 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink. The at least one guiding opening 304 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink corresponds to at least one pin of the reusable holding component as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0029] In some embodiment, at least two guiding openings 304 are disposed substantially at diagonal corners on the pedestal 300 of the heatsink. At least two pins of the reusable holding component at the corresponding diagonal corners may pass through the at least two guiding openings 304 to attach the reusable holding component to the pedestal 300 of the heatsink, to ensure that the reusable holding component is attached to the pedestal 300 of the heatsink securely.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 5, the at least one guiding opening 304 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink may extend from the top surface 306 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink to the bottom surface 308 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink in a stepped way. The diameter of the at least one guiding opening 304 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink at the top surface 306 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink may be smaller than the diameter of at least one guiding opening 304 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink at the bottom surface 308 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink. In such way, the hooks of the at least one pin of the reusable holding component as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may hook within the at least one guiding opening 304 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink to prevent the reusable holding component from removing the pedestal 300 of the heatsink.

[0031] In some embodiments, the at least one guiding opening 304 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink may extend from the top surface 306 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink to the bottom surface 308 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink in a straight way, such that the hooks of the at least one pin of the reusable holding component may hook onto the bottom surface 308 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink to prevent the reusable holding component from falling out of the pedestal 300 easily. [0032] Still referring to Fig. 5, the fastener receiving opening 302 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink extends from the top surface 306 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink to the bottom surface 308 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink in a stepped way. The diameter of the fastener receiving opening 302 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink at the top surface 306 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink is larger than the diameter of the fastener receiving opening of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink at the bottom surface 308 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink. In such way, the operator may choose the size of the fastener to fit the diameter of the fastener receiving opening 302 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink at the bottom surface 308 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink, and may operate the fastener to pass through the fastener receiving opening 302 of the pedestal 300 of the heatsink easily.

[0033] Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a reusable holding component 602 in combination with a pedestal 620 of a heatsink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig. 7 illustrates another schematic view of the combination of the reusable holding component 602 and the pedestal 620 of the heatsink of Fig. 6.

[0034] Similar to the reusable holding component of Fig. 1 , the reusable holding component 602 may include a frame 604 with a fastener receiving opening 606, at least one pin 608, and a fastener guiding wall 610. The fastener receiving opening 606 extends from a top surface of the frame 604 of the reusable holding component 602 to a bottom surface of the frame 604 of the reusable holding component 602. The at least one pin 608 is disposed on and extending away from the bottom surface of the frame 604 of the reusable holding component 602. The fastener guiding wall 610 is disposed on and extending away from the top surface of the frame 604. The fastener guiding wall 610 may surround the fastener receiving opening 608 of the frame 604. [0035] Similar to the pedestal of the heatsink of Fig. 3, the pedestal 620 of the heatsink has a top surface 626 and a bottom surface 628. Further, a fastener receiving opening 622 and at least one guiding opening 624 can be formed in the pedestal 620. The fastener receiving opening 622 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink and the at least one guiding opening 624 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink may extend from the top surface 626 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink to the bottom surface 628 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the reusable holding component 602 is attached to the pedestal 620 of the heatsink by the at least one pin 608. The bottom surface 628 of the frame 604 of the reusable holding component 602 may engage with the top surface 626 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink. A fastener receiving opening 624 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink aligns with the fastener receiving opening 606 of the frame 604 of the reusable holding component 602, and at least one guiding opening 624 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink corresponds to the at least one pin 608 of the reusable holding component 602.

[0037] The at least one pin 608 may include at least two elongated segments with hooks. The hooks are disposed on a head portion of each of the at least two elongated segments, and the hooks extend laterally from the head portion of each of the at least two elongated segments and are tapered off to a point of the head portion of each of the at least two elongated segments. There is a gap between the at least two elongated segments. The reusable holding component 602 may be placed on the top surface 626 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink, and then the at least one pin 608 may pass through the at least one guiding opening 624 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink by decreasing the gap between the at least two elongated segments. After passing through the at least one guiding opening 624 of the pedestal 620 of the heatsink, the gap between the at least two elongated segments restores and the reusable holding component 602 is roughly fixed on the pedestal 620 of the heatsink. On the other hand, the operator may press the hooks of the at least one pin 608 to decrease the gap between the at least two elongated segments, such that the at least two elongated segments as well as the hooks of the reusable holding component 602 may retreat from the at least one guiding opening 624 of the pedestal 620. Consequently, the heatsink can be removed easily by the reusable holding component 602 from the pedestal 620 of the heatsink. The installation and the removal of the heatsink as described above will not infect the structure of the reusable holding component 602. As such, the heatsink of the present disclosure can be installed on different pedestals, and can be replaced and used for many times.

[0038] In some embodiments, the pedestal 620 of the heatsink with the reusable holding component 602 can be attached to a base (not shown) with a fastener. An electronic component (e.g. the CPU, microprocessor, or the likes) is supported by the base, and the heatsink attached to the base is used for dissipating heat from the electronic component. In some embodiments, the fastener (e.g. a screw with a head portion) may be disposed within the fastener receiving opening 606 of the frame 604 of the reusable holding component 602 and the fastener receiving opening 622 in the pedestal 620 of the heatsink and threaded into the base for securing the heatsink to the base.

[0039] In some embodiments, the base may have a fastener receiving opening for receiving the fastener. The fastener may pass through the fastener receiving opening 606 of the frame 604 of the reusable holding component 602, the fastener receiving opening 622 in the pedestal 620 of the heatsink, and the fastener receiving opening of the base. The fastener may include a machine screw with a head portion and a machine nut to secure the pedestal 620 of the heatsink with the reusable holding component 602 to the base. [0040] Fig. 8 illustrates a schematic view of another reusable holding component 800 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig. 9 illustrates another schematic view of the reusable holding component 800 of Fig. 8. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the reusable holding component 800 may include a frame 802 with a fastener receiving opening 806 and at least two pins 804, 822. The fastener receiving opening 806 is formed in the frame 802 and extends from a top surface 816 of the frame 802 to a bottom surface 818 of the frame 802. The at least two pins 804, 822 are disposed on and extending away from the bottom surface 818 of the frame 802. The at least two pins 804, 822 may pass through at least two corresponding holes of a heatsink, such that the reusable holding component 800 may be attached to the heatsink. As such, the reusable holding component 800 may hold the heatsink in place, so as to facilitate the subsequent mounting of the fastener into the base.

[0041] The reusable holding component 800 may further include a fastener guiding wall 808. The fastener guiding wall 808 is disposed on and extending away from the top surface 816 of the frame 802. In order to guide the placement of the fastener, the fastener guiding wall 808 may surround the fastener receiving opening 806 of the frame 802. In such way, the fastener guiding wall 808 will direct the fastener into the fastener receiving opening 806 of the frame 802 during installation of the fastener.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 8, a first pin 804 of the at least two pins may include a first head portion 812, a first elongated segment 814 connected to a portion of the first head portion 812, and a first hook 820 disposed on the first elongated segment 814. The first hook 820 is tapered off to a point of the first elongated segment 814. A second pin 822 of the at least two pins may include a second head portion 824, a second elongated segment 826 connected to a portion of the second head portion 824, and a second hook 828 disposed on the second elongated segment 826. The second hook 828 is tapered off to a point of the second elongated segment 814. In some embodiments, the at least two pins 804, 822 may extend vertically from the bottom surface 818 of the frame 802.

[0043] In some embodiments, the first and second elongated segments 814, 826 may have a curved cross-section, and the first and second hooks 820, 828 are disposed on an outer surface of each of the first and second elongated segments 814, 826. The first and second elongated segments 814, 826 with a curved cross-section may withstand more stress than the structure without a curved cross-section. In some embodiments, the curved cross-section of the first and second elongated segments 814, 826 forms a groove along the first and second elongated segments 814, 826, and an inner surface of the first elongated segments 814 may face to the inner surface of the second elongated segments 826. In some embodiments, the first and second hooks 820, 828 may face away from each other. When the reusable holding component 800 is attached to the heatsink by the at least two pins 804, 822, the first and second hooks 820, 828 facing away from each other may ensure that the reusable holding component 800 is attached to the heatsink securely. In some embodiments, the at least two pins 804, 822 may be disposed around the fastener receiving opening 806 of the frame 802 of the reusable holding component 800. When the reusable holding component 800 is attached to the heatsink by the at least two pins 804, 822, the first and second hooks 820, 828 extending radially outward may ensure that the reusable holding component 800 is attached to the heatsink securely, and facilitate the pedestal of the heatsink to engage with the fastener receiving opening 806 of the frame 802 of the reusable holding component 800 closely.

[0044] The frame 802 may have a rectangular shape, and at least two pins 804, 822 may be disposed substantially at diagonal corners on the bottom surface 818 of the frame 802. When the reusable holding component 800 is attached to the heatsink by the at least two pins 804, 822, the at least two pins 804, 822 at diagonal corners may ensure that the reusable holding component 800 is attached to the heatsink securely. In some embodiments, the at least two pins 804, 822 may include four pins disposed approximate to four corners of the frame 802. In some embodiments, the at least two pins 804, 822 may include three or more pins disposed around the fastener receiving opening 806 of the frame 802 of the reusable holding component 800. In some embodiment, the three or more pins may be disposed isometrically from each other with respect to the fastener receiving opening. However, other configurations of arbitrary distributions of the three or more pins around the fastener receiving opening are also contemplated. The three or more pins may ensure that the reusable holding component 800 is attached to the heatsink securely, and facilitate the pedestal of the heatsink to engage with the fastener receiving opening 806 of the frame 802 of the reusable holding component 800 closely.

[0045] Similar to Figs. 6 and 7, the reusable holding component 602 may be replaced with the reusable holding component 800 to be attached to the pedestal of the heatsink by the at least two pins 804, 822. The bottom surface 818 of the frame 802 of the reusable holding component 800 may engage with the top surface of the pedestal of the heatsink. A fastener receiving opening of the pedestal of the heatsink aligns with the fastener receiving opening 806 of the frame 802 of the reusable holding component 800, and at least two guiding openings of the pedestal of the heatsink corresponds to the at least two pins 804, 822 of the reusable holding component 800.

[0046] The reusable holding component 800 may be placed on the top surface of the pedestal of the heatsink, and then the at least two pins 804, 822 may pass through the at least two guiding openings of the pedestal of the heatsink by bending the first and second elongated segments 814, 826. After passing through the at least two guiding openings of the pedestal of the heatsink, the first and second elongated segments 814, 826 restore and the reusable holding component 800 is roughly fixed on the pedestal of the heatsink. On the other hand, the operator may press the first and second hooks 820, 828 to bend the first and second elongated segments 814, 826, such that the first and second elongated segments 814, 826 as well as the first and second hooks 820, 828 of the reusable holding component 800 may retreat from the at least two guiding openings of the pedestal. Consequently, the heatsink can be removed easily by the reusable holding component 800 from the pedestal of the heatsink. The installation and the removal of the heatsink as described above will not infect the structure of the reusable holding component 800. As such, the heatsink of the present disclosure can be installed on different pedestals, and can be replaced and used for many times.

[0047] In some embodiments, the pedestal of the heatsink with the reusable holding component can be attached to a base (not shown) with a fastener. An electronic component (e.g. the CPU, microprocessor, or the likes) is supported by the base, and the heatsink attached to the base is used for dissipating heat from the electronic component. In some embodiments, the fastener (e.g. a screw with a head portion) may be disposed within the fastener receiving opening of the frame of the reusable holding component and the fastener receiving opening in the pedestal of the heatsink and threaded into the base for securing the heatsink to the base.

[0048] In some embodiments, the base may have a fastener receiving opening for receiving the fastener. The fastener may pass through the fastener receiving opening 806 of the frame 802 of the reusable holding component 800, the fastener receiving opening in the pedestal of the heatsink, and the fastener receiving opening of the base. The fastener may include a machine screw with a head portion and a machine nut to secure the pedestal of the heatsink with the reusable holding component 800 to the base. [0049] Although the disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method and apparatus of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure can include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.