US5654876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Demountable heat sink
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1996-01-05
•
Granted: 1997-08-05
•
Expires: 2016-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A demountable, and thus re-usable, conductive heat sink for dissipation of excess heat of an electronic component. The heat sink uses a T-bolt and T-slot for attachment to the electronic component and the printed circuit board, respectively. This attachment eliminates the typical concerns associated with the placement of traces on the PCB to accommodate the holes placed therein for the attachment of conventional heat sinks. The improved designed also facilitates demounting of the heat sink from the printed circuit board and the electronic component without damage thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Sanjeev Balwant Sathe
- 👤 Pratap Singh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:03
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/60; H10W40/611; H10W72/00; H10W72/851; H10W72/874; H10W72/877
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus comprising: a heat sink; a printed circuit board; a bolt having upper and lower portions; retaining means for retaining the lower portion, the retaining means including a non-threaded slot that allows the lower portion to be placed therein and retained from vertical movement via the dimensions of the slot, the retaining means being attached to the printed circuit board, and securing means for securing the heat sink to the upper portion, and for applying an upward force to the lower portion such that the lower portion is retained from horizontal movement via the non-threaded slot.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus comprising: a heat sink; a printed circuit board; a bolt having upper and lower portions; retaining means for retaining the lower portion, the retaining means including a non-threaded slot that allows the lower portion to be placed therein and retained from vertical movement via the dimensions of the slot, the retaining means being attached to the printed circuit board, and securing means for securing the heat sink to the upper portion, and for applying an upward force to the lower portion such that the lower portion is retained from horizontal movement via the non-threaded slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a spring residing between the retaining means and the bottom of the heat sink.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the non-threaded slot has a dimension that is substantially similar to that of the lower portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the upper and lower portions of the bolt are a threaded end and a T shaped end, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the non-threaded slot is T shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the securing means is a nut and washer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat sink is attached using a plurality of bolts, retaining means, and securing means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of attaching a heat sink to an electronic component mounted to a printed circuit board, the method comprising the steps of: attaching the electronic component to the printed circuit board; attaching retaining means to the surface of the printed circuit board, the retaining means for receiving and retaining a lower portion of a bolt, the retaining means including a non-threaded slot that allows the lower portion to slide therein and be retained from vertical movement via the dimensions of the slot; inserting the lower portion of a bolt into the non-threaded slot; inserting the upper portion of the bolt into receiving means of the heat sink; and securing the bolt to the heat sink with securing means, thereby attaching the heat sink to the electronic component and the printed circuit board, the securing means retaining the lower portion from horizontal movement.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of attaching a heat sink to an electronic component mounted to a printed circuit board, the method comprising the steps of: attaching the electronic component to the printed circuit board; attaching retaining means to the surface of the printed circuit board, the retaining means for receiving and retaining a lower portion of a bolt, the retaining means including a non-threaded slot that allows the lower portion to slide therein and be retained from vertical movement via the dimensions of the slot; inserting the lower portion of a bolt into the non-threaded slot; inserting the upper portion of the bolt into receiving means of the heat sink; and securing the bolt to the heat sink with securing means, thereby attaching the heat sink to the electronic component and the printed circuit board, the securing means retaining the lower portion from horizontal movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of: inserting a spring residing between the retaining means and the bottom of the heat sink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the non-threaded slot has a dimension that is substantially similar to that of the lower portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the upper and lower portions of the bolt are a threaded end and a T shaped end, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the non-threaded slot is T shaped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the securing means is a nut and washer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3867003A
Cited
US4068368A
Cited
US4333101A
Cited
US4636580A
Cited
US4628990A
Cited
JPH04186752A
Cited
US5305185A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |