Insert for integral heat spreader packaging

Abstract

An insert (1) for integral heat spreader (IHS) packaging includes a handle (2), and a locking portion (3) extending from the handle. The locking portion includes a pair of resilient arms (31). The resilient arms include a pair of guides (313), and teeth (312) formed along outer edges thereof. In use, IHS blocks (5) are stacked inside a receiving box (4). A pair of inserts is inserted into a pair of locking slots (41) defined in ends of the receiving box. A plurality of locking edges (410) of the receiving box at the locking slots is received between corresponding teeth of the inserts. Several such duly assembled receiving boxes is retained in several parallel channels (62) defined in a container (6), with exposed portions of the inserts being received in locking recesses (64) defined in the container. Thus the IHS blocks are protected from unwanted movement and damage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to inserts, and particularly to inserts for integral heat spreader (IHS) packaging.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In one kind of conventional IHS packaging, a plurality of IHS blocks is stacked inside a container. There are no fixing devices between the IHS blocks. Accordingly, during transportation, the IHS blocks are prone to move at random and strike each other. This often results in damage to some of the IHS blocks.

[0005] In another kind of conventional packaging, a plurality of IHS blocks is stacked in a hollow tube. A plurality of such tubes is stacked inside a container. During transportation, the tubes are prone to move at random and strike each other. The IHS blocks inside the tubes are thus liable to sustain shock and damage.

[0006] A new means for packaging IHS blocks which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an insert for IHS packaging which prevents or minimizes the risk of damage to IHS blocks during transportation.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, an insert for integral heat spreader (IHS) packaging in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a handle and a locking portion extending from one end of the handle. The locking portion comprises a pair of resilient arms. The resilient arms comprise a pair of guides formed at free ends thereof, and a plurality of teeth formed along outer edges thereof. In use, IHS blocks are stacked inside a receiving box. A pair of inserts is inserted into a pair of locking slots defined in the receiving box near opposite ends thereof. A plurality of locking edges of the receiving box at the locking slots is received between corresponding teeth of the inserts. A plurality of such duly assembled receiving boxes is retained in a plurality of parallel channels defined in a container, with exposed portions of the inserts being received in a plurality of locking recesses defined in the container. Thus the IHS blocks are protected from unwanted movement and damage.

[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an insert in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded and partly cut-away isometric view of a pair of inserts of FIG. 1 together with a plurality of IHS blocks received in a receiving box, and showing one of the inserts already inserted into the receiving box;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

[0013] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a plurality of the receiving boxes and inserts of FIG. 2 fully assembled, and showing all but one of said plurality of the receiving boxes and inserts received in a container; and

[0014] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an insert in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an insert 1 for integral heat spreader (IHS) packaging in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a handle 2 and a locking portion 3.

[0017] The handle 2 has a generally bell-shaped profile. A circular through hole 22 is defined in a middle portion of the handle 2. When the insert 1 is engaged in or disengaged from a receiving box 4, a user's hand or a tool (not shown) can hold the insert 1 at the hole 22 to facilitate the operation of engaging or disengaging. The locking portion 3 extends from one end of the handle 2, and comprises a pair of resilient arms 31. The resilient arms 31 are parallel to each other, and a U-shaped gap 32 is defined therebetween. Each resilient arm 31 forms a multiplicity of evenly-spaced teeth 312 along an outer edge thereof. A pair of slanted guides 313 is formed at free ends of the resilient arms 31 respectively.

[0018] Referring also to FIG. 3, the receiving box 4 is long and hollow. Both ends of the receiving box 4 are open. The receiving box 4 defines a pair of vertical locking slots 41 near opposite ends thereof respectively. A plurality of locking edges 410 is formed in top and bottom walls of the receiving box 4 at the locking slots 41.

[0019] In use of each insert 1, the guides 313 of the resilient arms 31 guide the resilient arms 31 into the corresponding locking slot 41 of the receiving box 4. The resilient arms 31 elastically deform toward each other. The locking portion 3 of the insert 1 is fully inserted into the locking slot 41 until the guides 313 protrude out from the bottom wall of the receiving box 4. Thus the locking edges 410 of the receiving box 4 are snappingly received between corresponding teeth 312 of the resilient arms 31. Accordingly, the insert 1 is securely locked in the receiving box 4. This ensures that IHS blocks 5 can be snugly received in a stack in the receiving box 4, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to the IHS blocks 5.

[0020] To disengage each insert 1 from the receiving box 4, the resilient arms 31 are deflected toward each other. A user's hand or a tool (not shown) grips the handle 2 of the insert 1. The insert 1 can then be conveniently pulled out from the receiving box 4.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, a container 6 defines a plurality of parallel and slightly staggered channels 62, and a pair of locking recesses 64 at opposite ends respectively of each of the channels 62. The locking recesses 64 are in communication with the respective channels 62. Each receiving box 4 is filled with a stack of IHS blocks 5. The inserts 1 are inserted into the locking slots 41 of the receiving box 4. Then a plurality of such duly assembled receiving boxes 4 is respectively received in the channels 62 of the container 6, with exposed portions of the inserts 1 being received in the corresponding locking recesses 64 of the container 6. Thus the receiving boxes 4 are securely retained in the container 6, and the IHS blocks 5 are protected from damage.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 5, an insert 1′ in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention has a structure similar to that of the insert 1 of the preferred embodiment. The insert 1′ comprises a handle 2′ and a locking portion 3′. The locking portion 3′ extends from one end of the handle 2′, and defines an elongated cutout 32′ in a middle portion thereof. The locking portion 3′ forms a multiplicity of evenly-spaced teeth 312′ along opposite outer edges thereof. A tapered guide 313′ is formed at a free end of the locking portion 3′. The insert 1′ can perform substantially the same function as described above in relation to the insert 1 of the preferred embodiment.

[0023] While preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention have been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An insert for integral heat spreader packaging, the insert comprising:

a handle; and

an elastically deformable locking portion connecting with the handle and comprising a plurality of teeth along at least one edge thereof, the teeth being adapted to engage with a box.

2. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the locking portion comprises a pair of resilient arms, and a slot is defined between the resilient arms.

3. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the locking portion defines a cutout for providing resiliency thereto.

4. The insert as described in claims 2, wherein the locking portion comprises at least one guiding portion at a free end thereof, for guiding the insert into the box.

5. The insert as described in claims 3, wherein the locking portion comprises at least one guiding portion at a free end thereof, for guiding the insert into the box.

6. An integral heat spreader packaging comprising:

at least one insert including:

a handle; and

an elastically deformable locking portion extending from the handle and comprising a plurality of teeth along at least one edge thereof;

the insert is fixed to one end of the box and protrudes from opposite sides of the box.

7. The packaging as described in claim 6, wherein the locking portion comprises a pair of resilient arms, and a slot is defined between the resilient arms.

8. The packaging as described in claim 6, wherein the locking portion defines a cutout for providing resiliency thereto.

9. The packaging as described in claims 7, wherein the locking portion comprises at least one guiding portion at a free end thereof, for guiding the locking portion into the box.

10. The packaging as described in claims 8, wherein the locking portion comprises at least one guiding portion at a free end thereof, for guiding the locking portion into the box.

11. The packaging as described in claim 6, wherein the insert is adapted to be received in a slot defined in the box.

12. The packaging as described in claim 11, wherein the teeth of the insert are adapted to receive therebetween at least one edge of the box at the locking slot.

13. An integral heat spreader packaging comprising:

a container defining at least one longitudinal channel;

an elongated receiving box compliably received in the channel;

a plurality of integral heat spreader (HIS) blocks stacked with one another and commonly received in the receiving box; and

a pair of inserts retained at two ends of the receiving box; wherein

said pair of inserts not only restrict lengthwise movement of said HIS blocks in the receiving box but also prevent lengthwise movement of the receiving box in the channel.

14. The packaging as described in claim 13, wherein each of said pair of inserts includes a handle exposed outside of the receiving box for not only being retaianbly received in a corresponding recess in the container but also functioning as a holding position to attach the insert to the receiving box.

15. The packaging as described in claim 13, wherein said handle defines a hole therein.