Heat sink

Abstract

A heat sink includes a plurality of metal plate members fastened together in a stack. Each metal plate member includes a main body, a first sidewall extending from a first side of the main body and having a through hole, a second sidewall extending from a second side of the main body, a retaining lug extending from the first sidewall and having a retaining hole, and a protrusion suspended in the through hole such that the retaining lug of one metal plate member is insertable into the through hole of another metal plate member, and the protrusion of one metal plate member is engageable into the retaining hole of the retaining lug of another metal plate member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat sink for dissipating heat from a heat source and more particularly, to such a heat sink, which has a tight structure and is easy to install.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 5 shows a heat sink according to the prior art. According to this design, the heat sink 1 is formed of a plurality of metal plate members 2 connected in a stack. Each metal plate member 2 has a plurality of mounting lugs 3 and a plurality of mounting through holes 4 corresponding to the mounting lugs 3. Each mounting lug 3 has a base 5 and two upright arms 6 at two sides of the base 5. During installation, the metal plate members 2 are fastened together by inserting the mounting lugs 3 of one metal plate member 2 into the mounting through holes 4 of another metal plate member 2 and then hammering down the upright arms 6 of each mounting lug 3. This structure of heat sink 1 is strong, however its complicated installation procedure requires much time and labor, resulting in a high manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a heat sink, which has a tight structure and is easy to install.

To achieve this object of the present invention, the heat sink comprises a plurality of metal plate members fastened together in a stack. Each metal plate member comprises a main body, a first sidewall extending from a first side of the main body and having a through hole, a second sidewall extending from a second side of the main body, a retaining lug extending from the first sidewall and having a retaining hole, and a protrusion suspended in the through hole such that the retaining lug of one metal plate member is insertable into the through hole of another metal plate member, and the protrusion of one metal plate member is engageable into the retaining hole of the retaining lug of another metal plate member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a heat sink according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of a metal plate member for the heat sink according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic assembly view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarge view of a part of a heat sink according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a heat sink according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat sink 10 in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a plurality of metal plate members 20 connected in a stack. Each metal plate member 20 comprises a flat rectangular main body 22, a first sidewall 30 perpendicularly extending from one lateral side of the main body 22, and a second sidewall 40 perpendicularly extending from the other lateral side of the main body 22. The metal plate members 20 are made of heat conducting material, for example, copper or aluminum.

Two semicircle-shaped retaining lugs 32 are bilaterally downwardly extending from the first sidewall 30, each having a retaining hole 33. The first sidewall 30 has four bottom notches 34 respectively disposed at two opposite lateral sides of each of the retaining lugs 32. The first sidewall further has two through holes 35, which are U-shaped slots disposed adjacent to the main body 22 and respectively spaced above the retaining lugs 32.

The second sidewall 40 has two retaining lugs 42 and two through holes 45 corresponding to the retaining lugs 32 and through holes 35 of the first sidewall 30. The retaining lugs 42 each have a retaining hole 43. Four bottom notches 44 are respectively disposed at two sides of each of the retaining lugs 32.

Further, the main body 22 has four protrusions 36, 46, which suspend respectively in the through holes 35, 45 of the sidewalls 30, 40.

Referring to FIG. 3, the retaining lugs 32 of the metal plate members 20 define with the respective first sidewall 30 a contained angle α, for example, 20°. The retaining lugs 42 of the metal plate members 20 define with the respective second sidewall 40 same contained angle α. Therefore, when attaching one metal plate member 20 to another, the retaining lugs 32, 42 do not interfere with the corresponding protrusions 36, 46. Therefore, the metal plate members 20 can be accurately aligned. The retaining lugs 32, 42 are respectively fitted into the through holes 35, 45 to force the respective retaining holes 33, 43 into engagement with the respective protrusions 36, 46. Because of the design of the bottom notches 34, 44, the retaining lugs 32, 42 are easily deformable for quick installation. Therefore, the metal plate members 20 can conveniently fastened together in a stack to form the desired heat sink 10. When assembled, the whole structure is strong and steady.

The present invention may be variously embodied. In the aforesaid embodiment, the first sidewall and the second sidewall are provided at two opposite lateral sides of the main body. Alternatively, the first sidewall and the second sidewall can be provided at two adjacent sides of the main body. Further, the retaining lugs, the through holes, the retaining holes, or the protrusions may be variously shaped. The number or locations of the retaining lugs may be changed to fit different requirements.

FIG. 5 shows a heat sink 50 according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the retaining hole 54 of each retaining lug 52 has a semicircular shape for receiving the respective protrusion 56.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the first sidewall and the second sidewall may be respectively perpendicularly extending from two adjacent sides of the body. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims

Claims

1. A heat sink comprising a plurality of metal plate members fastened together in a stack, each said metal plate member comprising a main body, a first sidewall extending from a first side of said main body and having a through hole, a second sidewall extending from a second side of said main body, a retaining lug extending from said first sidewall and having a retaining hole, and a protrusion suspended in said through hole such that the retaining lug of one said metal plate member is insertable into the through hole of another said metal plate member and the protrusion of one said metal plate member is engageable into the retaining hole of the retaining lug of another said metal plate member.

2. The heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said metal plate member further comprises two bottom notches respectively disposed at two sides of said retaining lug.

3. The heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining lug has a semicircular shape.

4. The heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protrusion has a rectangular shape.

5. The heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining hole has a rectangular shape.

6. The heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining hole has a semicircular shape.