Patent ID: 6012510
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A heat sink retaining apparatus for thermally and mechanically coupling a lower surface of a heat sink to a device requiring assisted cooling, said apparatus comprising:a biasing member comprising a biasing bar having a longitudinal axis and a first substantially rigid lever fixedly secured to said biasing bar for engagement with said heat sink, said first lever radially extending from said longitudinal axis and having a free end at a fixed radial distance from said longitudinal axis, said first lever torsionally stressing said biasing bar in a first direction as said first lever is brought into an engaged position against said heat sink so as to create a biasing force which biases said first lever against said heat sink when said first lever is in said engaged position;means for mounting said biasing member proximate said device and said heat sink so as to maintain said first lever in said engaged position such that said biasing force is transferred through said first lever for urging said lower surface of said heat sink against said device to thermally and mechanically couple said heat sink to said device, said mounting means comprising a pair of mounting legs between which said biasing bar longitudinally extends; anda second substantially rigid lever fixedly secured to said biasing bar and having a free end radially extending from said biasing bar by a fixed radial distance for torsionally stressing said biasing bar in a second direction as said second lever is brought into an engaged position against said heat sink, said first and said second levers torsionally stressing said biasing bar in opposing directions about said longitudinal axis to create said biasing force when said first and second levers are in their respective engaged positions.