Abstract:
A heat sink includes a plurality of fins. Each of fins includes a body having two locking members at a top portion and a lower portion thereof respectively. Each of the locking members includes two parallel clasping plates. The two clasping plates of one of the fins clasp the main body of another fin adjacent said one fin, thereby interlocking the fins together.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a heat sink, more particularly to a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by an electronic component, and particularly to a heat sink with a plurality of interlocked fins that are easily and securely interlocked. 
         [0003]    2. Description of related art 
         [0004]    It is well known that during operation computer electronic devices such as central processing units (CPUs) can generate large amounts of heat. The heat must be quickly removed from the electronic device to prevent it from becoming unstable or being damaged. Typically, a heat sink is attached to an outer surface of the electronic device to absorb heat from the electronic device, and the heat absorbed by the heat sink is then dissipated to ambient air. 
         [0005]      FIG. 5  related heat sink  30  which includes a plurality of fins stacked together. Each of the fins comprises a rectangular body  32  and two flanges  34  extending perpendicularly from respective top and bottom side edges of the body  32 . Each fin provides recess portions  36  and protrusion portions  38  at the flanges  34  thereof. The protrusion portions  38 , with protruding points  39  formed thereon. In assembly, the protrusion portions  38  of one fin are inserted into the corresponding recess portions  36  of an adjacent fin to cause the protruding point  39  thereof to engage with a front face of the adjacent fin, thereby assembling the fins together. However, the protruding points  39  of the fins are small-sized and therefore providing a loosened combination ability. The protruding points  39  of the one fin are easily disengaged from the front face of the adjacent fin when the assembled fins are subject to mechanical shocks. 
         [0006]    What is needed, therefore, is a heat sink which has a plurality of fins securely keeping with each other. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A heat sink includes a plurality of fins. Each of fins includes a body having two locking members at a top portion and a lower portion thereof respectively. Each of the locking members includes two parallel clasping plates. The two clasping plates of one of the fins clasp the main body of another fin adjacent said one fin, thereby interlocking the fins together. 
         [0008]    Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an assembled view of a heat sink in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a partial assembled view of the heat sink of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of an indicated portion IV of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of an indicated portion V of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of related heat sink. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a heat sink in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first fin  11  and a plurality second fins  13  located at a rear side of the first fin  11 . The first fin  11  and the second fins  13  firmly grasp each other. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , the first fin  11  comprises a rectangular body  110  with a pair of elongated flanges  111  extending outwardly from lateral edges thereof along the same direction. Four cutouts  113  are defined in the body  110 , generally in two upper corner sections and two lower corner sections thereof. Each cutout  113  is enclosed by an outer edge (not labeled) parallel to the flange  111  near the corresponding cutout  113 , and an inner edge (not labeled) parallel to the outer edge, and a connecting edge (not labeled) connecting with the out and inner edges thereof. A locking member  115  extends from the inner edge of each cutout  113 . Each locking portion  115  comprises an extension plate  1151  and a connecting plate  1153 . The extension plate  1151  connects with the connecting edge of each cutout  113  and is coplanar with the body  110 . The connecting plate  1153  is perpendicularly bent from an end of the extension plate  1151 . 
         [0017]    Each second fin  13  is similar to the first fin  11  and comprises a rectangular body  130  with a pair of elongated flanges  131  extending outwardly from lateral edges thereof in the same direction. Four cutouts  133  are defined in the body  130 , generally in two upper corner sections and two lower corner sections thereof. Each cutout  133  is enclosed by an outer edge (not labeled) parallel to the flange  131  near the corresponding cutout  133 , and an inner edge (not labeled) parallel to the outer edge, and a connecting edge (not labeled) connecting with the outer and inner edges thereof. A locking member  135  is punched from the body  130  at the cutout  133 . Each locking portion  135  comprises an extension plate  1351 , a connecting plate  1353  extending from the extension plate  1351  and a clasp  1355  extending from the connecting plate  1353 . The extension plate  1351  connects with the connecting edge of each cutout  133  and is coplanar with the body  130 . The connecting plate  1353  is perpendicularly to the extension plate  1151  and extends outwardly from the extension plate  1351 . The clasp  1355  has a U-shaped configuration with an opening (not labeled). A total length of the clasp  1355  is equal to that of the longer out edge of the cutout  133 . The clasp  1355  comprises a first plate  1356  perpendicular extending outwardly from the connecting plate  1353 , a second plate  1357  parallel to and spaced from the first plate  1356  and a connecting plate (not labeled) connecting with the first and second plates  1356 ,  1357 . The first and second plates  1356 ,  1357  are parallel to the body  130 . The first plate  1356  is longer than the second plate  1357 . The openings of the clasps  1355  located at the upper corner and the lower corner of the body  130  are opposite respectively. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , before assembled, each second fin  13  and the first fin  11  has the extension plates  1151 ,  1351  and the connecting plates  1153 ,  1353  by punching. The first fin  11  is placed in front of and parallel to the second fins  13 . The connecting plates  1153 ,  1353  located at the corresponding cutout  113  of the first and second fins  11 ,  13  are aligned with each other. A free end of each connecting plate  1353  of the second fin  13  forms one clasp  1355  by punching. The clasps  1355  located at the rear side of the first fin  11  firmly snap the extension plates  1151  of the first fin  11 . In this state, the first and second plates  1356 ,  1357  of the clasps  1355  are located at the rear side and a front side of the body  110  of the first fin  11  respectively; each clasp  1355  abuts against the connecting plate  1153  of the corresponding locking member  115  and the inner edge of the first fin  11 . Then the second fins  13  connect with each other in turn in the same way as described above with uniform direction, thus, the heat sink  10  is formed. The cutouts  113 ,  133  are aligned with each other to form four elongated grooves (not labeled). The locking member  135  of the second fins  13  are received in the grooves. The flanges  111 , 113  of the first and second fins  11 ,  13  are connecting each other to form two planar surfaces (not labeled) for connecting the electronic component. The number of the second fins  13  used may be varied according to need. 
         [0019]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.