Abstract:
A locking structure for assembling a first component to a second component. The locking structure includes a nut embedded into the first component and a bolt. The nut defines a groove in a circumferential periphery thereof. The first component forms a protrusion engaging into the grove of the nut. The bolt extends through the second component and screws into the nut.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to locking structures and, more particularly, relates to a locking structure with a threaded nut, a method for manufacturing the locking structure and a heat dissipation device using the locking structure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, various components of numerous kinds of products are assembled together using locking structures such as bolts. For example, a typical heat dissipation device for dissipating heat generated by an electronic device (e.g. a central processing unit) includes components such as a heat sink, a clip, and a heat pipe. Bolts are of used to assemble these various components together. 
         [0005]    With the development of electronics technology, electronic devices used in electronic apparatuses are being made to have more and more powerful operating capacity. An example is a central processing unit (CPU) used in a notebook computer. Nowadays, a CPU can have huge processing capacity. Yet modern electronic apparatuses are being made smaller and thinner. The heat dissipation device, including the components and the bolts securing the components, needs to also be made thin to suit the configuration of the electronic apparatus. However, the components of the heat dissipation device secured by the bolts may be so thin as to make the use of the bolts problematic. In particular, when a bolt is screwed into a component, the bolt is prone to be stripped or loosen from the component due to the limited surface areas available for threaded and frictional engagement. That is, conventional locking structures do not necessarily meet the needs of contemporary electronic apparatuses. 
         [0006]    What are needed, therefore, are a locking structure which can overcome the limitations described above, a method for manufacturing such locking structure, and a heat dissipation device using the locking structure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    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. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of a heat dissipation device of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the heat dissipation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows an enlarged view of a nut of a locking structure of the heat dissipation device of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the heat dissipation device of  FIG. 1 , taken along line IV-IV thereof. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  is an inverted, side cross-sectional view of the nut of  FIG. 3  ready to be secured to a base of the heat dissipation device of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  is similar to  FIG. 5A , but showing the nut pre-secured to the base. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5C  is similar to  FIG. 5B , but showing the nut fully secured to the base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a heat dissipation device of an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The heat dissipation device comprises a base  10 , a heat absorbing plate  20 , a securing member  30  connecting with the base  10  and the heat absorbing plate  20 , and a locking member  50  locking the securing member  30  to the base  10 . A heat pipe  40  is in thermal contact with the heat absorbing plate  20 . The locking member  50  comprises a nut  16  engaging with the base  10 , and a bolt  18  extending through the securing member  30  and engaging with the nut  16 . 
         [0016]    Referring to also  FIGS. 3-5C  also, the base  10  is substantially rectangular, and is integrally made from a piece of metal such as aluminum. The base  10  comprises a main body (not labeled), and a plurality of spaced locking arms  11  extending from a periphery of the main body. Each of the arms  11  defines a through hole. A plurality of fasteners (not shown) are extended through the arms  11  and into a printed circuit board to fasten the base  10  and the printed circuit board together. An opening  12  is defined in a central portion of the main body for exposing the heat absorbing plate  20 . The opening  12  is elongated in this embodiment. The base  10  defines two engaging holes  14  at two opposite sides of the opening  12 , respectively, for receiving two corresponding nuts  16  therein. 
         [0017]    Each nut  16  comprises a chassis  160  and a sleeve  162  extending from the chassis  160 . In this embodiment, the chassis  160  is circular in shape. The chassis  160  forms a plurality of first teeth  161  along a circumferential periphery thereof. The base  10  forms a plurality of second teeth (not shown) in the corresponding engaging hole  14 . The second teeth are complementary with the first teeth  161  of the chassis  160 , such that the first teeth  161  of the chassis  160  can joggle with the second teeth of the base  10 . Thus, the nut  16  can be locked and prevented from rotating in the engaging hole  14 . The sleeve  162  is hollow and has a shape of a cylinder (or column) The chassis  160  and the sleeve  162  are coaxial. The sleeve  162  has an external diameter less than that of the chassis  160 . In this embodiment, the external diameter of the sleeve  162  is substantially equal to the diameter of the engaging hole  14 , such that the sleeve  162  can be snugly received in the engaging hole  14 . The combined chassis  160  and sleeve  162  form a screw thread in an interior surface thereof. The sleeve  162  defines an annular groove  1620  in an external periphery thereof adjacent to the chassis  160 . The base  10  forms an annular protrusion  19  extending inwardly from an inner wall of the engaging hole  14  and engaging in the groove  1620  of the sleeve  160  after the nut  16  is secured to the base  10 , such that the nut  16  can be locked and prevented from moving along an axial direction of the engaging hole  14 . The nut  16  is made from material which is more rigid than that of the base  10 , such as cast iron, steel, copper, or any suitable alloy including any of the foregoing. 
         [0018]    The heat absorbing plate  20  is substantially rectangular, and is integrally made from a piece of material with good heat conductivity, such as copper or aluminum. The heat absorbing plate  20  comprises a main body, and a plurality of spaced posts  22  extending upwardly from the main body. The main body of the heat absorbing plate  20  has a first face and a second face opposite to the first face. The first face is for contacting an electronic device mounted on the printed circuit board and absorbing heat from the electronic device. The posts  22  extend perpendicularly from the second face of the main body of the heat absorbing plate  20 . 
         [0019]    The securing member  30  is flexible. In this embodiment, the securing member  30  is in the form of a bent metal sheet. The securing member  30  comprises a frame  32 , and two elastic arms  34  respectively extending from two opposite sides of the frame  32 . The frame  32  defines a window in a central portion thereof, and comprises two opposite clamping portions  320  and two opposite pressing portions  322  around the window. Each pressing portion  322  defines two spaced positioning apertures  3220  in two end parts thereof, respectively. The pressing portions  322  can span over and press two opposite lateral portions of the second face the main body of the heat absorbing plate  20 . The two elastic arms  34  each comprise a first portion extending outwardly and upwardly from a central part of the corresponding pressing portion  322 , and a second portion extending outwardly and horizontally from a distal end of the first portion. A distal end of the second portion of each elastic arm  34  defines a though hole  340  therein, for extension of a bolt  18  therethrough. The bolt  18  comprises a threaded portion capable of extending through the though hole  340  and screwing into the sleeve  162  of the nut  16  to fasten the securing member  30  to the base  10 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, in assembly, each nut  16  is inserted to the corresponding engaging hole  14  of the base  10 . The nut  16  is disposed within the engaging hole  14  of the base  10  as shown in  FIG. 5B  from a place above the base  10  as viewed in  FIG. 5A . After the sleeve  162  is totally received in the engaging hole  14  and the chassis  160  is blocked from entering the engaging hole  14  by a top face of the base  10 , the chassis  160  is punched toward the base  10  until the chassis  160  is embedded into the base  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5C , when the nut  16  is fixed into position in this way, a part of a wall of the base  10  surrounding the engaging hole  14  is deformed to form the protrusion  19  engaged into the groove  1620  of the sleeve  162  due to pressure generated by the chassis  160 . The base  10  around the chassis  160  simultaneously forms the plurality of second teeth joggled with the first teeth  161  of the chassis  160 . Therefore, the nut  16  is firmly locked in the engaging hole  14  of the base  10  in circumferential directions of the engaging hole  14  and axial directions of the engaging hole  14 . In this embodiment, the chassis  160  is coplanar with the base  10  at bottom faces thereof. Referring back to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the posts  22  of the heat absorbing plate  20  are firmly positioned into corresponding positioning apertures  3220  of the pressing portions  322  of the securing member  30  by punching. Thereby, the heat absorbing plate  20  is firmly attached to the securing member  30 . The heat absorbing plate  20  and the frame  32  of the securing member  30  are positioned to be at a level below the base  10 , via the opening  12  of the base  10 . The second portions of the elastic arms  34  are positioned on the base  10 , with the through holes  340  in line with the corresponding engaging holes  14  of the base  10 . The threaded portions of the bolts  18  are extended through the corresponding through holes  340  and screwed into the nuts  16  in the base  10 . Thus, the base  10  and the heat absorbing plate  20  are firmly assembled together via the securing member  30 . 
         [0021]    The heat pipe  40  is flattened and has a portion thereof positioned on and contacting the second face of the heat absorbing plate  20 , for transferring heat absorbed by the heat absorbing plate  20  to another location (not shown). 
         [0022]    It is believed that the 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 disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.