Patent ID: 6973960

Claim:
A flat plate heat exchanger which includes: a support structure having at least one elongate support member having a known width; and a plurality of generally flat plate members formed of a heat conductive material, and arranged for attachment to said at least one support member, so as to be supported thereby, each said plate member including at least one edge portion, and at least one support engagement portion which includes: a recess formed in a predetermined one of said at least one edge portion of said plate member, configured to at least partially accommodate the width of said at least one support member, said recess having an outlet for admitting said at least one support member; and a flexible arm formed along a portion of the recess, terminating in a lateral protrusion protruding inwardly into said recess, thereby to constrict said outlet such that said recess outlet has a width that is less than the width of said at least one support member, said flexible arm being operative in the presence of at least a predetermined lateral flexure force applied thereto to snap couple and decouple said plate member and said at least one elongate support member, and further, in the absence of at least a predetermined lateral flexure force applied thereto, to prevent coupling or de-coupling of said plate member from said at least one support member, said flexible arm being further operative to flex in a direction which is both lateral to the direction of coupling and de-coupling and in the plane of said plate member.