Support clip

Abstract

A clip for mounting a component such as a heat sink to a support such as a printed circuit board, in particular to stabilize the position of the component until the clip can be soldered to the support, includes a securing portion having a pair of feet received in the support and a supporting portion having a pair of arms received in the component in an interference fit. According to a preferred embodiment, the feet are separated by a slit and are formed into parallel planes so that the feet can overlap when compressed toward each other during insertion into a hole in a printed circuit board, and have outward facing barbs which engage the printed circuit board.

1 . A clip for mounting a component to a support, said clip comprising: 
 a securing portion comprising a main section and a foot adapted for mounting to said support; and    a supporting portion extending laterally from the securing portion and adapted to be received in the component in an interference fit; wherein said supporting portion comprises a pair of arms which can be compressed toward each other to achieve said interference fit.    
     
     
         2 . A clip as in  claim 1  wherein said arms are provided with outward facing barbs which engage said component.  
     
     
         3 . A clip as in  claim 1  further comprising a pair of side walls which extend laterally from said main section.  
     
     
         4 . A clip as in  claim 3  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet which extend from said sidewalls.  
     
     
         5 . A clip as in  claim 1  wherein said main section has an edge from which said foot extends, said edge being provided with arcuate undercuts adjacent to said foot.  
     
     
         6 . A clip as in  claim 1  wherein said main section has an edge from which said foot extends, said edge being positioned to space said component above the support when the assembly is mounted to a support with said edge abutting the support.  
     
     
         7 . A clip as in  claim 1  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet which are spaced apart.  
     
     
         8 . A clip as in  claim 1  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet and wherein said main section has an edge from which said feet extend, said feet being separated by a slit and formed into different planes, whereby said feet can overlap at said slit when compressed toward each other.  
     
     
         9 . A clip as in  claim 8  wherein said slit terminates at an aperture in said securing section.  
     
     
         10 . A clip as in  claim 8  wherein said feet are formed with outward facing barbs which can engage a support.  
     
     
         11 . A clip as in  claim 1  wherein said clip is stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal.  
     
     
         12 . An assembly for mounting to as support, said assembly comprising: 
 a component having a keyway; and    a clip having a securing portion and a supporting portion, said securing portion comprising a main section and a foot adapted for mounting to said support, said supporting portion extending laterally from the securing portion and being received in the keyway in an interference fit, wherein said supporting portion comprises a pair of arms which are compressed toward each other to achieve said interference fit.    
     
     
         13 . An assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said arms are provided with outward facing barbs which engage said component.  
     
     
         14 . An assembly as in  claim 12  further comprising a pair of side walls which extend laterally from said main section and abut against said component.  
     
     
         15 . An assembly as in  claim 15  wherein said foot extends from said sidewalls.  
     
     
         16 . An assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said main section has an edge from which said foot extends, said edge being provided with arcuate undercuts adjacent to said foot.  
     
     
         17 . An assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet and wherein said main section has an edge from which said feet extend, said edge being positioned to space said component above the support when the assembly is mounted to a support with said edge abutting the support.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet which are spaced apart.  
     
     
         19 . An assembly as in  claim 17  wherein said main section has an edge from which said feet extend, said feet being separated by a slit and formed into different planes, whereby said feet can overlap at said slit when compressed toward each other.  
     
     
         20 . An assembly as in  claim 19  wherein said slit terminates at an aperture in said securing section.  
     
     
         21 . An assembly as in  claim 19  wherein said feet are formed with outward facing barbs which can engage a support.  
     
     
         22 . An assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said clip is stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal.  
     
     
         23 . An assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said component is an extruded heat sink.  
     
     
         24 . An assembly as in  claim 12  comprising two of said clips fixed to said component.  
     
     
         25 . A clip for mounting a component to a support, said clip comprising: 
 a securing portion comprising a main section and a foot adapted for mounting to said support; and    a supporting portion extending laterally from the securing portion and adapted to be received in the component in an interference fit; wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet and wherein said main section has an edge from which said feet extend, said feet being separated by a slit and formed into different planes, whereby said feet can overlap at said slit when compressed toward each other, and wherein said slit terminates at an aperture in said securing section.    
     
     
         26 . A clip as in  claim 25  wherein said supporting portion comprises a pair of arms which can be compressed toward each other to achieve said interference fit.  
     
     
         27 . A clip as in  claim 26  wherein said arms are provided with outward facing barbs which engage said component.  
     
     
         28 . A clip as in  claim 25  further comprising a pair of side walls which extend laterally from said main section.  
     
     
         29 . A clip as in  claim 28  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet which extend from said sidewalls.  
     
     
         30 . A clip as in  claim 25  wherein said main section has an edge from which said foot extends, said edge being provided with arcuate undercuts adjacent to said foot.  
     
     
         31 . A clip as in  claim 25  wherein said main section has an edge from which said foot extends, said edge being positioned to space said component above the support when the assembly is mounted to a support with said edge abutting the support.  
     
     
         32 . A clip as in  claim 25  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet which are spaced apart.  
     
     
         33 . A clip as in  claim 25  wherein said feet are formed with outward facing barbs which can engage a support.  
     
     
         34 . A clip as in  claim 25  wherein said clip is stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal.  
     
     
         35 . An assembly for mounting to as support, said assembly comprising: 
 a component having a keyway; and    a clip having a securing portion and a supporting portion, said securing portion comprising a main section and a pair of feet adapted for mounting to said support, said supporting portion extending laterally from the securing portion and being received in the keyway in an interference fit; wherein said main section has an edge from which said feet extend, said feet being separated by a slit and formed into different planes, whereby said feet can overlap at said slit when compressed toward each other; and wherein said slit terminates at an aperture in said securing section.    
     
     
         36 . An assembly as in  claim 35  wherein said supporting portion comprises a pair of arms which are compressed toward each other to achieve said interference fit.  
     
     
         37 . An assembly as in  claim 36  wherein said arms are provided with outward facing barbs which engage said component.  
     
     
         38 . An assembly as in  claim 35  further comprising a pair of side walls which extend laterally from said main section and abut against said component.  
     
     
         39 . An assembly as in  claim 38  wherein said foot extends from said sidewalls.  
     
     
         40 . An assembly as in  claim 35  wherein said main section has an edge from which said foot extends, said edge being provided with arcuate undercuts adjacent to said foot.  
     
     
         41 . An assembly as in  claim 35  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet and wherein said main section has an edge from which said feet extend, said edge being positioned to space said component above the support when the assembly is mounted to a support with said edge abutting the support.  
     
     
         42 . An assembly as in  claim 35  wherein said foot comprises a pair of feet which are spaced apart.  
     
     
         43 . An assembly as in  claim 35  wherein said feet are formed with outward facing barbs which can engage a support.  
     
     
         44 . An assembly as in  claim 35  wherein said clip is stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal.  
     
     
         45 . An assembly as in  claim 35  wherein said component is an extruded heat sink.  
     
     
         46 . An assembly as in  claim 35  comprising two of said clips fixed to said component.