Heat sink clip assembly

Abstract

Disclosed is a heat sink clip assembly comprising a frame and a clip for securing and aligning a heat sink with an electronic device package. The frame includes a cavity for receiving the electronic device package with the leads thereof exposed for mounting on a printed circuit board or the like. A resilient heat sink clip is removably engaged with a pair of latching members on the perimeter of the frame. The clip includes means for releasably gripping the heat sink. The heat sink is urged by the heat sink clip into intimate thermal contact with the electronic device package for dissipation of heat therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for mounting a heat sink having a plurality of spaced fins extending radially from a central post on an enclosed and sealed electronic device package having a plurality of leads extending substantially parallel from one surface thereof comprising: (a) electrically insulating frame means having an open cavity adapted to receive and support an electronic device package about the periphery thereof with the leads extending from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.device package through said open cavity and a pair of spaced latching means extending from opposite sides of said frame means; and   (b) elongated clip means adapted to releasably grip a heat sink and urge it into thermal contact with the face of said device package opposite said leads, each end of said elongated clip means adapted to mate with one of said pair of latching means.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said clip means comprises a body extending across said open cavity and includes a downwardly depending flange at each end thereof adapted to mate with one of said pair of latching means. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said body of said clip means includes an arcuate section adapted to partially surround the post of the heat sink between two of the radially extending fins. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said clip means includes at least two upwardly extending arms adapted to grip the heat sink about the lateral periphery thereof. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said upwardly extending arms each include an inwardly extending barb adapted to engage one of the radially extending fins of the heat sink. 
     
     
       6. The combination comprising: (a) a heat sink having a plurality of spaced fins extending radially from a central post;   (b) an enclosed and sealed electronic device package having first and second oppositely disposed external major faces and a plurality of leads extending substantially parallel from said second major face;   (c) electrically insulating frame means having a pair of spaced latching means extending from opposite sides thereof and having an open cavity receiving and supporting said device package therein with said leads projecting through said open cavity; and   (d) elongated clip means urging said heat sink into thermal contact with said first major face of said .[.electronic.]. device package with each end of said clip means releasably attached to one of said latching means.   
     
     
       7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said clip means comprises a body extending across said open cavity and includes a downwardly depending flange at each end thereof mating with one of said latching means. 
     
     
       8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said body of said clip means includes an arcuate section partially surrounding said post of said heat sink between two of said fins. 
     
     
       9. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said clip means is positioned between said frame means and said heat sink and includes at least two upwardly extending arms grippingly engaging said heat sink. 
     
     
       10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said upwardly extending arms includes an inwardly extending barb engaging one of the radially extending fins of said heat sink. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus for mounting a heat sink having a plurality of spaced fins extending radially from a central post on an electronic device package having a plurality of leads extending substantially parallel from one surface thereof comprising: (a) electrically insulating frame means having an open cavity adapted to receive and support an electronic device package about the periphery thereof with the leads extending from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.device package through said open cavity and a pair of spaced latching means extending from opposite sides of said frame means; and   (b) elongated clip means including at least two upwardly extending arms adapted to releasably grip a heat sink about the lateral periphery thereof and urge it into thermal contact with the face of said device package opposite said leads, each end of said elongated clip means adapted to mate with one of said pair of latching means.   
     
     
       12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said upwardly extending arms each include an inwardly extending barb adapted to engage one of the radially extending fins of the heat sink. 
     
     
       13. The combination comprising: (a) a heat sink having a plurality of spaced fins extending radially from a central post;   (b) an electronic device package having first and second oppositely disposed major faces and a plurality of leads extending substantially parallel from said second major face;   (c) electrically insulating frame means having a pair of spaced latching means extending from opposite sides thereof and having an open cavity receiving and supporting said device package therein with said leads projecting through said open cavity; and   (d) elongated clip means positioned between said frame means and said heat sink including at least two upwardly extending arms grippingly engaging said heat sink and urging said heat sink into thermal contact with said first major face of said electronic device package with each end of said clip means releasably attached to one of said latching means.   
     
     
       14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said upwardly extending arms includes an inwardly extending barb engaging one of the radially extending fins of said heat sink. .Iadd. 
     
     
       15.  Apparatus for mounting a heat sink on an enclosed and sealed electronic device package having a plurality of leads extending substantially parallel from one surface thereof comprising: (a) electrically insulating frame means having an open cavity adapted to receive and support an electronic device package about the periphery thereof with the leads extending from the device package through said open cavity and a pair of spaced latching means extending from opposite sides of said frame means; and   (b) elongated clip means adapted to releasably grip a heat sink and urge it into thermal contact with the face of said device package opposite said leads, each end of said elongated clip means adapted to mate with one of said pair of latching means. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said clip means comprises a body extending across said open cavity and includes a downwardly depending flange at each end thereof adapted to mate with one of said pair of latching means.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.     The combination comprising: (a) a heat sink;   (b) an enclosed and sealed electronic device package having first and second oppositely disposed external major faces and a plurality of leads extending substantially parallel from said major face;   (c) electrically insulating frame means having a pair of spaced latching means extending from opposite sides thereof and having an open cavity receiving and supporting said device package therein with said leads projecting through said open cavity; and   (d) elongated clip means urging said heat sink into thermal contact with said first major face of said device package with each end of said clip means releasably attached to one of said latching means.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.     The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said clip means comprises a body extending across said open cavity and includes a downwardly depending flange at each end thereof mating with one of said latching means. .Iaddend.