Patent · US11268909B2 · B2 · US

Heatsink with visual installation indicator

(11) Publication number

US11268909B2

(21) Application number

16/167,724

(22) Filing date

2018-10-23

(30) Priority date

2018-10-23

(43) Publication date

2022-03-08

(45) Date of grant

2022-03-08

(51) IPC

B23P 19/06; F16M 13/00; G01N 21/88; G01N 21/956

(52) CPC

G01N Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties: 21/8803, 21/956
B23P Metal-working not otherwise provided for; combined operations; universal machine tools: 19/06
F16B Devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together, e.g. nails, bolts, circlips, clamps, clips or wedges; joints or jointing: 2200/95, 31/02
F16M Frames, casings or beds of engines, machines or apparatus, not specific to engines, machines or apparatus provided for elsewhere; stands; supports: 13/00
F28F Details of heat-exchange and heat-transfer apparatus, of general application: 2275/10, 2280/04
H10W Generic packages, interconnections, connectors or other constructional details of devices covered by class H10: 40/611

(73) Assignee

Cisco Technology Inc

(72) Inventors

Le Gao; Yang Sun; Rudong Shi; Bruce Chen

(54) Title

Heatsink with visual installation indicator

(57) Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a module for use in installing a heatsink, the module comprising a fastener, a first indicator member comprising a first visual indicator surface, and a second indicator member comprising a second visual indicator surface, the first and second indicator members defining an opening for receiving the fastener. The first visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is not fully installed and the second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed. A method for installing the heatsink with the module is also disclosed herein.

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Claims (20)

An apparatus comprising: a module for use in installing a heatsink, the module comprising: a fastener; a first indicator member comprising a first visual indicator surface; and a second indicator member comprising a second visual indicator surface, the first indicator member and the second indicator member defining an opening for receiving the fastener, wherein the first visual indicator surface is visible from a top view when the fastener is partially installed and the second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed.
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first visual indicator surface and the second visual indicator surface are different colors and only one of the first visual indicator surface and the second visual indicator surface is visible at a time.
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first indicator member comprises an indicator sleeve and said second indicator member comprises one or more resilient indicator pins received in the indicator sleeve.
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second indicator member is forced radially outward when the fastener is fully installed to expose said second visual indicator surface.
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a spring loaded screw.
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a spring loaded pushpin.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first indicator member is an indicator sleeve and the second indicator member extends upward from a base of the module and forms an inner sleeve received within the indicator sleeve.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first indicator member includes an indicator sleeve and the second indicator member includes at least one indicator pin.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module further comprises an outer sleeve configured to block the second visual indicator surface from view when the fastener is not fully installed.
An apparatus comprising: a heatsink; and a plurality of modules attached to the heatsink for installation of the heatsink; each of the plurality of modules comprising: a fastener; a first indicator member comprising a first visual indicator surface; and a second indicator member comprising a second visual indicator surface; wherein the first visual indicator surface is visible, from a top view, when the fastener is partially installed and the second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first visual indicator surface and the second visual indicator surface are different colors and only one of the first visual indicator surface and the second visual indicator surface is visible at a time.
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a head of the fastener forces said second indicator member into a position in which said second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed.
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second indicator member is forced radially outward when the fastener is fully installed to expose said second visual indicator surface.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first indicator member and the second indicator member are received in an outer sleeve and wherein the outer sleeve blocks the second visual indicator surface from view when the fastener is not fully installed.
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the fastener comprises a spring loaded screw.
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the fastener comprises a spring loaded pushpin.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first indicator member is an indicator sleeve and the second indicator member extends upward from a base of a respective module and forms an inner sleeve received within the indicator sleeve.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first indicator member includes an indicator sleeve and the second indicator member includes at least one indicator pin.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of modules further comprises an outer sleeve configured to block the second visual indicator surface from view when the fastener is not fully installed.
An apparatus comprising: a module for use in installing a heatsink, the module comprising: a fastener; a first indicator member comprising a first visual indicator surface; and a second indicator member comprising a second visual indicator surface, the first indicator member and the second indicator member defining an opening for receiving the fastener, wherein the first visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is not fully installed and the second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed, wherein the first indicator member and the second indicator member are received in an outer sleeve, and wherein the outer sleeve blocks the second visual indicator surface from view when the fastener is not fully installed.

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to heatsinks, and more particularly, to heatsink installation.

Over the past several years, there has been a tremendous increase in the need for higher performance communications networks. Increased performance requirements have led to an increase in energy use resulting in greater heat dissipation from components. Heatsinks are widely used to accommodate the large thermal dissipation of many semiconductor devices (e.g., CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), and ASIC (Applicant Specific Integrated Circuit). Heatsink installation typically involves the use of screws, clips, or other mechanisms.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a processor and heatsink assembly with installation indicator modules comprising spring loaded screws, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the installation indicator spring screw module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the processor and heatsink assembly of FIG. 1 with screws of the installation indicator spring screw modules not fully installed.

FIG. 4A is a top view of one of the installation indicator spring screw modules of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B is a perspective of the installation indicator spring screw module of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a side view of one of the installation indicator spring screw modules in the processor and heatsink assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5B is the installation indicator spring screw module of FIG. 5A with parts shown in phantom to illustrate additional details of the module.

Citations (8)

US6055159A
US6425718B1
US20080165501A1
US20110255850A1
US9907208B2
US9210827B2
EP3081280A1
US10557493B1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US11268909B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Heatsink with visual installation indicator",
  "abstract": "In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a module for use in installing a heatsink, the module comprising a fastener, a first indicator member comprising a first visual indicator surface, and a second indicator member comprising a second visual indicator surface, the first and second indicator members defining an opening for receiving the fastener. The first visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is not fully installed and the second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed. A method for installing the heatsink with the module is also disclosed herein.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus comprising: a module for use in installing a heatsink, the module comprising: a fastener; a first indicator member comprising a first visual indicator surface; and a second indicator member comprising a second visual indicator surface, the first indicator member and the second indicator member defining an opening for receiving the fastener, wherein the first visual indicator surface is visible from a top view when the fastener is partially installed and the second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first visual indicator surface and the second visual indicator surface are different colors and only one of the first visual indicator surface and the second visual indicator surface is visible at a time.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first indicator member comprises an indicator sleeve and said second indicator member comprises one or more resilient indicator pins received in the indicator sleeve.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second indicator member is forced radially outward when the fastener is fully installed to expose said second visual indicator surface.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a spring loaded screw.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a spring loaded pushpin.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first indicator member is an indicator sleeve and the second indicator member extends upward from a base of the module and forms an inner sleeve received within the indicator sleeve.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first indicator member includes an indicator sleeve and the second indicator member includes at least one indicator pin.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module further comprises an outer sleeve configured to block the second visual indicator surface from view when the fastener is not fully installed.",
    "10. An apparatus comprising: a heatsink; and a plurality of modules attached to the heatsink for installation of the heatsink; each of the plurality of modules comprising: a fastener; a first indicator member comprising a first visual indicator surface; and a second indicator member comprising a second visual indicator surface; wherein the first visual indicator surface is visible, from a top view, when the fastener is partially installed and the second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed.",
    "11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first visual indicator surface and the second visual indicator surface are different colors and only one of the first visual indicator surface and the second visual indicator surface is visible at a time.",
    "12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a head of the fastener forces said second indicator member into a position in which said second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed.",
    "13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second indicator member is forced radially outward when the fastener is fully installed to expose said second visual indicator surface.",
    "14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first indicator member and the second indicator member are received in an outer sleeve and wherein the outer sleeve blocks the second visual indicator surface from view when the fastener is not fully installed.",
    "15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the fastener comprises a spring loaded screw.",
    "16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the fastener comprises a spring loaded pushpin.",
    "17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first indicator member is an indicator sleeve and the second indicator member extends upward from a base of a respective module and forms an inner sleeve received within the indicator sleeve.",
    "18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first indicator member includes an indicator sleeve and the second indicator member includes at least one indicator pin.",
    "19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of modules further comprises an outer sleeve configured to block the second visual indicator surface from view when the fastener is not fully installed.",
    "20. An apparatus comprising: a module for use in installing a heatsink, the module comprising: a fastener; a first indicator member comprising a first visual indicator surface; and a second indicator member comprising a second visual indicator surface, the first indicator member and the second indicator member defining an opening for receiving the fastener, wherein the first visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is not fully installed and the second visual indicator surface is visible when the fastener is fully installed, wherein the first indicator member and the second indicator member are received in an outer sleeve, and wherein the outer sleeve blocks the second visual indicator surface from view when the fastener is not fully installed."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to heatsinks, and more particularly, to heatsink installation.\n\nOver the past several years, there has been a tremendous increase in the need for higher performance communications networks. Increased performance requirements have led to an increase in energy use resulting in greater heat dissipation from components. Heatsinks are widely used to accommodate the large thermal dissipation of many semiconductor devices (e.g., CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), and ASIC (Applicant Specific Integrated Circuit). Heatsink installation typically involves the use of screws, clips, or other mechanisms.\n\nFIG. 1 is an exploded view of a processor and heatsink assembly with installation indicator modules comprising spring loaded screws, in accordance with one embodiment.\n\nFIG. 2 is an exploded view of the installation indicator spring screw module of FIG. 1.\n\nFIG. 3 is a top view of the processor and heatsink assembly of FIG. 1 with screws of the installation indicator spring screw modules not fully installed.\n\nFIG. 4A is a top view of one of the installation indicator spring screw modules of FIG. 3.\n\nFIG. 4B is a perspective of the installation indicator spring screw module of FIG. 4A.\n\nFIG. 5A is a side view of one of the installation indicator spring screw modules in the processor and heatsink assembly shown in FIG. 3.\n\nFIG. 5B is the installation indicator spring screw module of FIG. 5A with parts shown in phantom to illustrate additional details of the module.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01N 21/8803",
    "B23P 19/06",
    "F16B 2200/95",
    "F16B 31/02",
    "F16M 13/00",
    "F28F 2275/10",
    "F28F 2280/04",
    "G01N 21/956",
    "H10W 40/611"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23P 19/06",
    "F16M 13/00",
    "G01N 21/88",
    "G01N 21/956"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Cisco Technology Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Le Gao",
    "Yang Sun",
    "Rudong Shi",
    "Bruce Chen"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-10-23",
  "publication_date": "2022-03-08",
  "grant_date": "2022-03-08",
  "priority_date": "2018-10-23",
  "application_number": "US-201816167724-A",
  "family_id": "70280503",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
  "citations": [
    "US6055159A",
    "US6425718B1",
    "US20080165501A1",
    "US20110255850A1",
    "US9907208B2",
    "US9210827B2",
    "EP3081280A1",
    "US10557493B1"
  ]
}

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