Spring clip for mounting a heat sink to an electronic component

Abstract

A heat sink spring clip having a linearly displaceable deflection member that operatively engages a biasing member for thermally and mechanically connecting a heat sink to an electronic component. The deflection member is moveable in a generally linear manner on and relative to the biasing member between a first position of nonengagement in which the biasing member is substantially undeflected and a second position in which the biasing member is deflected and the deflection member is contactingly and operatively engaged with the heat sink for thermally and mechanically connecting the heat sink to an electronic component. As the deflection member is moved from the disengaged position to the engaged position, complementary elements on the biasing member and deflection member engage one another and cause portions of the deflection and biasing members to move relatively apart. As the biasing member deflects in one direction generally away from the heat sink, the biasing member simultaneously imparts a generally oppositely directed compression force onto the heat sink and electrical components adjacently stacked therebeneath through the deflection member. The deflection member is operatively moveable in a generally horizontal direction longitudinally on and along the biasing member or, in an alternate embodiment, in a direction substantially transverse to the elongation of the biasing member.