Vapor chamber having integral captive fasteners

Abstract

A vapor chamber for spreading heat includes a housing having spaced-apart first and second plates, the first and second plates defining a hollow chamber. At least one opening is defined through the first and second plates, the opening being isolated from the hollow chamber. At least one insert is fitted into each opening. The insert may be a snap-in insert or may be stamped into the opening.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat spreader comprising: 
 a housing having first and second plates defining a hollow chamber therebetween,    at least one opening defined through each of said first and second plates of said housing, said housing having a surface defining at least one passage connecting the openings of the first and second plates, wherein said passage is isolated from said chamber, and    at least one insert adapted for receiving a fastener, the at least one insert being mounted directly into said at least one passage.    
     
     
         2 . A heat spreader comprising: 
 a housing including first and second plates that define a hollow vapor chamber therebetween;    at least one depression formed in one of said plates which projects into said vapor chamber and is bonded to the other of said plates;    said housing having an opening that penetrates through said depression and the other of said plates; and    an insert adapted to receive a fastener, wherein said insert is mounted directly into said opening.    
     
     
         3 . The heat spreader of  claim 2 , wherein the insert snaps into said opening.  
     
     
         4 . The heat spreader of  claim 3 , wherein the insert is comprised of plastic.  
     
     
         5 . The heat spreader of  claim 2 , further comprising a captive fastener held within the insert.  
     
     
         6 . The heat spreader of  claim 2 , wherein the insert is stamped into said opening.  
     
     
         7 . The heat spreader of  claim 6 , wherein a thickness of said first or second plate is greater in the at least one depression than the thickness of said first or second plate remote from the at least one depression.  
     
     
         8 . The heat spreader of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second plates each include a peripheral lip located at an edge of said housing, said peripheral lips bonded together.  
     
     
         9 . The heat spreader of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one depression comprises a flat surface that is in contact with an inner surface of said other of said plates.  
     
     
         10 . The heat spreader of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plates includes an interior confronting surface and a peripheral lip located at an edge thereof, said peripheral lips being bonded together so as to define the vapor chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The heat spreader of  claim 2 , wherein said depression comprises an annular inner surface of said first plate that is bonded to a corresponding annular edge surface in said second plate.  
     
     
         12 . A heat sink comprising: 
 a housing including first and second plates with an enclosed vapor chamber therebetween;    at least one depression formed in one of said plates which projects into said vapor chamber and is bonded to the other of said plates;    said depression having an opening defined therethrough, so as to define an isolated passage through said vapor chamber;    an insert directly mounted into said opening and shaped to receive a fastener; and    at least one fin directly attached to one of the plates of said housing.    
     
     
         13 . The heat sink of  claim 12 , wherein the fin is a folded fin.  
     
     
         14 . The heat sink of  claim 13 , wherein the insert snaps into said opening.  
     
     
         15 . The heat sink of  claim 14 , wherein the insert is comprised of plastic.  
     
     
         16 . The heat sink of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener held within the insert.  
     
     
         17 . The heat sink of  claim 12 , wherein the insert is stamped into said opening.  
     
     
         18 . A method for forming a heat spreader comprising the steps of: 
 joining first and second plates to define a hollow vapor chamber therebetween;    forming at least one depression in one of said plates, so that the depression projects into said vapor chamber and is bonded to the other of said plates;    penetrating said depression and the other of said plates to form an passage through the vapor chamber; and    mounting an insert directly into said opening, said insert being adapted to receive a fastener.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising attaching at least one fin directly to the other of said plates.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising inserting a fastener into said insert.