Apparatus for accepting a self-drilling screw

Abstract

An apparatus for accepting a self-drilling screw is provided. The apparatus comprises a base structure having at least one channel. The at least one channel has a first side, a second side, and a bottom, forming a generally ‘u’ shaped cross section, wherein the first side and the second side are a distance apart such that threads of a self-drilling screw engage with both the first side and the second side when the screw is inserted into the channel.

1 . An apparatus for accepting a self-drilling screw, the apparatus comprising:
 a base structure having at least one channel;   wherein the at least one channel has a first side, a second side, and a bottom, forming a generally ‘u’ shaped cross section; and   wherein the first side and the second side are a distance apart such that threads of a self-drilling screw engage with both the first side and the second side when the screw is inserted into the channel.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first chamfer on the first side and a second chamfer on the second side; wherein the first and second chamfers are on the end of the first side and the second side that forms an opening of the at least one channel. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base structure and the channel are composed of aluminum. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is inset into a surface of the base structure. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the channel is at a level of a surrounding surface of the base structure. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upright between the bottom of the channel and a surface of the base structure, wherein the upright elevates the channel from the surface.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel comprises a first channel and a second channel;
 wherein the second channel is adjacent to the first channel, the second channel having a first side, a second side, and a bottom, and wherein the first side of the second channel is adjacent to the second side of the first channel.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first channel and the second channel have substantially the same width. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for accepting a self-drilling screw, the apparatus comprising:
 a heat sink, the heat sink have at least one channel;   wherein the at least one channel has a first side, a second side, and a bottom, forming a generally ‘u’ shaped cross section; and   wherein the first side and the second side are a distance apart such that threads of a self-drilling screw engage with both the first side and the second side when the screw is inserted into the channel.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first chamfer on the first side and a second chamfer on the second side; wherein the first and second chamfers are on the end of the first side and the second side that forms an opening of the channel. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is composed of aluminum. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is inset into a surface of the heat sink. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the channel is at the level of a surrounding surface of the heat sink. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upright between the bottom of the channel and a surface of the heat sink, wherein the upright elevates the channel from the surface.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel comprises a first channel and a second channel;
 wherein the second channel is adjacent to the first channel, the second channel having a first side, a second side, and a bottom, and wherein the first side of the second channel wherein the first side of the second channel is adjacent to the second side of the first channel.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first channel and the second channel have substantially the same width. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus comprising:
 an elongated structure composed of aluminum, the elongated structure having a plurality of channels along the length of the structure;   wherein each of the plurality of channels has a first side, a second side, and a bottom, wherein the bottom is between the first side and the second side to form a substantially ‘u’ shaped cross-section;   wherein the first side and the second side are substantially flat, and wherein the first side and the second side are opposed to one another;   wherein each of the plurality of channels has a width that is configured to accept a self-drilling screw; and   wherein at least one screw is inserted into at least one channel such that the threads of the at least one screw engage into the sides of the at least one channel.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first chamfer on the first side and a second chamfer on the second side; wherein the first and second chamfers are on the end of the first side and the second side that forms an opening of the at least one channel. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein plurality of channels comprises a first channel and a second channel;
 wherein the second channel is adjacent to the first channel, the second channel having a first side, a second side, and a bottom, and wherein the first side of the second channel shares an outer wall with the first channel.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first channel and the second channel have substantially the same width. 
   
   
       21 . A method for manufacturing a housing comprising:
 extruding a housing, wherein at least one channel is extruded in the housing, the at least one channel having a generally ‘u’ shaped cross section comprising a first side, a second side, and a bottom;   selecting a location along the length of the channel for a component;   positioning the component adjacent to the housing at the selection location such that a first aperture of the component is aligned with a first channel of the at least one channel at the selected location;   inserting a first self-drilling screw through the first aperture of the component; and   screwing the first self-drilling screw into the first channel such that threads of the first self-drilling screw engage with the first side and the second side of the first channel.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 positioning the component such that a second aperture of the component is aligned with a second channel of the at least one channel;   inserting a second self-drilling screw through the second aperture of the component; and   screwing the second self-drilling screw into the second channel such that threads of the second self-drilling screw engage with the first side and the second side of the second channel.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 removing the first self-drilling screw from the first channel and the first aperture;   re-positioning the component such that the first aperture is aligned with a different location on the first channel;   inserting the first self-drilling screw through the first aperture of the component; and   screwing the first self-drilling screw into the first channel such that threads of the first self-drilling screw engage with the first side and the second side of the first channel.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the component is a latch for securing a door of the housing. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the latch is attached to the door of the housing. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein extruding the housing extrudes the first channel having a width such that threads of the first self-drilling screw engage into the first side and the second side of the first channel when the first self-drilling screw is screwed into the first channel. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the housing comprises aluminum.