Fan module with toolless fastener

Abstract

An exemplary fan mount for mounting a fan which has a connecting hole includes a frame and a fastener. The frame comprising a sidewall defining a chamber for receiving the fan and a connecting wall extending inwards from the sidewall towards the chamber. A hollow elastic pole extends out from the connecting wall into the chamber, for inserting in the connecting hole of the fan. A through hole extends through the elastic hole and a corresponding part of the connecting wall. The fastener includes a shaft for engaging in the through hole. When the fastener is inserted in the through hole, the fixing pole deforms to make an outer end thereof away from the connecting wall enlarge, thereby fixing the fastener on the frame.

1 . A fan module, comprising:
 a fan defining a connecting hole therein;   a fan mount to which the fan is mounted, the fan mount defining a fixing hole coaxial with the connecting hole, an elastic pole extending outwardly from the fan mount at a periphery of the fixing hole of the fan mount, the elastic pole comprising a plurality of elastic arms, the elastic arms cooperatively defining an axial hole coaxial with the fixing hole, each of the elastic arms comprising a free end away from the fan mount, an outer diameter of the elastic pole at the free ends of the elastic arms being substantially equal to a diameter of the connecting hole of the fan when the elastic arms are unloaded; and   a fastener comprising a base body and a shaft extending outwardly from the base body, the shaft having a diameter larger than an inner diameter of the elastic pole at the free ends of the elastic arms when the elastic arms are unloaded;   wherein the fixing pole of the fan mount extends through the connecting hole of the fan, the shaft of the fastener extends through the fixing hole of the fan mount into the fixing pole and causes deformation of the elastic arms, thereby enlarging the outer diameter of the fixing pole at the free ends of the elastic arm and thus fixing the fan on the fan mount.   
     
     
         2 . The fan module of  claim 1 , wherein when the elastic arms are unloaded, the inner diameter of the fixing pole at the free ends of the elastic arms is less than that at other portions of the fixing pole, and the inner diameter of the fixing pole at the other portions is not less than the diameter of the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The fan module of  claim 2 , wherein the outer diameter of the fixing pole is substantially constant, and each of the elastic arms has a thickness at the free end larger than that at other portions of the elastic arm. 
     
     
         4 . The fan module of  claim 2 , wherein the elastic arms are equally spaced from each other along a circumference direction of the fixing hole. 
     
     
         5 . The fan module of  claim 1 , wherein the fan mount further defines a plurality of arc-shaped locating slots surrounding and located adjacent to the fixing hole, the fastener further comprises a plurality of limiting posts surrounding and located adjacent to the shaft, and the limiting posts are respectively engaged in the locating slots. 
     
     
         6 . The fan module of  claim 5 , wherein each of the locating slots comprises a first locating hole, and a second locating hole narrower than the first locating hole, and each of the limiting posts comprises a head smaller than the first locating hole and larger than the second locating hole. 
     
     
         7 . The fan module of  claim 6 , wherein each of the locating slots further comprises a guiding groove intercommunicating the first locating hole and the second locating hole. 
     
     
         8 . The fan module of  claim 7 , wherein the guiding groove has a width decreasing from the first locating hole to the second locating hole. 
     
     
         9 . The fan module of  claim 7 , wherein each of the limiting posts is moveable in a corresponding locating slot between the first locating hole and the second locating hole along the guiding groove. 
     
     
         10 . The fan module of  claim 9 , wherein the fastener further comprises a handle extending outwardly from one side of the base body which is opposite to the shaft, the fastener being rotatable by operating the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The fan module of  claim 6 , wherein the fan mount further defines a recess around the fixing hole receiving the heads of the limiting posts, the locating slots are defined in the fan mount above the recess, and a thickness of the head of the fastener is not larger than a depth of the recess. 
     
     
         12 . The fan module of  claim 6 , wherein the locating slots are arranged along an imaginary circle, which is concentric with the fixing hole. 
     
     
         13 . The fan module of  claim 1 , wherein the fan mount is a fan cover comprising a board and a fixing frame connected to the board, the fixing frame defining a receiving chamber receiving the fan therein. 
     
     
         14 . The fan module of  claim 13 , wherein the fan comprises a housing and an impeller with a plurality of blades received in the housing, the housing comprising a top plate defining an air inlet and a bottom plate defining an air outlet, the connecting hole defined in the top plate, the fixing frame comprising a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the board and a connecting wall extending inwardly from a corner of the fixing frame where two of the sidewalls meet, the plurality of sidewalls and the connecting wall cooperatively defining the receiving chamber, and the fixing hole being defined in the connecting wall. 
     
     
         15 . A fan module, comprising:
 a fan comprising a housing and an impeller rotatably received in the housing, the housing defining a connecting hole therein;   a fixing frame comprising a plurality of sidewalls defining a chamber receiving the housing therein and a connecting wall extending inwardly from the sidewalls, the connecting wall defining a fixing hole aligned with the connecting hole, a hollow elastic pole extending into the chamber from the connecting wall at a periphery of the fixing hole of the fan mount, an outer diameter of the fixing pole being not larger than a diameter of the connecting hole when the fixing hole is unloaded; and   a fastener comprising a shaft, wherein the fixing pole of the fan mount extends through the connecting hole of the fan, the shaft of the fastener extends through the fixing hole of the fan mount into the fixing pole and causes deformation of the fixing pole, thereby enlarging the outer diameter of a portion of the fixing pole beyond the connecting hole and thus fixing the fan on the fan mount.   
     
     
         16 . The fan module of  claim 15 , wherein the elastic pole comprises a connecting end connected to the connecting wall and a plurality of elastic arms extending outwardly from the connecting end, an outer end of each elastic arm away from the connecting end having a thickness larger than that of other portion of the elastic arm. 
     
     
         17 . The fan module of  claim 15 , wherein the connecting wall defines a plurality of locating slots surrounding and adjacent to the fixing pole, each of the locating slots comprising a first locating hole, a second locating hole and a guiding groove intercommunicating the first locating hole and the second locating hole, the second locating hole being narrower than the first locating hole, the fastener further comprising a plurality of limiting posts correspondingly engaged in the locating slots, respectively, each of the limiting posts comprising a head smaller than the first locating hole and larger than the second locating hole. 
     
     
         18 . A fan mount for mounting a fan which has a connecting hole, the fan mount comprising:
 a frame comprising a sidewall defining a chamber for receiving the fan and a connecting wall extending inwards from the sidewall towards the chamber, a hollow elastic pole extending out from the connecting wall into the chamber, the elastic pole being adapted for inserting in the connecting hole of the fan, a through hole extending through the elastic hole and a corresponding part of the connecting wall; and   a fastener comprising a shaft for engaging in the through hole;   wherein when the fastener is inserted in the through hole, the fixing pole deforms to make an outer end thereof away from the connecting wall enlarge, thereby fixing the fastener on the frame.   
     
     
         19 . The fan mount of  claim 18 , wherein the elastic pole comprises a plurality of elastic arms arranged on an imaginary circle which is concentric with the through hole, each of the elastic arms has a thickness at the outer end of the fixing pole larger than that of other portions of the elastic arms. 
     
     
         20 . The fan mount of  claim 18 , wherein the connecting wall further defines a locating slot adjacent to the elastic pole, the locating slot comprising a first locating hole and a second locating hole communicating with the first locating hole, the second locating hole being narrower than the first locating hole, the fastener further comprising a limiting post adjacent to the shaft, the limiting post comprising a head smaller than the first locating hole and larger than the second locating hole.