Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Including compound movement of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-28
2004-03-02
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Including compound movement of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
active
06699057
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of electrical connectors, and more particularly to a land grid array connector assembly having a securing mechanism for securing a land grid array (LGA) package therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A land grid array (LGA) connector is commonly used in the electronic transmission field for accommodating an LGA package therein, and establishing electrical connection between the LGA package and a substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the connector is mounted). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,334, 5,302,853, 4,682,790, 4,621,884, and 4,504,105 disclose several conventional LGA sockets. As can be seen from
FIGS. 8 and 9
, one kind of conventional LGA connector assembly
9
typically includes a low profile insulative housing
91
and a securing mechanism attached to the housing
91
. The securing mechanism comprises a frame
92
, a pressing plate
93
pivotally attached to one end beam of the frame
92
for pressing and securing the housing
91
in the frame
92
, and a lever
94
movably connected to an opposite end beam of the frame
92
for generating a downward pressing force to press the pressing plate
93
toward the housing
91
.
The lever
94
comprises an operation handle
942
located corresponding to a lateral beam of the frame
92
, a locating portion
941
perpendicularly connecting with the handle
942
, and an offset camshaft
943
integrally bending from a middle portion of the locating portion
941
. The camshaft
943
is adapted to engage with a hook
931
formed at a free end of the pressing plate
93
. The handle
942
can rotate relative to the frame
92
between a 0-degree-angle position in which the pressing plate
93
is at an open state with the hook
931
being free from the camshaft
943
, and a 180-degree-angle position where the pressing plate
93
is at a closed state with the hook
931
being pressed and located by the camshaft
943
. A pair of spaced locating blocks
921
is formed on said opposite end beam of the frame
92
. The blocks
921
define a pair of locating slots
922
therein respectively, the locating slots
922
pivotably accommodating the locating portion
941
therein. Each slot
922
spans upwardly and inwardly along the block
921
from a lowest portion of the slot
922
to a highest portion of the slot
922
. Ideally, when the handle
942
is at the 0-degree-angle position, the locating portion
941
should be positioned at the lowest portions of the slots
922
, so that the camshaft
943
is completely free from the hook
931
. Then when the handle
942
is rotated to the 180-degree-angle position, the locating portion
941
should be moved to the highest portions of the slots
922
, so that the hook
931
is fully pressed and accurately located by the camshaft
943
.
However, in actual use, when the handle
942
is at the 0-degree-angle position, the locating portion
941
may be displaced from the lowest portions and instead be located at intermediate positions between the lowest and highest portions. Thus, when the handle
942
is rotated from the 0-degree-angle position toward the 180-degree-angle position, the locating portion
941
slides along the slots
922
from the intermediate position, and may reach the highest portions prior to the handle
942
reaching the 180-degree-angle position. When this happens, the locating portion
941
cannot continue any further along the slot
922
since it has reached the highest portion of the slot
922
, and the handle
942
is restrained from reaching the 180-degree-angle position. As a result, the camshaft
943
fails to generate sufficient downward pressing force on the hook
931
, and the pressing plate
93
cannot be pressed to its correct closed state. The housing
9
is thus liable to be inaccurately and unreliably located.
An improved land grid array connector assembly which overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a land grid array connector assembly having a securing mechanism for accurately and securely retaining an LGA package onto a connector housing of the connector assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a securing mechanism attached to a land grid array connector to accurately retain an LGA package in the land grid array connector.
In order to achieve the objects set forth, a land grid array connector assembly in accordance with the present invention includes an insulative housing and a securing mechanism attached to the housing. The securing mechanism comprises a frame surrounding the housing, a pressing plate movably attached to one beam of the frame, and an actuating lever pivotally attached to another opposite beam of the frame. The frame has an opening for receiving the housing therein, the lever can rotate between an open position and a closed position relate to the frame, and can generate a downward pressing force to a hook of the plate thereby locating the housing in the opening of the frame.
The frame further comprise a pair of locating blocks formed on one beam thereof, each block defines a locating slot for receiving a locating portion of the lever. The slot extends upwardly and inwardly toward the opening of the frame thereby forming a slantwise groove which has a lowest portion and a highest portion. A tongue portion is formed on the beam of the frame beside the locating block and extends in a direction substantially the same as the extending direction of the slot. A lower surface of the tongue portion is a continuous arc surface which can generate a pushing force which is adapted to keep the locating portion of the lever at the lowest portion of the slot when the lever is at an open position. Alternatively, the lower surface of the tongue also can form two continuous arcs jointed by a projection protruded from a middle portion of the surface, which can locate the locating portion of the lever either at the lowest portion or the highest portion of the slot.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4504105 (1985-03-01), Barkus et al.
patent: 4621884 (1986-11-01), Berkebile, Jr. et al.
patent: 5302853 (1994-04-01), Volz et al.
patent: 5344334 (1994-09-01), Laub et al.
patent: 5640303 (1997-06-01), Hooley
patent: 6045370 (2000-04-01), Treibergs et al.
patent: 6244875 (2001-06-01), McHugh et al.
patent: 6485320 (2002-11-01), Ma
patent: 6527577 (2003-03-01), Chen et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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