Actuating tool for use with ZIF sockets

Details Actuating tool for use with ZIF sockets Actuating tool for use with ZIF sockets

1999-11-22

2001-03-27

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Including compound movement of coupling part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206715

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an actuating tool, and particularly to an actuating tool for use with a zero insertion force (ZIF) socket which features compact structure and easy to use.
Taiwan patent application No. 84204249 discloses a prior art mechanism for opening or closing a ZIF socket. The ZIF socket connector comprises, a base and a cover movably assembled to the base, and a lever for driving the cover. A CPU is mounted on the cover with its pins extending through holes thereof and into the base. When the lever is moved, the cover is driven to slide along the base, thereby connecting or disconnecting the pins of the CPU to/from contacts in the base, subjecting the pins and contacts to very little force. However, the design is complicated and the space required is fairly large which does not accord with the trend toward small, simple connectors in computers.
A second prior art ZIF connector is shown in FIG.
1
. The electrical connector comprises a base
10
which forms a notch
14
at two opposite comers and a cover
12
movably assembled to the base
10
. In operation, a screw driver
18
is placed into the notch
14
and pushed against the cover
12
, thereby push the cover
12
to slide over the base
10
between an open position and a closed position, causing a CPU
16
mounted thereon to be connected or disconnected to/from contacts in the base
10
. This arrangement is simple but can be hazardous to the connector or to the CPU if the operator is not careful, so a new design is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide an actuating tool which is simple in structure, safe and reliable for use with a ZIF socket.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an actuating tool for use with a ZIF socket which is convenient and quick in operation and requires a reduced space in a computer.
An actuating tool for use with a ZIF socket is integrally formed and uses a rotational operation. It comprises a shaft, a positioning portion, a standoff, a driving portion and a handle. The shaft forms two opposite ends and a longitudinal rotational axis therebetween. One end of the shaft forms the handle, the other end thereof comprises, sequentially downward, a driving portion, a standoff and a positioning potion. The positioning portion engages the actuating tool with a shaft hole in a printed circuit board. The standoff is formed between the positioning portion and the driving portion. The driving portion is adapted for driving a cover of the ZIF socket. The handle is paddle-shaped for imparting a torsional force to the shaft.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5649836 (1997-07-01), Kashiwagi
patent: 5658160 (1997-08-01), Kashiwagi
patent: 5707247 (1998-01-01), Konstad
patent: 5730615 (1998-03-01), Lai et al.
patent: 5855489 (1999-01-01), Walker

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