Electrical connector assembly having metal clip for pressing...

Details Electrical connector assembly having metal clip for pressing... Electrical connector assembly having metal clip for pressing...

2003-07-15

2004-08-17

Nguyen, Truc (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

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

For dual inline package

C439S071000, C439S525000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06776642

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly used for electrically connecting a land grid array (LGA) integrated circuit (IC) module to a printed circuit board (PCB).
2. Description of the Prior Art
An electrical connector assembly used for electrically connecting an LGA IC module to a PCB is widely applied in the field of electronics, and a correlative article is found in Nonlinear Analysis Helps Design LGA Connectors (Connector Specifier, February 2001). A conventional electrical connector assembly of this kind comprises a base, a metal clip assembled with the base, and a load lever mounted on the base to engage with the metal clip. Examples of this kind of electrical connector assembly are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,504,105, 4,621,884, 4,692,790, and 5,344,334.
FIG. 4
shows a conventional electrical connector assembly
6
comprising a base
63
, a fixing member
62
assembled with the base
63
, and a metal clip
64
engaged with the base
63
. The metal clip
64
has a groove
644
, and is pivotably attached to one side of the base
63
. The fixing member
62
is pivotably attached to an opposite side of the base
63
. The fixing member
62
comprises an actuator
620
, and an operation handle
622
perpendicularly extending from the actuator
620
. The actuator
620
defines two pivot portions
623
, and an offset action portion
621
positioned therebetween. When the electrical connector assembly is used, the metal clip
64
is actuated to a vertical position, an LGA IC module
7
is positioned within the base
63
under the metal clip
64
, and then the metal clip
64
is actuated to press on the LGA IC module
7
. Driven by the operation handle
622
, the action portion
621
moves into the groove
644
of the metal clip
64
and presses the metal clip
64
onto the IC module
7
. Thus the metal clip
64
is firmly fastened on the IC module
7
, and the IC module
7
is fixed on the electrical connector assembly reliably. However, during the course of rotation of the operation handle
622
, the metal clip
64
moves in the direction indicated by arrow “A”, because of the cooperation between the action portion
621
and the groove
644
. This can result in the IC module
7
moving in the direction of arrow “A” because of the frictional engagement between the IC module
7
and the fixing member
62
. When this happens, the IC module
7
is not properly retained in the base
63
.
Hence, a new electrical connector assembly having a new structure is desired to overcome the above-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly having effective means for reliably positioning an IC module thereon.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, an electrical connector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base, a fixing member, and a clip. The base defines at least one installation portion. The fixing member is pivotally engaged with the installation portion, and comprises an actuator movably engaged in the at least one installation portion. The clip is attached to the base opposite from the at least one installation portion, and comprises a groove defining a first corner and a second corner adapted to cooperate with the actuator. The actuator can slide from the first corner to the second corner when the fixing member engages with the clip, whereby no lateral movement of the clip relative to the base occurs. Thus, a LGA IC module can be fixed on the electrical connector assembly reliably.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4504105 (1985-03-01), Barkus et al.
patent: 4621884 (1986-11-01), Berkebile, Jr. et al.
patent: 4692790 (1987-09-01), Oyamada
patent: 5344334 (1994-09-01), Laub et al.
patent: 5588847 (1996-12-01), Tate
patent: 6244875 (2001-06-01), McHugh et al.
patent: 6471533 (2002-10-01), Lai et al.

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