ZIF PGA socket

Details ZIF PGA socket ZIF PGA socket

2000-01-05

2001-06-26

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

06250941

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket for use with a PGA (Pin Grid Array) chip, and particularly to a ZIF socket which includes a cam actuator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A ZIF socket is often used to mount a PGA chip onto a printed circuit board (PCB). One example of such connectors comprises a base, a cover mounted onto the base, a plurality of electrical contacts received in the base, and an actuation mechanism including a ring and a cam actuator. The cover is actuated to slide diagonally on the base by rotation of the cam actuator in the ring, thereby causing the pins of the PGA chip in the cover to engage with the contacts in the base. However, the conventional cam actuator can be over rotated, which can cause damage to the contacts in the base and to the pins of the PGA chip. Further, an external tool used to urge the rotation of the cam actuator is apt to slide in untended direction, thereby resulting in damage of related components of the socket.
Therefore, an improved structure of the cam actuator is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The major object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF PGA socket having a structure which eliminates over rotation of its cam actuator and sliding of its external tool in unintentional directions.
A socket in accordance with the present invention comprises a base, a cover slidably mounted onto the base, a ring insert molded in the cover, a cam actuator partially received in the ring, and a plurality of electrical contacts. The base comprises a first flange extending from a corner thereof, the first flange defining an elongated square hole extending through the base. The cover forms a corresponding second flange which cooperates with the first flange, and the second flange defines an aperture therethrough in alignment with the elongated square hole of the base. The ring is insert molded in the aperture of the second flange and has dimensions corresponding to the aperture. The cam actuator comprises an upper portion and a lower cam block. The upper portion comprises an upper disk and a lower disk. The axis of the upper portion and the cam block are offset from one another and the lower disk is received in the ring while the upper disk is supported by the ring. The cam block of the cam actuator extends through the elongated square hole of the first flange and comprises a riveting end riveted by a washer. The upper disk of the cam actuator forms an elongated groove in an upper surface thereof and a lateral protrusion extending from a lateral section thereof. The cam actuator rotates in the ring when an external torsional force is exerted thereon, such as that provided by a tool fitted into the elongated groove thereof. Rotation of the cam actuator is stopped when the lateral protrusion thereof abuts against flushed stop surfaces defined on the cover and on the ring.
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: 4420205 (1983-12-01), Kirkman
patent: 4538870 (1985-09-01), Thewlis
patent: 5649836 (1997-07-01), Kashiwagi
patent: 5707247 (1998-01-01), Konstad
patent: 5855489 (1999-01-01), Walker
patent: 6071140 (2000-06-01), McHugh et al.

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