Electrical socket

Details Electrical socket Electrical socket

1999-11-10

2001-03-13

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

06200154

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical socket, and particularly to an electrical socket having a cam mechanism for effectively and properly positioning the socket.
As technology progresses, computers are becoming increasingly compact while the functions thereof are becoming more complicated. For minimizing the volume of a computer, particularly a notebook computer, elements mounted on a main circuit board should be designed to have a low profile. A CPU socket is the component needing its profile to be lowered. Related inventions concerning the CPU socket are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 82214483 and 83200106.
The conventional electrical socket usually comprises a base, a cover, a driving mechanism and a plurality of terminals. A plurality of passageways is formed in the base for receiving terminals therein. The cover is mounted on a surface of the base and forms a plurality of passageways for receiving contacts of a CPU module. The contacts of the CPU module are inserted through the cover for electrically contacting corresponding terminals of the base. The driving mechanism comprises a connection portion and an actuation arm. The actuation aim is pivotally connected to the base for displacing the cover relative to the base, and the contacts of the CPU module can engage with and disengage from the corresponding terminals of the base. However, the actuation arm of the conventional socket occupies a significant space above the circuit board. In addition, the electrical socket occupies too much space and has a high profile, but if the actuation arm is shortened a sufficient driving moment can not be provided to displace the cover. Thus, an improved driving mechanism for an electrical socket is requisite.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide an electrical socket having a space efficient cam mechanism for displacing contacts of a CPU module between insertion and withdrawal positions relative to terminals of the socket thereby promoting a conservation of circuit board space.
To fulfill the above-mentioned object, according to a preferred embodiment of present invention, an electrical socket comprises a base, a cover and a cam mechanism. The base has a main body and a slot formed in a corner thereof. A V-shaped cutout is formed in each edge of the main body. An extending block is formed on an edge of each V-shaped cutout and on a pair of diagonal corners. A plurality of passageways is formed in the base for receiving corresponding terminals therein. The cover has a frame, a body and a positioning hole. The positioning hole is formed in an extending block extending from the body and corresponds to the slot. The cam mechanism comprises an actuation portion and a driving portion each having a columnar profile, and the center line of the actuation portion has a certain distance with the center line of the driving portion. The actuation portion is received in the positioning hole and the driving portion is received in the slot. The actuation portion forms a groove for receiving a tool to drive the cam mechanism to rotate relative to the base. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description 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

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Electrical socket does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Electrical socket, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrical socket will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2451580