ZIF socket with a cam lever latch

Details ZIF socket with a cam lever latch ZIF socket with a cam lever latch

2001-06-12

2002-04-16

Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

Including compound movement of coupling part

C439S353000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06371786

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ZIF socket, and particularly to a ZIF socket with a cam lever latch for protecting a handle of the socket from being unduly manipulated.
2. Description of Related Art
A low-profile ZIF socket is widely used for electrically connecting an integrated circuit chip with a printed circuit board for its convenient manipulation. Referring to
FIG. 6
, a conventional low-profile ZIF socket
6
comprises a base
7
, a sliding cover
8
, a plurality of terminals
60
and a cam lever
9
. The base
7
comprises a lower rectangular member
71
and a mounting portion
72
in a rear end of the rectangular member
71
. The lower rectangular member
71
defines a plurality of receiving passageways
73
for receiving corresponding terminals
60
. The mounting portion
72
comprises a lower transverse receiving channel
74
and a block
75
extending outwardly from a rear and right end of the mounting portion
72
for preventing the cam lever
9
from moving over an open position. The sliding cover
8
is movably assembled on the base
7
and comprises n upper rectangular member
81
and a tailboard
82
in a rear end of the upper rectangular member
81
. The upper rectangular member
81
defines a plurality of through holes
83
in vertical alignment with corresponding receiving passageways
73
of the lower rectangular member
71
for receiving pins of an integrated circuit chip (not shown). The tail board
82
comprises upper transverse receiving channel
84
. The cam lever
9
is substantially an L-shaped rod and comprises a straight handle
91
and an actuating arm
92
perpendicular to the handle
91
. The actuating arm
92
is rotatably retained between the lower receiving channel
74
and tail board
82
, and includes a curved arm
93
extending forwardly in a middle thereof which rotates in the upper receiving channel
84
for carrying the sliding cover
8
to move relative to the base
7
, whereby the pins of the integrated circuit chip may connect with or disconnect with the corresponding terminals
60
of ZIF socket
6
.
However, referring to
FIG. 7
, when the handle
91
is rotated from a closed position to the open position, it hits the block
75
directly. Therefore, when the handle
91
is over-rotated, the handle
91
or the block
75
of the base
7
will be broken. U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,848 (the '848 patent) having the same assignee discloses a retention mechanism between the block and the handle (FIGS. 7 and 7(A) of the '848 patent), while such a design still has the similar direct hitting problem as the design in
FIG. 7
of the invention.
Hence, an improved cam lever arrangement is required to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional ZIF socket.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object o the present invention is to provide a ZIF socket with a latch for informing the arrival at a open position of a cam lever.
Another object of the preset invention is to provide a ZIF socket with a latch for retaining the cam lever n the open position.
In order to achieve the objects set forth, a ZIF socket for retaining an integrated circuit chip with a plurality of pins thereon comprises a base, a sliding cover, a cam lever and a plurality of terminus. The base comprises a lower rectangular member and a cam journal section in a rear end of the rectangular member. The rectangular member includes a plurality of receiving passageways for receiving corresponding terminals. The cam journal section comprises a block extending outwardly from a transverse end thereof. The sliding cover is movably assembled on the base and includes an upper rectangular member and a shroud section in a rear end of the upper rectangular member. The upper rectangular member defines a plurality of through holes for receiving corresponding pins of the integrated circuit board. The cam lever comprises an actuating rod and a handle extending perpendicularly from an end of the actuating rod. The actuating rod is rotatably assembled between the cam journal section and the shroud and drives the sliding cover to move relative to the base. An integral latch is provided in front of the block and comprises a lower bridge extending forwardly from a bottom end of the block. A spring arm extends from a front end of the lower bridge and a contact portion extends from an upper end of the spring arm for contacting with the candle before the handle arriving at an open position. In the open position, the handle is beneath the contact portion and prevented from moving to a closed position.
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: 5679020 (1997-10-01), Lai et al.
patent: 5697803 (1997-12-01), Kistner et al.
patent: 5947778 (1999-09-01), Lai et al.
patent: 6042413 (2000-03-01), Hsiao et al.
patent: 6243267 (2001-06-01), Chuang et al.

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