Abstract:
A mounting apparatus for mounting a CPU ( 53 ) in a socket ( 52 ), includes a base ( 20 ), a plurality of resilient members ( 300 ) respectively disposed at opposite sides of the base and a movement unit ( 40 ) having a pressing portion ( 402 ) received in the base which moves vertically with respect to the base. The base includes a concave ( 201 ) defined in a bottom thereof for receiving the CPU therein. The resilient members cooperate with each other to locate the CPU within the base. The pressing portion is provided to push the CPU off the base so as to vertically mount the CPU into the socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to mounting apparatus for CPUs, and particularly to a mounting apparatus for readily and securely installing or removing a CPU to or from a socket.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Conventionally, a central processing unit (CPU) is inserted into a socket connector directly. Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a socket  12  of Intel Pentium 5 CPU is mounted on a motherboard  1 . The socket  12  comprises a plurality of pins  120  and two slots  121 ,  123  in two sides thereof for readily mounting the CPU  13 . The CPU  13  has a plurality of pads  130  corresponding to the pins  120  of the socket  12 . During installation, the CPU  13  is inserted into the socket  12  straightly. The CPU pads  130  engage with the mating socket pins  120 . However, some of the pins  120  are often damaged or bent when too much force is applied thereon or the force is inequality during forced manipulation. The damaged or bent pins can not connect with the pads  130  whereby a loose electrical connection is arisen. Moreover, it is rather inconvenient and laborious to insert the CPU into the socket by handwork.  
         [0005]     Thus, an improved mounting apparatus for a CPU which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mounting apparatus which readily and securely attaches or removes a CPU to or from a socket.  
         [0007]     To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used to mount a CPU in a socket, includes a base, a plurality of resilient members respectively disposed at opposite sides of the base and a movement unit having a pressing portion received in the base which moves vertically with respect to the base. The base includes a concave defined in a bottom thereof for receiving the CPU therein. The resilient members cooperate with each other to locate the CPU within the base. The pressing portion is provided to push the CPU off the base so as to mount the CPU into the socket.  
         [0008]     In this invention, the CPU is secured to the socket with the mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus with the CPU is inserted into the socket vertically, so avoid destroy of the pins by the manual operation.  
         [0009]     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, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional assembled view of the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , together with a CPU;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view showing an assembled mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , together with a CPU and a socket mounted on a motherboard;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional and assembled view of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an illustration showing a conventional CPU is installed in a socket on a motherboard; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional manual insertion of the CPU of  FIG. 5  in the socket. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a CPU mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown for mounting a CPU  53  to a socket  52  on a motherboard  3 . The CPU  53  forms a plurality of aligned pads  531  at a bottom surface thereof. The socket  52  forms a plurality of aligned pins  120  corresponding to the pads  531 . The CPU mounting apparatus comprises a base  20 , a plurality of resilient members  300 , and a movement unit  40 .  
         [0017]     The base  20  has a concave  201  in a bottom thereof to accommodate the CPU  53  therein. A first projecting portion  221  and a second projecting portion  223  are formed outwardly from two opposite sides of the base  20  respectively. A bulge  22  extends upwardly from the base  20 . A through hole  401  is defined in the bulge  22  and communicates with the concave  201 .  
         [0018]     The bottom of the base  20  can be snugly received in the socket  52  on the motherboard  3 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The concave  201  has a step corresponding to a stepped top of the CPU  53  to accommodate the CPU  53  tightly. The projecting portions  221 ,  223  can be inserted into slots  521 ,  523  of the socket  52  respectively to ensure the CPU  53  being vertical with the socket  52 , and the pads  531  of the CPU  53  are respectively in alignment with the pins  120  of the socket  52 . The outer surface of the bulge  22  is arc shaped for facilitating manual operation.  
         [0019]     The movement unit  40  comprises an operating portion  424 , a pressing portion  402 , a pair of connecting posts  422  for connecting the pressing portion  402  and the operation portion  424 , and a cover  410  fastened to the bulge  22 . Each of the connecting posts  422  has screw threads in one end thereof and a screw hole  426  in the other end. The pressing portion  402  defines a pair of screw holes  412  therein corresponding to the screw threads of the connecting posts  422 . The pressing portion  402  is received in a central through hole  401  of the bulge  22 . The cover  410  defines a pair of through holes  411  aligning with the screw holes  412  of the pressing portion  402  for the connecting posts  422  extending therethrough and moving vertically therein.  
         [0020]     The resilient members  300  are embedded in the projecting portions  221 ,  223  to locate the CPU  53  in the concave  201 . Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the resilient member  300  comprises a spring (not shown) and a ball  302  positioned at an end of the spring. The ball  302  is resiliently movable due to the spring. The resilient members  300  cooperate with each other to locate the CPU  53  within the concave  201 . A plurality of screws  301  is provided to assist to position the resilient members  300  in the projecting portions  221 ,  223 , thereby to locate CPUs of different sizes.  
         [0021]     The pressing portion  402  is received in the through hole  401  of the bulge  22 . A plurality of notches  421  is defined at the corners of the through hole  401  to allow the pressing portion  402  to move conveniently. In order to control the moving distance of the pressing portion  402 , a pair of springs  423  is set around the connecting posts  422  between the cover  410  and the operation portion  424 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , in assembling the mounting apparatus, the connecting posts  422  extend through the through holes  411  of the cover  410 , with the screw threads thereof received in the screw holes  412  of the pressing portion  402 . The cover  410  is attached to the bulge  22  by screws (no labeled). The springs  423  are set around the connecting posts  422 , and the pressing portion  424  is fastened to the connecting posts  422  with the screws  427  locked in the screw holes  426  of the connecting posts  422 . The resilient members  300  are then embedded in the projecting portions  221 ,  223  respectively, and the screws  301  position the resilient members in a place where the resilient members  300  can lock the CPU  53  tightly in the concave  201 .  
         [0023]     Referring also to  FIGS. 3-4 , in assembly, the CPU  53  is inserted into the concave  201 , with concave upper edges of sidewalls of the CPU  53  sliding along arc surfaces of the balls  302  of the resilient members  360 . The balls  302  abut against the sidewalls of the CPU  53  due to the springs in the resilient members  300 , so that the CPU  53  is clamped within the concave  201  of the mounting apparatus. When the projecting portions  221 ,  223  of the base  20  are received in the slots  521 ,  523  of the socket  52 , the CPU  53  is right above and parallel with the socket  52 . The pressing portion  424  of the movement unit  40  is depressed to vertically and downwardly move the CPU  53  toward the socket  52 , thereby vertically coupling the pads  531  of the CPU  53  to the pins  120  of the socket  52 . Simultaneously the CPU  53  leaves the balls  302  of the resilient members  300 . The operation portion  424  is easily returned to its original position with the springs  423  retracted. The mounting apparatus is then removed from the socket  52 . After the CPU  53  has been inserted into the CPU mounting area of the socket  52 , a cover board (not labeled) attached on the socket is pushed down to position the CPU in the socket, and a lever (no labeled) attached on the socket is rotated to fasten the cover board.  
         [0024]     To detach the CPU  53 , the lever is rotated again to release the cover board, and the mounting apparatus is again inserted in the socket  52  on the motherboard  3  with the CPU  53  clamped by the resilient members  300 . The mounting apparatus is drawn out, so that the CPU  53  is vertically removed from the socket  52 .  
         [0025]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.