Socket connector having metallic positioning member securing electronic device therein

A socket connector for receiving an electronic device includes an insulative housing with sidewalls extending upwardly and a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing. The sidewalls define a receiving space for the electronic device. At least one side wall is provided with a protrusion. An elastic positioning member is mounted within the protrusion and has an engaging section extending into the receiving space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a socket connector, and more particularly to a socket connector having metallic positioning members for positioning an electronic device, as well as securing the electronic device therein.

2. Description of Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,316 issued to Hao-Yun Ma on Jun. 21, 2005 discloses a socket connector for receiving an electronic device. The connector according to Ma includes an insulative housing with a plurality of terminals received therein. The electronic device is placed upon the housing and then comes to contact with the terminals so as to make electrical connection with the connector. The housing has four sidewalls each formed with at least one hard protrusion integrally extended therefrom. When the electronic device is disposed into the housing, the protrusions may abut against edges of the electronic device so that the electronic device is constrained in the housing.

However, the protrusion of the housing is made from plastic material without elasticity. So it is nearly impossible for the protrusion to be fitly engaged with the electronic device, which is likely to result either a gap or an interference therebetween. Consequently, the electronic device is either disposed without reliable retention or damaged by the interference with the hard protrusion.

To overcome above problem, another U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,728 issued to Howell on Oct. 12, 2004 discloses a socket connector which includes an insulative housing for accommodating an electronic device. The insulative housing has four sidewalls, two of which are respectively formed with a push finger. The push finger extends integrally from the sidewall of the insulative housing and has a pushing section at a free end thereof. When the electronic device is put onto the insulative housing, the push finger deforms and the pushing section abuts against the electronic device so that the electronic device is reliably retained in the insulative housing.

However, the plastic material of the push finger can not achieve robust intension. In addition, to meet the request of sufficient elasticity, the push finger is configured with a large length. Correspondingly, the productivity of the insulative housing is relatively bad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a socket connector having a robust positioning member capable of providing retention force.

In accordance with the present invention, a socket connector for receiving an electronic device is provided, which includes an insulative housing with sidewalls extending upwardly and a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing. The sidewalls define a receiving space for the electronic device. At least one sidewall is provided with a protrusion. An elastic positioning member is mounted within the protrusion and has an engaging section extending into the receiving space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The socket connector made in accordance with the present invention is generally mounted onto a printed circuit board (not shown). Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 4, the socket connector1includes an insulative housing2and a plurality of contacts3retained in the insulative housing2. The insulative housing2further includes a base20and four sidewalls21extending upwardly from the base20. The sidewalls21jointly define a receiving space (not labeled) for receiving an electronic device5.

Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 5, each sidewall21has two protrusions22respectively located at two ends thereof. The protrusions22from neighboring sidewalls21are connected to each other at a corner of the insulative housing2. The protrusion22can serve as a datum for determining the pitch of the contact terminals such that when an IC socket is disposed therein, electrical interconnection between the contacts3and conductive pads of the electronic package5is ensured. At least one protrusion22has a slot23configured to communicate with the receiving space. A metallic and elastic positioning member4is inserted into and secured in the slot23and extends in a vertical direction. The positioning member4includes a lower end serving as a retaining section40, an upper end serving as a lead-in section41, and an engaging section42between the upper end41and the lower end40. The lower end40of the positioning member4is securely retained in the slot23, while the upper end41is moveably disposed in the slot23in responsive to an inserted electronic device5. The engaging section42extends out of the slot23and protrudes into the receiving space. Particularly referring toFIG. 5, when the electronic device5is put into the receiving space and engaged with the positioning member4, the engaging section42abuts against the electronic device5and is pushed outwardly in responsive to the inserted electronic device5, and thereby providing the electronic device with a certain retention force. The upper end41of the positioning member4moves upwardly in the slot23when the positioning member4deforms. When the electronic device5is taken out of the insulative housing2, the positioning member4retrieves to its original state and the upper end41moves downwardly along the slot23. Understandably, the positioning member4performs a simple-support-beam effect, i.e., one fixed end and one slidable support end, with regard to the housing2.