IC socket with improved contact having deformable retention portion

An IC socket (1) for receiving an IC package includes an insulative housing (2) with a plurality of passageways (20) thereof and a plurality of contacts (3) mounted within the passageways (20) of the insulative housing (2) respectively. The contact (3) has a base section (30), an upward contact arm (31) and a downward contact arm (32) respectively extending from the base section (30), and a pair of retaining arms (33) extending from opposite sides of the base section (30). The retaining arm (33) includes an elastic section (330) engaging with an inner wall of the passageway (20) and an opening (332) adjacent to the elastic section (330).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an IC socket, and more particularly to IC socket having improved contacts configured with elastic retaining arms.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

IC sockets are widely used in the computer field to interconnect two separate electronic components, i.e. an IC package and a motherboard, so as to establish electrical connection therebetween. A typical type of the IC sockets generally includes an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts received in passageway of the housing, wherein the contact usually has at least one barb interfering with the passageway of the housing so that the contact is stably retained in the housing. However, when the contact assembled in the housing is damaged and needs to be replaced by a new one, it is not easy to be take the contact out of the passageway since the barb piecing into the passageway. If the contact is pulled out forcibly, the barb of the contact is likely to scrape the insulative material of the housing off. When a new contact in mounted into the housing for replacement, the retaining force therebetween is thereby not sufficient due to the damage to the passageway.

Thus, there is a need to provide a new IC socket having redesigned contact that overcomes the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an IC socket having improved contacts that are readily to be taken away form an insulative housing without bringing damage to the insulative housing.

In accordance with the present invention, an IC socket for receiving an IC package includes an insulative housing with a plurality of passageways thereof and a plurality of contacts mounted within the passageways of the insulative housing respectively. The contact has a base section, an upward contact arm and a downward contact arm respectively extending from the base section, and a pair of retaining arms extending from opposite sides of the base section. The retaining arm includes an elastic section engaging with an inner wall of the passageway and an opening adjacent to the elastic section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, an IC socket1made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention for receiving an IC package thereon (not shown) includes a rectangular insulative housing2with a plurality of passageways20thereof, a plurality of contacts3received in the insulative housing2and mounted within the passageways20, respectively.

Referring toFIG. 2, the contact3includes a base section30, a pair of spaced upward contact arms31and a pair of spaced downward contact arms32respectively extending from the base section30, and a pair of retaining arms33extending from opposite sides of the base section30. The retaining arms33engage with inner walls (not labeled) of the passageways20so as to secure the contact3in the insulative housing2. The retaining arm33along with the adjacent upward or downward contact arm31,33jointly define a gap34therebetween. The retaining arm33is of a substantial longitudinal shape and has an elastic section330engaging with the inner wall of the passageway of the insulative housing2and is configured with an arch edge331protruding outside and directly abutting against the inner wall of the passageway20. A full-enclosed opening332is formed adjacent to the elastic section330to provide space for the deformation of the elastic portion330.

Particularly referring toFIGS. 3-4, the passageway20extends through an up interface (not labeled) and a bottom interface (not labeled) of the insulative housing2, and the contact3is mounted into the passageway20upwardly from the bottom interface with the upward contact arm31thereof protruding out of the up interface. The elastic section330deforms resiliently due to the engagement with the inner wall of the passageway20, and thereby generates an interfering force therebetween for retaining the contact3. In addition, passageway20has a pair of opposite stopping sections200engaging the retaining arms33respectively so as to prevent the contact3from upwardly escaping away from the passageway20.

Since the retaining arm33utilizes elastic sections330to engage with the insulative housing2without destructional interference therebetween, the contact3could be stably retained in the passageway20of the insulative housing2while there is no risk of damaging to the passageway of the insulative housing2. In the case that the contact3assembled in the passageway20is not qualified and needs to be replaced, the replaced contact3can also be retained in the passageway20stably with a sufficient interfering force generated therebetween. The arch edge331of the contact3further facilitates the removement of the contact3from the passageway20.