Abstract:
An electrical connector includes a frame ( 2 ) is a substantially rectangular configuration and including a front portion and rear portion ( 22 ), a cover ( 3 ) moveably disposed on the frame and including a supporting portion ( 31 ) with a plurality of holes ( 311 ) defined therein, a lever ( 4 ) having a shaft portion ( 42 ) disposed on the rear portion of the frame to drive the cover to move from a first position to a second position, a base ( 1 ) disposed within the frame and under the cover and an elastic mechanism received between the base and the cover. The cover further defines a groove ( 33 ) which is used for receiving the elastic mechanism when the cover is in the second position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a socket connector, and more particularly to a ZIF (zero-insertion-force) connector having a base detachably assembled with a metal frame for easily facilitating installation of the base onto a printed circuit board. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The IC packages are more and more popular in the computer industry. As well known, the IC package is commonly connected to a mother board through a socket connector which is directly mountably soldered on the mother board. Taiwan Patent Number 470224 issued on Dec. 21, 2001 discloses a socket connector including a base, a cover slidably mounted to the base and a lever including an actuation handle and a cam portion joined with each other. The cam portion is received between the base and the cover, and the handle is exposed to one side of the base. When the handle is in a horizontal position, conductive pins of the IC package loaded onto the cover will engage with conductive means of the socket connector and the socket connector is in a closed state. After the lever is driven to a vertical position, the IC package can be easily pulled out from the socket connector. 
   But this type of the socket connector has a potential disadvantage during the lever is driven to the vertical position. A user is not sure whether the socket connector is in the open state or not, resulting in damage of the conductive pins of the IC package and the socket connector when the package is pulled out in a condition that the cover is non-completely opening. 
   Hence, a new design which can protect the conductive pins of an IC package and a socket connector is required. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector with elastic mechanism to sure the lever to be in a complete opening state. 
   In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector includes a frame is a substantially rectangular configuration and including a front portion and rear portion, a cover moveably disposed on the frame and including a supporting portion with a plurality of holes defined therein, a lever having a shaft portion disposed on the rear portion of the frame to drive the cover to move from a first position to a second position, a base disposed within the frame and under the cover and an elastic mechanism received between the base and the cover. The cover further defines a groove which is used for receiving the elastic mechanism when the cover is in the second position. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention, showing the electrical connector in a closed state; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the electrical connector in an open state; 
       FIG. 3  is a partly exploded view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an amplificatory portion in the circle with broken line shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is another partly exploded view of the connector; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7  is another view of the cover shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a sketch map of the elastic mechanism when the electrical connector is in a complete-open state; and 
       FIG. 9  is a sketch map of the elastic mechanism when the electrical connector is in a non-completely open state. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , an electrical connector for connection of an IC package and a circuit member, includes a base  1  receiving a plurality of terminals therein (not shown), a metal frame  2  assembled on the base  1 , a cover  3  movably mounted on the frame  2 , a lever  4  retained between the frame  2  and the cover  3  and an elastic mechanism  8 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the base  1  of plate-like shape defines a terminals receiving portion  11  and an installing portion  12  surrounding the receiving portion  11 . The receiving portion  11  projects from a center portion of the base  1  and defines a plurality of receiving grooves (not shown) for receiving the terminals. The installing portion  12  defines a receiving hole  13  at a side portion running through a top face  14  thereof. 
   The frame  2  defines two opposite side portions  21  and a third side portion  22  connecting the two side portions  21  at the back portion thereof, the third side portion  22  is defined as a rear portion, the frame  2  further defines a front portion opposite to the rear portion  22 . The third side portion  22  defines a larger width than each side portion  21 . A first channel  221  opens upwards along a longitudinal direction of the third side portion  22 , and two separate communicating recesses  222  are transversely defined in the first channel  221  and open upward. One of the side portions  21  defines a through hole  25  running through the opposite top face  211  and bottom face thereof. The frame  2  further defines a stopper  223  extending upwardly from one end of the first channel  221 , and a through hole  224  runs through the stopper  223 . 
   The lever  4  is L-shaped and includes a handle  41  and a shaft portion  42  joined with each other at a right angle. The shaft portion  42  defines a pair of rollers  421 . In assembly, the shaft portion  42  of the lever  4  is received in the first channel  221  with the free end retained into the through hole  224 , and the rollers  421  are received in the corresponding communicating recesses  222 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the frame  2  is set onto the base  1  with the two opposite side portions  21  and the third side portion  22  mounted on the installing portion  12 , the receiving portion  11  projects into an opening  26  defined in a center portion of the frame  2 , and the through hole  25  aligns with the receiving hole  13 , as best shown in  FIG. 8 . The frame  2  further defines a pair of posts  225  each at one end of the third side portion  22 , and each post  225  defines a screw  226  therein, as best shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the elastic mechanism  8  defines a spring  5  and a ball bearing  6  engaging with the spring  5 . The spring  5  is defined as an elastic member, and the ball bearing  6  is defined as a moveable member with an arc surface. The electrical connector further includes a fixing member  7  assembled to the frame  2 . The fixing member  7  defines a base portion  71  and a pair of cubic fixing portions  72  extending from two ends of the base portion  71 . A blocking portion  73  extends from one end of the fixing portion  72  and is located in a lower portion  23  which is defined at another end, opposite to the stopper  223  of the frame  2 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the fixing member  7  is assembled on the third side portion  22  of the frame  2  with a pair of retaining holes  721  aligned with the corresponding screws  226 , and a bolt (not shown) may twist into the holes  721  and the screw  226  to fix the fixing member  7  and the frame  2  together. The elastic member  5  and the moveable member  6  are both set into the through hole  25  and then received in the aligned through hole  25  and the receiving hole  13 , the moveable member  6  is on top of the elastic member  5 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , the cover  3  defines a supporting portion  31  and a cooperating portion  32 . The supporting portion  31  defines a plurality of holes  311  extending vertically therethrough in alignment with the corresponding receiving grooves, respectively, so that the pins, which extend downward from the IC package component (not shown) may project downward through the corresponding holes  311  in the cover  3  and further into the corresponding receiving grooves in the base  1  for mechanically and electrically engagement with the corresponding terminals therein. The supporting portion  31  further defines a groove  33  running through a bottom face  35  thereof. The cooperating portion  32  includes a second opening-downward channel  321  with communicating recesses  322 . 
   In assembly, the cover  3  is retained on the frame  2  with the protrusions  341  defined in two opposite sidewalls  34  retained in the corresponding recesses  24  defined in the frame  2 . The shaft portion  42  of the lever  4  is received in the first and second channel  221 ,  321 . The protrusions  331  are movably retained in the corresponding recesses  24  so that the cover  3  can move in a front-to-back direction relative to the base  1 . The recesses  24  further can prevent the protrusions  341  from being off in the vertical direction. The groove  33  adjacent to the sidewall  34  is aligned with the slot  25 , as best shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the pins will mechanically and electrically engage with the terminals received in the base  1  when the handle  41  is in the horizontal position relative to the base  1 , the groove  33  is in front of the through hole  25  and the cover  3  presses against the moveable member  6  to make the elastic member  5  compressed, the elastic mechanism  8  is received in the aligned through hole  25  and the receiving hole  13 . During the handle  41  is turned from the horizontal position to the vertical position, the shaft portion  42  with the rollers  421  drives the cover  3  to move in a front-to-back direction, the cover  3  moves from a first position to a second position, and the pins are driven from contacting with the terminals. The groove  33  is above and aligns with the through hole  25 , the elastic member  5  will restore and push the moveable member  6  partly into the groove  33 , as best shown in  FIG. 8 , and the users will fell and know that the electrical connector is in the complete-open state. What&#39;s more, the handle  41  is retained in the vertical position by the moveable member  6  being blocked into the groove  33  by the elastic member  5 , and the IC package is easy to be pulled out of the electrical connector and is unlike to damage the pins thereof. The blocking portion  73  may block the handle  41  to prevent the lever from further rotating, and the base portion  71  may prevent the cover from further moving backward. 
   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.