Patent Publication Number: US-7717731-B2

Title: Electrical connector with retaining seats for securing a load lever

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector which is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) for receiving an IC package, and which has a pair of retaining seats for securing a load lever. 
   DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
   Central Processing Unit (CPU) and other electrical package, generally referred to as IC package, commonly works via an electrical connector mounted on a printed circuit board, which includes at least a socket with a number of contacts for electrical connection with the IC package and securing means for fastening the IC package. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,860 issued to Hao-Yun Ma on Oct. 9, 2007 discloses such an electrical connector, which is soldered on a printed circuit board to receive an IC package. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4  of this patent, the electrical connector includes an insulative housing with a number of contacts received therein, a metallic stiffener located around the housing, a load plate for pressing an IC package that seated on the housing, and a load lever for fastening the load plate. What is disadvantageous in U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,860 is the metallic stiffener occupies a large periphery area around the housing, therefore it is not helpful to save space on the printed circuit board. Further, the electrical connector employs a stiffener which needs a large amount of metal material, and is also not economic. 
   Thus, there is a need to provide a new electrical connector that overcomes the above-mentioned problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector capable of saving space and helpful for cost down. 
   In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector made in accordance with the present invention is mounted on a printed circuit board and includes a socket with a plurality of contacts received therein, a load plate supported by a supporting member and capable of rotating toward or away from the socket, a pair of retaining seats separated from each other and spaced from the socket, and a load lever secured on the retaining seats and engaging the load plate to fasten the load plate in a closed position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     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: 
       FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a load plate is in a closed position; 
       FIG. 2  is an assembled, perspective view of the electrical connector, in which the load plate is in an open position; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of the electrical connector; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a retaining seat in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a retaining seat in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a retaining seat in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an electrical connector  1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally mounted to a printed circuit board  8  to receive an IC package (not shown). The electrical connector  1  includes a socket  2  with a plurality of contacts  3  therein. The IC package is seated to the socket  2  to make electrical connection with the contacts  3 . A load plate  4  is connected and supported by a supporting member  5  and rotates toward the socket  2  to a closed position to fasten the IC package, or rotates away form the socket  2  to an open position to release the IC package. A load lever  7  is provided to engage with the load plate  4  to fasten the load plate  4  in a closed position. 
   The supporting member  5  made of metal materials are shaped to an elongated pattern and is located at one end of the socket  2 . A pair of connecting holes  50  are defined on the supporting member  5  for respectively engaging hooks  40  formed on one end of the load plate  4  to enable the load plate  4  to rotate around the supporting member  5  and rotate relative to the socket  2 . The other end of the load plate  4  has a tongue portion  41  for engaging with the load lever  7 . The supporting member  5  is able to be positioned on the printed circuit board  8  via multiple means, such as screws (not shown), or by soldering method. 
   A pair of independent retaining seats  6  are located at the other end of the socket  2  and opposite to the supporting member  5 . The two retaining seats  6  are separated from each other and have same configuration. Also, the retaining seats  6  are separated and spaced form the supporting member  5 . The load lever  7  is secured on the retaining seats  6 . 
   Particularly referring to  FIG. 4 , which shows a perspective view of the retaining seat  6  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The retaining seats  6  are separated and spaced a distance from the socket  2 , and such a configuration is designed for efficiently simplifying the manufacturing of the socket  2  and the retaining seats  6 . The retaining seat  6  in this preferred embodiment is molded of plastic with a substantial cubic shape, and includes a top surface  60 , a bottom surface  61  engaging the printed circuit board  8  and two opposite side surfaces  62 . A containing hole  63  extends through the bottom surface  61  and the two side surfaces  62 . The containing hole  63  cooperates with the printed circuit board  8  to form a closed through hole (not labeled). In addition, the retaining seat  6  has a securing hole  64  formed beside the containing hole  63  to engage with a screw  65  to mount the retaining seat  6  onto the printed circuit board  8 . 
   The load lever  7  includes two pivoting portions  70  and an operating portion  71  perpendicular to the pivoting portions  70 . The pivoting portions  70  are secured in the containing holes  63  of the retaining seats  6 . A pressing portion  700  engaging the tongue portion  41  of load plate  4  is protruding from the pivoting portions  70  and located between the two retaining seats  6 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates another retaining seat  6 ′ in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The retaining seat  6 ′ is punched from a metal plate and then bended to such a configuration. The retaining seat  6 ′ has a top portion  60 ′, a pair of side portions  62 ′ extending downward from two edges of the top portion  60 ′. A pair of containing holes  63 ′ are respectively formed on the side portions  62 ′. Further on the top portion  60 ′, a securing hole  64 ′ is formed to engage with a screw (not shown) so as to mount the retaining seat  6 ′ onto the printed circuit board  8 . The containing hole  63 ′ cooperates with the printed circuit board  8  to form a closed through hole (not labeled) to receive the pivoting portion  70  of the load lever  7 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a third retaining seat  6 ″ in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The retaining seat  6 ″ has a substantial reverse configuration in contrast to the retaining seat  6 ′ in the second embodiment, and includes a bottom portion  61 ″ supported by the printed circuit board  8 , a pair of side portions  62 ″ extending upward from two edges of the bottom portion  61 ″. A pair of containing holes  63 ″ are respectively formed on the side portions  62 ″ and communicate with each other by extending across the bottom portion  61 ″ to facilitate assembling the load lever  7 . Further on the bottom portion  61 ″, a securing hole  64 ″ is formed to engage with a screw (not shown) so as to mount the retaining seat  6 ″ onto the printed circuit board  8 . The containing holes  63 ″ cooperate with the printed circuit board  8  to form a closed through hole (not labeled) to receive the pivoting portion  70  of the load lever  7 . 
   It should be noted that besides the above described embodiments, the load plate  4  also has other modes, for example, directly connected to the socket by a assistant hardware without such a supporting member employed in above embodiments. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various alterations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without in any way departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.