Patent Publication Number: US-6669500-B1

Title: Central processing unit socket assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The quality of Central Processing Units (CPU) has a direct effect on the operational speed of computers and their operational performance. Unlike Integrated Circuit (IC) sockets, which are used to insert an IC in conventional circuit boards, the CPU sockets provided on main boards to insert a CPU require a tighter locking operation or have more release pins than the conventional IC socket in order to ensure the CPU can function normally. Therefore, the role of the CPU socket is very important. 
     A conventional CPU socket structure generally includes a CPU socket base, a CPU base cover, and a CPU base cover turning component. By means of turning the CPU base cover, the pin holes of the CPU base cover and pin holes of the CPU socket base can be aligned or staggered at a certain distance to clamp or release CPU pins to permit connection or removal of the CPU. In the CPU base cover turning component, one end of an L-shaped wrench is inserted transversely into a gap between the CPU base cover and CPU socket, with the other end placed horizontally near the CPU socket. When the removal or restoring of the CPU base cover is required, the wrench has to be turned to move the CPU base cover, which results in the following disadvantages: 
     1. Since the L-shaped wrench is disposed to one side of the CPU socket, it occupies the space around the CPU socket so that a space has to be reserved on the circuit board on which the CPU socket is to be mounted near the position of the CPU socket for accommodating the L-shaped wrench. At that position, it is not possible to arrange electronic parts close to the CPU socket, and it is not possible to reduce the size of the circuit board. 
     2. The L-shaped wrench disposed near the CPU socket can be manipulated and removed by anyone, which affects the connection of the CPU pins and CPU socket, and mounting or detachment of the CPU is better performed by technicians to prevent damage to the CPU. However, since the L-shaped wrench used to turn the CPU base cover can be manipulated even by children, this may result in the exposure of the CPU, the CPU socket maintenance circuits, and the CPU base cover being inadvertently touched by people who are not technicians, resulting in damage to the CPU. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide an improved CPU socket assembly. The turning component is provided between an extension cover block of a CPU base cover and an extension base block of a CPU socket base so that there is no need to dispose a structural element that will take up space near the CPU socket and so electronic parts can be tightly packed near the CPU socket. Hence, a circuit board having the CPU socket mounted on its surface can be reduced in size to facilitate the manufacture of smaller electrical appliances. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved CPU base cover turning component which has a rotary shaft requiring turning in order to move the CPU base cover. The center of the shaft end of the rotary shaft extending through the CPU cover block is provided with an insert hole. When it is desired to move the CPU base cover, a suitable tool has to be used to extend into the insert hole via a shaft hole in the extension cover and turned in order to urge the CPU base cover to clamp or release CPU pins inserted into the CPU socket so that persons other than technicians cannot handle or remove the CPU base cover, thereby preventing inadvertent turning of the CPU base cover and protecting the CPU. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved CPU base cover turning component of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the improved CPU base cover turning component of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating operation of the improved CPU base cover turning component of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is another schematic view illustrating operation of the improved CPU base cover turning component of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the improved CPU base cover turning component of the invention, showing outward movement of the CPU base cover; and 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the improved CPU base cover turning component of the invention, showing inward movement of the CPU base cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, which is a perspective view of an improved CPU socket assembly of the invention, and referring also to FIG. 2, which is an exploded perspective view, it can be seen that in the improved CPU socket assembly of this invention, the entire CPU socket includes a CPU socket base  10 , a CPU base cover  20 , and a CPU base cover turning component  30 . One lateral end of the CPU base cover  20  projects to form an extension cover block  21 . One lateral end of CPU socket base  10  projects to form an extension base block  11 . The walls  22 ,  23  are capable of surrounding and clamping two sides of the CPU socket base  10  by means of hooks, and extend vertically from two sides of the CPU base cover  20  to clamp and surround CPU socket base  10 . The extension cover block  21  fastens and covers extension base block  11 . The CPU base cover turning component  30  is sandwiched between extension cover block  21  of CPU base cover  20  and extension base block  11  of CPU socket base  10 . The CPU base cover turning component  30  specifically includes a rotary shaft  31  with a circular portion projecting from its center to form an eccentric collar  32 , and a top frame  33  engaged by the collar  32 . Shaft holes  24 ,  12  are respectively formed in extension cover block  21  and extension base block  11  in a vertical direction in corresponding suitable positions for insertion of two shaft ends of rotary shaft  31  to connect the rotary shaft  31  with the extension base block  21  and the extension cover block  11 . Additionally, an insert hole  34 A is formed in the center of the shaft end of rotary shaft  31  that extends through extension cover block  21 . The structure of the middle section of rotary shaft  31  which forms eccentric collar  32 , as shown in the exploded perspective view, can be an annular block  38  with a cut edge formed on the middle section of rotary shaft  31  itself, with a flat cam  39  tightly fitted around annular block  38 . Cam  39  may have projections  39 A,  39 B respectively extending from the edges farthest from and nearest to the cam center. Projection  39 B extends vertically toward extension cover block  21  to form an indicator rod  39 C. Extension cover block  21  is formed with a curved through hole  25  corresponding to indicator rod  39 C. The cover surface of extension cover  21  which overlaps extension base block  11  is formed with a recess  26  configured to receive and retain top frame  33  tightly. Additionally, long slide grooves  34 ,  35  extending in the same direction as the direction of movement of CPU base cover  20  are formed at suitable positions of top frame  33 . The base surface of extension base block  11  which overlaps extension cover block  21  and which corresponds to long slide grooves  34 ,  35  is provided with rail blocks  36 ,  37  of a length shorter than long slide grooves  34 ,  35 . These rail blocks  36 ,  37  have a width such that they can pass precisely through corresponding long slide grooves  34 ,  35  so that when top frame  33  is displaced, the CPU base cover  20  is guided to turn in a fixed direction by means of the long slide grooves  34 ,  35  that have to slide longitudinally along length of rail blocks  36 ,  37 , and frame hole  33 A of the top frame  30  is positioned to receive flat cam  39 . The edges of the hole  33 A which correspond to two ends of top frame  33  respectively project inward to form stop blocks  33 B,  33 C. Stop blocks  33 B,  33 C can prevent the lateral edges of projections  39 A,  39 B extending any further from flat cam  39 . A curved outwardly extending fork  33 D projects integrally from one lateral edge of the frame hole  33 A toward two ends of the hole. 
     Based on this construction, when CPU base cover  20  is moved, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a suitable tool  40  is inserted via shaft hole  24  of extension cover block  21  into insert hole  34 A and turned. By observing the position of indicator rod  39 C in curved through hole  25 , it can be determined whether or not the suitable tool  40  being used has turned the CPU base cover turning component  30  to the other end, and that, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rotary rod  31  which is turned has brought flat cam  39  to urge top frame  33 , which synchronously pushes CPU base cover  20 , and when turned to the utmost end, as shown in the figures, these projections  39 A,  39 B are stopped by stop blocks  33 B,  33 C. During the process of turning, these projections  39 A,  39 B produce a buffering effect to prevent violent turning damage due to the elasticity of the material of the fork member  33 D, so that the CPU base cover  30  clamps or releases the CPU pins to be inserted into the CPU socket, thereby preventing inadvertent turning of CPU base cover  20 . The invention has the effect of occupying less space compared to the conventional CPU base cover turning component. 
     Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.