Patent ID: 7588453

Claim:
A socket connector for connecting an IC package to a printed circuit board, comprising: a base unit mounting a plurality of terminals therein; a cover unit assembled on the base unit and defining a receiving room therein facing the base unit, the cover unit comprises an insulating cover and a first retaining plate retained in the insulating cover; the first retaining plate comprises an elongated main body having a first region and a second region, the first and second regions of the main body are defined in different levels and forms a step portion therebetween; a driving device received in the receiving room and connecting with the base unit and cover unit, said driving device comprising a rotatable driving member and a rotatable whirling member, said whirling member defining opposite first and second areas corresponding to said opposite first and second regions; and wherein a receiving space is defined between one end of the whirling member and the cover unit for receiving part of the driving member, and the other end of the whirling member is engaging with the cover unit; the first region and the first area are directly engaged with each other in a front-to-back direction to have said first region and said first area move together in said front-to-back direction while the second region and the second area are not directly engaged with each other in said front-to-back direction but via the driving member, under a condition that a gap in a vertical direction between the first region and said first area is smaller than that between the second region and said second area.