Patent ID: 7291022

Claim:
An IC socket, comprising: electrical contacts; an insulative socket housing for holding the electrical contacts in a matrix in an IC package mounting surface; an openable/closeable cover plate, which is positioned above an IC package to be placed on the IC package mounting surface; a lever, for driving the cover plate in a closing direction to press the IC package onto the IC package mounting surface; a guide member for guiding the IC package onto the IC package mounting surface, the guide member having a pair of parallel guide rails and a link member that links corresponding ends of the guide rails, attached to the socket housing; spring arms provided on each of the guide rails and the link member, for urging the guide member upward from the socket housing; and regulating members provided on the socket housing and the guide member, for regulating upward movement of the guide member at a position at which the guided IC package is not in contact with the electrical contacts.