Land grid array socket having simplified fastening device bent by metallic stripe

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a land grid array socket connector, and more particularly to a land grid array socket having simplified fastening structure in which at least one of a metallic clip and a stiffener is configured by a metallic strip formed into a predetermined configuration.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,197 issued to Shirai on Feb. 21, 2006 discloses a type of socket, which can be generally called land grid array (LGA) socket. As clearly shown in Figures, the socket generally includes a metal stiffener with a housing securely supported therein. A metal clip is pivotally assembled to the stiffener. On the other hand, a lever is pivotally assembled to the other side of the stiffener, when the clip is closed to the stiffener, the lever can lock the clip to a closed position. By this arrangement, the clip will tightly press a central process unit (CPU) which is seated on the housing toward the housing and ensure proper electrical connection therebetween.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 7,247,041 issued to Ma on Jul. 24, 2007 discloses another typical socket assembly, which has a LGA connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The LGA connector includes an insulative housing, a stiffener coupled to the housing, and a plurality of ribs projecting from a periphery edge of the housing. The stiffener defines an opening for surrounding the housing. Each of the ribs has a base defining a mating surface and a mounting surface. The stiffener is coupled to the housing by the mating surface abutting against a wall face of the opening of the stiffener, and the mounting surface resting on a peripheral edge of the stiffener.

[0006] From the above disclosures of the prior arts, it can be readily found out that all the clip and the stiffener are stamped from a single metallic sheet, normally, from stainless steel plate. It inevitably costs a lot since the middle portions of both the clip and the stiffener are wasted. In view of reducing the cost so as to meet the market trend, it therefore requires a new and useful configuration for the clip or the stiffener.

[0007] In view of reducing the material cost, a new way to configure either the metallic clip or the stiffener with a simplified configuration is needed.

[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is related to a land grid array socket which having a simplified fastening structure for reducing metal material for a metallic clip or a stiffener thereof.

[0009] In order to achieve the object set forth, a land grid array (LGA) connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, a stiffener surrounding the insulative housing, a metallic clip rotatably mounted to the stiffener. The insulative housing defines a substantially rectangular cavity in a middle thereof, the cavity is adapted for receiving an electronic package therein. The metallic clip is disposed upon the housing to press the electronic package against the contacts. The metallic clip is configured by a single strip with a predetermined arrangement and then bent to form a frame configuration with a gap on a side.

[0010] In order to further achieve the object set forth, a method for forming a metallic clip comprises the steps of: 1) providing a metallic strip; 2) dividing the metallic strip into a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth sections, each section carrying with a pre-determined arrangements; and 3) forming the first, the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth sections into a substantially rectangular frame configuration.

[0015] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a land grad array connector 100 for electrically connecting a printed circuit board (not shown) to an electronic package (not shown). The connector 100 comprises an insulative housing 2, a plurality of contacts 4 retained in the insulative housing 2 and a fastening structure assembled around the insulative housing 2 for pressing the electronic package (not shown) to touch the contacts 4.

[0017] The insulative housing 2 is formed with a rectangular shape and molded from resin or the like. The insulative housing 2 has a receiving space 21 thereof for receiving the electronic package (not shown).

[0018] The fastening structure including a stiffener 32 surrounding the insulative housing 2, a metallic clip 33 assembled to one end of the stiffener 32 and a lever 31 assembled to an opposite end of the stiffener 32.

[0019] The stiffener 32 has a rectangular configuration with four sidewalls in a front, a rear, a right and a left directions. Each sidewall comprises a vertical sidewall 321 in a vertical direction and a horizontal sidewall 322 extending inwardly and is perpendicular to the vertical sidewall 321. The four vertical walls 321 are connected with one by one, and the four horizontal sidewalls 322 are separated with each other. The four horizontal sidewalls 322 jointly define an opening 323 in a center. A pair of holes 324 are defined on each of the front and the rear horizontal sidewalls 322 at opposite ends of the stiffener 32. The connector 100 is secured on the printed circuit board (not shown) by a plurality of connecting parts (not shown) passing through the holes 324 of the stiffener 32. A pair of retaining portions 325 extend inwardly from the front vertical sidewall 321 for assembling the lever 31. A pair of latching slots 326 are defined on the rear horizontal sidewall 322 for assembling the metallic clip 33. A gap 327 is defined at a middle of the front sidewall connecting with the lever 31.

[0020] The metallic clip 33 is made of a metal plate and has an opening 331 at a center thereof for receiving the electronic package (not shown). The metallic clip 33 has four sidewalls at a front, a rear, a right and a left directions corresponding to the sidewalls of the stiffener 32, and one of the sidewall has a gap 332. Each sidewall further comprises a vertical sidewall 333 at the vertical direction and a horizontal sidewall 334 extending inwardly and is perpendicular to the vertical sidewall 333. The vertical sidewalls 333 are connected with each other in the corner of the metallic clip 33. A locking element 335 projects downwardly from a middle of the front horizontal sidewall 334 of the metallic clip 33 for mating with the lever 31. A pair of bearing tongues 336 are curved downwardly from the rear horizontal sidewall 334 of the metallic clip 33 for engaging with the latching slots 326 of the stiffener 32. The gap 332 is preferably defined at a middle of the front sidewall of the metallic clip 33.

[0021] In the present embodiment, each sidewall of the stiffener 32 or the metallic clip 33 comprises one vertical sidewall and one horizontal sidewall, however, the horizontal sidewall is not a necessary part to each sidewall, it also can be partially defined on the sidewalls according to the embodiments.

[0022] The lever 31 is formed with an L-shaped configuration and comprises an actuating portion 311 and a retaining portion 312 with a locking portion 3120 disposed at the middle of the retaining portion 312. The retaining portion 312 is engaged with the retaining portions 325 of the stiffener 32 and the locking portion 3120 is pressed on the locking element 335 of the metallic clip 33 for locking the metallic clip 33 to the stiffener 32.

[0023] The stiffener 33 and the metallic clip 32 can be both configured by a single metal strip with predetermined arrangement and then bent to form a frame shape. The manufacture methods of the metallic clip 32 and the stiffener 33 are similarly, so the present invention just illuminates the manufacture methods the stiffener 33.

[0024] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 shows the method for forming the stiffener 33 comprising the steps as follows: providing a metallic strip D and dividing the metallic strip D into a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth sections, each carrying with a predetermined arrangement, for example the holes 324 formed by punching, and then bending the metallic strip D along a line A-A in a lengthwise direction for forming the vertical sidewalls 321 and the horizontal sidewalls 322, after that, bending the metallic strip D along the lines B-B in a vertical direction for forming a substantially rectangular frame configuration in which the first and the fifth section jointly configure a side of the frame configuration. In the present invention, the four vertical sidewalls 321 joint with each other on the corners, referring to a circle of FIG. 7. The first and the fifth sections are located on one side, so that a gap 327 is formed between the first and the fifth sections. Because the gap 327 is substantially as a linear shape, a well integral and robust rigidity of the stiffener 32 is provided. The first and the fifth sections also can be connected together by methods of riveting, welding, buckling and so on, so that there may be no gap 327 between the first and the fifth sections.

[0025] 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.