Electrical connector for integrated circuit device

Claim 2

An electrical connector for supporting and for completing electrical connections to a flat integrated circuit device having a plurality of electrically conductive pads arranged in a predetermined pattern along at least two opposed sides of a substantially planar connection surface, said connector comprising: a unitary one-piece insulator base affording two upwardly facing locating surfaces corresponding generally in size and configuration to said opposed sides of said connection surface of said integrated circuit device and having a corresponding plurality of contact cavities formed therein in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of said conductive pads; a corresponding plurality of individual metal contact elements, such inserted downwardly into one of said contact cavities and projecting downwardly outwardly of said base, each contact element including a resilient contact portion projecting a short distance above one of said locating surfaces; a unitary one-piece insulator cover; hinge means hingedly mounting one side of said cover on one side of said base adjacent one of said locating surfaces for movement between open and closed positions, said cover including two pressure surfaces aligned with the locating surfaces of the base when the cover is closed; pressure releasable resilient latch means, comprising complementary latch and retainer elements formed integrally with said cover member and with said base member, on the side thereof opposite said hinge means, for latching said cover member in closed position on said base member and including an elongated resilient latch arm, extending along the free side of said cover and separated from the body of said cover by an elongated slot, at least one latch pad formed integrally with said latch arm and projecting outwardly of said latch arm, and at least one latch retainer element, formed integrally with said other side of said base member and projecting upwardly of the plane of said locating surfaces, in alignment with and in position to releasably engage said latch pad; and orientation means, comprising at least two posts, each formed integrally with one of said base and cover members and projecting into an opening in the other of said members, for orienting an integrated circuit device between said cover member and said base member in a single fixed position, with each contact element engaging one conductive pad on the integrated circuit device in form pressure contact when said cover member is closed and latched.

Claim 3

An electrical connector for an integrated circuit device, according to claim 1, in which said orientation means comprises a locating post projecting upwardly from the longitudinal center line of said base member, and a polarizing post projecting upwardly from said base member at a point substantially displaced from said center line.

Claim 4

An electrical connector for an integrated circuit device, according to claim 2, in which said orientation means comprises a second locating post projecting upwardly from the longitudinal center line of said base at a point substantially displaced from the first locating post.

Claim 5

An electrical connector for an integrated circuit device, according to claim 1 in which said latch means comprises two latch pads located at spaced points on said latch arm and two latch retainer elements aligned one-for-one with said latch pads, said latch means further comprises a pressure projection, at the center of said latch arm, projecting outWardly of said latch arm to facilitate release of the latch means for opening the connector.

Claim 6

An electrical connector for supporting and for completing electrical connections to a flat integrated circuit device having a plurality of electrically conductive pads arranged in a predetermined pattern along at least two opposed sides of a substantially planar connection surface, said connector comprising: a unitary one-piece insulator base affording two upwardly facing locating surfaces corresponding generally in size and configuration to said opposed sides of said connection surface of said integrated circuit device and having a corresponding plurality of contact cavities formed therein in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of said conductive pads; a corresponding plurality of individual metal contact elements, each inserted downwardly into one of said contact cavities and projecting downwardly outwardly of said base, each contact element including a resilient contact portion projecting a short distance above one of said locating surfaces and a relatively rigid connector pin segment projecting from said cavity downwardly and outwardly of said base, and a resilient contact segment extending approximately horizontally from the top of said pin connector segment, inwardly of one of said cavities, and then back at an acute angle upwardly to an integral vertically projecting contact portion, said cavity including two spaced internal barriers limiting horizontal movement of said contact portion to a wiping action across one conductive pad on said device a unitary one-piece insulator cover; hinge means hingedly mounted one side of said cover on one side of said base adjacent one of said locating surfaces for movement between open and closed positions, said cover including two pressure surfaces aligned with the locating surfaces of the base when the cover is closed pressure-releasable resilient latch means, comprising complementary latch and retainer elements formed integrally with said cover member and with said base member, on the sides thereof opposite said hing means, for latching said cover member in closed position on said base member; and orientation means, comprising at least two posts, each formed integrally with one of said base and cover members and projecting into an opening in the other of said members, for orienting an integrated circuit device between said cover member and said base member in a single fixed position, with each contact element engaging one conductive pad on the integrated circuit device in firm pressure contact when said cover member is closed and latched.

Claim 7

An electrical connector for supporting and for completing electrical connections to a flat integrated circuit device having a plurality of electrically conductive pads arranged in a predetermined pattern along at least two opposed sides of a substantially planar connection surface, said connector comprising: a unitary one-piece insulator base affording two upwardly facing locating surfaces corresponding generally in size and configuration to said opposed sides of said connection surface of said integrated circuit device and having a corresponding plurality of contact cavities formed therein in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of said conductive pads; a corresponding plurality of individual metal contact elements, each inserted downwardly into one of said contact cavities and projecting downwardly outwardly of said base, each contact element including a resilient contact portion projecting a short distance above one of said locating surfaces and a relatively rigid connector pin segment projecting from said cavity downwardly and outwardly of said base, and a resilient contact segment extending approximately horizontally from the top of said pin connector segment, inwardly of one of said cavities, and then back at an acute angle upwardly to an integral vertically projecting contact portion, said cavity including two spaced internal barriers limiting horizontal movement of said contact portion to a wiping action across one conductive pad on said device a unitary one-piece insulator cover; hinge means hingedly mounted one side of said cover on one side of said base adjacent one of said locating surfaces for movement between open and closed positions, said cover including two pressure surfaces aligned with the locating surfaces of the base when the cover is closed pressure-releasable resilient latch means, comprising complementary latch and retainer elements formed integrally with said cover member and with said base member, on the sides thereof opposite said hing means, for latching said cover member in closed position on said base member; and orientation means, comprising at least two posts, each formed integrally with one of said base and cover members and projecting into an opening in the other of said members, for orienting an integrated circuit device between said cover member and said base member in a single fixed position, with each contact element engaging one conductive pad on the integrated circuit device in firm pressure contact when said cover member is closed and latched.

Claim 8

An electrical connector for an integrated circuit device, according to claim 5, in which said connector pin segment of each contact element is of substantially U-shaped construction, in cross section; and in which the lower portion of each cavity comprises a channel having a central guide projection for orienting said connector pin segment relative to said base and to the connector pin segments of the other contact elements.

Claim 9

An electrical connector for supporting and for completing electrical connections to a flat integrated circuit device having a plurality of electrically conductive pads arranged in a predetermined pattern along at least two opposed longitudinal sides of a substantially planar connection surface of an insulator body, said connector comprising: a unitary one-piece insulator base affording two upwardly facing locating surfaces corresponding generally in size and configuration to said opposed sides of said connection surface of said integrated circuit device and having a corresponding plurality of contact cavities formed therein in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of said conductive pads; a corresponding plurality of individual metal contact elements, each inserted downwardly into one of said contact cavities and projecting downwardly outwardly of said base, each contact element including a resilient contact Portion projecting a short distance above one of said locating surfaces; a unitary one-piece insulator cover; hinge means hingedly mounting one side of said cover on one side of said base adjacent one of said locating surfaces for movement between open and closed positions, said cover including two pressure surfaces aligned with the locating surfaces of the base when the cover is closed; pressure-releasable resilient latch means, comprising complmentary latch and retainer elements formed integrally with said cover member and with said base member, on the sides thereof opposite said hinge means, for latching said cover member in closed position on said base member, said latch means including an elongated resilient latch arm, extending along the free side of said cover and separated from the body of said cover by an elongated slot, at least one latch pad formed integrally with said latch arm and projecting outwardly of said latch arm, at least one latch retainer element, formed integrally with said other side of said base member and projecting upwardly of the plane of said locating surfaces, in alignment with and in position to releasably engage said latch pad, and release means integrally formed on said latch arm for releasing said latch means; and orientation means formed integrally with one of said base and cover members for orienting an integrated circuit device between said cover member and said base member in a single fixed position, with each contact element engaging one conductive pad on the integrated circuit device in firm pressure contact with essentially no deformation of the pad when said cover member is closed and latched.

Claim 10

An electrical connector for supporting and for completing electrical connections to a flat integrated circuit device having a plurality of electrically conductive pads arranged in a predetermined pattern along at least two opposed longitudinal sides of a substantially planar connection surface of an insulator body, said connector comprising: a unitary one-piece insulator base affording two upwardly facing locating surfaces corresponding generally in size and configuration to said opposed sides of said connection surface of said integrated circuit device and having a corresponding plurality of contact cavities formed therein in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of said conductive pads; a corresponding plurality of individual metal contact elements, each inserted downwardly into one of said contact cavities and projecting downwardly outwardly of said base, each contact element including a resilient contact Portion projecting a short distance above one of said locating surfaces; a unitary one-piece insulator cover; hinge means hingedly mounting one side of said cover on one side of said base adjacent one of said locating surfaces for movement between open and closed positions, said cover including two pressure surfaces aligned with the locating surfaces of the base when the cover is closed; pressure-releasable resilient latch means, comprising complmentary latch and retainer elements formed integrally with said cover member and with said base member, on the sides thereof opposite said hinge means, for latching said cover member in closed position on said base member, said latch means including an elongated resilient latch arm, extending along the free side of said cover and separated from the body of said cover by an elongated slot, at least one latch pad formed integrally with said latch arm and projecting outwardly of said latch arm, at least one latch retainer element, formed integrally with said other side of said base member and projecting upwardly of the plane of said locating surfaces, in alignment with and in position to releasably engage said latch pad, and release means integrally formed on said latch arm for releasing said latch means; and orientation means formed integrally with one of said base and cover members for orienting an integrated circuit device between said cover member and said base member in a single fixed position, with each contact element engaging one conductive pad on the integrated circuit device in firm pressure contact with essentially no deformation of the pad when said cover member is closed and latched.

Claim 11

An electrical connector for an integrated circuit device, according to claim 7, in which said latch means comprises two latch pads located at spaced points on said latch arm and two latch retainer elements aligned one-for-one with said latch pads, said latch means further comprises a pressure projection as said release means at the center of said latch arm, projecting outwardly of said latch arm to facilitate release of the latch means for opening the connector.

Claim 12

An electrical connector for an integrated circuit device, according to claim 7, in which said sides of said base with said hinge means and latch means extend longitudinally along said longitudinal sides of said insulation body of said device.

Claim 13

An electrical connector for an integrated circuit device, according to claim 7, in which said slot is disposed entirely in said cover enabling said latch arm to be moved inwardly into said slot for release of said latch means.