Zero insertion force connector, particularly for an integrated circuit

Claim 1

A zero insertion force connector for a component having a plurality of connecting lugs, comprising: an insulating block supporting a plurality of contact elements, each contact element being in the form of a resilient clip having a first and second leg and wherein said insulating block further comprises an upper, intermediate and lower plate member having a plurality of openings formed therein for passage of said contact elements therethrough and wherein said plates further comprise an upper, intermediate and lower wafer member disposed so as to be superimposed in parallel, the intermediate wafer member being movable in translation with respect to the upper and lower wafer member between first and second positions, said first and second legs of said contact elements being spaced apart at said first position to such an extent that said connecting lugs of said component can be inserted into said connector without friction, and said first and second legs of said contact elements clamp said lugs of said component in said second position in order to hold said component in position, each said contact element symmetrically carrying solely on said first leg a pair of levers oriented parallel thereto, each lever being separated from said first leg by a slotted region, and wherein said intermediate movable wafer member further comprises, on each side of each opening thereof, a projecting pusher, each pusher cooperating respectively with said levers at the level of the slotted region of each lever so that displacement of the levers under the action of each of said pushers results in displacement of said first leg of each contact element such that said plurality of connecting lugs are resiliently clamped.