Zero insertion force socket

Claim 1

A socket for an integrated circuit carrier having a plurality of rows of conductive leads depending therefrom comprising: a base plate and a top plate having a separate conductive partitioning structure therebetween slidable along a predetermined path relative to said base and top plates from a first position adjacent to one side of said plates to a second position adjacent to the opposite side of said plates; said partitioning structure comprising a first set of parallel spaced metallic strips and a second set of parallel spaced metallic strips, said strips of said first set extending perpendicular to said strips of said second set thereby forming a plurality of rows of rectangular holes, said strips of said first and second sets being interleaved with each other and being securely mounted in a surrounding rectangular conductive frame to thereby provide a self-supporting assembly; said strips of said first set being perpendicular to said predetermined path; said base plate and said top plate containing apertures aligned with said holes; contacts mounted in said apertures in said base plate extending upwardly through said holes; said apertures in said top plate being adapted to receive therein said conductive leads of said circuit carrier with the leads spaced from said contacts on the side thereof opposite to said one side of said plates when said partitioning structure is in said first position whereby said leads may be inserted into the socket with essentially zero force; a nonconductive element carried by each said contact within said partitioning structure; and means for shifting said partitioning structure laterally along said predetermined path to said second position to cause the strips of said first set to push against said nonconductive elements to thereby bring said contacts into engagement with said leads.