Integrated circuit test socket

Claim 1

A test socket for integrated circuits in rectangular packages having contact pads or leads comprising: an insulating body having a base wall, side walls and a top opening through which a said integrated circuit package may be inserted into said body, a plurality of electrical contact elements in said body, one for each contact pad or lead to be test connected on a said integrated circuit package, each said contact element having a resilient contact leg extending in a direction from said base wall of said body toward said top opening and having its free end adjacent said top opening, each said contact leg being formed with an electrical contact portion and a latching projection adjacent its free end and extending generally perpendicular to the length of said leg toward the interior of said insulating body, said contact elements being mounted in said body such that when a said integrated circuit package is inserted into said top opening in said insulating body and pressed downward toward said body base wall its periphery contacts said contact element legs adjacent their free ends and forces them outwards until the base of said package passes said projections whereupon the resiliency of said legs causes them to move inward to bring said latching projections into contact latching positions over the outward facing surface of the package and said electrical contact portions of said legs into contact with the pads or leads on the package, an unlatching cam in said insulating body, said unlatching cam having a rest position permitting said resilient contact legs to position said latching projections in their latching positions and being movable toward said body base wall to an unlatching position to force said contact legs outward to move the latching projections outward beyond the periphery of the package, an ejector member in said insulating body, said ejector member being formed with an integrated circuit package support surface that is accessible through said top opening in said body to receive and support a said integrated circuit package when said ejector member is in an unloaded position adjacent said top opening, said ejector member being movable from said unloaded position toward said body base wall to permit the package to be moved past said latching projections on said contact legs to cause the package to be latched into the test socket and being movable beyond the latched position to permit the package to contact said unlatching cam to move it toward said base wall to its unlatching position, and resilient means urging said ejector member toward its unloaded position.