The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1999
Peter Thomsen, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus having a thin metal frame has an opening and a protective rail on each end. Four guide posts extend from the lower surface of the frame to a plate which is spring-biased away from the frame. The plate has pin holes which are arrayed for a particular electrical component having contact pins. The component is loaded into the apparatus by extending the pins through the opening and into the pin holes in the plate. The rails may be flexed outward to accommodate the component before snapping onto and around the ends of the component to fix it from movement relative to the apparatus. The guide posts extend beyond the tips of the pins to provide stand-off protection. The tips of the guide posts are placed in a socket and the assembly is pressed into the socket until the pins seat in it. As the pins are inserted into the socket, the plate is pressed toward the frame to collapse the springs. The apparatus is left permanently installed with the component in the socket.