Ejector system for an IC pack connector apparatus

Abstract

An ejector mechanism (10, 110, 210) is disclosed for use with a connector apparatus which includes a housing (12, 112, 212) into which an IC pack is loaded and from which it is ejected. The three part ejector mechanism also includes a one-piece eject lever (14, 114, 214) and a one-piece actuator (16, 116, 216). The eject lever is pivotally mounted on the housing for ejecting the IC pack from the housing. The actuator is movably mounted within an integrally molded channel (34, 138, 234) on the housing and is engageable with the eject lever to effect actuation thereof. Complementary interengaging portions of the housing, the eject lever and the actuator cooperate to effect the relative movements therebetween without the need of extraneous components.

We claim: 
     
       1. A connector apparatus for providing an interconnection between an IC pack and a printed circuit board, including a plurality of terminals (174) adapted for inter-connection of the IC pack to electrical traces on the printed circuit board,   housing means including a housing (12, 112, 212) having an IC pack receiving opening .Iadd.extending between opposite ends of said housing means .Iaddend.and an integrally formed channel (34, 138, 234) therein,   said IC pack being inwardly and outwardly movable within the housing between an inserted position wherein it electrically mates with the terminals and an ejected position wherein a portion of the IC pack extends outside the opening,   an ejector mechanism (10, 110, 210) for selectively moving an inserted IC pack from the inserted position to the ejected position, said ejector mechanism having an ejector arm pivotally mounted relative to the housing adapted to effect movement of the IC pack to the ejected position, and   a manually manipulatable actuator (16, 116, 216) slidably mounted in said channel for movement in the same general direction as the insertion and ejection of the IC pack and adapted to cooperate with said ejector arm in moving the IC pack outwardly to the ejection position,     the improvement comprising:   said ejector arm defines an elongated lever (14, 114, 214) pivotally mounted on the housing means intermediate .Iadd.said .Iaddend.opposite ends thereof and extending substantially entirely across the . .integrally formed channel of the.!. housing means .Iadd.between said opposite ends.Iaddend., said elongated lever having a first end pivotally connected to said actuator and a second end for directly engaging the IC pack when said pack is in the inserted position;   whereby when the actuator is moved inwardly, the second end of the lever moves the IC pack outwardly to the ejected position.   
     
     
       2. The connector apparatus of claim 1, said housing means further including a dielectric header (160, 211) separate from said housing, wherein said terminals (174) are mounted in said header (160, 211) and said housing has integrally molded means (124) for removably attaching to said header (160, 211). 
     
     
       3. The connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lever (114, 214) includes fulcrum means (144, 254)) for pivotally mounting to an integrally molded pivot boss (132, 256) on the housing means. 
     
     
       4. The connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lever includes an integrally molded ejecting pin (148) adapted to engage a corner of the IC pack to effect ejection of the IC pack. 
     
     
       5. The connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lever further includes a pair of generally parallel spaced apart arm portions (40) mounted on said header, whereby said header is sandwiched therebetween. 
     
     
       6. The connector apparatus of claim 5, wherein said lever further includes pivot recesses (46) interengageable with integrally molded pivot bosses (48) on the housing. 
     
     
       7. The connector apparatus of claim 1, further including a stabilizing flange (150, 222, 226) integrally molded on one of said lever (114, 214) and said housing (112, 212) and engageable with a cut-out portion (152, 228, 230) on the other of said lever and said housing for stabilizing pivotal movement of the lever. 
     
     
       8. The connector apparatus of claim 7, further including two of each of said stabilizing flange and said cut-out portion (222,226), wherein one of said stabilizing flanges (222,226) and one of said cut-out portions (228,230) are located on each opposite side of the pivotal mounting of said lever (214). 
     
     
       9. The connector apparatus of claim 1, further including a stop-limit latch (246) on said slidably mounted actuator (216) engageable with a stop surface (250) on the housing (212) to prevent the actuator from being pulled out of said channel (234). 
     
     
       10. The connector apparatus of claim 9, wherein said stop-limit latch is a cantilevered ramp arm (246) integrally molded on the actuator (216).