Socket for an electric part

A socket for an electric part, comprising:

• a socket body;
• a plurality of contacts arranged in an array on said socket body and adapted to be contacted with contact pieces on the electric part when the electric part is inserted into said socket body;
• each said contact having a contacting portion adapted to engage in pressure contact with a corresponding contact piece, a spring portion for exerting a contact pressure on said contact portion and a retaining element;
• and
• an operating member on said socket body adapted to shift said contacting portions of said contacts away from the contact pieces of the electric part against the resilient force of said spring portions, said operating member having an engagement surface with a plurality of damping projections thereon, and said retaining elements of said contacts being disposed on said damping projections of said engagement surface such that said damping projections damp movement of said retaining elements of said contacts on said operating member wherein said projections are ridges extending in a direction normal to a shifting direction of said contacts, each said ridge being a sharp tooth.