Hinged cover for an electrical socket

An electrical socket attachable to a substrate for removably receiving and positioning an electronic package so that contact pads thereupon are connected with respective circuit pads upon the substrate, the electrical socket comprising:

• a contact member having a plurality of contacts for electrically connecting the contact pads to the circuit pads;
• a frame-like housing upon the contact member defining a well for removably receiving and positioning the electronic package so that the contact pads correspond with the contacts;
• a hinged cover having
• a top plate fixedly positioned relative to the housing and having interconnected side portions about the well, the top plate including an integrally formed hinge member within one of the side portions, said hinge member comprising a bar formed by creating an aperture in said side portion wherein said bar connects to said top plate at two points and a first latch portion integrally formed within an opposite one of the side portions;
• and
• a cover plate for maintaining the contact pads of the electronic package engaged with the circuit pads of the substrate, the cover plate having an integrally formed hook shaped complementary hinge member receivable about the hinge member for pivotally interlocking the cover plate to the top plate such that the cover plate is movable between an open position, where the electronic package is removable from the well, and a closed position, where the cover plate exerts a force on the electronic package to cause the contact pads to engage the contacts;
• and a second latch portion integrally formed with the cover plate and disconnectably engageable with the first latch portion of said top plate to maintain the closed position.