Electrical connector with connector position assurance (CPA) member

• US 20070161284A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Inventors: Tyler, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 7,255,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

An electrical connector including at least one electrical contact, a housing, and a connector position assurance (CPA) member. The housing has a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector. The electrical contact is located in the housing. The CPA member is connected to the housing and is adapted to prevent the latch from moving when the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector. The CPA member is adapted to move the latch after the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

at least one electrical contact;

a housing having a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector, wherein the electrical contact is located in the housing; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) member connected to the housing, wherein the CPA member is adapted to prevent the latch from moving when the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector, and wherein the CPA member is adapted to move the latch after the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector away from a latching position towards an unlatched position, wherein the CPA member is adapted to pivot on the housing.

2. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the CPA member is movably mounted on the housing between an unlocked position and a locked position, and wherein the CPA member is adapted to pivot on the housing at the unlocked position.

3. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the CPA member comprises laterally extending pivot lugs slidably located in grooves of the housing.

5. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the CPA member comprises front latch contact surfaces located at a front of the CPA member contacting portions of the latch.

6. An electrical connector as in claim 5 wherein the portions of the latch comprise laterally outwardly extending lugs on the latch.

8. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the CPA member is pivotably and slidably connected to the housing, and wherein the housing is adapted to prevent the CPA member from pivoting when the CPA member is at a locked position.

9. An electrical connector as in claim 1 further comprising means for making the CPA member and the latch substantially inaccessible when the CPA member is located at a locked position.

4. An electrical connector comprising:

at least one electrical contact;

a housing having a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector, wherein the electrical contact is located in the housing; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) member connected to the housing, wherein the CPA member is adapted to prevent the latch from moving when the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector, and wherein the CPA member is adapted to move the latch after the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector,

wherein the CPA member comprises inwardly facing slots adapted to receive portions of the latch when CPA member is at a locked position on the housing.

7. An electrical connector comprising:

at least one electrical contact;

a housing having a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector, wherein the electrical contact is located in the housing; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) member connected to the housing, wherein the CPA member is adapted to prevent the latch from moving when the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector, and wherein the CPA member is adapted to move the latch after the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector away from a latching position towards an unlatched position, wherein the latch comprises laterally outwardly extending lugs on the latch.

10. An electrical connector comprising:

at least one electrical contact;

a housing having a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector, wherein the electrical contact is located in the housing; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) member connected to the housing, wherein the CPA member is adapted to rotate on the housing at lateral side pivots of the CPA member proximate a middle of the CPA member.

11. An electrical connector as in claim 10 wherein the lateral side pivots comprise outwardly extending pivot posts.

12. An electrical connector as in claim 11 wherein the CPA member is adapted to slide along the housing on the pivot posts.

13. An electrical connector as in claim 10 wherein the CPA member is adapted to slide along the housing between an unlocked position and a locked position.

14. An electrical connector as in claim 13 wherein the CPA member is adapted to prevent the latch from moving when the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector and the CPA member is moved to the locked position.

15. An electrical connector as in claim 13 wherein the CPA member is adapted to move the latch to an unlatched position when the CPA member is in the unlocked position.

16. An electrical connector as in claim 13 wherein the CPA member is adapted to pivot on the housing at the unlocked position and the housing is adapted to prevent the CPA member from pivoting at the locked position.

17. An electrical connector as in claim 10 wherein the CPA member comprises inwardly facing slots adapted to receive portions of the latch when CPA member is at a locked position on the housing.

18. An electrical connector as in claim 10 wherein the CPA member comprises front latch contact surfaces located at a front of the CPA member contacting portions of the latch.

19. An electrical connector as in claim 18 wherein the portions of the latch comprise laterally outwardly extending lugs on the latch.

20. An electrical connector as in claim 10 wherein the latch comprises laterally outwardly extending cantilevered lugs on the latch.

21. An electrical connector comprising:

at least one electrical contact;

a housing having a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector, wherein the electrical contact is located in the housing, and wherein the latch comprises cantilevered lugs extending from opposite lateral sides of the latch; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) member connected to the housing, wherein the CPA member contacts the lugs of the latch,

wherein fronts of the grooves have an open top side and a closed bottom side such that, when the CPA member is in an unlocked position, the latch can move upward relative to the CPA member and the CPA member can move the latch upward by moving the lugs upward at the closed bottom side.

22. An electrical connector as in claim 21 wherein the CPA member comprises grooves which lockingly receive the lugs when the CPA member is in a locked position to prevent the latch from moving relative to the CPA member.

23. (canceled)

24. An electrical connector comprising:

at least one electrical contact;

a housing having a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector, wherein the electrical contact is located in the housing; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) member connected to the housing, wherein the CPA member is adapted to deflect the latch to disconnect the latch from the mating electrical connector, wherein the CPA member comprises laterally extending lugs located into grooves of the housing, and wherein the latch comprises laterally extending lugs extending into grooves of the CPA member.

25. A method of assembling an electrical connector comprising:

inserting a connector position assurance (CPA) member into a housing of the electrical connector;

locating laterally extending pivot lugs of the CPA member in grooves of the housing; and

locating laterally extending connection lugs of a latch of the housing at generally opposite contact surfaces of the CPA member.

26. An electrical connector comprising:

at least one electrical contact;

a housing having a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector, wherein the electrical contact is located in the housing; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) member connected to the housing, wherein the CPA member is adapted to deflect the latch to disconnect the latch from the mating electrical connector, wherein the CPA member is adapted to slide on the housing, and wherein the CPA member is adapted to at least partially rotate relative to the housing.