ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE DEVICE

• US 20100233897A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: FCI Automotive Holding
• Inventors: Seo, Ju Won, Park, Joo Hyun
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/345
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a first and a second connectors to be mated together, and a Connector Position Assurance (CPA) device installed on one of the first and second connectors. The CPA device is fixed to a pre-lock position when shipped together with said one of the connectors and before the first and second connectors are mated. At the pre-lock position, a locking lever on the second connector can be deformed so that primary locking members of the first and second connectors can be engaged. When the first and second connectors are mated, a rib formed on the first connector acts on a release member provided on the CPA device, to allow the CPA device to move to a final lock position at which, a secondary locking member restricts the movement of the primary locking member of the second connector to prevent the primary locking members from being disengaged.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first connector housing having sidewalls surrounding a cavity, one of the sidewalls having a latch member projecting inward into the cavity;

a second connector housing insertable into the cavity, the second connector housing having a locking lever connected thereto;

a connector position assurance (CPA) device coupled to the second connector housing, the CPA device having a base portion and a center prong projecting forwardly from the base portion,

wherein before the second connector housing is inserted into the cavity, the CPA device is fixed to the second connector housing in a pre-lock position at which the locking lever is allowed to deflect relative to the second connector housing between a first position to engage with the latch member and a second position to disengage from the latch member; and

wherein when the second connector housing is inserted into the cavity, the CPA device is released from the pre-locking position and movable to a final lock position at which, an end portion of the center prong is placed between the locking lever and the second housing to maintain the locking lever in the first position.

2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein

the first connector housing comprising a pair of ribs formed on said one of the sidewalls and projecting inward into the cavity;

the CPA device comprising a pair of lateral prongs extending perpendicularly from the end portion of the center prong,

when the CPA device is at the pre-lock position, the end portion of the center prong abuts the locking lever to prevent the CPA device from moving towards the final lock position, and

when the second connector housing is inserted into the cavity, the pair of ribs urge against the lateral prongs to release the end portion of the center prong from abutting the locking lever.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the second connector housing comprising a pair of lateral protrusions, and the CPA device comprising a pair of arms extending forwardly from the base portion, each arm having a pre-lock lug engageable with the pair of lateral protrusions to fix the CPA device in the pre-lock position.

4. The electrical connector assembly of claim 3, wherein each arm having a final lock lug engageable with the pair of lateral protrusions to fix the CPA device in the final lock position.

5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the pair of arms being positioned at opposite sides of the center prong.

6. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first connector housing having sidewalls surrounding a cavity, one of the sidewalls having a latch member and a pair of ribs projecting inward into the cavity;

a second connector housing insertable into the cavity, the second connector housing having a locking lever connected thereto;

a connector position assurance (CPA) device coupled to the second connector housing, the CPA device having a base portion, a center prong projecting forwardly from the base portion and a pair of lateral prongs extending perpendicularly from an end portion of the center prong,

wherein before the second connector housing is inserted into the cavity, the CPA device is fixed to the second connector housing in a pre-lock position at which the locking lever is allowed to deflect relative to the second connector housing between a first position to engage with the latch member and a second position to disengage from the latch member; and

wherein when the second connector housing is inserted into the cavity, the pair of ribs urge against the pair of lateral prongs to release the CPA device from the pre-locking position.

7. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the second connector housing comprising a pair of lateral protrusions, and the CPA device comprising a pair of arms extending forwardly from the base portion, each arm having a pre-lock lug engageable with the pair of lateral protrusions to fix the CPA device in the pre-lock position.

8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, wherein each arm having a final lock lug engageable with the pair of lateral protrusions to fix the CPA device in the final lock position.

9. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the pair of arms being positioned at opposite sides of the center prong.

10. A connector position assurance (CPA) device coupled to a connector housing, the connector housing having a locking lever connected thereto and a pair of lateral protrusions formed thereon, the locking lever has a latch member, the CPA device comprising:

a base portion;

a center prong projecting forwardly from the base portion;

a pair of lateral prongs extending perpendicularly from an end portion of the prong;

a pair of arms extending forwardly from the base portion, each arm having a pre-lock lug and a final lock lug, the pre-lock lugs are engageable with the pair of lateral protrusions to fix the CPA device to the connector housing in a pre-lock position, the final lock lugs are engageable with the pair of lateral protrusions to fix the CPA device to the connector housing in a final lock position.

11. The electrical connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the center prong is deflectable relative to the connector housing between a first position at which the end portion engages with the latch member to prevent the CPA device to move from the pre-lock position to the final lock position, and a second position at which the end portion disengages from the latch member to allow the CPA device to move to the final lock position.

12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 11, wherein when the CPA device is in the final lock position the end portion of the center prong is placed between the latch member and the connector housing.