CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE LOCK

• US 20110212644A1
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Jaquez, Armando, Drye, Jeffrey, Itzenhuiser, William Alex
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62955 Pivoting lever comprising supplementary/additional locking means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) lock (10) for an engine wiring harness connector (12) having a connector body (14) and a lever latch (30) pivotal with respect to the connector body includes a lock body (34). A foot (52) extends from the lock body (34) and engages the connector (12) to fix the position of the lock body relative to the connector. The lock body (34) captures the lever latch (30) and prevents the pivoting of the lever latch with respect to the connector body (40) unless the foot (52) is deformed.

Claims

1. ) A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) lock for an engine wiring harness connector having a connector body and a lever latch pivotal with respect to the connector body, the CPA lock comprising:

a lock body;

a foot extending from the lock body and configured to be engaged with the connector to fix the position of the lock body relative to the connector;

wherein the lock body captures the lever latch and prevents the pivoting of the lever latch with respect to the connector body unless the foot is deformed.

2. ) The CPA lock of claim 1 wherein the lock body comprises a top surface disposed between a front face and a rear face of the lock body.

3. ) The CPA lock of claim 2 wherein the top surface includes a lip that is configured to receive and engage the lever latch of the connector.

4. ) The CPA lock of claim 3 wherein the lock body is generally annular and comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and two sidewalls defining an aperture between the top surface, the bottom surface and the two sidewalls.

5. ) The CPA lock of claim 4 wherein the foot comprises two feet extending from the side walls of the lock body, and wherein the two feet extend rearward from the rear face of the lock body to engage the connector.

6. ) The CPA lock of claim 5 wherein the two feet are flexible.

7. ) The CPA lock of claim 4 wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are curved, and wherein the top surface and the bottom surface generally have the same curvature.

8. ) The CPA lock of claim 1 wherein the lock body and the foot are integrally formed.

9. ) The CPA lock of claim 1 wherein the lock body and the foot are formed of nylon resin.

10. ) A method of locking the position of a lever latch pivotally disposed on a connector body of a connector for an engine wiring harness, the method comprising:

providing a connector position assurance (CPA) lock having a body with a deformable surface and at least one foot extending from the lock body;

engaging the at least one foot with the connector to fix the position of the lock body relative to the connector;

pivoting the lever latch rearward away from a front surface of the connector body;

deforming the at least one foot to permit the lever latch to pivot over a top surface of the lock body;

returning the at least one foot to an un-deformed state;

capturing the lever latch in the pivoted position with the un-deformed foot.

11. ) The method of claim 10 wherein capturing the lever latch with the lock body further comprises the step of preventing the lever latch from pivoting with respect to the connector body unless the at least one foot is deformed by a user.

12. ) The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of engaging the lever latch with a lip disposed on the lock body.

13. ) The method of claim 10 wherein the step of engaging the at least one foot with the connector to fix the position of the lock body relative to the connector further comprises the step of flexing the at least one foot to attach the foot to the connector.

14. ) The method of claim 10 wherein the step of deforming the at least one foot further comprises the step of displacing a top surface of the lock body.

15. ) The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of the user sensing an audible click that informs the user of the deformation of the at least one foot.

16. ) A connector position assurance (CPA) lock for an engine wiring harness connector having a connector body and a lever latch pivotal with respect to the connector body, the CPA lock comprising:

a generally annular lock body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side-walls connecting the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the top surface, the bottom surface and the two side-walls define an aperture extending from a front face to a rear face of the lock body;

two flexible feet extending from the side walls of the lock body, and extending rearward from the rear face to engage with the connector; and

a lip disposed on the top surface of the lock body at the rear face of the lock body, the lip configured to receive and engage the lever latch.

17. ) The CPA lock of claim 16 wherein the top surface is inclined from a front face to the lip at the rear face.

18. ) The CPA lock of claim 16 wherein the lock body, the two flexible feet and the lip are integrally formed.

19. ) The CPA lock of claim 16 wherein the lock body, the two flexible feet and the lip are formed of nylon resin.

20. ) The CPA lock of claim 16 wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are curved, and wherein the top surface and the bottom surface generally have the same curvature.