Connector position assurance device
First Claim
1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
- a connector position assurance device (CPA) including a first beam including a retention assembly locking element and a second beam including a CPA retention element;
first and second connector housings, one of said first and second connector housings having a body section with a mating interface on one end thereof and the other of said first and second connector housings having an opening to receive said mating interface;
a retention assembly mounted to said first connector housing for securing said first and second connector housings when said housings are fully mated, said retention assembly including a first housing retention feature, arms, and a cross-member joining said arms, said cross-member including a CPA retention feature, and said arms including a locking contact surface, said retention assembly being movable between locked and unlocked positions;
a second housing retention feature mounted to said second connector housing, said second housing retention feature cooperating with said first housing retention feature to secure said first and second connector housings when said housings are fully mated; and
a CPA mounting assembly mounted to said first connector housing, said CPA being slidably mounted to said CPA mounting assembly and movable between first and second positions, said CPA permitting biasing of said retention assembly and engagement and disengagement of said first and second connector housings when in said first position, said retention assembly locking element underlying said locking contact surface to prevent said retention assembly from moving to said unlocked position when said CPA is in said second position, whereby said CPA prevents engagement and disengagement of said first and second connector housings when in said second position, said CPA retention element cooperating with said CPA retention feature to maintain said CPA in said second position.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector assembly is provided including a CPA, a first connector housing, a second connector housing, a retention assembly, a second retention feature, and a CPA mounting assembly. The CPA includes a retention assembly locking element and a CPA retention element. A retention assembly is mounted to the first connector housing to maintain the first and second connector housings in contact when they are mated. The retention assembly includes a first retention feature, a CPA retention feature, and a locking contact surface, and is movable between a locked and unlocked position. The first connector housing also has a CPA mounting assembly mounted thereto. The CPA is slidably mounted to the CPA mounting assembly and is movable to first and second positions. In its first position, the CPA permits engagement of the first and second connector housings. In its second position, the CPA prevents engagement and disengagement of the first and second connector housings.
98 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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a connector position assurance device (CPA) including a first beam including a retention assembly locking element and a second beam including a CPA retention element;
first and second connector housings, one of said first and second connector housings having a body section with a mating interface on one end thereof and the other of said first and second connector housings having an opening to receive said mating interface;
a retention assembly mounted to said first connector housing for securing said first and second connector housings when said housings are fully mated, said retention assembly including a first housing retention feature, arms, and a cross-member joining said arms, said cross-member including a CPA retention feature, and said arms including a locking contact surface, said retention assembly being movable between locked and unlocked positions;
a second housing retention feature mounted to said second connector housing, said second housing retention feature cooperating with said first housing retention feature to secure said first and second connector housings when said housings are fully mated; and
a CPA mounting assembly mounted to said first connector housing, said CPA being slidably mounted to said CPA mounting assembly and movable between first and second positions, said CPA permitting biasing of said retention assembly and engagement and disengagement of said first and second connector housings when in said first position, said retention assembly locking element underlying said locking contact surface to prevent said retention assembly from moving to said unlocked position when said CPA is in said second position, whereby said CPA prevents engagement and disengagement of said first and second connector housings when in said second position, said CPA retention element cooperating with said CPA retention feature to maintain said CPA in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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a connector position assurance device (CPA) including a said CPA includes a retaining CPA beam and at least one locking CPA beam, a latch locking element extending from said at least one locking CPA beam and a CPA retention element extending from said retaining CPA beam;
a plug housing having a body section with a mating interface on one end thereof;
a header housing having an opening to receive said mating interface;
a latch assembly mounted to said plug housing for maintaining contact between said plug and header housings when mated, said latch assembly including a retention feature, latch arms and a cross-member, said latch arms extending from a latch base and joined by said cross-member proximal to their free ends, said cross-member including a CPA retention feature, and said latch arms including a locking contact surface, said latch assembly being movable between latched and unlatched positions;
a latch retention assembly mounted to said header housing and including a latch retention surface, said latch retention surface cooperating with said retention feature to maintain contact between said plug and header housings when said housings are mated; and
a CPA mounting assembly mounted to said plug housing, said CPA being slidably mounted to said CPA mounting assembly and movable to unmated and mated positions, a portion of said latch assembly exposed through a top surface of said plug housing in each of the mated and unmated positions, said CPA permitting movement of said latch assembly to said unlatched position and thereby permitting engagement and disengagement of said plug and header housings when in said unmated position, said latch locking element cooperating with said locking contact surface to prevent said latch assembly from moving to said unlatched position when said CPA is in said mated position, whereby said CPA prevents engagement and disengagement of said plug and header housings when in said mated position, said CPA retention element cooperating with said CPA retention feature to maintain said CPA in said mated position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electrical connector half assembly comprising:
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a connector position assurance device (CPA) including a first CPA beam and a second CPA beam, said first beam including retention assembly locking element and said second beam including a CPA retention element;
a connector housing adapted for mating with a mating connector housing;
a retention assembly mounted to said connector housing for securing said connector housing to a mating connector housing when fully mated, said retention assembly including arms, a cross-member joining said arms, and a housing retention feature, said cross-member including a CPA retention feature, and said arms including a locking contact surface, said retention assembly being movable between locked and unlocked positions; and
a CPA mounting assembly mounted to said connector housing, said CPA being slidably mounted to said CPA mounting assembly and movable between first and second positions wherein a portion of said latch assembly is exposed, said CPA permitting biasing of said retention assembly when in said first position, said retention assembly locking element underlying said locking contact surface to prevent said retention assembly from moving to said unlocked position when said CPA is in said second position, said CPA retention element cooperating with said CPA retention feature to maintain said CPA in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification