Connector position assurance device and a connector assembly incorporating the connector position assurance device

• US 7,326,074 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JST Corporation (JST Manufacturing Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: JST Corporation (JST Manufacturing Company Limited)
• Inventors: Chen, Ping, Lim, Eng Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Harshad C
• Application Number:
  US11/634,213
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 439/356, 439/595, 439/752, 439/352
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26

Abstract

A connector position assurance device includes a pair of locking arm members, a cross member and a pair of guide elements. The pair of locking arm members is disposed apart from one another in a generally parallel manner. Each locking arm member has an outwardly-facing side surface, a rear end portion and a forward end portion. The forward end portion is integrally connected to and disposed opposite the rear end portion. Each forward end portion has a locking projection depending from the bottom surface. The cross member is integrally connected to the pair of locking arm members. Each guide element is integrally connected to and projects outwardly from a respective one of the outwardly-facing side surfaces at the rear end portions. A connector assembly that incorporates the connector position assurance device is also described.

Claims

1. A connector position assurance device, comprising:

a pair of locking arm members disposed apart from one another in a generally parallel manner, each locking arm member having a top surface, a bottom surface extending parallel to the top surface, an outwardly-facing side surface extending perpendicularly to and between the top and bottom surfaces, a rear end portion and a forward end portion integrally connected to and disposed opposite the rear end portion, each forward end portion having a locking projection depending from the bottom surface;

a cross member integrally connected to the pair of locking arm members on the respective top surfaces at the rear end portions; and

a pair of guide elements, each guide element integrally connected to and projecting outwardly from a respective one of the outwardly-facing side surfaces at the rear end portions.

2. A connector position assurance device according to claim 1, wherein each forward end portion has a generally flat front surface extending between the top surface and the locking projection.

3. A connector position assurance device according to claim 2, wherein each locking arm member includes a top curved edge interconnecting the top surface and the generally flat front surface and a bottom curved edge interconnecting the locking projection and the generally flat front surface.

4. A connector position assurance device according to claim 3, wherein each locking projection is configured as a trapezoid shape with a first tapered surface connecting the bottom curved edge and tapering downwardly and rearwardly from the bottom curved edge towards the rear end portion, a flat bottom locking projection surface extending generally parallel with the top surface and a second tapered surface connecting the flat bottom locking projection surface and tapering upwardly and rearwardly from the flat bottom locking projection surface to the bottom surface of the locking arm member.

5. A connector position assurance device according to claim 1, wherein respective ones of the forward end portions are integrally formed with respective ones of the rear end portions in a cantilevered manner.

6. A connector position assurance device according to claim 1, wherein each one of the guide elements has a guide element flat surface, a first guide element tapered surface and a second guide element tapered surface, each first guide element tapered surface tapering forwardly from the guide element flat surface to the outwardly-facing side surface of the rear end portion, each second guide tapered surface tapering rearwardly from the guide element flat surface to the outwardly-facing side surface of the rear end portion.

7. A connector position assurance device according to claim 1, wherein the cross member includes a top panel and a pair of side panels, respective side panels are disposed between and integrally connecting the top panel and the rear end portion at the top surface to define a pair of cross member guide channels extending parallel with the pair of locking arm members.

8. A connector position assurance device according to claim 7, wherein the cross member includes a bottom panel disposed apart from and extending parallel with the top panel and between the pair of side panels, the bottom panel being integrally connected to and between the pair of side panels.

9. A connector position assurance device according to claim 7, wherein the cross member includes a rib disposed between and integrally connecting the top and bottom panels, the rib is disposed generally centrally between the pair of side panels and extends parallel with the pair of locking arm members.

10. A connector position assurance device according to claim 7, wherein the top panel extends outwardly relative to respective ones of the rear end portions of the locking arm members.

11. A connector position assurance device according to claim 7, wherein the top panel extends outwardly relative to respective ones of the pair of guide elements.

12. A connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector member defining a first connector cavity and including a latch structure and a first connector terminal housing disposed within the first connector cavity and connected to the first connector member, the latch structure including a latch and a pair of stops, the latch being movable to and between a normal relaxed state and a flexed state, the latch being resiliently biased to the normal relaxed state, each stop being connected to and extending laterally from the latch;

a second connector member sized and adapted to be received by the first connector cavity and defining a second connector cavity sized and adapted to receive the first connector terminal housing, the second connector member having a second connector terminal housing disposed within the second connector cavity and connected to the second connector member, the second connector member having a second connector exterior surface with a pair of catches and a locking ramp disposed between the pair of catches, the pair of catches and the locking ramp projecting from the second connector exterior surface; and

a connector position assurance device slidably connected to the first connector member for movement from a disengaged position to an engaged position, the connector position assurance device having a pair of locking arm members disposed apart from one another in a generally parallel manner and a cross member integrally connected to the pair of locking arm members, each locking arm member having a rear end portion and a forward end portion integrally connected to and disposed opposite the rear end portion with each forward end portion having a locking projection depending therefrom, the forward end portions movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the rear end portions and progressively to and between an normal relax condition, an intermediate flexed condition and an extended flexed condition, the forward end portions being resiliently biased to the normal relaxed condition,

wherein,

prior to completely connecting the first and second connector members together with the connector position assurance device in the disengaged position and the latch in the normal relaxed state, the latch in a movement prevention condition prevents slidable movement of the connector position assurance device relative to the first connector member as a result of respective ones of the pair of stops and the forward end portions being at least partially facially opposed to one another,

before moving the connector position assurance device from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the first and second connector members are connected by being moved together relative to each other progressively from a first insertion position, a second insertion position and a third insertion position, such that,

in the first insertion position, the first connector cavity receives the second connector member while the second connector cavity receives the first connector terminal housing and, with the connector position assurance device being in the disengaged position, the locking ramp contacts the latch while the forward end portions of the locking arm members are in the normal relaxed condition,

as the first and second connector members move from the first insertion position to the second insertion position, the locking ramp moves the latch upwardly from the normal relaxed state to the intermediate flexed state thereby releasing the latch from the movement prevention condition in order to permit slidable movement of the connector position assurance device while the forward end portions of the locking arm members remain in the normal relaxed condition,

as the first and second connectors move from the second insertion position to the third insertion position, the latch moves downwardly from the flexed state to the normal relaxed state to capture the locking ramp thereby locking the first and second connector members together in a primary locked state and respective ones of the locking projections and the catches slidably contact each other and the forward end portions move from the normal relax condition to the intermediate flexed condition, the locking projections being disposed on top of the catches,

in the third insertion position, the connector position assurance device is operative to slidably move from the disengaged position to the engaged position such that the forward end portions move from the intermediate flexed condition to the extended flexed condition as the respective locking projections slide onto the respective stops,

as the connector position assurance device moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the forward end portions in the extended flexed condition slidably moves over the stops,

when the connector position assurance device arrives at the engaged position, the forward end portions move from the extended flexed condition to the normal relaxed condition with the locking projections being disposed at least substantially forward of the catches and the stops thereby providing a secondary locked state for the first and second connector members now completely connected together.

13. A connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein the latch structure is pivotably mounted to the first connector terminal housing.

14. A connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the latch structure includes a fulcrum piece with the latch mounted to the fulcrum piece in a see-saw manner.

15. A connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein the latch has a locking ramp-receiving hole sized to receive the locking ramp when the first and second connector members are in the third insertion position.

16. A connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first connector member has a first connector interior surface defining the first connector cavity, the first connector member including a pair of guide-receiving channels formed into the first connector interior surface, the pair of guide-receiving channels being disposed opposite one another and adjacent the latch structure.

17. A connector assembly according to claim 16, wherein the first connector member includes a guide-rail channel formed into the first connector interior surface.

18. A connector assembly according to claim 17, wherein the second connector member includes a guide rail sized and adapted to be slidably received by the guide-rail channel of the first connector member.

19. A connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein each locking arm member has a top surface, a bottom surface and an outwardly-facing side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the locking projection depending from the bottom surface, the cross member being integrally connected to the pair of locking arm members on the respective top surfaces at the rear end portions.

20. A connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein the connector position assurance device including a pair of guide elements, each guide element being integrally connected to and projecting outwardly from a respective one of the outwardly-facing side surfaces at the rear end portions.

21. A connector assembly according to claim 20, each one of the guide elements has a guide element flat surface, a first guide element tapered surface and a second guide element tapered surface, each first guide element tapered surface tapering forwardly from the guide element flat surface to the outwardly-facing side surface of the rear end portion, each second guide tapered surface tapering rearwardly from the guide element flat surface to the outwardly-facing side surface of the rear end portion.

22. A connector assembly according to claim 20, wherein each forward end has a generally flat front surface extending between the top surface and the locking projection.

23. A connector assembly according to claim 22, wherein each locking arm member includes a top curved edge interconnecting the top surface and the generally flat front surface and a bottom curved edge interconnecting the locking projection and the generally flat front surface.

24. A connector assembly according to claim 23, wherein each locking projection is configured as a trapezoid shape with a first tapered surface connecting the bottom curved edge and tapering downwardly and rearwardly from the bottom curved edge towards the rear end portion, a flat bottom locking projection surface extending generally parallel with the top surface and a second tapered surface connecting the flat bottom locking projection surface and tapering upwardly and rearwardly from the flat bottom locking projection surface to the bottom surface of the locking arm member.

25. A connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein respective ones of the forward end portions are integrally formed with respective ones of the rear end portions in a cantilevered manner.

26. A connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cross member includes a top panel and a pair of side panels, respective side panels are disposed between and integrally connecting the top panel and the rear end portion at the top surface to define a pair of cross member guide channels extending parallel with the pair of locking arm members.

27. A connector assembly according to claim 26, wherein the cross member includes a bottom panel disposed apart from and extending parallel with the top panel and between the pair of side panels, the bottom panel being integrally connected to and between the pair of side panels.

28. A connector assembly according to claim 26, wherein the cross member includes a rib disposed between and integrally connecting the top and bottom panels, the rib is disposed generally centrally between the pair of side panels and extends parallel with the pair of locking arm members.

29. A connector assembly according to claim 26, wherein the top panel extends outwardly relative to respective ones of the rear end portions of the locking arm members.

30. A connector assembly according to claim 26, wherein the top panel extends outwardly relative to respective ones of the pair of guide elements.

31. A connector assembly according to claim 26, wherein the first connector member includes a pair of first connector guide rails disposed above the latch structure, respective ones of the pair of first connector guide rails sized and adapted to be slidably received by respective ones of the cross member guide channels.

32. A connector position assurance device, comprising:

a connector position assurance device body member extending along and about a length-wise axis in a length-wise direction, a width-wise axis in a with-wise direction and a height-wise axis in a height-wise direction, the length-wise axis, the width-wise axis and the height-wise axis oriented perpendicularly to one another with the length-wise axis and the width-wise axis forming a length-width plane, the height-wise axis and the length-wise axis forming a height-length plane and the height-wise axis and the width-wise axis forming a height-width plane, the connector position assurance device body member including a pair of locking arm members and a cross member, wherein

the pair of locking arm members extend primarily in the length-wise direction and are disposed apart from one another in the width-wise direction in a parallel relationship, each locking arm member having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outwardly-facing side surface, a rear end portion and a forward end portion disposed opposite the rear end portion, the top surface extends parallel to the length-width plane, the bottom surface extends parallel to the top surface and the length-width plane, the outwardly-facing side surface extends parallel to the height-length plane and perpendicularly to and between the top and bottom surfaces, the rear end portion and the forward end portion are integrally connected to each other, each forward end portion has a locking projection depending from the bottom surface in the height-wise direction, and

the cross member is integrally connected to the pair of locking arm members on the respective top surfaces at the rear end portions.

33. A connector assembly according to claim 32, wherein connector position assurance device body member includes a pair of guide elements, each guide element integrally connected to and projecting outwardly from a respective one of the outwardly-facing side surfaces at the rear end portions.

34. A connector assembly according to claim 32, wherein each one of the forward end portions is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the rear end portions in the height-wise direction to and between an normal relax condition and a flexed condition while the pair of locking arm members remain in the parallel relationship, each one of the forward end portions is resiliently biased in the normal relaxed condition.