Connector position assurance device and connector assembly incorporating the same

• US 7,399,195 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• 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, Kim, Byung Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T. C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Harshad C
• Application Number:
  US11/634,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 439352-354, 439/357, 439/489, 439/358, 439/701, 439/157, 439/488, 439/575, 439/595
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

A connector position assurance device includes a base panel member and a latch assembly connected to and extending generally perpendicularly from the base panel member. The latch assembly has a tongue part and a pair of rails disposed apart from and extending parallel to one another. The tongue part is positioned between and disposed apart from the pair of rails to define a pair of open-ended stop-receiving channels. The tongue part is formed with a slot and a follower projection is connected to the tongue part forward of the slot. The tongue part is movable, in an upward direction, to and between a relaxed normal position and an upward flexed position and, in a downward direction, to and between the relaxed normal position and a downward flexed position. The tongue part is resiliently biased to the relaxed normal position. A connector assembly incorporates the connector position assurance device.

Claims

1. A connector position assurance device, comprising:

a base panel member; and

a latch assembly connected to and extending generally perpendicularly from the base panel member, the latch assembly having a tongue part and a pair of rigid rails disposed apart from and extending parallel to one another, the tongue part positioned between yet disposed apart from the pair of rails to define a pair of open-ended stop-receiving channels between the tongue part and respective ones of the pair of rails, each one of the pair of rails having a base rail piece connected to the base panel member and extending inwardly towards the tongue part and away from the base panel member and having a side rail piece integrally connected to the base panel member and the base rail piece and extending in an upward direction from the base rail piece and away from the base panel member such that one of the pair of rails forms a L-shape as viewed in cross-section and extends in its entirety from the base panel member as a L-shaped rail to terminate in a L-shaped free rail end and a remaining one of the pair of rails forms an inverse-L shape as viewed in cross-section and extends in its entirety from the base panel member as an inverse L-shaped rail to terminate in an inverse L-shaped free rail end.

2. A connector position assurance device according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly includes an anchor panel part connected to and between the base panel member and the tongue part, the tongue part having a tongue fixed end and an opposing tongue free end, the tongue part connected to the anchor panel part at the tongue fixed end such that the tongue part is movable, in the upward direction, to and between a relaxed normal position and an upward flexed position and, in a downward direction, to and between the relaxed normal position and a downward flexed position being opposite the upward flexed position, the tongue part being resiliently biased to the relaxed normal position.

3. A connector position assurance device according to claim 2, wherein the latch assembly includes a follower projection connected to the tongue part adjacent the tongue free end thereof and projecting from the tongue part in the upward direction, the follower projection positioned centrally between the pair of rails.

4. A connector position assurance device according to claim 3, wherein the tongue part has a pair of tongue part legs defining a slot therebetween and formed though the tongue part, the slot being disposed centrally of the tongue part and extending from the tongue fixed end and towards the follower projection.

5. A connector position assurance device according to claim 2, wherein the anchor panel part is connected perpendicularly to the base panel member and is disposed in a first plane and at least a forward portion of the tongue part is disposed in a second plane extending parallel to the first plane in a space-apart manner.

6. A connector position assurance device according to claim 2, wherein the latch assembly includes a pair of block elements integrally connected at the tongue free end of the tongue part, each one of the pair of block elements being laterally disposed apart from one another on opposing sides of the follower projection and projecting forwardly of the tongue free end.

7. A connector position assurance device, comprising:

a base panel member;

a latch assembly connected to and extending generally perpendicularly from the base panel member, the latch assembly having a tongue part and a pair of rails disposed apart from and extending parallel to one another, the tongue part positioned between yet disposed apart from the pair of rails to define a pair of open-ended stop-receiving channels between the tongue part and respective ones of the pair of rails; and

a hollow box element,

wherein the latch assembly includes an anchor panel part connected to and between the base panel member and the tongue part, the tongue part having a tongue fixed end and an opposing tongue free end, the tongue part connected to the anchor panel part at the tongue fixed end such that the tongue part is movable, in an upward direction, to and between a relaxed normal position and an upward flexed position and, in a downward direction, to and between the relaxed normal position and a downward flexed position being opposite the upward flexed position, the tongue part being resiliently biased to the relaxed normal position,

wherein the latch assembly includes a follower projection connected to the tongue part adjacent the tongue free end thereof and projecting from the tongue part in the upward direction, the follower projection positioned centrally between the pair of rails,

wherein the tongue part has a pair of tongue part legs defining a slot therebetween and formed though the tongue part, the slot being disposed centrally of the tongue part and extending from the tongue fixed end and towards the follower projection, and

wherein the hollow box element has a box-shaped cavity therein and a box-shaped opening into the box-shaped cavity facing the follower projection, the hollow box element is integrally connected to the anchor panel part and the base panel member, the hollow box element extends from the base panel member and terminates to cover a rear end portion of the slot with the rear end portion of the slot being in communication with the box-shaped cavity.

8. A connector position assurance device according to claim 7, wherein the follower projection has a rear surface, a front surface, a top surface and an inclined surface, the rear surface facing the box-shaped opening, the front surface being opposed to the rear surface and facing away from the box-shaped opening, the inclined surface being inclined relative to and interconnecting the top surface and front surface, the top surface interconnecting the inclined surface and the rear surface.

9. A connector position assurance device, comprising

a base panel member;

and

a latch assembly connected to and extending generally perpendicularly from the base panel member, the latch assembly having a tongue part and a pair of rigid rails disposed apart from and extending parallel to one another, the tongue part positioned between yet disposed apart from the pair of rails to define a pair of open-ended stop-receiving channels between the tongue part and respective ones of the pair of rails, one of the pair of rails having an L-shape as viewed in elevation and a remaining one of the pair of rails having an inverse L-shape as viewed in elevation,

wherein the latch assembly includes an anchor panel part connected to and between the base panel member and the tongue part, the tongue part having a tongue fixed end and an opposing tongue free end, the tongue part connected to the anchor panel part at the tongue fixed end such that the tongue part is movable, in an upward direction, to and between a relaxed normal position and an upward flexed position and, in a downward direction, to and between the relaxed normal position and a downward flexed position being opposite the upward flexed position, the tongue part being resiliently biased to the relaxed normal position, and

wherein the tongue part includes a pair of ramps, each ramp being disposed at an outer lateral edge of the tongue part and inclining upwardly relative to the tongue fixed end and towards the tongue free end.

10. A connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector housing having a first connector opened end, a first connector inner cavity and a first connector locking protrusion extending from a first connector upper wall into the first connector inner cavity;

a second connector housing sized and adapted to be received by the first connector inner cavity through the first connector opened end, the second connector housing having a second connector opened end, a second connector inner cavity, a second connector latch assembly with a cross-bar locking element and a second connector latch hole defined in part by the cross-bar locking element, a second connector bottom wall facing the second connector latch assembly, a pair of facially opposing second connector side walls, at least one stop element disposed between the second connector latch assembly and the second connector bottom wall, a second connector upwardly projecting locking protrusion projecting upwardly from the second connector bottom wall, the second connector housing including a joist structure disposed within the second connector inner cavity, the joist structure having a pair of joists disposed apart from one another and extending in the insertion direction, a respective one of the pair of joists being disposed apart from a respective one of the second connector side walls and the second connector bottom wall to form a rail-receiving channel therebetween, the second connector latch assembly operative to move to and between a normal, relaxed condition and a downward flexed condition, the second connector latch assembly being resiliently biased to the normal relaxed condition; and

a connector position assurance device sized and adapted to be received by the second connector inner cavity, the connector position assurance device having a base panel member and a latch assembly connected to and extending generally perpendicularly from the base panel member, the latch assembly having a tongue part with a tongue part forward portion and a pair of rails disposed apart from and extending parallel to one another, the tongue part positioned between yet disposed apart from the pair of rails to define a pair of open-ended stop-receiving channels between the tongue part and respective ones of the pair of rails, the tongue part formed with a slot and a follower projection connected to the tongue part forward of the base panel member and the slot, the tongue part movable, in an upward direction, to and between a relaxed normal position and an upward flexed position and, in a downward direction, to and between the relaxed normal position and a downward flexed position being opposite the upward flexed position, the tongue part being resiliently biased to the relaxed normal position,

wherein, with respective ones of the pair of rails of the connector position assurance device aligned with respective ones the rail-receiving channels of the second connector housing in order to slidably receive the pair of rails in a close-fitting relationship, the connector position assurance device is inserted into the second connector inner cavity in the insertion direction at a first insertion force sufficient to cause the tongue part to slide over the second connector upwardly projecting locking protrusion thereby moving the tongue part from the relaxed normal position to the upward flexed position while the tongue part is in sliding contact with and slides over the second connector upwardly projecting locking protrusion and then the tongue part moves from the upward flexed position to the relaxed normal position when a forward end of the tongue part loses sliding contact with the second connector upwardly projecting locking protrusion, the follower projection confronts the cross-bar locking element and the slot receives the second connector locking protrusion at a forward end portion of the slot to render the connector position assurance device in a pre-set stage partially within the second connector inner cavity,

thereafter the second connector housing with the connector position assurance device in the pre-set stage is inserted into the first connector inner cavity in the insertion direction by being received in the first connector inner cavity such that the first connector locking protrusion in sliding contact with the cross-bar locking element pushes downwardly on the cross-bar locking element thereby moving the second connector latch assembly from the normal relaxed condition to the downward flexed condition and the second connector latch assembly returns to the normal relaxed condition as the first connector locking protrusion loses sliding contact with the cross-bar locking element and the first connector locking protrusion in sliding contact with the follower projection pushes downwardly on the follower projection thereby moving the tongue part from the relaxed normal position to the downward flexed position so that the tongue part forward portion in sliding contact with the at least one stop element slides underneath the at least one stop element and the follower projection in sliding contact slides under the first connector locking protrusion and the cross-bar locking element and the tongue part returns to the normal relaxed position after losing sliding contact with the cross-bar locking element such that the at least one stop element is disposed within one of the opened-ended stop-receiving channels thereby rendering the connector position assurance device in a final locked stage.

11. A connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one stop element includes a pair of stop elements, a respective one of the pair of stop elements is connected to a respective one of the pair of joists, each one of the pair of stop elements extending from the respective one of the pair of joists towards a center of the second connector inner cavity.

12. A connector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the tongue part has a pair of ramps, each ramp being disposed at an outer lateral edge of the tongue part and inclining upwardly relative to the tongue fixed end and towards the tongue free end, respective ones of the pair of ramps being disposed at least adjacent to or abutting respective ones of the pair of stop elements in a generally facially opposing manner with respective ones of the pair of stop elements disposed in respective ones of the open-ended stop-receiving channels when the connector position assurance device is in the final locked stage.

13. A connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the latch assembly includes an anchor panel part and a pair of block elements, the anchor panel part connected to and between the base panel member and the tongue part, the tongue part having a tongue fixed end and an opposing tongue free end, the tongue part connected to the anchor panel part at the tongue fixed end, the pair of block elements integrally connected at the tongue free end of the tongue part, each one of the pair of block elements being laterally disposed apart from one another on opposing sides of the follower projection and projecting forwardly of the tongue free end, respective ones of the pair of the block elements being disposed at least adjacent to or abutting respective ones of the pair of stop elements in a generally facially opposing manner when the connector position assurance device is in the pre-set stage.