Unstressed connector position assurance device and connector assembly
First Claim
1. A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) device for ensuring mating of a male header connector with a female housing, the CPA device comprising:
- a body portion;
a first arm attached to the body portion, extending from the body portion, and comprising a locking groove proximate a distal end thereof; and
a second arm attached to the body portion spaced apart from the first arm, extending from the body portion, and comprising a locking latch,wherein the CPA device has a pre-lock position and a final-lock position within the female housing,wherein the CPA device enters the pre-lock position upon partial insertion into a back side of the female housing such that;
the locking groove engages a first protrusion on the female housing, andthe locking latch engages a second protrusion on the female housing, andwherein the CPA device enters the final-lock position upon insertion of the male header connector into a front side of the female housing such that;
the locking groove and the locking latch are disengaged from the pre-lock position through contact of a sloped surface at the distal end of the first arm with a leading edge of the male header connector, andwherein, when the CPA device is in the final-lock position, the male header connector is in a completely-mated state with the female housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) device for ensuring mating of a male header connector with a female housing includes a body portion, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm is attached to the body portion, extended from the body portion, and includes a locking groove proximate a distal end thereof. The second arm, which includes a locking latch, is spaced apart from the first arm, attached to the body portion, and extended from the body portion. When the CPA device is guided along the female housing, the locking groove and the locking latch lock onto complementary protrusions on the female housing in a pre-lock position, only to be dislodged upon contact of a sloped surface at the distal end of the first arm with the male header connector during insertion of the male header connector into the female housing to proceed to a final-lock position.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) device for ensuring mating of a male header connector with a female housing, the CPA device comprising:
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a body portion; a first arm attached to the body portion, extending from the body portion, and comprising a locking groove proximate a distal end thereof; and a second arm attached to the body portion spaced apart from the first arm, extending from the body portion, and comprising a locking latch, wherein the CPA device has a pre-lock position and a final-lock position within the female housing, wherein the CPA device enters the pre-lock position upon partial insertion into a back side of the female housing such that; the locking groove engages a first protrusion on the female housing, and the locking latch engages a second protrusion on the female housing, and wherein the CPA device enters the final-lock position upon insertion of the male header connector into a front side of the female housing such that; the locking groove and the locking latch are disengaged from the pre-lock position through contact of a sloped surface at the distal end of the first arm with a leading edge of the male header connector, and wherein, when the CPA device is in the final-lock position, the male header connector is in a completely-mated state with the female housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A connector assembly defining a pre-lock position and a final-lock position, the connector assembly comprising:
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a female housing; a CPA device configured to be inserted into the female housing in a first direction; and a male housing configured to be inserted into the female housing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the CPA device comprises; a body portion; a first arm attached to the body portion, extending from the body portion, and comprising a locking groove proximate a distal end thereof; and a second arm attached to the body portion, spaced apart from the first arm, extending from the body portion, and comprising a locking latch, wherein, when the CPA device is inserted into the female housing, the locking groove of the first arm locks onto a first protrusion on the female housing and the locking latch of the second arm latches onto a second protrusion on the female housing in the pre-lock position, wherein, when the male housing is inserted into the female housing after the pre-lock position of the CPA device, a leading edge of the male housing comes in contact with a sloped surface at the distal end of the first arm of the CPA device and forces a portion of the first arm to rise in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction to disengage the locking groove of the first arm from the first protrusion on the female housing and the locking latch of the second arm from the second protrusion on the female housing such that the pre-lock position is ended, and wherein, when the CPA device is guided further into the female housing after the pre-lock position is ended, relative motion between the CPA device and the female housing is prevented by the body portion of the CPA device such that the CPA device is in a complete-mated state with the female housing and the male header connector. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification