Electrical connector having connector position assurance

• US 8,747,146 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Brown, Michael Dale, Beck, Hoy Smith Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US13/462,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20120282791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/352
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

An electrical connector comprising a housing having at least one terminal receiving passageway, an opening positioned proximate at least one terminal receiving passageway, a primary latch for latching the electric connector to a mating connector, and a slot extending longitudinally along side the primary latch. The connector has a connector position assurance member (CPA) positionable in the opening and having a locking latch which is laterally offset from the primary latch of the housing. The CPA has first and second longitudinal positions. The first position where the CPA is in a partially inserted position and a second position where the housing is in a fully mated position within a mating connector housing and the CPA is in a fully inserted position.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising:

a housing having;

side walls extending longitudinally between a front face and a rear face and being laterally offset from one another;

at least one terminal receiving passageway,

an opening positioned proximate the at least one terminal receiving passageway,

a primary latch for latching the electrical connector to a mating connector; and

a slot extending longitudinally along side the primary latch between the primary latch and one of the side walls; and

a connector position assurance member (CPA) being positionable in the opening and having a locking latch which is laterally offset from the primary latch, the locking latch being positioned in the slot along side the primary latch between the primary latch and the corresponding side wall, the CPA having first and second longitudinal positions, where the CPA is in a partially inserted position within the opening in the first longitudinal position, and where the housing is in a fully mated position within a mating connector housing and the CPA is in a fully inserted position within the opening in the second longitudinal position.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the CPA comprises a planar body portion having a longitudinal centerline and wherein the locking latch extends upwardly from the planar body portion at a position laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the primary latch extends from an upper wall of the housing and is positioned adjacent to a lateral centerline of the housing.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the opening is positioned intermediate the upper wall and the terminal receiving passageway.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the locking latch is aligned to move longitudinally within the slot as the CPA is moved from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a stop member is positioned across the slot, the stop member being profiled for abutment of the CPA locking latch wherein the CPA locking latch abuts against the stop member in the first longitudinal position.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the stop member is formed integral with the primary latch.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the CPA further comprises one or more latch arms wherein the latch arms comprises one or more lugs extending out from the latch arms.

9. The electrical connector of claim 8, wherein when the CPA is moved from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position the lugs reside within complimentary openings in the housing.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the CPA comprises a planar body portion, the locking latch extending from and being spaced apart from the planar body portion, the locking latch being deflectable toward the planar body portion during latching of the electrical connector to the mating connector.

11. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the locking latch includes a locking lug proximate to a distal end of the locking latch, the locking lug being positioned rearward of and abutting against a stop member of the primary latch in the first longitudinal position, the locking lug passing under the stop member as the CPA is moved from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position, the locking lug being positioned forward of the stop member in the second longitudinal position.

12. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the CPA further comprises a planar body portion having a latch arm extending therefrom, the latch arm having a front lug and a rear lug extending therefrom, the housing including a front opening and a rear opening along the side wall, the front lug and the rear lug being received in the rear opening when the CPA is in the first longitudinal position, the front lug being positioned in the front opening and the rear lug being positioned in the rear opening when the CPA is in the second longitudinal position.

13. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the rear opening includes a rear edge cut under and angled non-perpendicular with to the side wall, the rear lug having a complimentary shape to the rear edge to lock the rear lug in the rear opening to stop rearward movement of the CPA with respect to the housing.

14. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing has a longitudinal centerline centered between the side walls, the primary latch having a primary latch longitudinal centerline offset with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the housing toward the side wall opposite the slot.

15. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the CPA comprises a planar body portion having a longitudinal centerline, the locking latch extending from the planar body portion and having a locking latch longitudinal centerline offset from the longitudinal centerline of the planar body portion.

16. The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein the locking latch longitudinal centerline is offset toward one side wall and the primary latch longitudinal centerline is offset toward the other side wall.

17. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the primary latch is deflectable in a vertical direction and wherein the locking latch is deflectable in a vertical direction.

18. The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein the locking latch includes a locking lug configured to be positioned below a stop member of the primary latch, wherein the locking latch is deflected downward by the stop member when the primary latch is deflected downward toward an upper wall of the housing during mating of the electrical connector with the mating connector.

19. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the primary latch is deflectable in a vertical direction, the locking latch of the CPA being horizontally offset from the primary latch in a lateral direction along side the primary latch in the slot.