Electrical connector with connector position assurance device

• US 8,678,846 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Hitchcock, Matthew Bryan, Buchter, Bradley Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US13/432,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20130260590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/352, 439/353, 439/354, 439/357, 439/358, 439/488, 439/489, 439/595, 439/752
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided for mating with a mating connector and includes a housing and a fulcrum latch mechanism having a latch arm extending from a latching end to an actuation end. The latch arm is configured to rotate about a fulcrum that is located along the length of the latch arm between the latching and actuation ends such that the latching end is configured to move between a latched position and an unlatched position. A connector position assurance (CPA) device is movably held by the housing such that the CPA device is configured to move relative to the housing between a mated position and an unmated position. The CPA device is movably held by the housing independently of the latch arm.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for mating with a mating connector having a latch that includes a latch member having a locking ramp, the electrical connector comprising:

a housing;

a fulcrum latch mechanism comprising a latch arm extending from a latching end to an actuation end, the latch arm being configured to rotate about a fulcrum that is located along the length of the latch arm between the latching and actuation ends, the latch arm being configured to rotate about the fulcrum such that the latching end is configured to move between a latched position and an unlatched position; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) device, the CPA device being movably held by the housing such that the CPA device is configured to move relative to the housing between a mated position and an unmated position, wherein the CPA device is movably held by the housing independently of the latch arm, and wherein the CPA device does not move with the latch arm as the latching end of the latch arm moves between the latched and the unlatched positions the CPA device comprising an indication member that is configured to engage and be deflected by the locking ramp of the mating connector when the latch of the mating connector is latched with the fulcrum latch mechanism of the electrical connector.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the CPA device cannot be moved from the unmated position to the mated position unless the electrical connector is fully mated with the mating connector.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the CPA device comprises a guide base that holds the latching end of the latch arm in the latched position when the CPA device is in the mated position.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latching end of the latch arm comprises a stop, the CPA device comprising an indication member that is resiliently deflectable and is snapped over the stop in the mated position.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a guide rail, the CPA device comprising a guide member that is received within the guide rail, the CPA device being movably held by the housing independently of the latch arm using the guide rail such that the guide member slides within the guide rail to move the CPA device between the mated and unmated positions.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing extends from a front to a rear and comprises a resiliently deflectable stop, the CPA device being configured to be loaded to the housing from the front of the housing by deflecting the stop, wherein the stop restrains the CPA device from being unloaded from the front of the housing once the CPA device has cleared the stop.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latching end of the latch arm is configured to move between the latched and unlatched positions without disturbing the CPA device.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latching end of the latch arm comprises an opening, the CPA device comprising an indication member that is received within the opening when the CPA device is in the unmated position.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the CPA device emits at least one of an audible click or a tactile feel when the CPA device is moved to the mated position.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latching end of the latch arm comprises a stop, the CPA device comprising an indication member that is resiliently deflectable and is snapped over the stop in the mated position, the indication member emitting at least one of an audible click or a tactile feel when the indication member is snapped over the stop.

11. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latch arm of the fulcrum latch mechanism is integrally formed with the housing.

12. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the fulcrum is spaced apart from both the latching end and the actuation end along the length of the latch arm.

13. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the fulcrum is located at an approximate midpoint of the length of the latch arm.

14. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latch arm of the fulcrum latch mechanism is configured to engage and be deflected by the locking ramp of the mating connector to move the latching end between the latched and unlatched positions.

15. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a mating connector having a latch that includes a latch member having a locking ramp; and

an electrical connector configured to mate with the mating connector, the electrical connector comprising;

a housing;

a fulcrum latch mechanism comprising a latch arm extending from a latching end to an actuation end, the latch arm being configured to rotate about a fulcrum that is located along the length of the latch arm between the latching and actuation ends, the latch arm being configured to rotate about the fulcrum such that the latching end is configured to move between a latched position and an unlatched position; and

a connector position assurance (CPA) device, the CPA device being movably held by the housing such that the CPA device is configured to move relative to the housing between a mated position and an unmated position, wherein the CPA device is movably held by the housing independently of the latch arm, and wherein the CPA device does not move with the latch arm as the latching end of the latch arm moves between the latched and the unlatched positions the CPA device comprising an indication member that is engaged with and deflected by the locking ramp when the latch of the mating connector is latched with the fulcrum latch mechanism of the electrical connector.

16. The electrical connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the CPA device cannot be moved from the unmated position to the mated position unless the electrical connector and the mating connector are fully mated together.

17. The electrical connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the CPA device comprises a guide base that holds the latching end of the latch arm in the latched position when the CPA device is in the mated position.

18. The electrical connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the latching end of the latch arm comprises a stop, the CPA device comprising an indication member that is resiliently deflectable and is snapped over the stop in the mated position.

19. The electrical connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the fulcrum is located at an approximate midpoint of the length of the latch arm.

20. The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein the latch arm of the fulcrum latch mechanism is configured to engage and be deflected by the locking ramp of the mating connector to move the latching end between the latched and unlatched positions.