This disclosure generally relates to a miniature electrical connector assembly, and more particularly relates to a connector position assurance device (CPA) located such that the CPA does not obstruct access to a handle end of a locking lever that is part of the assembly when the CPA is at an unlocked position.
It is known to equip an electrical connector assembly with a connector position assurance device (CPA). However, as the size of CPA equipped connectors is reduced, the CPA may interfere with bare handed (i.e. tool-less) operation of a portion of the connector assembly that actuates a locking/unlocking feature or mechanism of the connector assembly.
In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector assembly is provided. The assembly includes a body, a lever, and a connector position assurance device (CPA). The lever is coupled to the body by an arm. The lever is configured to move about the arm and relative to the body to raise a lock end of the lever when a handle end of the lever is pressed. The CPA is slideably coupled to the lever. The CPA is operable between a locked position where the CPA engages with the body to prevent raising of the lock end, and an unlocked position where the lever is allowed to move about the arm. The CPA is located forward of the arm such that the CPA does not obstruct access to the handle end when the CPA is at the unlocked position.
In another embodiment, the CPA defines a notch configured to engage with a tab defined by the body to keep the CPA in the unlocked position before a mating connector is inserted into the assembly.
In yet another embodiment, the CPA additionally defines a riser configured to cooperate with a bump defined by the mating connector to disengage the notch from the tab when the mating connector is inserted into the assembly.
In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector assembly is provided. The assembly includes a body, a lever, and a connector position assurance device (CPA). The lever is torsionally coupled to the body. The lever is configured to rotate relative to the body to raise a lock end of the lever when a handle end of the lever is pressed. The connector position assurance device (CPA) slideably coupled to the lever. The CPA is operable between a locked position where the CPA engages with the body to prevent raising of the lock end, and an unlocked position where the lever is moveable relative to the body.
Further features and advantages will appear more clearly on a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is given by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
It is generally preferable for electrical connectors used in vehicle applications to have some sort of locking feature so vibration and other unexpected mechanical loads on the connectors do not lead to connectors becoming disconnected. It is also generally preferable for connectors used in vehicle applications to include features so that if the connectors must be disconnected as part of a vehicle servicing activity, the connectors can be readily disconnected by a vehicle technician without the use of special tools, or any tools for that matter.
In general, the assembly 10 includes a lever 20 that is part of a locking mechanism for the assembly 10. In this non-limiting example, the lever 20 is moveably coupled, for example torsionally coupled or flexibly coupled to the body 12 by an arm 22. The lever 20 may include a lock end 24 (
As vehicle environments can be unpredictable, it may be advantageous for the assembly 10 to include a connector position assurance device (CPA), hereafter often referred to as the CPA 30. In general, CPA's are secondary or backup devices used to keep various locking mechanisms engaged and thereby help prevent inadvertent disconnection of electrical connectors. In this non-limiting example, the CPA 30 is slideably coupled to slide axially relative to the lever 20 and the body 12.
The CPA 30 is also operable (i.e. slidable or moveable) to a locked position 38 (
When the CPA 30 is at the unlocked position 32, the CPA is advantageously located axially forward of the arm 22 (i.e. toward the lock end 24 relative to the arm 22) such that the CPA 30 does not obstruct access to the handle end 26 when the CPA 30 is at the unlocked position 32. As used herein, the relative term ‘forward’ is indicated by an arrow 40 (
Referring now to
Once the mating connector 16 is fully inserted into the assembly 10, it may be preferable for the CPA 30 to be readily moved forward (direction of arrow 40) to the locked position 38. By way of example and not limitation, the CPA 30 may define a riser 46 configured to cooperate with a bump 48 defined by the mating connector 16 to lift or urge the CPA 30 away from the body 12 and thereby disengage the notch 42 from the tab 44 when the mating connector 16 is inserted into the assembly 10.
Accordingly, an electrical connector assembly (the assembly 10) is provided. The CPA 30 is configured to avoid interfering with access to the handle end 26 of the arm. Such a configuration is particularly important with miniature connectors where the features that need to be operated, accessed, or manipulated by a person disconnecting the assembly 10 from the mating connector are preferably done so without using tools.
While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow.