This disclosure generally relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly relates to an electrical connector having a connector-position-assurance (CPA) device.
It is known to use a connector-position-assurance (CPA) device to assure that an electrical connector is mated properly, and to prevent the electrical connector from inadvertent separation during use. Prior art CPA devices may be inadvertently moved into a locked position before the electrical connector is mated and prevent the mating operation from occurring. These CPA devices may also fail due to the interference and lead to increased scrap rates. Other prior art CPA devices are separate from the electrical connector and may present ergonomic challenges for an assembler.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector includes a first-housing, a second-housing, and a connector-position-assurance (CPA) device. The first-housing has two parallel actuation-ribs extending from an outer-surface of the first-housing. The two parallel actuation-ribs are aligned parallel to a longitudinal mating-axis of the electrical connector. The second-housing is configured to mate with the first-housing and includes two opposing lugs projecting from a top-surface of the second-housing. The CPA device is slideably mounted to the second-housing and is moveable along the longitudinal mating-axis from a pre-stage-position to a latched-position. The CPA device includes two parallel latching-arms that engage the two opposing lugs at distal-ends of the two parallel latching-arms such that a movement of the CPA device is inhibited in the pre-stage-position. The two parallel latching-arms are in a relaxed-state when in the pre-stage-position. The two parallel actuation-ribs of the first-housing move beyond the two opposing lugs of the second-housing and disengage the two parallel latching-arms from the two opposing lugs by flexing the two parallel latching-arms into a stressed-state when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing. This enables the CPA device to be moved from the pre-stage-position to the latched-position. The two parallel latching-arms return to the relaxed-state when in the CPA device is in the latched-position.
The CPA device further includes locking-ribs extending from an upper-surface of the CPA device. The locking-ribs are configured to inhibit an actuation of an axial connector-lock when the CPA device is in the latched-position. A vibratory-feedback from the two parallel latching-arms is provided to an assembler indicative of a properly mated connector when the CPA device is moved to the latched-position.
The two parallel latching-arms deflect in a lateral-direction orthogonal to the longitudinal mating-axis when the two parallel actuation-ribs disengage the two parallel latching-arms. The two parallel latching-arms move in a medial-direction. The distal-ends of the of the two parallel latching-arms are characterized as having a C-shape. A distance between the distal-ends of the two parallel latching-arms is greater than a width of a body of the CPA device when the two parallel latching-arms are in the relaxed-state.
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:
Described herein is an electrical connector with an integrated connector-position-assurance (CPA) device. The CPA device is configured to be moved from a pre-stage-position into a latched position indicative of a properly mated electrical connector. The CPA device is securely retained on one of the mating connectors and is inhibited from movement from the pre-stage-position until the electrical connector is properly mated.
The second-housing 14 includes two opposing lugs 24 projecting from a top-surface 26 of the second-housing 14. The two opposing lugs 24 are positioned medially relative to the two parallel actuation-ribs 20 (i.e. closer to the longitudinal mating-axis 18) and provide a second guide surface to the two parallel actuation-ribs 20 during the mating operation.
The CPA device 16 is slideably mounted to the second-housing 14 and moveable along the longitudinal mating-axis 18 from a pre-stage-position 28 to a latched-position 30 (see
As illustrated in
Accordingly, an electrical connector 10 with a CPA device 16 is provided. The electrical connector 10 is an improvement over other electrical connectors because the CPA device 16 has two parallel latching-arms 32 that return to the relaxed-state 36 when the CPA device 16 is moved to the latched-position 30.
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. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not denote any order of importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. Additionally, directional terms such as upper, lower, etc. do not denote any particular orientation, but rather the terms upper, lower, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another and locational establish a relationship between the various elements.
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