Reinforced position assurance member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10153586-B1
Application number	US-201815962504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 25, 2018
Priority date	Apr 25, 2018
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A position assurance device. The position assurance device has a base portion with a top surface, a bottom surface, a base front end and a base back end. At least one resiliently deformable beam extends from the base portion in a direction away from the base back end. A metal member is provided in the at least one resiliently deformable beam. The metal member is configured to add strength and stability to the connector position assurance device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A position assurance device comprising:
a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a base front end and a base back end;
at least one resiliently deformable beam extending from the base portion in a direction away from the base back end;
a metal member provided in the resiliently deformable beams;
wherein the metal member is configured to add strength and stability to the position assurance device.

2. The position assurance device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one resiliently deformable beam has a plastic shell which is overmolded on the metal member to encase the metal member in the at least one resiliently deformable beam.

3. The position assurance device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one resiliently deformable beam has a cavity which receives the metal member therein.

4. The position assurance device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal member forms the at least one resiliently deformable beam, a portion of the metal member is retained in the base portion.

5. A connector position assurance device comprising:
a plastic shell comprising:
a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a base front end and a base back end;
a transition portion extending from the base portion in a direction away from the back end;
at least one resiliently deformable beam extending from the transition portion, the at least one resiliently deformable beam having a top side, a bottom side, a beam front end, a beam back end and a sidewall extending between the top side and the bottom side, the back end of the at least one resiliently deformable beam is spaced from the base front end;
a connection portion extending between the sidewall of the at least one resiliently deformable beam and the transition portion;

a metal member provided in the at least one resiliently deformable beam, the connection portion and the transition portion of the plastic shell, the metal member having a base member and at least one resilient arm;
the metal member is configured to provide strength and stability to the at least one resiliently deformable beam of the connector position assurance device.

6. The connector position assurance device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the shell has a cavity which receives the metal member therein.

7. The connector position assurance device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the base member of the metal member extends from the base portion into the transition portion, the at least one resilient arm of the metal member are positioned in the at least one resiliently deformable beam.

8. The connector position assurance device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the base portion has an engagement section to allow an operator to manually engage or activate the connector position assurance device.

9. The connector position assurance device as recited in claim 5 , wherein a latch engagement section extends from the top surface of the base portion between the base front end and the base back end.

10. The connector position assurance device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the plastic shell is overmolded over the metal member.

11. The connector position assurance device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the metal member is completely encased within the overmolded shell.

12. The connector position assurance device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the at least one resiliently deformable beam is two resiliently deformable beams lockout projections and the at least one resilient arm is tow resilient arms, engagement members extend from the sidewalls of the resiliently deformable beams, the lockout projection engagement members have lockout projection engagement surfaces and angled surfaces extending from the lockout projection engagement surfaces.

13. The connector position assurance device as recited in claim 12 , wherein latching projections are provided proximate the beam back ends of the resiliently deformable beams, the latching projections extend from the bottom sides of the resiliently deformable beams in a direction away from the top sides of the resiliently deformable beams.

14. An electrical connector having a connector position assurance device, the connector comprising:
a latch arm;
a connector position assurance receiving opening position proximate the latch arm;
the connector position assurance device positioned in the connector position assurance receiving opening, the connector position assurance device movable relative to the latch arm between a partially inserted position and a fully inserted position, the connector position assurance device comprising:
a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a base front end and a base back end;
at least one resiliently deformable beam extending from the base portion in a direction away from the base back end;
a metal member provided in the at least one resiliently deformable beam;

wherein the metal member is configured to add strength and stability to the connector position assurance device.

15. The electrical connector as recited in claim 14 , wherein the at least one resiliently deformable beam has a plastic shell which is overmolded on the metal member to encase the metal member in the resiliently deformable beam.

16. The electrical connector as recited in claim 14 , wherein the at least one resiliently deformable beam has a cavity which receives the metal member therein.

17. The electrical connector as recited in claim 14 , wherein the metal member forms the at least one resiliently deformable beam, a portion of the metal member is retained in the base portion.

18. The electrical connector as recited in claim 14 , wherein the metal member has a base member positioned in the base portion and at least one resilient arm positioned in the at least one resiliently deformable beam.

19. The electrical connector as recited in claim 18 , wherein a lockout projection engagement member extends from the at least one resiliently deformable beam, the lockout projection engagement member has a lockout projection engagement surface and an angled surface extending from the lockout projection engagement surface.

20. The electrical connector as recited in claim 19 , wherein a latching projection is provided on the at least one resiliently deformable beam, the latching projection extends from bottom side of the at least one resiliently deformable beam in a direction away from the top side of the at least one resiliently deformable beam.

Assignees

• Te Connectivity Corp

Inventors

• Schroll Neil Franklin
• Brandt Christian Perry

Classifications

• H01R13/639

  Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} · CPC title

• H01R13/6272 Primary

  comprising a single latching arm · CPC title

• H01R13/641

  by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement · CPC title

• H01R13/504

  different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic welding, or swaged together · CPC title