Wave connector position assurance lock with dual overlap connector lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11387604-B2
Application number	US-202017070028-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2020
Priority date	Oct 14, 2020
Publication date	Jul 12, 2022
Grant date	Jul 12, 2022

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes, among other things, a connector that includes a connector lock arm that is cantilevered from one side of the connector to a free end. The connector lock arm has first and second apertures that are separated by a block. The assembly further includes a connector position assurance lock that has a base that supports a wave-shaped center lock arm that is received in the connector lock arm. The center lock arm extends to a nose that has a shoulder. The connector position assurance lock is slidable between unlocked and fully locked positions that respectively correspond to the shoulder arranged in the first and second apertures. The center lock arm has a bend joined to the nose by a portion that is parallel to the connector lock arm in the unlocked and fully locked positions. The center lock arm is configured to be deflected to an improper mating position with the portion arranged non-parallel to the connector lock arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a connector including a connector lock arm cantilevered from one side of the connector to a free end, the connector lock arm having first and second apertures separated by a block; and
a connector position assurance lock having a base supporting a wave-shaped center lock arm received in the connector lock arm, the center lock arm extending to a nose that has a shoulder, wherein the connector position assurance lock is slidable between unlocked and fully locked positions respectively corresponding to the shoulder being arranged in the first and second apertures, the center lock arm having a bend joined to the nose by a portion that is parallel to the connector lock arm in the unlocked and fully locked positions, the center lock arm is configured to be deflected to an improper mating position with the portion arranged non-parallel to the connector lock arm, wherein the center lock arm comprises first and second bends and first and second portions, the bend is a second bend, and the portion is a second portion, the first bend arranged at the base, the first portion extending from the first bend to the second bend, the first and second bends and the first and second portions providing the S-shaped center lock arm.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector has spaced apart rails that each provide a channel, and the base has spaced apart slides each received in a respective channel, each slide includes a clip and a stop, each rail includes a recess receiving the clip, the stops are spaced from the rails with the connector position assurance lock in the unlocked position, and the stops abut the rails with the connector position assurance lock in the fully locked position.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nose includes a notch defining the shoulder, the block seated in the notch in the unlocked position.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a first connector, and comprising a second connector having a wall providing a space, the wall includes a slot receiving the block in a fully seated position, and the shoulder is disposed in the slot in a fully locked position.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein a central portion abuts the wall in the fully seated position.

6. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the wall engages the shoulder in a transition position to deflect the nose inward away from the block.

7. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a connector including a connector lock arm cantilevered from one side of the connector to a free end, the connector lock arm having first and second apertures separated by a block; and
a connector position assurance lock having a base supporting a wave-shaped center lock arm received in the connector lock arm, the center lock arm extending to a nose that has a shoulder, wherein the connector position assurance lock is slidable between unlocked and fully locked positions respectively corresponding to the shoulder being arranged in the first and second apertures, the center lock arm having a bend joined to the nose by a portion that is parallel to the connector lock arm in the unlocked and fully locked positions, the center lock arm is configured to be deflected to an improper mating position with the portion arranged non-parallel to the connector lock arm, wherein the connector has spaced apart rails that each provide a channel, and the base has spaced apart slides each received in a respective channel, each slide includes a clip and a stop, each rail includes a recess receiving the clip, the stops are spaced from the rails with the connector position assurance lock in the unlocked position, and the stops abut the rails with the connector position assurance lock in the fully locked position, wherein the base includes a leg arranged between the center lock arm and each of the slides providing a pair of legs, each of the legs extending to another free end, the legs and the center lock arm extending in a same direction from the base.

8. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a connector including a connector lock arm cantilevered from one side of the connector to a free end, the connector lock arm having first and second apertures separated by a block; and
a connector position assurance lock having a base supporting a wave-shaped center lock arm received in the connector lock arm, the center lock arm extending to a nose that has a shoulder, wherein the connector position assurance lock is slidable between unlocked and fully locked positions respectively corresponding to the shoulder being arranged in the first and second apertures, the center lock arm having a bend joined to the nose by a portion that is parallel to the connector lock arm in the unlocked and fully locked positions, the center lock arm is configured to be deflected to an improper mating position with the portion arranged non-parallel to the connector lock arm, wherein the connector includes spaced apart lock tabs partially overlapping the free end, the free end including spaced apart arms extending laterally from a central portion, each arm arranged beneath a respective lock tab, the arms abutting the lock tabs in the improper mating position.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein an opening is defined between the lock tabs, and the central portion extends through the opening and between terminal ends of the lock tabs in the improper mating position.

10. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a first connector including a connector lock arm cantilevered from one side of the first connector to a free end, the connector lock arm having first and second apertures separated by a block, spaced apart lock tabs partially overlapping the free end, the free end including spaced apart arms extending laterally from a central portion, each arm arranged beneath a respective lock tab, the arms abutting the lock tabs in an improper mating position;
a second connector having a wall providing a space, the wall includes a slot receiving the block in a fully seated position; and
a connector position assurance lock having a base supporting a center lock arm received in the connector lock arm, the center lock arm extending to a nose that has a shoulder, wherein the connector position assurance lock is slidable between unlocked and fully locked positions respectively corresponding to the shoulder being arranged in the first and second apertures, the shoulder is disposed in the slot in the fully locked position, the center lock arm having a bend joined to the nose by a portion that is parallel to the connector lock arm in the unlocked and fully locked positions, the center lock arm is configured to be deflected to the improper mating position with the portion arranged non-parallel to the connector lock arm.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the center lock arm is wave-shaped, and the nose includes a notch defining the shoulder, the block seated in the notch in the unlocked position, and the wall engages the shoulder in a transition position to deflect the nose inward away from the block.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein an opening is defined between the lock tabs, and the central portion extends through the opening and between terminal ends of the lock tabs in the improper mating position.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the central portion abuts the wall in the fully seated position.

14. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the connector has spaced apart rails that each provide a channel, and the base has spaced apart slides each received in a respective channel, each slide includes a clip and a stop, each rail includes a recess receiving the clip

Assignees

• Aptiv Tech Ltd

Inventors

• Margrave Christopher A
• Messuri Michael
• Liptak Nicole L
• Messuri Dominic A
• Shuster James

Classifications

• H01R13/6272

  comprising a single latching arm · CPC title

• H01R13/641 Primary

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

• H01R13/6275

  Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/639

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