Connector system with connector position assurance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9899761-B2
Application number	US-201615003261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Jan 21, 2016
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A connector system is provided that includes an electrical connector having a housing, a connector position assurance (CPA) element, and an actuator. The housing defines a socket that receives a mating connector. The CPA element is slidable relative to the housing between a released position and a locked position. The actuator is mounted on the housing in operable engagement with the CPA element. The actuator is moved from a blocking position to a clearance position as the mating connector is loaded into the socket. The actuator in the blocking position mechanically blocks the CPA element from being moved between the released position and the locked position. The actuator in the clearance position allows the CPA element to be moved between the released position and the locked position. The actuator attains the clearance position responsive to the mating connector being fully loaded in the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector comprising:
a housing having a front end and a rear end, the housing defining a socket at the front end that is configured to receive a mating connector therein, the housing further including a deflectable primary latch that is cantilevered and connected to the housing at a shoulder;
a connector position assurance (CPA) element mounted on the housing, the CPA element being slidable relative to the housing between a released position and a locked position, the CPA element including a base and at least a first runner extending frontward from the base, the base protruding rearward beyond the shoulder of the housing when in the released position, a portion of the first runner extending under the primary latch frontward of the shoulder, wherein the CPA element in the released position is pivotable relative to the housing and the primary latch thereof such that downward movement of the base rearward of the shoulder causes the portion of the CPA element under the primary latch to lift the primary latch in an upward direction away from the socket; and
an actuator mounted on the housing in operable engagement with the CPA element, the actuator having at least a first leg, the actuator being movable between a blocking position and a clearance position, the first leg of the actuator engaging the first runner when the actuator is in the blocking position to mechanically block the CPA element from being moved between the released position and the locked position, the CPA element being movable between the released position and the locked position when the actuator is in the clearance position;
wherein the actuator is moved from the blocking position to the clearance position by the mating connector as the mating connector is loaded into the socket, the actuator attaining the clearance position responsive to the mating connector being fully loaded in the housing.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable primary latch frontward of the shoulder is configured to be deflected upward away from the socket by a rib of the mating connector as the mating connector is loaded into the socket, the primary latch having a latching surface configured to engage a catch surface of the rib when the mating connector is fully loaded in the socket to secure the mating connector to the housing.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is engaged by the rib of the mating connector as the mating connector is loaded into the socket, the actuator being held in the clearance position by a top side of the rib as the catch surface of the rib engages the latching surface of the primary latch when the mating connector is fully loaded in the socket, wherein the downward movement of the base causes the portion of the CPA element to lift the primary latch upward over the rib of the mating connector to at least one of secure the mating connector to the housing or disconnect the mating connector from the housing.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the CPA element in the released position is pivotable about a fulcrum disposed between a distal end of the first runner and the base, the fulcrum discrete from the shoulder of the housing.

5. The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein the shoulder protrudes outward from a platform of the housing, the fulcrum is a peg of the CPA element that extends from the first runner and is disposed between the primary latch and the platform.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the first runner of the CPA element slides along a platform of the housing, the first leg of the actuator engaging the platform in a path of the first runner when the actuator is in the blocking position and the CPA element is in the released position such that the first leg blocks movement of a distal end of the first runner of the CPA element from the released position towards the locked position, the first leg being spaced apart vertically from the platform when the actuator is in the clearance position such that the distal end of the first runner is allowed to slide under the first leg towards the locked position.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6 , wherein, when the CPA element is in the locked position, the distal end of the first runner is disposed beyond the first leg of the actuator and a bottom of the first leg engages a top side of the first runner between the distal end and the base of the CPA element.

8. The electrical connector of claim 6 , wherein the first runner includes a detent that protrudes from a top side of the first runner between the distal end and the base of the CPA element, the detent disposed frontward of the first leg when the CPA element is in the locked position and the actuator is in the clearance position, the detent configured to abut against a front edge of the first leg as the CPA element moves from the locked position towards the released position.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a ledge protruding from an outer side of the first leg, the housing including a cantilevered beam that engages a top of the ledge, the cantilevered beam biasing the actuator towards the blocking position.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the socket of the housing is oriented along a mating axis such that the mating connector is loaded in the socket along the mating axis, the CPA element sliding parallel to the mating axis between the released position and the locked position, the actuator moving along a vertical axis between the blocking position and the clearance position, the vertical axis being orthogonal to the mating axis.

11. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the actuator further includes a second leg that extends parallel to and in the same direction as the first leg, the CPA element further including a second runner extending from the base parallel to and in the same direction as the first runner, the second leg engaging the second runner when the actuator is in the blocking position to mechanically block the CPA element from being moved between the released position and the locked position.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11 , wherein the first and second legs of the actuator extend from opposite ends of a cross-bar of the actuator, the actuator further including a post disposed between the first and second legs, the post extending from the cross-bar in the same direction as the first and second legs, the post being engaged by the mating connector as the mating connector is loaded into the socket to move the actuator towards the clearance position.

13. An electrical connector comprising:
a housing having a front end and defining a socket at the front end that is configured to receive a mating connector therein, the housing further including a deflectable primary latch that engages a catch of the mating connector when the mating connector is fully loaded in the socket to secure the mating connector to the housing;
a connector position assurance (CPA) element mounted on the housing, the CPA element being slidable relative to the housing between a released position and a locked position, the CPA element in the released position being pivotable relative to the housing about a fulcrum, the CPA element including a base and at least a first runner extending from the base, a portion of the first runner between the fulcrum and a distal end of the first runner extending under the primary latch, wherein downward movement of the base pivots the CPA element such that the portion of the first runner lifts the primary latch over the catch of the mating connector to at least one of secure the mating connector to the hous

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Corp
• Te Connectivity Corp

Inventors

• Schroll Neil Franklin
• Hall John Wesley
• Lane David James

Classifications

• H01R13/641

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

• H01R13/6271

  Latching means integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/4365 Primary

  comprising a temporary and a final locking position · CPC title

• H01R13/62927

  Comprising supplementary or additional locking means · CPC title

• H01R13/6272 Primary

  comprising a single latching arm · CPC title