Connector position assurance device

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• a connector position assurance device (CPA) including a latch locking element and a CPA retention element;
• a plug housing having a body section with a mating interface on one end thereof;
• a header housing having an opening to receive said mating interface;
• a latch assembly mounted to said plug housing for maintaining contact between said plug and header housings when mated, said latch assembly including a retention feature, a CPA retention feature, and a locking contact surface, said latch assembly being movable between latched and unlatched positions;
• a latch retention assembly mounted to said header housing and including a latch retention surface, said latch retention surface cooperating with said retention feature to maintain contact between said plug and header housings when said housings are mated;
• and
• a CPA mounting assembly mounted to said plug housing, said CPA being slidably mounted to said CPA mounting assembly and movable to unmated and mated positions, said CPA permitting movement of said latch assembly to said unlatched position and thereby permitting engagement and disengagement of said plug and header housings when in said unmated position, said latch locking element cooperating with said locking contact surface to prevent said latch assembly from moving to said unlatched position when said CPA is in said mated position, whereby said CPA prevents engagement and disengagement of said plug and header housings when in said mated position, said CPA retention element cooperating with said CPA retention feature to maintain said CPA in said mated position.

An electrical connector half assembly comprising:

• a connector position assurance device (CPA) including a retention assembly locking element and a CPA retention element;
• a connector housing adapted for mating with a mating connector housing;
• a retention assembly mounted to said connector housing for securing said connector housing to a mating connector housing when fully mated, said retention assembly including a housing retention feature, a CPA retention feature, and a locking contact surface, said retention assembly being movable between locked and unlocked positions;
• and
• a CPA mounting assembly mounted to said connector housing, said CPA being slidably mounted to said CPA mounting assembly and movable between first and second positions, said CPA permitting biasing of said retention assembly when in said first position, said retention assembly locking element cooperating with said locking contact surface to prevent said retention assembly from moving to said unlocked position when said CPA is in said second position, said CPA retention element cooperating with said CPA retention feature to maintain said CPA in said second position.