Connector position assurance device and connector assembly apparatus incorporating the same

A connector position assurance device, comprising:

• a base panel member extending along and about a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral axis defining a lateral direction and a transverse axis defining a transverse direction with the longitudinal axis, the lateral axis and the transverse axis being oriented perpendicularly relative to one another:
• and
• a latch assembly connected to and extending generally perpendicularly and forwardly from the base panel member in the longitudinal direction, the latch assembly having a first flexible arm and a second flexible arm disposed in a juxtaposed manner relative to one another on generally opposing sides of the longitudinal axis forming a channel therebetween, each one of the first and second flexible arms operative to move to and between a normal relaxed state and a flexed state generally in the lateral direction, each one the first and second flexible arms being resiliently biased to the normal relaxed state, the first flexible arm having a talon portion at a first flexible arm distal end thereof, the second flexible arm having a guiding projection at a second flexible arm distal end thereof,
• wherein the talon portion projects in the lateral direction facing away from the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the talon portion includes a first finger projection and a second finger projection disposed apart from the first finger projection forming a notch therebetween and
• wherein the first finger projection includes a first finger projection flat sidewall surface extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal and transverse axes and defining a sidewall plane, a first finger projection forwardly tapering sidewall surface connected to the first finger projection flat sidewall surface and tapering forwardly and inwardly towards the longitudinal axis as viewed in plan view and a first finger projection rearward flat sidewall surface connected generally perpendicularly to the first finger projection flat sidewall surface and the second finger projection includes a second finger projection flat sidewall surface coexistent with the first finger projection flat sidewall surface in the sidewall plane, a second finger projection forward flat sidewall surface connected generally perpendicularly to the second finger projection flat sidewall surface and facing the first finger projection rearward flat sidewall surface to define a generally square configuration of the notch and a second finger projection rearwardly tapering sidewall surface connected to the second finger projection flat sidewall surface and tapering rearwardly and inwardly towards the longitudinal axis.

A connector assembly apparatus, comprising:

• a first connector housing having a first connector cavity formed thereinto and a first connector locking projection extending into the first connector housing;
• a second connector housing a having a second connector cavity formed thereinto and a second connector locking projection extending into the second connector cavity;
• and
• a connector position assurance device having a base panel member and a latch assembly, the base panel member extending along and about a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral axis defining a lateral direction and a transverse axis defining a transverse direction with the longitudinal axis, the lateral axis and the transverse axis being oriented perpendicularly relative to one another, the latch assembly connected to and extending generally perpendicularly and forwardly from the base panel in the longitudinal direction, the latch assembly having a first flexible arm and a second flexible arm disposed in a juxtaposed manner relative to one another on generally opposing sides of the longitudinal axis to form a channel therebetween, each one of the first and second flexible arms operative to move to and between a normal relaxed state and a flexed state generally in the lateral direction, each one the first and second flexible arms being resiliently biased to the normal relaxed state, the first flexible arm having a talon portion at a first flexible arm distal end thereof, the talon portion projecting laterally outwardly away from the channel, the second flexible arm having a guiding projection at a second flexible arm distal end thereof, the guide projection projecting laterally outwardly away from the channel, the talon portion including a first finger projection and a second finger projection disposed apart from the first finger projection to form a notch therebetween,
• wherein initially the connector position assurance device is inserted into the second connector cavity by a first insertion force with the first and second flexible arms being temporarily in the flexed state until the notch and the second connector locking projection engage each other in a locked condition thereby forming a cpa-second connector assemblage in a pre-set condition with the first and second arm members in the normal relaxed state,
• thereafter the cpa-second connector assemblage in the pre-set condition is inserted into the first connector cavity by a second insertion force that causes the first arm member to move into the flexed state while the second arm member remains in the normal relaxed state and releases the notch and the second locking projection from the locked condition such that the second connector housing and the connector position assurance device slidingly penetrate into the first connector cavity with the first flexible arm in the flexed state until the second finger projection slides over the first connector locking projection so that the first flexible member returns to the normal relaxed state along with the second flexible member to render the first connector housing, the second connector housing and the connector position assurance device in an engaged condition.

A connector assembly apparatus, comprising:

• a first connector housing extending along and about a longitudinal axis and having a first connector opened end, a first connector inner cavity, a first connector stop projection and a first connector locking projection, the first connector stop projection extending from a first connector upper wall into the first connector inner cavity, the first connector stop projection disposed adjacent the first connector opened end, the first connector locking projection extending from a first connector sidewall oriented perpendicularly to the first connector upper wall and extending into the first connector inner cavity;
• a second connector housing extending along and about the longitudinal axis and sized and adapted to be received by the first connector inner cavity through the first connector opened end, the second connector housing including a second connector housing body, a second connector latch, a stop projection, a ramped second connector sidewall and a slotted second connector side wall facially opposing the ramped second connector sidewall, the second connector housing body member extending between a second connector front end and a second connector rear end, the second connector latch pivotally connected adjacent the second connector rear end and extending between the second connector front and rear ends such that the second connector latch, the second connector housing body member, the ramped second connector sidewall and the slotted second connector sidewall define a second connector inner cavity with a second connector opened end at the second connector front end, the second connector latch operative to move to and between a second connector latch normal relaxed state and a second connector flexed state with the second connector latch being resiliently biased to the second connector latch normal relaxed state, the stop projection connected to the second connector latch between the second connector front and rear ends and extending upwardly therefrom and away from the second connector inner cavity, the ramped second connector sidewall including a first flat cam surface, a ramped cam surface, a second flat cam surface and a second connector locking projection progressively extending into the second connector inner cavity from the second connector front end with the ramped cam surface interconnecting the first and second flat cam surfaces and the second flat cam surface disposed between the ramped cam surface and the second connector locking projection, the slotted second connector sidewall including a flat contact surface facially opposing at least the first flat cam surface and extending parallel to the first cam surface and a slot extending longitudinally and facially opposing at least the second connector locking projection;
• and
• a connector position assurance device including a base panel member and a latch assembly, the base panel member extending along and about a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction, a lateral axis defining a lateral direction and a transverse axis defining a transverse direction with the longitudinal axis, the lateral axis and the transverse axis being oriented perpendicularly relative to one another, the latch assembly connected to and extending generally perpendicularly and forwardly from the base panel member in the longitudinal direction, the latch assembly having a first flexible arm and a second flexible arm disposed in a juxtaposed manner relative to one another on generally opposing sides of the longitudinal axis forming a channel therebetween, each one of the first and second flexible arms operative to move to and between a normal relaxed state and a flexed state generally in the lateral direction, each one the first and second flexible arms being resiliently biased to the normal relaxed state, the first flexible arm having a talon portion at a first flexible arm distal end thereof, the talon portion projecting laterally outwardly away from the channel, the second flexible arm having a guiding projection at a second flexible arm distal end thereof the guide projection projecting laterally outwardly away from the channel, either one of the first and second flexible arms operative to move from the normal relaxed state to the flexed state with the moving one of the first and second flexible arms moves toward a non-moving one of the first and second flexible arms, the talon portion projecting in the lateral direction facing away from the channel and including a first finger projection and a second finger projection disposed apart from the first finger projection forming a notch therebetween, the latch assembly including an arm mounting panel connected to the base panel member at one arm mounting panel end with respective ones of the first and second flexible arms connected thereto at an opposing arm mounting panel end, the first flexible arm attached to the arm mounting panel laterally inwardly relative to a forward corner portion of the arm mounting panel to define an indentation between the forward corner portion and the second finger projection that extends along the first flexible arm,
• wherein initially the connector position assurance device is inserted into the second connector cavity by a first insertion force with the first and second flexible arms being temporarily in the flexed state as the connector position assurance device is advanced into the second connector inner cavity until the notch and the second connector locking projection engage each other in a locked condition thereby forming a cpa-second connector assemblage in a pre-set condition with the first and second flexible arms in the normal relaxed state,
• thereafter the cpa-second connector assemblage in the pre-set condition is aligned with the first connector opened end and inserted partially into the first connector inner cavity by a second insertion force until the first connector stop projection and the second connector stop projection abut one another,
• thereafter, the second connector latch is moved downwardly by a downward force to move the second connector latch from the second connector latch normal relaxed state to the second connector latch flexed state and a third insertion force applied to the cpa-second connector assemblage further inserts the cpa-second connector assemblage into the first connector inner cavity so that the second connector stop projection slides under the first connector stop projection and is positioned within the first connector inner cavity behind the first connector stop projection so that the downward force can be relieved and the second connector latch returns to the second connector latch normal relaxed state thereby releasably retaining the cpa-second connector assemblage in the first connector inner cavity,
• thereafter, a fourth insertion force is applied to move the first flexible arm from the normal relaxed state to the flexed state and to cause both the first finger projection and the second finger projection to slide over the first connector locking projection in order to return the first flexible arm to the normal relaxed state and with both the first connector locking projection and the second connector locking projection disposed within the indentation thereby rendering the first connector housing, the second connector housing and the connector position assurance device in an engaged condition.