# US 2022/0285884 A1 · Connector with connector position assurance

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- Number: US 2022/0285884 A1
- Document ID: US20220285884A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/687,306
- Filed: 2022-03-04
- Published: 2022-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-05
- Assignees: J.S.T. Corporation
- Applicants: J.S.T. Corporation
- Inventors: Ping CHEN; Kurt HUTCHISON
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220285884A1

## CPC

- H01R 13/641: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
- H01R 13/6272: {comprising a single latching arm}
- H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap}
- H01R 2201/26: for vehicles
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

An electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector can include a female housing and a connector position assurance member forming a pre-installed assembly. A male housing of the electrical connector can receive the assembly. Coupling of the assembly and the male housing can permit movement of the connector position assurance member to a final lock position, thus providing connector position assurance to the electrical connector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector, comprising:
a male housing having a downwardly extending arm;
a female housing having a bridge to engage the downwardly extending arm; and
a connector position assurance member having an upwardly extending deflecting arm, the deflecting arm having an edge to abut the bridge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the female housing comprises an aperture to receive the downwardly extending arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the downwardly extending arm, bridge, and deflecting arm are generally aligned along a transverse axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The connector of claim 3, wherein the downwardly extending arm and the bridge abut a top of the male housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein during coupling, the bridge is elastically deformed downward from its initial position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The connector of claim 5, wherein downwardly extending arm is rigid to drive the bridge downward from the initial position during coupling.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein prior to coupling, the bridge is seated in an edge of the connector position assurance member to engage the connector position assurance member and move the connector position assurance member downward during coupling.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The connector of claim 7, wherein after coupling, the bridge returns to the initial position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The connector of claim 5, wherein during coupling, the downwardly extending arm and the deflecting arm are aligned in a longitudinal direction.

### Claim 10

An assembly for a connector, the assembly comprising:
a housing having a guide structure and a bridge, the guide structure having an aperture; and
a connector position assurance member having a center beam disposed in the aperture and an arm to engage with the bridge.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the center beam is cantilevered.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the bridge is depressed to deflect the center beam when the assembly is coupled to a male housing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the guide structure engages with the connector position assurance member to prevent deflection of the center beam.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the arm comprises a flat top surface to engage the bridge.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the arm abuts a first side and a second side of the bridge.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the bridge is positioned in a curved edge of the arm to block the arm from advancing toward a rear of the housing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the bridge is positioned in an inclined edge of the arm to retain the arm in the housing.

### Claim 18

A connector position assurance member, comprising:
a front wall at a first height;
a medial wall extending perpendicularly from the front wall at a second height lower than the first height;
a lateral beam at a third height lower than the second height; and
a center beam adjacent to the lateral beam.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The connector position assurance member of claim 18, wherein the center beam comprises an inclined bottom surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The connector position assurance member of claim 18, wherein the lateral beam comprises one or more outwardly extending protrusions to engage one or more surfaces of a housing.