Connector position assurance device for a sealed connector

An electrical connector comprising:

• a connector position assurance device (CPA) having a CPA guideway and a CPA retention lever;
• a first connector housing having a first connector interface containing at least one contact;
• a second connector housing having a second connector interface containing at least one contact, said contacts of said first and second connector interfaces being mated with one another;
• a shroud mounted to said first connector housing and arranged to surround said second connector housing when said first and second connector housings are fully mated, said first connector interface extending outwardly from and beyond said shroud, said first connector interface being received within said second connector housing when said first and second connector housings are fully mated;
• a latch assembly having a first latch guideway adapted to slidably join said CPA guideway to permit said CPA to be moved to a locked position and having a latch engaging surface;
• a latch mating element located on one of said first and second connector housings, said latch mating element securely engaging said latch engaging surface when said first and second connector housings are fully mated, said latch mating element including a second latch guideway adapted to slidably join said CPA guideway to retain said CPA when in a retracted position;
• and
• a seal mounted to one of said first and second connector housings to form a hermetic seal between said first and second connector housings when fully mated.

A sealed electrical connector housing assembly, said assembly comprising:

• a connector position assurance device (CPA);
• a first housing having a shroud, said first housing defining a mating interface extending outwardly from and beyond said shroud;
• a second housing defining an opening receiving said mating interface of said first housing;
• a latch located on one of said first or second housings;
• a latch mating element, on another of said first and second housings, positioned to securely engage said latch when said first and second housings are fully mated with one another;
• a seal mounted on one of the first and second housings wherein said CPA is slidably mounted to one of said first and second housings to be movable between a retracted position and a locked position, said assembly being configured such that when said first and second housings are attempted to be mated with said CPA in said locked position, said CPA will be forced back to said retracted position.

A sealed electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• a connector position assurance device (CPA) including at least one CPA support rail and a CPA latch finger;
• a plug housing having a body section with a mating interface on one end thereof, said mating interface retaining a plurality of plug contacts, said plug housing further including a shroud extending about at least a portion of said body section, said shroud being spaced apart from said body section by a gap, said mating interface extending outwardly from said shroud;
• a header having a base retaining a plurality of header contacts adapted to electrically engage said plug contacts, said header having walls defining a plug receptacle adapted for receiving said mating interface, said walls being received in said gap between said shroud and said body section;
• a seal mounted to one of said plug housing and header, said seal forming a hermetic seal between said plug housing and header when said plug housing and header are fully mated with one another;
• a CPA retention assembly mounted to at least one of said plug housing and said header, said CPA being slidably mounted to said CPA retention assembly and movable between a retracted position and a locked position, said CPA permitting engagement and disengagement of said header and plug housing when in said retracted position, said CPA preventing engagement and disengagement of said header and plug housing when in said locked position;
• and
• a latch assembly to securely join said plug housing and header, said latch assembly comprising a finger stop, said finger stop comprising a channel and ears, at least one of said latch finger and said finger stop comprising an embossment configured such that said finger must be deflected in order to move said CPA from said retracted position to said locked position, said embossment comprising a front ramped portion, a rear ramped portion, and a flat portion, said ears defining a gap width, said flat portion of said embossment defining a flat portion width, said flat portion being substantially aligned with said ears when said finger is substantially horizontal, and said flat portion width being greater than said gap width, whereby said finger must be deflected in order to move from said retracted position to said locked position.

A sealed electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• a connector position assurance device (CPA) including at least one CPA support rail and a CPA latch finger;
• a plug housing;
• a header matable with said plug housing;
• a latch assembly to securely join said plug housing and said header, said latch assembly comprising a finger stop, said finger stop comprising a channel and ears, at least one of said finger and said finger stop comprising an embossment configured such that said finger stop must be deflected in order to move said CPA from a retracted position to a locked position, said embossment comprising a front ramped portion, a rear ramped portion, and a flat portion, said ears defining a gap width, said flat portion of said embossment defining a flat portion width, said flat portion being substantially aligned with said ears when said finger is substantially horizontal, and said flat portion width being greater than said gap width, whereby said finger must be deflected in order to moved from said retracted position to said locked position.