Electrical connection system including mating assist lever that contains locking means and connector position assurance member that interacts therewith

A method of mating a first connector housing to a second connector housing to form an electrical connection system, comprising:

• matingly engaging the first connector housing to the second connector housing along a mating axis, and the first connector housing includes a mating assist lever, wherein the mating assist lever contains a connector position assurance member and a locking means, and wherein the mating assist lever is configured to movingly rotate to a CLOSED position and the connector position assurance member is configured to slidingly move to a LOCKED position;
• movingly rotating the mating assist lever to the CLOSED position such that the locking means is disposed adjacent to an external surface of the second connector housing;
• applying a force against the locking means when the mating assist lever is disposed in the CLOSED position that is sufficient to latchingly secure the first connector housing to the second connector housing;
• and
• slidably moving the connector position assurance member in a direction transverse to the mating axis so that the connector position assurance member is disposed in the LOCKED position such that the connector position assurance member communicates with said locking means in a manner that prevents said latched locking means from being unlatched.

A method of mating a first connector housing to a second connector housing to form an electrical connection system, comprising:

• matingly engaging the first connector housing to the second connector housing along a mating axis, and the first connector housing includes a mating assist lever, wherein the mating assist lever contains a connector position assurance member and a locking means, and wherein the mating assist lever is configured to movingly rotate to a CLOSED position and the connector position assurance member is configured to slidingly move to a LOCKED position;
• movingly rotating the mating assist lever to the CLOSED position such that the locking means is disposed adjacent to an external surface of the second connector housing;
• applying a force against the locking means when the mating assist lever is disposed in the CLOSED position that is sufficient to latchingly secure the first connector housing to the second connector housing;
• and
• slidably moving the connector position assurance member so that the connector position assurance member is disposed in the LOCKED position such that the connector position assurance member communicates with said locking means in a manner that prevents said latched locking means from being unlatched, wherein the mating assist lever is U-shaped and includes a pair of levers arms joined together by a cross portion, wherein the connector position assurance member and the locking means, respectively, are disposed on the cross portion and wherein the locking means comprises a U-shaped element in communication with a flexible beam and a rigid beam, and the flexible beam and the rigid beam, respectively, are associated with the cross portion of the mating assist lever.

A method of mating a first connector housing to a second connector housing to form an electrical connection system, comprising:

• matingly engaging the first connector housing to the second connector housing along a mating axis, and the first connector housing includes a mating assist lever, wherein the mating assist lever contains a connector position assurance member and a locking means, and wherein the mating assist lever is configured to movingly rotate to a CLOSED position and the connector position assurance member is configured to slidingly move to a LOCKED position;
• movingly rotating the mating assist lever to the CLOSED position such that the locking means is disposed adjacent to an external surface of the second connector housing;
• applying a force against the locking means when the mating assist lever is disposed in the CLOSED position that is sufficient to latchingly secure the first connector housing to the second connector housing;
• and
• slidably moving the connector position assurance member so that the connector position assurance member is disposed in the LOCKED position such that the connector position assurance member communicates with said locking means in a manner that prevents said latched locking means from being unlatched wherein the locking means includes a tab, and wherein the tab clears a nub disposed on the external surface of the second connector housing so that the tab communicates with a shoulder of the nub so that the first connector housing is latchingly secured to the second connector housing.

A method of mating a first connector housing to a second connector housing to form an electrical connection system, comprising:

• matingly engaging the first connector housing to the second connector housing along a mating axis, and the first connector housing includes a mating assist lever, wherein the mating assist lever contains a connector position assurance member and a locking means, and wherein the mating assist lever is configured to movingly rotate to a CLOSED position and the connector position assurance member is configured to slidingly move to a LOCKED position;
• movingly rotating the mating assist lever to the CLOSED position such that the locking means is disposed adjacent to an external surface of the second connector housing;
• applying a force against the locking means when the mating assist lever is disposed in the CLOSED position that is sufficient to latchingly secure the first connector housing to the second connector housing;
• and
• slidably moving the connector position assurance member so that the connector position assurance member is disposed in the LOCKED position such that the connector position assurance member communicates with said locking means in a manner that prevents said latched locking means from being unlatched wherein the locking means includes a U-shaped element, wherein an end portion of the connector position assurance member communicates with an area that is enclosed by the U-shaped element when the connector position assurance member is disposed in the LOCKED position and wherein-a portion of the connector position assurance member that is different from said end portion communicates with a lever arm disposed on the second connector housing when the connector position assurance member is disposed in the LOCKED position.