Connector position assurance device

[0002] The present invention relates to conductor connectors, and more particularly to connector position assurance devices therefor.

[0003] Electrical, fiber optic and other types of connections are effected utilizing two mutually interfitting connectors, commonly in the form of mating male and female connectors. Each interfitting connector caries electrical, fiber optic or other conductors which are mutually situated and mutually configured so as to provide a connection therebetween when the interfitting connectors are mated to each other.

[0004] One problem that can arise is that the two intermitting connectors may not be fully mated, or may have been mated but have subsequently become dislodged from one another due to, for example, vibration. It is common practice, therefore, in the connector art to provide a connector position assurance (CPA) device which assures mating of the interfitting connectors.

[0005] An example of a pair of interfitting connectors having a CPA device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,186 B1. This example utilizes a pair of connectors, one connector having a CPA device and a slide assist cover which is connected with a U-shaped slide having partly angled slots, and the other connector having tabs. The two connectors are mated by first arranging the connectors so that the tabs enter the slots, and then sliding the slide assist cover to cause the slots to mate the connectors. The CPA device is then actuated. Interestingly, it is possible to move the slide assist cover and then actuate the CPA device even though the mating connector is absent.

[0006] While the aforementioned example works very well and is the epitome of slide assist type connectors, what remains needed in the connector art is a CPA device which is entirely located on one connector, yet is actuable only upon the connectors having actually mated.

[0007] The present invention is a CPA device located on one connector of a pair of interfitting connectors, wherein the CPA device is actuable only in the event that the two connectors are actually mated.

[0008] The CPA device according to the present invention is entirely located at one connector (the CPA connector). The CPA connector is provided with a CPA channel into which a CPA slide is located. The CPA slide interacts with the CPA channel snappingly at two sliding positions of the CPA slide relative to the channel: a prestaged position and a staged position.

[0009] A CPA actuation lock is provided, wherein the CPA channel includes a pair of channel abutments, and the CPA slide has a pair of resilient arms, the ends of which abut, respectively, the channel abutments when the CPA slide is at the prestaged position. The abutting interaction of the channel abutments with respect to the resilient arms prevents the CPA slide from being snappingly slid to the staged position.

[0010] As the CPA connector is mated to the other connector (the non-CPA connector), the non-CPA connector pushes upon the resilient arms so as to resiliently bend them out of abutment with respect to the channel abutments, thereby releasing the CPA actuation lock and allowing the CPA slide to be snappingly slid to the staged position.

[0011] Operationally, the CPA and non-CPA connectors share a clasp mechanism. Upon mating of the interfitting connectors, the CPA slide is free to be snappingly slid to the staged position, whereat the CPA slide interferes with the clasp mechanism so as to prevent unintentional release of the clasp mechanism.

[0012] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a CPA device located on one connector of a pair of interfitting connectors, wherein the CPA device is actuable only in the event that the two connectors are actually mated.

[0013] This and additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following specification of a preferred embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two interfitting connectors, one of which is equipped with the CPA device according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a partly sectional perspective view of the two interfitting connectors of FIG. 1, shown mated, and wherein the CPA slide is at the prestaged position.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the CPA connector of the two interfitting connectors and the CPA slide therefor.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a partly sectional perspective view of the CPA connector of FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a partly sectional perspective view of the two interfitting connectors, wherein the CPA slide is at the prestaged position.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a broken-away front end view of the CPA connector.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a partly sectional top view of the two interfitting connectors, shown at the position depicted at FIG. 5, wherein the CPA actuation lock is active.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a partly sectional top view of the two interfitting connectors, shown whereat the CPA actual lock has released.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a partly sectional top view of the two interfitting connectors, shown fully mated.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a partly sectional perspective view of the two interfitting connectors, shown mated and with the CPA slide at the staged position.

[0024] FIG. 11 is a view of the CPA connector similar to that of FIG. 6, wherein the CPA slide is shown at its staged position.

[0025] Referring now to the Drawing, FIGS. 1 through 11 depict an example of a CPA device 10 according to the present invention. In this regard, FIG. 1 depicts an exemplar environment of use of the CPA device 10 with respect to two interfitting connectors 12. One of the connectors is a CPA connector 14, in that the CPA device 10 is located thereat. The other connector is a non-CPA connector 16, in that none of the CPA device is located thereat. The interfitting connectors 12 may be any form of connectors, as for example those used in the electrical arts to connect wires or in the fiber optic arts to connect fiber optic fibers.

[0026] As shown at FIG. 2, the exemplified interfitting connectors 12, are mutually configured so that the CPA connector 14 is matingly received into the non-CPA connector 16. The two exemplified interfitting connectors 12 are held in a mated state by a clasp mechanism 18, having, for example, the following clasp elements: a boss 20 of the non-CPA connector 16 being received into a mating slot 22 formed in a resiliently mounted land of the CPA connector 14. In this exemplification, the CPA device 10 serves to retain the boss 20 in the mating slot 22, and is operable to provide this feature once the interfitting connectors 12 are mated.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows the aforementioned CPA device 10, which includes a CPA slide 24 and a CPA channel 26 formed in the body of the CPA connector 14. The CPA slide 24 is slidably located in the CPA channel 26, as generally exemplified at FIG. 2, wherein a bottom surface of the CPA slide has first and second lips 28, 30 which must be snappingly moved over a rib 32 formed at a groove 34gof the floor 34 of the CPA channel. Accordingly, the CPA slide 24 is retained in the CPA channel 26 provided the first lip 28 has passed over the rib 32. With the rib 32 located between the first and second lips 28, 30, the CPA slide is at its prestaged position with respect to the CPA connector 14, as shown at FIG. 2.

[0028] A CPA actuation lock is in the form of the CPA channel 26 having a pair of channel abutments 36, 38 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6), and the CPA slide having a pair of resilient arms 40, 42 (see FIGS. 3 and 7), wherein the arm ends 40e, 42eof the resilient arms abut, respectively, the channel abutments 36, 38 when the CPA slide is at the prestaged position (see FIG. 5). The abutting interaction of the channel abutments 36, 38 with respect to the arm ends 40e, 42eprevents the CPA slide 24 from being snappingly slid in the direction of the second lip 30 over the rib 32 to its staged position, as shown at FIG. 10. To enhance the aforementioned abutting function of the CPA actuation lock, the ends 40e, 42eand the channel abutments 36, 38 are acutely inclined relative to each other, the inclination angle θ, preferably of about 5 degrees, being such as to tend to inhibit the resilient arms from flexing inwardly toward each other (see FIG. 9).

[0029] Returning to the CPA slide 24 as shown best at FIG. 3, the CPA slide further has a head 44 which includes a rear wall 46, a primary CPA abutment 48 and a pair of secondary CPA abutments 48a, 48bon either side thereof. The resilient arms 40, 42 are attached to the head 44. The CPA slide further features a central body 50 which is connected with the head 44, and terminates forwardly of the resilient arms in the form of a post 52 and a pair of cross-arms 54.

[0030] Returning now to the interfitting connectors 12, the boss 20 of the non-CPA connector 16 has a leading edge 56awhich is inclined and has a following edge 56bwhich is perpendicular (see FIG. 10). The mating slot 22 of the CPA connector is formed in a (previously mentioned) land 58 which is resiliently connected to the CPA connector adjacent the rear end of the floor 34. The land 58 terminates in a header 60. The preferred resilient connection of the land 58 (and the header 60) is in the form of two mutually spaced apart curved legs 62, 64 which connect to the land on either side thereof. On the land 58 is an inclined ramp 66 which adjoins the mating slot 22 and terminates at a slot edge 68. Accordingly, as the CPA and non-CPA connectors 14, 16 are mated, the leading edge 56aof the boss 20 rides up the inclined ramp 66 (creating a resilient compression at the curved legs 62, 64) and then snappingly enters the mating slot 22 as the header springs upwardly when the boss falls off the inclined ramp and into the mating slot. Now, the interfitting connectors 12 are held in the mated state by an interfering abutment of the following edge 56bof the boss 20 against the slot edge 68 of the mating slot 22. To release the mating, the header 60 must be depressed so that the boss clears the slot edge of the inclined ramp. The CPA device 10 selectively presents this from happening by the CPA slide 24 being slid to its staged position whereat the CPA slide prevents the header from being depressed.

[0031] Referring particularly to FIG. 6, the header 60 has a primary slide seat 70 into which the primary CPA abutment 48 is receivable and secondary slide seats 72a, 72bon either side of the primary slide seat which receives the secondary CPA abutments 48a, 48b(see FIG. 11). The primary slide seat 70 is in the form of an open-bottom recess demarcated by a U-shaped recess wall 74R an upper recess wall 74U and side recess walls 74S.

[0032] Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, it will be noted that the CPA channel 26 includes guide slots 76, 78 formed, respectively, in siderails 80, 82. The guide slots 76, 78 terminate, respectively, at the channel abutments 36, 38. A guide tab 84, 86 is provided at each of the guide slots 76, 78. As indicated additionally by FIG. 5, the CPA channel 26 is structured so that the CPA slide 24 slides along the floor 34 with the first and second lips 28, 30 being situated in the groove 34g, and so that the resilient arms 40, 42 are situated in the guide slots 76, 78, wherein nibs 88 of the resilient arms protrude.

[0033] Referring now in particular to FIGS. 7 through 11, operation will be discussed.

[0034] At FIG. 7, the CPA connector 14 has been partly inserted into a mating port of the non-CPA connector 16, wherein port sidewalls 90 of the non-CPA connector abut the siderails 80, 82. The CPA slide is at the prestaged position.

[0035] At FIG. 8, the CPA connector is further inserted into the mating port, during which the nibs 88 come into abutment with an entry bevel 92 of the port sidewalls 90. Still further insertion results in the nibs 88 being forced inwardly by the sidewalls, which is possible because of flexing by the resilient arms 40, 42. The flexing of the resilient arms 40, 42 results, in turn, with the arms ends 40e, 42ebeing moved out of an interfering abutment with the channel abutments 36, 38. The CPA slide continues to remain at the prestaged position.

[0036] At FIG. 9, the CPA connector 14 is fully mated with the non-CPA connector, and the resilient arms 40, 42 are flexed inwardly so as to be well clear of channel abutments 36, 38. The CPA slide still remains at the prestaged position.

[0037] Simultaneously during the movements indicated at FIGS. 7 through 9, the boss 20 has traveled along the inclined ramp 66, causing the header 60 to be resiliently flexed downwardly (toward the floor 34) until the boss has cleared the slot edge 68, whereupon the header springs upwardly and traps the boss in the slot 22, as depicted at FIG. 2.

[0038] In order to prevent flexing of the header 60, which effectively causes the two interfitting connectors 12 to be assuredly locked together in the mating position, the CPA slide 24 is slid toward the non-CPA connector 16 to the staged position, whereupon the second lip 30 has snapped over the rib 32, as shown at FIG. 10. Now, at the staged position, the primary CPA abutment 48 is received into the primary slide seat 70 of the header such that the header cannot be flexed toward the floor because of the interfering abutment of the primary CPA abutment with respect to the upper recess wall 74U. Additionally, at the staged position of the CPA slide, the secondary CPA abutments 48a, 48binterferingly abut, respectively, the secondary slide seats 72a, 72bwhich also serve to prevent flexing of the header toward the floor (see FIG. 11, wherein parts spacing is shown emphasized for clarity).

[0039] As the CPA slide 24 achieves the staged position, the primary CPA abutment 48 applies a force on the header 60 tending to flex it upwardly (away from the floor 34) as the second lip 30 snaps over the rib 32 (as also happened when the first lip 28 passed over the rib 32). In this regard, the header 60 is held from moving upwardly to any substantial amount by the boss 20, which also serves to assist prevention of the second lip 30 from backing out over the rib 32. Indeed, intentional prying is necessary to extract the CPA slide 24 from the staged position. A lug 94 (see FIG. 10) is located on the land 58 adjacent the curved legs 62, 64 which serves as a hold-down for the CPA slide 24 at the post 52 thereof. At the staged and prestaged positions of the CPA slide 24, the ends of the cross-arms 54 guidably abut the siderails 80, 82 and the post 52 is located guidably between the curved legs 62, 64. When the CPA slide 24 achieves the staged position, the cross-arms 54 abut the curved legs 62, 64.

[0040] It is to be noted that the entire CPA device 10 is located on the CPA connector 14, and further that the CPA slide is prevented from moving unless the two interfitting connectors 12 are mated. These features provide connector mating position assurance, wherein manufacturing is simplified by the entire CPA device being located on a single one of the connectors.

[0041] To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the above described preferred embodiment may be subject to change or modification. Such change or modification can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.