Molex Corporation

Michael Patrick Higgins

Anthony J Pill

Clarence Robert Moon, Iii

A connector position assurance system is provided for an electrical connector adapted for mating with another mateable connecting device. The connector includes a housing having a guideway and a stop surface near the guideway. A primary flexible locking arm on the housing includes a latch for mechanically interlocking with a cooperating latch of the mateable connecting device. A connector position assurance (CPA) device is slidable along the guideway between a first position allowing movement of the locking arm and mating of the connector with the mateable connecting device, and a second position blocking movement of the locking arm away from a latched position. The CPA device includes a flexible stop arm engageable with the stop surface on the housing to prevent the CPA device from moving from its first to its second position. The mateable connecting device includes an actuator for moving the flexible stop arm of the CPA device out of engagement with the stop surface automatically when the connector is fully mated with the mateable connecting device, thereby allowing movement of the CPA device from its first position to its second position indicating full mating of the connector.

Growing community of inventors

Berwyn, IL, United States of America

Michael Patrick Higgins