Abstract:
A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) lock ( 10 ) for an engine wiring harness connector ( 12 ) having a connector body ( 14 ) and a lever latch ( 30 ) pivotal with respect to the connector body includes a lock body ( 34 ). A foot ( 52 ) extends from the lock body ( 34 ) and engages the connector ( 12 ) to fix the position of the lock body relative to the connector. The lock body ( 34 ) captures the lever latch ( 30 ) and prevents the pivoting of the lever latch with respect to the connector body ( 40 ) unless the foot ( 52 ) is deformed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Embodiments described herein relate to a device and method for locking a connected position of a connector on an engine harness. 
         [0002]    Engine wiring harnesses are used to connect switches, sensors and solenoids to control modules, lamps and gauges, and typically include connectors, terminals, protective coverings and clipping features. The engine wiring harness provides the engine with the electrical power to start-up and run, while also supplying any electrical signals to and from the engine control module, such as electrical signals to the speedometer and tachometer, among others. 
         [0003]    The connectors on the engine wiring harness may include a lever latch pivotally disposed on a connector body. The lever latch is pivotal with respect to the connector body at a pivot point. When the lever latch is pivoted from a first, unconnected position to a second, connected position, the connector has a positive connection with the object that it is being connected to. The second, connected position should be maintained by the lever latch for the positive connection to be maintained. 
         [0004]    To prevent the connector from inadvertently disengaging, the connector sometimes includes a lock, known as a connector position assurance (CPA) lock. CPA locks typically provide a mechanical lock that avoids inadvertent disengagement of the connector from the second, connected position, but that permits intended disengagement of the connector. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) lock for an engine wiring harness connector having a connector body and a lever latch pivotal with respect to the connector body includes a lock body. A foot extends from the lock body and engages the connector to fix the position of the lock body relative to the connector. The lock body captures the lever latch and prevents the pivoting of the lever latch with respect to the connector body unless the foot is deformed. 
         [0006]    A method of locking the position of a lever latch that is pivotally disposed on a connector body of an engine wiring harness connector includes the step of providing a connector position assurance (CPA) lock. The CPA lock has a body with a deformable surface and a foot extending from the lock body. The method also includes the steps of engaging the foot with the connector to fix the position of the lock body relative to the connector, pivoting the lever latch rearward away from a front surface of the connector body, and deforming the lock body to permit the lever latch to pivot over a top surface of the lock body. Additionally, the foot is returned to an un-deformed state, and the lever latch is captured in the pivoted position by the un-deformed foot. 
         [0007]    A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) lock for an engine wiring harness connector having a connector body and a lever latch pivotal with respect to the connector body includes a generally annular lock body. The lock body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side-walls connecting the top surface and the bottom surface. The top surface, the bottom surface and the two side-walls define an aperture extending from a front face to a rear face of the lock body. Two flexible feet extend from the side walls of the lock body, and extend rearward from the rear face to engage with the connector. A lip is disposed on the top surface of the lock body at the rear face of the lock body, and is configured to receive and engage the lever latch. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector including a connector position assurance lock. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the connector position assurance lock. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the connector position assurance lock. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the connector position assurance lock. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a Connector Position Assurance (CPA) lock is indicated at  10  and is shown engaged with a connector  12  of an engine wiring harness. The connector  12  is one known connector available commercially under the BOSCH® brand, however the CPA lock  10  can be used with various other connectors used on engine wiring harnesses. 
         [0013]    The connector  12  on the engine wiring harness includes a connector body  14  having a generally rectangular shape, however other shapes are possible. The connector body  14  has a lower surface  16  that interfaces with the engine, for example at an engine control module (ECM), a front surface  18  and at least one side surface  20 . Extending from an upper surface  22  of the connector body  14  is a back cover  24 . The back cover  24  may be plastic, however other materials are possible. A lower portion  26  of the back cover  24  is proximate the connector body  14 , and an upper portion  28  of the back cover  24  may be generally cylindrical, although other shapes are possible. The upper portion  28  may bundle wires extending from the connector  12  to the engine wiring harness. 
         [0014]    A lever latch  30  is pivotally disposed on the connector body  14  at a rotational point  27  located on the side surface  20 . The lever latch  30  may be metal, however other materials are contemplated. The lever latch  30  is pivotal towards the front surface  18  of the connector body  14 , and away from the front face of the connector body. When the lever latch  30  is pivoted to the position shown in  FIG. 1 , the connector  12  is connected. The lever latch  30  includes a latch engagement feature  55  that captures posts on a header of the ECM. As the lever latch  30  is pivoted away from the front surface  18  of the connector body  14 , there is a camming action that pulls the connector  12  into engagement with the ECM. 
         [0015]    When the lever latch  30  is pivoted from a first, unconnected position (shown by arrow “U”) to a second, connected position (shown in  FIG. 1 ), the connector  12  has a positive connection with the ECM, electrically coupling the ECM to the engine wiring harness. The second, connected position “C” needs to be maintained by the lever latch  30  for the positive connection to be maintained. While a latch lock  32  may be disposed on the lever latch  30  to lock the lever latch in the connected position, the latch lock  32  has been found to be unreliable in maintaining the lever latch  30  in the connected position. 
         [0016]    The CPA lock  10  mechanically locks the lever latch  30  in the connected position. The CPA lock  10  has a lock body  34  that may be generally annular, having a top surface  36  and a bottom surface  38 . Both the top surface  36  and the bottom surface  38  may be generally curved, for example following the curvature of the back cover  24 , however other shapes are possible. While both the top surface  36  and the bottom surface  38  have generally the same curved-shape, it is possible that the lock body  34  can have other shapes. Side walls  40  that are generally perpendicular to the top surface  36  and the bottom surface  38  join the top surface and the bottom surface, defining an aperture  42  formed between a front face  44  and a rear face  46  of the lock body  34 . 
         [0017]    A lip  48  is defined generally centrally at the rear face  46  of the top surface  36 , and two ears  50  are disposed on the top surface on either side of the lip. Two feet  52  extend from the side walls  40  of the lock body  34 , and extend rearward from the rear face  46  to engage with the back cover  24 . The two feet  52  are flexible to attach to the back cover  24 , and once engaged with the back cover, the CPA lock  10  is not easily removed from the back cover. The two feet  52  fix the position of the lock body  34  relative to the connector  12 . It is also possible that one foot  52 , or more than two feet, can be used. 
         [0018]    The two feet  52  are configured to deform or flex to allow the lock body  34  to deform or displace. In an alternative embodiment, it is possible that other portions of the CPA lock  10  can deform, for example the top surface  36 . A protrusion  53  (see  FIG. 2 ) may be located on the bottom surface  38  beneath the top surface  36  to limit the deflection of the top surface and the lip  48 . 
         [0019]    As the lever latch  30  is pivoted, and before the lever latch is engaged behind the lip  48 , the two feet  52  are deformed, which deforms, displaces and/or deflects the top surface  36 , allowing the lever latch to pass over the top surface  36  and to be engaged behind the lip in a connected and locked position. When mounted on the connector  12 , the top surface  36  of the lock body  34  may have an incline until reaching the lip  48 . With the incline, the lever latch  30  travels up and over the top surface  36  until reaching the rear face  46  and lip  48 . When the lever latch  30  is pivoted to the connected position, the lever latch  30  is locked by engaging the lever latch behind the lip  48 . Alternatively, it is possible that the CPA lock  10  can be attached to the connector  12  after the lever latch  30  is pivoted to the connected position. 
         [0020]    When the lever latch  30  is engaged behind the lip  48  and the two feet  52  are returned to the un-deformed state, the lever latch is captured between the lip and the back cover  24  in the connected and locked position. In this connected and locked position, there may be a gap  54  between the lever latch  30  and the upper portion  28  of the back cover  24 . The gap  54  may be about 3 mm, although other gaps or no gap are possible. 
         [0021]    When the connector  12  is to be unlocked, the two feet  52  are flexed or deformed by the user to permit the lever latch  30  to disengage from the lip  48  and pivot towards the front surface  18  of the connector body  14 . The CPA lock  10  may make a physical or audible click, that when sensed by the user, informs the user of the deformation of the CPA lock that is occurring. 
         [0022]    The CPA lock  10  may be formed of plastic, such as nylon resins, or any other resilient materials, and may be formed as a single piece, or alternatively, formed in multiple pieces. To account for variances between the lever latch  30  and the back cover  24 , the CPA lock  10  may be formed of a robust material. Further, the CPA lock  10  may be a different color than the connector  12 , for example since connectors are commonly grey or black, the CPA lock may be red or orange, or any other color that provides a contrast against the connector or back shell. 
         [0023]    The CPA lock  10  is configured such that it does not interfere with the wires going to the connector  12 . Additionally, the CPA lock  10  can be installed and used without tools, and the CPA lock can be used with different types of connectors  12 . Using the CPA lock  10  may increase the detection of unsuccessful connections at the connectors  12 .