Abstract:
Method of operating a connector apparatus having a female connector assembly and a male connector assembly. The female connector assembly includes a female housing, a connector position assurance (CPA) member for assuring the engagement of the male connector assembly with the female connector assembly, and a first terminal position assurance (TPA) member for assuring that terminals for the female connector assembly are positioned properly. The female housing further includes a connector latch used to securely hold together a connector apparatus. The female housing has TPA protection ribs and CPA protection walls. The male housing has TPA protection ribs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/278,552, filed Jan. 14, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a method of operating a connector apparatus having a female connector assembly and a male connector assembly. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention generally relates to a method of operating a connector apparatus having a female connector assembly and a male connector assembly. 
         [0004]    The female connector assembly includes a female housing, a connector position assurance (CPA) member for assuring the engagement of the male connector assembly with the female connector assembly, and a first terminal position assurance (TPA) member for assuring that terminals for the female connector assembly are positioned properly. The female housing further includes a connector latch used to securely hold together a connector apparatus. 
         [0005]    The male connector assembly includes a male housing and a second TPA member for assuring that terminals for the male connector assembly are positioned properly. 
         [0006]    The female connector assembly and male connector assembly can be mated together. 
         [0007]    The connector apparatus, having the female housing, male housing, CPA member, first TPA member, second TPA member, and connector latch, provides a number of desirable characteristics, including at least, for example: an audible “click” sound when the female connector assembly and the male connector assembly are mated together, which is an extra loud sound; a low profile connector latch; a resistance to permanent set for the connector latch; a resistance to movement to final lock position for the CPA member, first TPA member, and second TPA member; a moderate amount of reinforcement; mutual retention; good mechanical strength; easy molding features; no secondary operation of a user is required; failure prevention means; and good dimensional control of latching geometry. 
         [0008]    To ensure that the first TPA member is made available for connecting to the female housing during transport thereof, for example, the first TPA is engaged, in a preset position, to the female housing. 
         [0009]    To ensure that the second TPA member is made available for connecting to the male housing during transport thereof, for example, the second TPA is engaged, in a preset position, to the male housing. 
         [0010]    To ensure that the CPA member is made available for connecting to the female housing during transport thereof, for example, the CPA member is engaged, in a preset position, to the female housing. 
         [0011]    At least one terminal can be provided into each of the male connector assembly and the female connector assembly, when the first TPA member and the second TPA member are in the preset position. 
         [0012]    The male connector assembly and female connector assembly are engaged together, and the engagement thereof is assured when the CPA member is placed in a final lock position. 
         [0013]    The set of terminals provided for the female connector assembly is secured thereto when the first TPA member is placed in the final lock position. 
         [0014]    The set of terminals provided for the male connector assembly is secured thereto when the second TPA member is placed in the final lock position. 
         [0015]    It is a desirable trait to have an audible “click” sound for a connector. For example, when components of an automotive connector are completely mated with each other, it is a desirable trait to have an audible “click” sound for convenient assurance that the components are completely mated. In the automotive connector field, an extra loud sound is favorable. It is desirable to have the loudest “click” sound possible. The “click” sound can be achieved by an interaction of latching features, for example. By placing latching features in a preloaded condition, there is additional force when a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly are mated together, and that additional force helps to make the “click” sound louder than it would have been if the latching features had not been in a preloaded condition. 
         [0016]    It is a desirable trait for the connector latch to have a low profile. By manufacturing the connector latch in an undeflected position, the gaps required to create overstress protection features, to prevent the connector latch from being pried in the wrong direction and damaged, are not needed. The gaps can be removed from the overall height of the latch system, so that the connector latch can have a low profile. 
         [0017]    It is a desirable trait to have a resistance to being set. For example, when automotive wire harnesses are bundled for shipment, the connector latches can be unintentionally compressed and held in a deflected position. Especially in hot environments, this condition causes the connector latch to be permanently deflected, also known as permanently set, thus rendering the connector latch useless or less effective. Preloading the connector latch makes the connector latch more resistant to this failure mode. 
         [0018]    It is a desirable trait to have good dimensional control of latching geometry. By preloading the connector latch against dimensionally stable features, the height of the connector latch features can be controlled easily. 
         [0019]    After the connector latch is manufactured, the connector latch is in an undeflected position. The connector latch is then subjected to a pre-mating deflection process, in order to deflect the connector latch and lock the connector latch in a preloaded position. After the pre-mating deflection process has been completed, the connector latch is locked in a preloaded position and can be referred to as a preloaded connector latch. 
         [0020]    When a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly are engaged together, the engagement thereof is assured because the connector latch causes an audible “click” sound. A first connector assembly can correspond to a female connector assembly or other type of connector assembly, for example. A second connector assembly can correspond to a male connector assembly or other type of connector assembly, for example. The undeflected position can also be referred to as an extended and relaxed undeflected position. 
         [0021]    Each TPA member has at least one flexible feature and at least one guide. The flexible feature can also be referred to as a protrusion. The guide can provide proper guidance and avoid any imbalance created during engagement of a TPA member with a housing. 
         [0022]    A CPA member provides a number of desirable characteristics, including at least, for example: it helps to achieve a full potential force of the system and desirable audible “click” sound when the CPA member is inserted into a housing; it helps to avoid a CPA member being moved to a final lock position (or “set” position) during shipping and/or handling; it requires no secondary operation of a user; and it helps prevent failure. 
         [0023]    A TPA member provides a number of desirable characteristics, including at least, for example: it helps to achieve a full potential force of the system and desirable audible “click” sound when the TPA member is inserted into a housing; it helps to avoid a TPA member being moved to a final lock position during shipping and/or handling; it requires no secondary operation of a user; and it helps prevent failure. 
         [0024]    Because of the use of a TPA member having the guide, the TPA member&#39;s first pair of flexible features is more likely to engage substantially simultaneously, and then subsequently the TPA member&#39;s second pair of flexible features is more likely to engage substantially simultaneously, thereby achieving full potential force of the system and producing an audible “click” sound. Because of the guide, there is additional force when a TPA member and a connector assembly are mated together, and that additional force helps to make the “click” sound louder than it would have been if the guide was not present. 
         [0025]    It is a desirable trait to avoid a TPA member being moved to a final lock position during shipping and/or handling. The guide and flexible features of the TPA member help to make the TPA member more resistant to entering a final lock position during shipping and/or handling. The guide and flexible features of the TPA members help to prevent a movement of the TPA members from a preset position to a final lock position during shipping and/or handling. 
         [0026]    It is a desirable trait for a TPA member to avoid a need for a secondary operation of a user. The guide and flexible features of TPA members help to avoid a need for a secondary operation of a user. The desired movement can be accomplished by a single operation of a user. 
         [0027]    It is a desirable trait for a TPA member to help prevent failure. The location/guide features and flexible features of TPA members, according to the principles disclosed herein, help to avoid failure. 
         [0028]    When a TPA member and a housing are engaged together in a final lock position, the engagement thereof is assured because there is an audible “click” sound. 
         [0029]    The connector apparatus of the present invention is at least one part of MSL connector series. 
         [0030]    Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention are set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanations without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in a six-pin configuration. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a connector apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in a six-pin configuration. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of parts of a connector apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a female housing, a TPA member for the female housing, a CPA member for the female housing, and a male housing, in a sixteen-pin configuration. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4A  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  4 A- 4 A. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4B  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  4 B- 4 B. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4C  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  4 C- 4 C. 
           [0037]      FIG. 5A  includes a top elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  5 A- 5 A. 
           [0038]      FIG. 5B  includes a top elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  5 B- 5 B. 
           [0039]      FIG. 5C  includes a top elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  5 C- 5 C. 
           [0040]      FIG. 6A  is a bottom elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
           [0041]      FIG. 6B  is a bottom elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position. 
           [0042]      FIG. 6C  is a bottom elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0043]      FIG. 7A  is a rear end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
           [0044]      FIG. 7B  is a rear end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position. 
           [0045]      FIG. 7C  is a rear end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0046]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
           [0047]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position. 
           [0048]      FIG. 8C  is a perspective view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0049]      FIG. 9A  is a front end elevational view of the female housing and male housing of  FIG. 3  mated together showing the female housing with a CPA member in the preset position, without a TPA member in the female housing and without a TPA member in the male housing. 
           [0050]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  9 B- 9 B in  FIG. 9A . 
           [0051]      FIG. 9C  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted  9 C in  FIG. 9B . 
           [0052]      FIG. 9D  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted  9 D in  FIG. 9B . 
           [0053]      FIG. 10A  is a front elevational view of the female housing and male housing of  FIG. 3  mated together showing the female housing with a CPA member in the final lock position, without a TPA member in the female housing and without a TPA member in the male housing. 
           [0054]      FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  10 B- 10 B in  FIG. 10A . 
           [0055]      FIG. 10C  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted  10 C in  FIG. 10B . 
           [0056]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of a male connector assembly, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a male housing and a TPA member for the male housing, in a sixteen-pin configuration. 
           [0057]      FIG. 12A  is a front end elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  without a TPA member. 
           [0058]      FIG. 12B  is a front end elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with a TPA member in the preset position. 
           [0059]      FIG. 12C  is a front end elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with a TPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0060]      FIG. 13A  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  13 A- 13 A in  FIG. 12A . 
           [0061]      FIG. 13B  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  13 B- 13 B in  FIG. 12B . 
           [0062]      FIG. 13C  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  13 C- 13 C in  FIG. 12C . 
           [0063]      FIG. 14A  is a top elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  without a TPA member. 
           [0064]      FIG. 14B  is a top elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with a TPA member in the preset position. 
           [0065]      FIG. 14C  is a top elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with a TPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0066]      FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  without a TPA member. 
           [0067]      FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with a TPA member in the preset position. 
           [0068]      FIG. 15C  is a perspective view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with a TPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0069]      FIG. 16  is a partial cross-sectional view, taken along line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 14B , showing details of some features of the male housing engaging with some features of the TPA member, when the TPA member is in the preset position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0070]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in  FIG. 16 . 
           [0071]      FIG. 18  is a partial cross-sectional view, taken along line  18 - 18  in  FIG. 14C , showing details of some features of the male housing engaging with some features of the TPA member, when the TPA member is in the final lock position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0072]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0073]      FIG. 20  is a side elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
           [0074]      FIG. 21  is a side elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position. 
           [0075]      FIG. 22  is a side elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0076]      FIG. 23  is a rear end elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  without a TPA member. 
           [0077]      FIG. 24  is a side elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0078]      FIG. 25  is a bottom elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0079]      FIG. 26  is an exploded perspective view of a female connector assembly of a connector apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a female housing, a TPA member for the female housing, and a CPA member for the female housing, in a six-pin configuration. 
           [0080]      FIG. 27A  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  27 A- 27 A. 
           [0081]      FIG. 27B  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  27 B- 27 B. 
           [0082]      FIG. 27C  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  27 C- 27 C. 
           [0083]      FIG. 28  is a bottom elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
           [0084]      FIG. 29  is a rear end elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
           [0085]      FIG. 30  includes a top elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  30 - 30 . 
           [0086]      FIG. 31  is a side elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
           [0087]      FIG. 32  is a side elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position. 
           [0088]      FIG. 33  is a side elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0089]      FIG. 34  is an exploded perspective view of a male connector assembly, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a male housing and a TPA member for the male housing, in a six-pin configuration. 
           [0090]      FIG. 35  is a front end elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34 . 
           [0091]      FIG. 36  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  36 - 36  in  FIG. 35 , when a TPA member is in a preset position. 
           [0092]      FIG. 37  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  36 - 36  in  FIG. 35 , when a TPA member is in a final lock position. 
           [0093]      FIG. 38  is a top elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34  with a TPA member in the preset position. 
           [0094]      FIG. 39  is a perspective view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34  with a TPA member in the preset position. 
           [0095]      FIG. 40  is a perspective view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34  with a TPA member in the final lock position. 
           [0096]      FIG. 41  is a side elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34 . 
           [0097]      FIG. 42  is a bottom elevational view of the male housing of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34 . 
           [0098]      FIG. 43  is a perspective view of the CPA member of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0099]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in a six-pin configuration.  FIG. 1  illustrates a connector apparatus, generally referred to by reference numeral  100 , which includes a female housing  102 , a CPA member  104  in the female housing  102 , a male housing  108 , and a TPA member  110  in the male housing  108 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the female housing  102  is mated with the male housing  108 . 
         [0100]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a connector apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in a six-pin configuration.  FIG. 2  illustrates a connector apparatus, generally referred to by reference numeral  200 , which includes a female housing  202 , a CPA member  204  in the female housing  202 , a male housing  208 , and a TPA member  210  in the male housing  208 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the female housing  2102  is mated with the male housing  208 . 
         [0101]    A full connector assembly consists of a male connector assembly and a female connector assembly. The full connector assembly can also be referred to as a connector apparatus. 
         [0102]    The female connector assembly consists of a female housing, a TPA member, and a CPA member. For female sub-assembly, the TPA member and CPA member are inserted into the female housing in the preset position. 
         [0103]    The male connector assembly consists of a male housing and a TPA member. For male sub-assembly, the TPA member is inserted into the male housing in the preset position. 
         [0104]    The female and male connector assemblies are assembled separately. After inserting terminals in both the female and male connector assemblies, the TPA member is pushed to the final lock position for providing a secondary locking to the terminals. Both sub-assemblies are then mated to make a system assembly. 
         [0105]    The female housing has a connector latch which latches with the male housing to interlock. The CPA member provides an assurance that both female and male connector assemblies are locked. Then the CPA member is pushed to the final lock position. 
         [0106]    The connector apparatus of the present invention includes a number of advantages and improvements. The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to prevent a locking latch from getting damaged/deformed during shipping and handling, and thus can help prevent mating problems. 
         [0107]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to prevent a CPA member from getting damaged/deformed during shipping and handling, and thus can help prevent mating problems. 
         [0108]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to prevent a TPA member from getting inadvertently pushed into the final lock position during shipping and handling, and thus can help prevent terminal insertion problems. 
         [0109]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to prevent a user from needing to engage in secondary operations. 
         [0110]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to prevent complaints from a user, because it helps prevent problems associated with an inadvertent movement of a TPA member or CPA member to a final lock position during shipping and/or handling, for example. 
         [0111]    The connector apparatus of the present invention provides an improved connector assembly comprising a female housing and male housing designed to provide a superior audible click sound, moderate reinforcement, mutual retention, good mechanical strength when the female and male housings engage with each other, and extremely easy molding consideration by manufacturing the female housing&#39;s connector latch with overbuild and then pushing the button of the connector latch to a preset position during assembly. 
         [0112]    After the connector latch of the present invention is manufactured, the connector latch is in the extended and relaxed undeflected position. When the connector latch is in that position, the button  902  of the connector latch is extended upward, above a top  410  of a female housing  400 . The button  902  is held up in the extended and relaxed undeflected position by the latch beams  904  and  906 . 
         [0113]    As indicated above, after the connector latch of the present invention is manufactured, the connector latch is in the extended and relaxed undeflected position. The connector latch is then subjected to a pre-mating deflection process, in order to deflect the connector latch and lock the connector latch in a preloaded position. 
         [0114]    After the pre-mating deflection process has been completed, the connector latch is locked in a preloaded position and can be referred to as a preloaded connector latch. 
         [0115]      FIGS. 3, 4A, 5A, 7A, and 8A , for example, show a female housing  400  having a connector latch in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the connector latch in a preloaded position. 
         [0116]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to provide protection to a TPA member by having TPA protection ribs  416 ,  418 ,  442 ,  444 ,  446 , and  448  around the TPA member on the female housing  400 , for example. Those ribs help to prevent the TPA member from contacting other connectors during shipping and handling, to help reduce the occurrence of set TPA members, for example. That is, the ribs help to prevent TPA members from inadvertently moving from the preset position to the final lock position during shipping and handling, for example. 
         [0117]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to provide protection to a TPA member by having TPA protection ribs  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  746 ,  748 , and  750  around the TPA member on the male housing  700 , for example. Those ribs help to prevent the TPA member from contacting other connectors during shipping and handling, to help reduce the occurrence of set TPA members, for example. That is, the ribs help to prevent TPA members from inadvertently moving from the preset position to the final lock position during shipping and handling, for example. 
         [0118]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to provide protection to a CPA member by having CPA protection walls  432 ,  434 , and  436  around the CPA member on the female housing  400 , for example. Those walls help to prevent the CPA member from contacting other components and wiring harnesses during shipping and handling, and help to prevent damage, for example. 
         [0119]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help to protect foreign wires belonging to an adjacent harness from being caught in components by providing anti-snagging features to the female housing and male housing. 
         [0120]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help the TPA members and CPA members to stay in the preset position during shipping and handling. 
         [0121]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can prevent a need for a user to engage in a secondary operation such as trying to move a TPA member from a final lock position to a preset position, for example, after the TPA member was inadvertently moved into the final lock position during shipping and handling. 
         [0122]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can prevent a need for a user to engage in a secondary operation such as trying to move a CPA member from a final lock position to a preset position, for example, after the CPA member was inadvertently moved into the final lock position during shipping and handling. 
         [0123]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help prevent customer complaints, because it helps avoid snags with other cables. 
         [0124]    The connector apparatus of the present invention can help prevent a need for tray packaging. 
         [0125]      FIG. 1  depicts a male housing  108  with TPA protection ribs, and depicts a female housing  102  with CPA protection walls. 
         [0126]      FIG. 2  depicts a male housing  208  without TPA protection ribs, and depicts a female housing  202  with CPA protection walls. 
         [0127]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of parts of a connector apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a female housing, a TPA member for the female housing, a CPA member for the female housing, and a male housing, in a sixteen-pin configuration. 
         [0128]      FIG. 3  illustrates a connector apparatus, generally referred to by reference numeral  300 , which includes a female housing  400 , a CPA member  500  for the female housing  400 , a male housing  700 , and a TPA member  600 . An insertion side  612  of the TPA member  600  can be inserted into the female housing  400 . The insertion side  612  can also be referred to as the bottom of the TPA member  600 . The insertion side  612  of the TPA member  600  can also be inserted into the male housing  700 . 
         [0129]      FIG. 4A  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  4 A- 4 A. 
         [0130]      FIG. 4A  has an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a front end elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. The lower view is a cross-sectional view of the upper view, taken along line  4 A- 4 A. 
         [0131]    The upper view of  FIG. 4A  shows TPA protection rib  416  and TPA protection rib  418 . These TPA protection ribs help to prevent a TPA member from moving from the preset position to the final lock position during shipping and/or handling. 
         [0132]    The upper view of  FIG. 4A  shows button  902  of a connector latch on female housing  400 . The upper view of  FIG. 4A  also shows a top  410  of the female housing  400 , a front end  402  of the female housing  400 , a first side  406  of the female housing  400 , a second side  408  of the female housing  400 , a bottom  412  of the female housing  400 , and a terminal aperture  414  on the front end  402  of the female housing  400 . 
         [0133]    The lower view of  FIG. 4A  shows a rear end  404  of the female housing  400 . Also depicted is a protrusion  422  that is formed on an interior of the female housing  400 . The protrusion  422  has a shape similar to that of a shark fin. The lower view of  FIG. 4A  shows an aperture  420  for receiving the insertion side  612  of a TPA member  600 . 
         [0134]      FIG. 4B  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  4 B- 4 B. 
         [0135]      FIG. 4B  has an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a front end elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the preset position and a CPA member  500  in the preset position. The lower view is a cross-sectional view of the upper view, taken along line  4 B- 4 B. 
         [0136]    The upper view of  FIG. 4B  shows a rear upright portion  514  of CPA member  500 . The lower view of  FIG. 4B  shows a front edge  502  of the CPA member  500 , a central beam  504  of the CPA member  500 , and a front tip  506  of the central beam  504 . 
         [0137]    As shown in the lower view of  FIG. 4B , when the CPA member  500  is in the preset position, the front edge  502  is on the left of the shark fin  422 , and the front tip  506  is on the right of the latch surface  908 . 
         [0138]    As shown in the lower view of  FIG. 4B , when the TPA member  600  is in the preset position, the insertion side  612  is in the position indicated. 
         [0139]    As shown in the lower view of  FIG. 4B , when the TPA member  600  is in the preset position, the exposed side  614  is in the position indicated. 
         [0140]      FIG. 4C  includes a front end elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  4 C- 4 C. 
         [0141]      FIG. 4C  has an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a front end elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the final lock position and a CPA member  500  in the final lock position. The lower view is a cross-sectional view of the upper view, taken along line  4 C- 4 C. 
         [0142]    As shown in the lower view of  FIG. 4C , when the CPA member  500  is in the final lock position, the front edge  502  is in the position indicated, and the front tip  506  is on the left side of the latch surface  908 . 
         [0143]    As shown in the lower view of  FIG. 4C , when the TPA member  600  is in the final lock position, the insertion side  612  is in the position indicated. 
         [0144]    As shown in the lower view of  FIG. 4C , when the TPA member  600  is in the final lock position, the exposed side  614  is in the position indicated. 
         [0145]      FIG. 5A  includes a top elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  5 A- 5 A. 
         [0146]      FIG. 5A  has an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a front end elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. The lower view is a cross-sectional view of the upper view, taken along line  5 A- 5 A. 
         [0147]    The upper view of  FIG. 5A  shows CPA protection wall  432 , CPA protection wall  434 , and CPA protection wall  436 . These CPA protection walls help to keep a CPA member  500  in a proper position, help to prevent the CPA member  500  from moving from the preset position to the final lock position or any other position during shipping and/or handling, help to prevent the CPA member  500  from getting damaged, and help to prevent the CPA member  500  from causing damage. 
         [0148]    The upper view of  FIG. 5A  also shows button  902  of the connector latch of the female housing  400 , first latch beam  904  of the connector latch, second latch beam  906  of the connector latch, and the latch surface  908  of the connector latch. 
         [0149]      FIG. 5B  includes a top elevational view of the female housing of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member in the preset position and a CPA member in the preset position, and includes a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  5 B- 5 B. 
         [0150]      FIG. 5B  includes an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a top elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the preset position and a CPA member  500  in the preset position. The lower view is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  5 B- 5 B. 
         [0151]    The upper view of  FIG. 5B  shows the following parts of the CPA member  500 : a front edge  502 ; a first side  508 ; a second side  510 ; a rear base  512 ; a rear upright portion  514 ; and a front tip  506  of the central beam  504 . In the preset position, as shown, the front tip  506  is located between the latch surface  908  and the rear upright portion  514 . 
         [0152]    The lower view of  FIG. 5B  shows an exposed side  614  of the TPA member  600 . The exposed side  614  is also referred to as a top of the TPA member  600 . The lower view of  FIG. 5B  also shows guide  616  of the TPA member  600 . 
         [0153]      FIG. 5C  includes an upper view showing a top elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the final lock position and a CPA member  500  in the final lock position, and includes a lower view showing a cross-sectional view of the upper view taken along line  5 C- 5 C. In the final lock position, as shown, the front tip  506  is located between the latch surface  908  and the front edge  502  of the CPA member  500 . 
         [0154]    The lower view of  FIG. 5C  shows the TPA member  600  in the final lock position in the female housing  400 . 
         [0155]      FIG. 6A  is a bottom elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
         [0156]      FIG. 6A  shows CPA protection wall  432 , CPA protection wall  434 , and CPA protection wall  436 .  FIG. 6A  also shows TPA protection ribs  416 ,  418 ,  442 ,  444 ,  446 , and  448 . Also,  FIG. 6A  shows a rear end  404  of the female housing  400 . 
         [0157]      FIG. 6A  shows that the female housing  400  forms an aperture  420  for receiving the bottom  612  of the TPA member  600 , also known as the insertion side  612  of the TPA member  600 . 
         [0158]    The female housing  400  forms aperture  428  to receive guide  616  of the TPA member  600 , and also forms aperture  430  to receive guide  618  of the TPA member  600 . 
         [0159]    The female housing  400  forms two tabs  438  on an interior of the female housing  400 . The two tabs  438  are visible inside aperture  420 , as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         [0160]    The male housing  700  forms aperture  720  for receiving the bottom  612  of the TPA member  800 , also known as the insertion side  612  of the TPA member  800 . 
         [0161]    The male housing  700  forms two tabs  438  on an interior of the male housing  700 . The two tabs  438  are visible inside aperture  720 , as shown in  FIG. 14A . 
         [0162]    TPA member  800 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , is equivalent to the TPA member  600  shown in  FIG. 3 . Members  800  and  600  are both TPA members that can be used in a male housing having a sixteen-pin configuration or a female housing having a sixteen-pin configuration. The female housing  400  has a sixteen-pin configuration, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The male housing  700  has a sixteen-pin configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 11 . 
         [0163]    The female housing  920  has a six-pin configuration, as shown in  FIG. 26 . The male housing  970  has a six-pin configuration, as shown in  FIG. 34 . A TPA member  960  can be used for a male housing having a six-pin configuration or a female housing having a six-pin configuration. The TPA member  960  is shown in  FIGS. 26 and 34 , for example. 
         [0164]    For illustration purposes, TPA member  600  is intended to be inserted into the female housing  400  of  FIG. 3 , and TPA member  800  is intended to be inserted into the male housing  700  of  FIG. 11 . 
         [0165]    TPA member  600  and TPA member  800  each has a flexible feature  602  or protrusion  602 . The flexible feature  602  is shown in  FIG. 11  on TPA member  800 . The same flexible feature  602  is on TPA member  600 , shown in  FIG. 3 . Each TPA member  600 ,  800  also has flexible features (protrusions)  604 ,  606 , and  608 , which are shown in  FIG. 11 . Each TPA member  600 ,  800  has a body  610 , a guide  616 , a guide  618 , an insertion side (bottom)  612 , an exposed side (top)  614 , and at least one terminal aperture  620 .  FIG. 3  shows that TPA member  600  has a plurality of terminal apertures  620 .  FIG. 11  shows that TPA member  800  has a plurality of terminal apertures  620 . 
         [0166]    When TPA member  600  is not in aperture  420  of female housing  400 , tabs  438  are visible, as shown in  FIG. 6A . However, when TPA member  600  is in the preset position, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the tabs  438  are not visible. When TPA member  600  is in the preset position, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the flexible features  604  and  608  of TPA member  600  are visible in aperture  420 . When TPA member  600  is in the final lock position, as shown in  FIG. 6C , the tabs  438  are visible. 
         [0167]    When TPA member  800  is not in aperture  720  of male housing  700 , tabs  438  are visible, as shown in  FIG. 14A . However, when TPA member  800  is in the preset position, as shown in  FIG. 14B , the tabs  438  are not visible. When TPA member  800  is in the preset position, as shown in  FIG. 14B , the flexible features  604  and  608  of TPA member  800  are visible in aperture  720 . When TPA member  800  is in the final lock position, as shown in  FIG. 14C , the tabs  438  are visible. 
         [0168]    For the preset position, the relationship between tab  438  and flexible features  602  and  604  is shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . For the final lock position, the relationship between tab  438  and flexible features  602  and  604  is shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . 
         [0169]      FIG. 6B  is a bottom elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the preset position and a CPA member  500  in the preset position. Flexible features  604  and  608  are visible on TPA member  600 . 
         [0170]      FIG. 6C  is a bottom elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the final lock position and a CPA member  500  in the final lock position. Tabs  438  are visible on the interior of the female housing  400 , in aperture  420 . 
         [0171]      FIG. 7A  is a rear end elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. The female housing  400  has a plurality of terminal apertures  426 . 
         [0172]      FIG. 7B  is a rear end elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the preset position and a CPA member  500  in the preset position. 
         [0173]      FIG. 7C  is a rear end elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the final lock position and a CPA member  500  in the final lock position. 
         [0174]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. The female housing  400  forms an aperture  424  for receiving CPA member  500 . The entrance area of aperture  424  is bordered by CPA protection walls  432 ,  434 , and  436 , as shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         [0175]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the preset position and a CPA member  500  in the preset position. 
         [0176]      FIG. 8C  is a perspective view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  with a TPA member  600  in the final lock position and a CPA member  500  in the final lock position. 
         [0177]      FIG. 9A  is a front end elevational view of the female housing  300  and male housing  700  of  FIG. 3  mated together showing the female housing  300  with a CPA member  500  in the preset position. As shown in  FIG. 9A , the female housing  300  does not have a TPA member  600  and the male housing  700  does not have a TPA member  800 . 
         [0178]      FIG. 9A  shows the top  410  of the female housing  400 , and also shows the following features of the male housing  700 : top  710 ; bottom  712 ; first side  706 ; and second side  708 . 
         [0179]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  9 B- 9 B in  FIG. 9A .  FIG. 9B  shows rear end  704  of the male housing  700 , and shows protrusion  732  formed by the male housing  700 . Protrusion  732  has a shape similar to that of a shark fin.  FIG. 9B  shows central beam  504  of CPA member  500 . 
         [0180]      FIG. 9C  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted  9 C in  FIG. 9B .  FIG. 9D  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted  9 D in  FIG. 9B . 
         [0181]    The CPA  500  is not typically inserted into aperture  424  of the female housing  300  until after the female housing  300  is mated with the male housing  700 .  FIGS. 4B, 4C, 5B, 5C, 6B, 6C, 7B, 7C, 8B, and 8C , for example, appear to depict a situation where CPA member  500  is inserted into a female housing  300  at a time when the female housing  300  is not yet mated with the male housing  700 , and thus are for illustrative purposes only. 
         [0182]      FIG. 10A  is a front elevational view of the female housing  400  and male housing  700  of  FIG. 3  mated together showing the female housing  300  with CPA member  500  in the final lock position, without a TPA member in the female housing  300  and without a TPA member in the male housing  700 .  FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  10 B- 10 B in  FIG. 10A .  FIG. 10C  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted  10 C in  FIG. 10B . 
         [0183]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of a male connector assembly, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a male housing  700  and a TPA member  800  for the male housing  700 , in a sixteen-pin configuration. 
         [0184]    TPA member  800  has a flexible feature  602  or protrusion  602 . TPA member  800  also has flexible features (protrusions)  604 ,  606 , and  608 , which are shown in  FIG. 11 . TPA member  800  has a body  610 , a guide  616 , a guide  618 , an insertion side (bottom)  612 , an exposed side (top)  614 , and at least one terminal aperture  620 . 
         [0185]      FIG. 11  shows that the male housing  700  has TPA protection ribs  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  746 ,  748 , and  750 . 
         [0186]      FIG. 11  shows that the male housing  700  has a rear end  704 , a plurality of terminal apertures  726 , and an aperture  720  for receiving TPA member  800 . The male housing  700  forms aperture  728  for receiving guide  616  of TPA member  800 , and forms aperture  730  for receiving guide  618  of TPA member  800 .  FIG. 11  also shows side  714  of the male housing  700 . 
         [0187]      FIG. 12A  is a front end elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  without a TPA member.  FIG. 12A  shows aperture  734  in male housing  700 , intended to receive the rear end  404  of the female housing  400 .  FIG. 12B  is a front end elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with a TPA member  800  in the preset position.  FIG. 12C  is a front end elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with a TPA member  800  in the final lock position. 
         [0188]      FIG. 13A  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  13 A- 13 A in  FIG. 12A .  FIG. 13A  shows front end  702  of the male housing  700 . 
         [0189]      FIG. 13B  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  13 B- 13 B in  FIG. 12B .  FIG. 13B  shows TPA member  800  in the preset position. 
         [0190]      FIG. 13C  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  13 C- 13 C in  FIG. 12C .  FIG. 13C  shows TPA member  800  in the final lock position. 
         [0191]      FIG. 14A  is a top elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  without a TPA member.  FIG. 14A  shows side  714  and side  716  of the male housing  700 . 
         [0192]      FIG. 14B  is a top elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with TPA member  800  in the preset position.  FIG. 14C  is a top elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with TPA member  800  in the final lock position. 
         [0193]      FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  without a TPA member.  FIG. 15A  shows the aperture  734  in the male housing  700 , which receives the rear end  404  of the female housing  400 . 
         [0194]      FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with TPA member  800  in the preset position.  FIG. 15C  is a perspective view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  with TPA member  800  in the final lock position. 
         [0195]      FIG. 16  is a partial cross-sectional view, taken along line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 14B , showing details of some features of the male housing  700  engaging with some features of TPA member  800 , when TPA member  800  is in the preset position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0196]    For the preset position, the relationship between tab  438  and flexible features  602  and  604  is shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 .  FIGS. 16 and 17  show that the male housing  700  forms a groove  440  or receiving area  440  on a surface of the aperture  720  of the male housing  700 . The groove  440  or receiving area  440  receives flexible feature  602  and not flexible feature  604  when a TPA member is in the preset position. 
         [0197]    The female housing  400  forms aperture  428  to receive guide  616  of the TPA member  600 , and also forms aperture  430  to receive guide  618  of the TPA member  600 . The female housing  400  forms two tabs  438  on an interior of the female housing  400 . The two tabs  438  are visible inside aperture  420 , as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         [0198]    The male housing  700  forms aperture  720  for receiving the bottom  612  of the TPA member  800 , also known as the insertion side  612  of the TPA member  800 . The male housing  700  forms two tabs  438  on an interior of the male housing  700 . The two tabs  438  are visible inside aperture  720 , as shown in  FIG. 14A . 
         [0199]    When TPA member  600  is not in aperture  420  of female housing  400 , tabs  438  are visible, as shown in  FIG. 6A . However, when TPA member  600  is in the preset position, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the tabs  438  are not visible. When TPA member  600  is in the preset position, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the flexible features  604  and  608  of TPA member  600  are visible in aperture  420 . 
         [0200]    When TPA member  800  is not in aperture  720  of male housing  700 , tabs  438  are visible, as shown in  FIG. 14A . However, when TPA member  800  is in the preset position, as shown in  FIG. 14B , the tabs  438  are not visible. When TPA member  800  is in the preset position, as shown in  FIG. 14B , the flexible features  604  and  608  of TPA member  800  are visible in aperture  720 . 
         [0201]      FIG. 18  is a partial cross-sectional view, taken along line  18 - 18  in  FIG. 14C , showing details of some features of the male housing  700  engaging with some features of the TPA member  800 , when the TPA member  800  is in the final lock position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  FIG. 19  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0202]    For the final lock position, the relationship between tab  438  and flexible features  602  and  604  is shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 .  FIGS. 18 and 19  show that the male housing  700  forms a groove  440  or receiving area  440 , on a surface of the aperture  720  of the male housing  700 . The groove  440  or receiving area  440  receives flexible feature  602  and flexible feature  604  when a TPA member is in the final lock position. 
         [0203]    When TPA member  600  is in the final lock position, as shown in  FIG. 6C , the tabs  438  are visible. When TPA member  800  is in the final lock position, as shown in  FIG. 14C , the tabs  438  are visible. 
         [0204]      FIG. 20  is a side elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  without a TPA member and without a CPA member.  FIG. 21  is a side elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  with TPA member  600  in the preset position and CPA member  500  in the preset position. 
         [0205]      FIG. 22  is a side elevational view of the female housing  400  of the connector apparatus  300  of  FIG. 3  with TPA member  600  in the final lock position and CPA member  500  in the final lock position.  FIG. 23  is a rear end elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11  without a TPA member.  FIG. 24  is a side elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 25  is a bottom elevational view of the male housing  700  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
         [0206]      FIG. 26  is an exploded perspective view of a female connector assembly of a connector apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a female housing  920 , a TPA member  960  for the female housing  920 , and a CPA member  500  for the female housing  920 , in a six-pin configuration. TPA member  960  has insertion side (bottom)  962  and guide  966 , as shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         [0207]      FIG. 27A  includes an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a front end elevational view of the female housing  920  of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. The lower view is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  27 A- 27 A in the upper view. 
         [0208]      FIG. 27A  shows TPA protection ribs  934  and  936  on female housing  920 .  FIG. 27A  also shows the following aspects of the female housing  920 : front end  922 ; rear end  924 ; first side  926 ; second side  928 ; top  930 ; and bottom  932 . 
         [0209]      FIG. 27B  includes an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a front end elevational view of the female housing  920  of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  with a TPA member  960  in the preset position and a CPA member  500  in the preset position. The lower view is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  27 B- 27 B in the upper view.  FIG. 27B  shows the position of insertion side (bottom)  962  and exposed side (top)  964  of TPA member  960 , when TPA member  960  is in the preset position. 
         [0210]      FIG. 27C  includes an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a front end elevational view of the female housing of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  with a TPA member in the final lock position and a CPA member in the final lock position. The lower view is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  27 C- 27 C in the upper view.  FIG. 27C  shows the position of insertion side (bottom)  962  and exposed side (top) of TPA member  960 , when TPA member  960  is in the final lock position. 
         [0211]      FIG. 28  is a bottom elevational view of the female housing  920  of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member.  FIG. 28  shows that female housing  920  has TPA protection ribs  934 ,  936 ,  944 , and  946 .  FIG. 28  shows CPA protection walls  432 ,  434 , and  436 . The female housing  920  forms aperture  938  for receiving the insertion side (bottom)  962  of TPA member  960 .  FIG. 29  is a rear end elevational view of the female housing  920  of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. 
         [0212]      FIG. 30  includes an upper view and a lower view. The upper view is a top elevational view of the female housing  920  of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member. The lower view is a cross-sectional view taken along line  30 - 30 . 
         [0213]      FIG. 31  is a side elevational view of the female housing  920  of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  without a TPA member and without a CPA member.  FIG. 32  is a side elevational view of the female housing  920  of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  with a TPA member  960  in the preset position and a CPA member  500  in the preset position. 
         [0214]      FIG. 33  is a side elevational view of the female housing  920  of the female connector assembly of  FIG. 26  with a TPA member  960  in the final lock position and a CPA member  500  in the final lock position. 
         [0215]      FIG. 34  is an exploded perspective view of a male connector assembly, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a male housing  970  and a TPA member  960  for the male housing  970 , in a six-pin configuration. 
         [0216]      FIG. 34  shows that TPA member  960  has an exposed (top) side  964 , a guide  966 , and a guide  968 .  FIG. 34  also shows that male housing  970  has TPA protection ribs  988 ,  990 ,  992 ,  994 ,  996 , and  998 . The male housing  970  has a rear end  974  and has a plurality of terminal apertures  985 . Male housing  970  has six terminal apertures  985 . Other configurations are possible. 
         [0217]    A male housing  700  having 16 terminal apertures has been described herein, and a male housing  970  having 6 terminal apertures has been described herein, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Male housings are not limited to those two configurations. Male housings can have other numbers of terminal apertures, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0218]    A female housing  400  having 16 terminal apertures has been described herein, and a female housing  920  having 6 terminal apertures has been described herein, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Female housings are not limited to those two configurations. Female housings can have other numbers of terminal apertures, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0219]      FIG. 35  is a front end elevational view of the male housing  970  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34 . Male housing  970  has a first side  976  and a second side  978 , and has an aperture  986  for receiving a rear end  924  of female housing  920 . 
         [0220]      FIG. 36  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  36 - 36  in  FIG. 35 , when a TPA member  960  is in a preset position. The male housing  970  has a top  980 , a front end  972 , and a rear end  974 . The positions of the insertion side (bottom)  962  and the exposed side (top)  964  are depicted in  FIG. 36 , when the TPA member  960  is in the preset position. 
         [0221]      FIG. 37  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  36 - 36  in  FIG. 35 , when a TPA member  960  is in a final lock position. The positions of the insertion side (bottom)  962  and the exposed side (top)  964  are depicted in  FIG. 36 , when the TPA member  960  is in the final lock position. 
         [0222]      FIG. 38  is a top elevational view of the male housing  970  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34  with a TPA member  960  in the preset position.  FIG. 39  is a perspective view of the male housing  970  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34  with a TPA member  960  in the preset position. 
         [0223]      FIG. 34  depicts an aperture for receiving the insertion side (bottom)  962  of TPA member  960 , and  FIG. 39  shows TPA member  960  in that aperture for receiving the insertion side (bottom)  962  of TPA member  960  with the TPA member  960  in the preset position. 
         [0224]      FIG. 40  is a perspective view of the male housing  970  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34  with a TPA member  960  in the final lock position.  FIG. 34  depicts an aperture for receiving the insertion side (bottom)  962  of TPA member  960 , and  FIG. 40  shows TPA member  960  in that aperture for receiving the insertion side (bottom)  962  of TPA member  960  with the TPA member  960  in the final lock position. 
         [0225]      FIG. 41  is a side elevational view of the male housing  970  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34 .  FIG. 42  is a bottom elevational view of the male housing  970  of the male connector assembly of  FIG. 34 .  FIG. 42  depicts the bottom  982  of the male housing  970 . 
         [0226]    The female housing  920  is mated with the male housing  970  when the rear end  924  of the female housing  920  is received into the aperture  986  of the male housing  970 . The female housing  400  is mated with the male housing  700  when the rear end  404  of the female housing  400  is received into the aperture  734  of the male housing  700 . 
         [0227]    As confirmed by the upper view and lower view of  FIG. 4B , for the preset position, the exposed side (top)  614  of TPA member  600  does not extend away from the female housing  400  beyond the TPA protection ribs  416  and  418 . The TPA protection ribs  416  and  418  protect the TPA member  600  in the preset position, because the TPA protection ribs  416  and  418  extend away from the female housing  400  beyond the exposed side (top)  614  of TPA member  600 . 
         [0228]    The fact that the TPA protection ribs extend away from a female housing beyond the exposed side (top) of a TPA member, in the preset position, is also shown in the lower view of  FIG. 5B , for example. 
         [0229]      FIG. 7B  shows that an outermost edge of TPA protection ribs  446  and  448  of female housing  400  extend further away from the female housing  400  than the exposed side (top)  614 , in the preset position, and thus the TPA member  600  is protected by the ribs  446  and  448 . That is, as shown in FIG.  7 B, an outermost edge of TPA protection ribs  446  and  448  of female housing  400  is lower than the exposed side (top)  614 , in the preset position, and thus the TPA member  600  is protected by the ribs  446  and  448 . The bottom  412  of female housing  400  also extends below the exposed side (top)  614 , as shown in  FIG. 7B , and thus the bottom  412  also helps to prevent the TPA member  600  from inadvertently being moved from the preset position to the final lock position during shipping and/or handling. 
         [0230]    As depicted by  FIG. 13B , for the preset position, the exposed side (top)  614  of the TPA member does not extend away from the male housing  700  beyond the TPA protection ribs  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  746 ,  748 , and  750 . The TPA protection ribs  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  746 ,  748 , and  750  protect the TPA member in the preset position, because the TPA protection ribs  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  746 ,  748 , and  750  extend away from the male housing  700  beyond the exposed side (top)  614  of the TPA member. See also  FIG. 15B . 
         [0231]      FIG. 13B  shows that, for the preset position, the exposed side (top)  614  of TPA member is positioned nearer to the male housing  700  than the outermost edges of the TPA protection ribs  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  746 ,  748 , and  750 . That is, the outermost edges of the TPA protection ribs  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  746 ,  748 , and  750  extend above the exposed side (top)  614  of TPA member, in the preset position. This is shown in  FIGS. 13B, 15B, and 1 , for example. Thus, the tops of the TPA protection ribs are above the top of the TPA member, when the TPA member is in the preset position, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 13B, and 15B , for example, and the TPA protection ribs on the male housing help to prevent the TPA member from being bumped inadvertently or pushed inadvertently into the final lock position during shipping and/or handling, for example. 
         [0232]    As shown in  FIGS. 11, 15A, and 15B , for example, the TPA protection ribs  742 ,  744 ,  748 , and  750  are shaped to slope down toward the aperture receiving the TPA member  600 . The sloping surfaces help to guide the TPA member  600  into the aperture in male housing  700 , for example, when a user is first inserting the TPA member  600  into the aperture of the male housing  700 . 
         [0233]    As shown in  FIGS. 34 and 39 , for example, the TPA protection ribs  990 ,  992 ,  996 , and  998  are shaped to slope down toward the aperture receiving the TPA member  960 . The sloping surfaces help to guide the TPA member  960  into the aperture in male housing  970 , for example, when a user is first inserting the TPA member  960  into the aperture of the male housing  970 . 
         [0234]      FIG. 43  is a perspective view of the CPA member  500  of  FIG. 3 . CPA member  500  has a rear upright portion  514 , first side  508 , second side  510 , central beam  504 , front tip  506  of central beam  504 , and front edge  502 . CPA member  500  also has a rear base  512 , as shown in the upper view of  FIG. 5B . A user can push rear upright portion  514  to push CPA member  500  to the preset position and to the final lock position. 
         [0235]    Although the foregoing description is directed to the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Moreover, features described in connection with one embodiment of the invention may be used in conjunction with other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated above. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           100  Connector apparatus, six-pin configuration 
           102  Female housing 
           104  CPA member in female housing  102   
           108  Male housing 
           110  TPA member in male housing  108   
           200  Connector apparatus, six-pin configuration 
           202  Female housing 
           204  CPA member in female housing  202   
           208  Male housing 
           210  TPA member in male housing  208   
           300  Connector apparatus, sixteen-pin configuration 
           400  Female housing, sixteen-pin configuration 
           402  Front end of female housing  400   
           404  Rear end of female housing  400   
           406  First side of female housing  400   
           408  Second side of female housing  400   
           410  Top of female housing  400   
           412  Bottom of female housing  400   
           414  Terminal aperture on front end of female housing  400   
           416  TPA protection rib 
           418  TPA protection rib 
           420  Aperture for receiving insertion side (bottom) of TPA member 
           422  Protrusion (shark fin) on interior of female housing  400   
           424  Aperture for receiving front edge of CPA member 
           426  Terminal aperture on rear end of female housing  400   
           428  Aperture for receiving guide  616  of TPA member 
           430  Aperture for receiving guide  618  of TPA member 
           432  CPA protection wall 
           434  CPA protection wall 
           436  CPA protection wall 
           438  Tab 
           440  Receiving area in housing, receiving flexible features (protrusions) of TPA member 
           442  TPA protection rib 
           444  TPA protection rib 
           446  TPA protection rib 
           448  TPA protection rib 
           500  CPA member 
           502  Front edge of CPA member 
           504  Central beam of CPA member 
           506  Front tip of central beam of CPA member 
           508  First side of CPA member 
           510  Second side of CPA member 
           512  Rear base of CPA member 
           514  Rear upright portion of CPA member 
           600  TPA member, sixteen-pin configuration 
           602  Flexible feature (protrusion) 
           604  Flexible feature (protrusion) 
           606  Flexible feature (protrusion) 
           608  Flexible feature (protrusion) 
           610  Body of TPA member 
           612  Insertion side (bottom) of TPA member 
           614  Exposed side (top) of TPA member 
           616  Guide 
           618  Guide 
           620  Terminal aperture on TPA member 
           700  Male housing, sixteen-pin configuration 
           702  Front end of male housing  700   
           704  Rear end of male housing  700   
           706  First side of male housing  700   
           708  Second side of male housing  700   
           710  Top of male housing  700   
           712  Bottom of male housing  700   
           714  Side of male housing  700   
           716  Side of male housing  700   
           720  Aperture for receiving insertion side (bottom) of TPA member 
           726  Terminal aperture on rear end of male housing  700   
           728  Aperture for receiving guide  616  of TPA member 
           730  Aperture for receiving guide  618  of TPA member 
           732  Protrusion (shark fin) on male housing  700   
           734  Aperture for receiving rear end of female housing  400   
           740  TPA protection rib 
           742  TPA protection rib 
           744  TPA protection rib 
           746  TPA protection rib 
           748  TPA protection rib 
           750  TPA protection rib 
           800  TPA member, sixteen-pin configuration 
           902  Button of connector latch 
           904  First latch beam of connector latch 
           906  Second latch beam of connector latch 
           908  Latch surface of connector latch 
           920  Female housing, six-pin configuration 
           922  Front end of female housing  920   
           924  Rear end of female housing  920   
           926  First side of female housing  920   
           928  Second side of female housing  920   
           930  Top of female housing  920   
           932  Bottom of female housing  920   
           934  TPA protection rib 
           936  TPA protection rib 
           938  Aperture for receiving insertion side (bottom) of TPA member  960   
           944  TPA protection rib 
           946  TPA protection rib 
           960  TPA member, six-pin configuration 
           962  Insertion side (bottom) of TPA member  960   
           964  Exposed side (top) of TPA member  960   
           966  Guide 
           968  Guide 
           970  Male housing, six-pin configuration 
           972  Front end of male housing  970   
           974  Rear end of male housing  970   
           976  First side of male housing  970   
           978  Second side of male housing  970   
           980  Top of male housing  970   
           982  Bottom of male housing  970   
           985  Terminal aperture 
           986  Aperture for receiving rear end of female housing  920   
           988  TPA protection rib 
           990  TPA protection rib 
           992  TPA protection rib 
           994  TPA protection rib 
           996  TPA protection rib 
           998  TPA protection rib