Abstract:
A CPA device located entirely on a first connector of a pair of interfitting connectors, wherein the CPA device is actuable only in the event that the two connectors are actually mated. A slide slides between a prestaged position and a staged position. The latter position is attained only upon release of a CPA actuation lock which automatically occurs upon mating of the connectors. The slide is then slid to the staged position, whereat the slide interferes with a clasp mechanism of the connectors so as to prevent unintentional release of the clasp mechanism.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to conductor connectors, and more particularly to connector position assurance devices therefor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     This and additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following specification of a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two interfitting connectors, one of which is equipped with the CPA device according to the present invention. 
     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. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the CPA connector of the two interfitting connectors and the CPA slide therefor. 
     FIG. 4 is a partly sectional perspective view of the CPA connector of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a partly sectional perspective view of the two interfitting connectors, wherein the CPA slide is at the prestaged position. 
     FIG. 6 is a broken-away front end view of the CPA connector. 
     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. 
     FIG. 8 is a partly sectional top view of the two interfitting connectors, shown whereat the CPA actual lock has released. 
     FIG. 9 is a partly sectional top view of the two interfitting connectors, shown fully mated. 
     FIG. 10 is a partly sectional perspective view of the two interfitting connectors, shown mated and with the CPA slide at the staged position. 
     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. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     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. 
     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. 
     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  34   g  of 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 . 
     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  40   e ,  42   e  of 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  40   e ,  42   e  prevents 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  40   e ,  42   e  and 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 ). 
     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  48   a ,  48   b  on 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 . 
     Returning now to the interfitting connectors  12 , the boss  20  of the non-CPA connector  16  has a leading edge  56   a  which is inclined and has a following edge  56   b  which 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  56   a  of 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  56   b  of 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. 
     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  72   a ,  72   b  on either side of the primary slide seat which receives the secondary CPA abutments  48   a ,  48   b  (see FIG.  11 ). The primary slide seat  70  is in the form of an open-bottom recess demarcated by a U-shaped recess wall  74 R an upper recess wall  74 U and side recess walls  74 S. 
     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  34   g , and so that the resilient arms  40 ,  42  are situated in the guide slots  76 ,  78 , wherein nibs  88  of the resilient arms protrude. 
     Referring now in particular to FIGS. 7 through 11, operation will be discussed. 
     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. 
     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  40   e ,  42   e  being moved out of an interfering abutment with the channel abutments  36 ,  38 . The CPA slide continues to remain at the prestaged position. 
     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. 
     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 . 
     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  74 U. Additionally, at the staged position of the CPA slide, the secondary CPA abutments  48   a ,  48   b  interferingly abut, respectively, the secondary slide seats  72   a ,  72   b  which also serve to prevent flexing of the header toward the floor (see FIG. 11, wherein parts spacing is shown emphasized for clarity). 
     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 . 
     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. 
     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.