Patent ID: 10892579

Abstract:
A female terminal position assurance (TPA) device provides essential secondary locks resulting in much higher retention forces in assuring that the terminals remain locked inside a female housing. The female TPA device also provides the needed detection if the terminals are not fully inserted or installed inside the female housing so that if such a detection is made, the secondary locks provided by the female TPA device do not occur. That is, once it is detected that the terminals have been fully inserted into the female housing and that the primary locks for the terminals inside the female housing have occurred, the female TPA device is able to be inserted into the female housing and thereby provide the secondary locks for the terminals for a much higher assurance that the terminals remain locked inside the female housing. The female TPA device further includes multiple locks with the female housing, while the female TPA device is in a pre-lock position or a full-lock position inside the female housing.