Patent ID: 7909638

Claim:
An electrical connector assembly comprising: a first connector housing having sidewalls surrounding a cavity, one of the sidewalls having a latch member projecting inward into the cavity; a second connector housing insertable into the cavity, the second connector housing having a locking lever connected thereto; a connector position assurance (CPA) device coupled to the second connector housing, the CPA device having a base portion and a center prong projecting forwardly from the base portion, wherein before the second connector housing is inserted into the cavity, the CPA device is fixed to the second connector housing in a pre-lock position at which the locking lever is allowed to deflect relative to the second connector housing between a first position to engage with the latch member and a second position to disengage from the latch member; and wherein when the second connector housing is inserted into the cavity, the CPA device is released from the pre-locking position and movable to a final lock position at which, an end portion of the center prong is placed between the locking lever and the second housing to maintain the locking lever in the first position, wherein the first connector housing comprising a pair of ribs formed on said one of the sidewalls and projecting inward into the cavity; the CPA device comprising a pair of lateral prongs extending perpendicularly from the end portion of the center prong, when the CPA device is at the pre-lock position, the end portion of the center prong abuts the locking lever to prevent the CPA device from moving towards the final lock position, and when the second connector housing is inserted into the cavity, the pair of ribs urge against the lateral prongs to release the end portion of the center prong from abutting the locking lever.