Electrical connector position assurance system

Claim 2

The connector position assurance system of claim 1 wherein said primary locking arm (24) includes an actuating portion (60), and said locking slider (40), at least in its first position, providing an extension of the actuating portion.

Claim 3

The connector position assurance system of claim 1 wherein said primary locking arm (24) is pivotally mounted on the housing.

Claim 4

The connector position assurance system of claim 3 wherein said locking slider (40), at least in its first position, is located to provide a lever means for the primary locking arm (24).

Claim 5

The connector position assurance system of claim 3 wherein said primary locking arm (24) includes an actuating lever portion (60), and said locking slider (40), at least in its first position, provides an extension of the actuating lever portion.

Claim 6

The connector position assurance system of claim 3 wherein said latch (26) is located on the primary locking arm (24) in a position for pivotal movement in an arc transverse to the sliding movement of said locking slider (40).

Claim 7

The connector position assurance system of claim 6 wherein said primary locking arm (24) is pivotally mounted intermediate opposite ends thereof, with said latch (26) being at one end of the locking arm and including an actuating lever portion (60) at the other end of the locking arm.

Claim 8

The connector position assurance system of claim 7 wherein said locking slider (40), at least in its first position, is located to provide an extension of the actuating lever portion (60) of the locking arm (24).

Claim 9

The connector position assurance system of claim 7 wherein said housing (16) is fabricated of molded plastic material, and including an integral living hinge means (30) pivotally mounting the primary locking arm (24) to the housing.

Claim 10

The connector position assurance system of claim 1 wherein said locking slider (40) includes a latch (44) for mechanically interlocking with a cooperating latch (36a) of the mateable connecting device (14) to hold the locking slider in its second position.

Claim 11

The connector position assurance system of claim 1, including abutment means (36a) on the mateable connecting device (14) for engaging the locking slider (40) and moving the locking slider from its second position to its first position in response to mating of the connector (12) with the device (14) in the event that the locking slider inadvertently is in its second position prior to mating of the connector with the device.

Claim 12

The connector position assurance system of claim 11 wherein said locking slider includes a latch (44) for mechanically interlocking with a cooperating latch (36a) of the mateable connecting device (14) to hold the locking slider (40) in its second position, said abutment means (36a) being located in the path of the latch (44) on the locking slider (40) for moving the locking slider from its second position to its first position.

Claim 13

A connector position assurance system for an electrical connector (12) adapted to mate with another mateable connecting device (14), comprising: said connector including a housing (16); a primary locking arm (24) on the housing for movement between a first position when the connector is fully mated with the mateable connecting device and a second position of incomplete mating of the connector with the device, the primary locking arm including a latch (26) for mechanically interlocking with a cooperating latch (28) of the mateable connecting device (14); a locking slider (40) mounted on the connector and being slidable between a first position allowing movement of said locking arm (24) and mating of the connector (12) and the device (14) and a second position blocking movement of the locking arm away from its first position with the connector and the device fully mated; said primary locking arm (24) in its second position of incomplete mating of the connector (12) with the device (14) blocking movement of the locking slider (40) from its first position to its second position and thereby indicating that the connector and the device are not fully mated; and abutment means (36a) on the mateable connecting device for engaging the locking slider (40) and moving the locking slider from its second position to its first position in response to mating of the connector with the device in the event that the locking slider inadvertently is in its second position prior to mating of the connector with the device.

Claim 14

The connector position assurance system of claim 13 wherein said locking slider (40) includes a latch (44) for mechanically interlocking with a cooperating latch (36a) of the mateable connecting device to hold the locking slider in its second position, said abutment means (36a) being located in the path of the latch (44) on the locking slider for moving the locking slider from its second position to its first position.