Electrical connector with terminal position assurance system

Claim 1

In an electrical connector assembly which includes a terminal position assurance system, the assembly including an elongated dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending transversely of the housing, a plurality of terminals insertable transversely of the housing into the cavities, a passageway extending longitudinally of the housing, and an elongated terminal position assurance member insertable into the passageway and movable between a preloaded position and a loaded position, the terminal position assurance member preventing mating of the connector assembly with a complementary electrical connector when the terminal position assurance member is in its preloaded position, wherein the improvement comprises a plurality of primary locking devices on the housing and movable between locking positions to lock the terminals in their respective cavities when the terminals are fully loaded into the cavities and second positions projecting into said passageway when the terminals are only partially loaded into their respective cavities to thereby prevent the terminal position assurance member from moving from its preloaded position to its loaded position, and secondary locking means operatively associated between the terminal position assurance member and the primary locking devices to hold the primary locking devices in their first, locking positions when the terminal assurance member is in its loaded position, and wherein said dielectric housing is molded of plastic material, said primary locking devices comprise resilient cantilevered latch arms, and said terminal position assurance member includes wall means located, when the terminal position assurance member is in its preloaded position, to prevent overstressing of the resilient cantilevered latch arms.