EP1891712A1

EP1891712A1 - Electrical connector with security locking system

Info

Publication number: EP1891712A1
Application number: EP05777393A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vincent Regnier
Original assignee: FCI SA; Framatome Connectors International SAS
Current assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL
Priority date: 2005-06-06
Filing date: 2005-06-06
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-06
Also published as: EP1891712B1; CN101194399B; CN101194399A; WO2006131141A1

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises a housing (2) having at least one primary locking tab (5a, 5b) as a primary locking system for latching into a recess of an electrical counter-part connector (54), and a connector position assurance (CPA) member (3) as a secondary locking system, which is engageable with the housing (2) and comprises at least one secondary locking tab (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) blocking the primary locking tab (5a, 5b) in the recess of the electrical counter-part connector (54) when the electrical connector (1) is plugged into the electrical counter-part connector (54) in a plug-in direction. At least one security locking tab (6a, 6b) is formed on the CPA member (3), which may have at least one security projection (37a, 37b) adapted to latch behind a security shoulder (45a, 45b) in a retention slot (51) of the housing (2) to prevent an accidental disengagement of the CPA member (3), but to allow active disengagement.

Description

Electrical connector with security locking system

The present invention generally relates to the field of electrical connectors, and particularly to an electrical connector for vehicle airbag triggering systems .

In various application fields of electrical connectors and especially in the automotive field, electrical connectors are locked in place by means of two locking systems to ensure and to maintain the position in the counter-part connector. Such a known electrical connector has primary locking tabs with latches that engage in corresponding slots in the counter-part connector. The latches generally have sloping flanks in the plugging direction as well as in the opposite direction to enable an unplugging of the electrical connector.

The principle of the secondary locking system consists in blocking the latches of the primary locking tabs into the slots via an additional member, mostly called connector position assurance (CPA) member. The CPA member is usually inserted into the housing of the electrical connector once the latter is plugged in the counter-part connector, such that secondary locking tabs of the CPA member in form of rigid longitudinal rails enter free slots behind the primary locking tabs. The rails prevent the latches from swinging back radially inwards, thus ensuring that the connector has actually been latched. For deplugging first the CPA member needs be deplugged and only then the primary locking tabs may be disengaged.

From WO 03/103102 Al there is known an electrical connector, called closed CPA matting, with an alternate CPA member that can be entirely premounted to the housing of the electrical connector before the plug-in process is started. The CPA member has secondary locking tabs, wherein wedge-shaped projections are formed on the sides of a pair of secondary locking tabs, turned away from one another, said wedge-shaped projections causing the secondary locking tabs to bend behind the primary locking tab that is then locked in place.

Accordingly the primary locking tabs can, in the plugged state, no longer deflect in the direction of the plug-in axis as they are blocked by secondary locking tabs in form of rigid longitudinal rails on the one hand or bent secondary locking tabs on the other hand. Thus the electrical connector cannot be removed from the counterpart connector, unless the CPA member is deplugged as above mentioned.

However, assembly occurs in a coarse surrounding and it may happen that before plugging the premounted CPA member is again accidentally deplugged, or pulled out, by error, and thus it cannot be ensured that the CPA member remains mounted in the housing and, thus, that the electrical connector keeps its position in the counter-part connector. This danger is greater if the connector is of straight line type.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide for an electrical connector with an enhanced locking mechanism preventing the connection to the counter-part from being accidentally not ensured.

This object is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims. Advantageous features are defined in the dependent claims. Further objects and advantages of the invention are apparent in the following description. According to the present invention an electrical connector is proposed, comprising a housing having at least one primary locking means for locking the electrical connector with an electrical counter-part connector, and a connector position assurance (CPA) member, which is engageable with the housing and comprises at least one secondary locking means blocking the primary locking means . At least one security locking tab is thereby formed on the CPA member or the housing and adapted to latch behind a security shoulder provided on the other of the CPA member and the housing in order to prevent an accidental disengagement of the CPA member.

The housing can comprise at least one primary locking tab for latching into a recess of an electrical counter-part connector, and the CPA member can comprise at least one secondary locking tab blocking the primary locking tab in the recess of the electrical counter-part connector when the electrical connector is plugged into the electrical counter-part connector in a plug-in direction.

Particularly, the security locking tab can be radially deflectable to actively disengage the engaged CPA member. An operator aiming to dismount the CPA member from the housing has first to press, respectively lift, the security locking tab inwards, respectively outwards, and then to pull the CPA member out of the housing. This two- step process prevents an operator to mistakenly disengage the security locking tab. Further, the disengagement according to the invention can be carried out by the operator without extra tool while prior art connectors usually requires the use of such a tool to disengage the CPA member.

The security locking tab can have a sloping surface for sliding along a sloping surface of the security shoulder during the engagement of the CPA member with the housing. The orientation of the sloping surface of the security locking tab and of the sloping surface of the security shoulder can cause a radially deflection of the security locking tab during the engagement of the CPA member. Further, the security locking tab and the security shoulder are adapted such that the first contact between them during the engagement of the CPA member occurs between their sloping surfaces . The operator engaging the CPA member with the housing thus only has to push the CPA member into the housing for the security locking tab to lock in place. He needs not e.g. pull the security locking tab during the engagement procedure to pass the security shoulder of the housing, neither needs he press or fit the security locking tab behind the security shoulder.

The housing can have an abutment surface for the security locking tab to come in abutment therewith during the engagement of the CPA member.

Additionally, the security locking tab can have at least one, preferably two laterally security projections for latching behind respective security shoulders of the housing.

The housing can comprise a retention slot for the security locking tab to latch therein.

The security locking tab, the primary locking tab, and the secondary locking tab can be integrally formed with the CPA member.

The CPA member can comprise preferably two security locking tabs being regularly arranged on the casing of the CPA member. The CPA member can be a molded plasties part.

Particularly, the CPA member is engageable with the housing before plugging the electrical connector into the electrical counter-part connector. Two secondary latching tabs can be adapted to spring radially behind one primary locking tab.

Additional aspects and features of the present invention will come clear from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and by referencing to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded representation of the electrical connector according to one aspect of the invention,

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the CPA member of the electrical connector according to the present invention,

Figs. 3A to 3C show with an embodiment of the primary and secondary locking tabs of the electrical connector according to the present invention, how to actively disconnect and disengage an engaged or plugged electrical connector,

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the security locking mechanism of an electrical connector according to the invention,

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the electrical connector of the invention during the engagement of the CPA member with the housing,

Fig. 6 shows a variant of the embodiment of Fig. 4 in a latched position, Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the electrical connector of the invention with the CPA member engaged with the housing,

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the an electrical connector plugged into an electrical counter-part connector according to another aspect of the invention,

Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the security locking mechanism of an electrical connector according to the invention,

Fig. 10 shows the electrical connector according to the embodiment of Fig . 9 during the engagement of the CPA member with the housing, and

Fig. 11 shows the electrical connector according to the embodiment of Fig. 9, the CPA member being engaged with the housing.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown an exploded representation of the electrical connector 1 according to the invention that in general comprises a housing 2, electrical elements, and a connector position assurance (CPA) member 3.

The housing 2 is composed of a connector body 7, on which primary locking tabs 5a, 5b as a primary locking system are formed, and a cover 8. The cover 8 is preferably fastenable onto the connector body 7 by means of cover tabs 9a, 9b that lock in corresponding grooves 10a, 10b of the connector body 7. The housing 2 comprises a front part 14 to be plugged in a corresponding counter-part according to a plug-in direction along an axis 20, and a back part 15 adapted to receive the CPA member 3 as a secondary locking system. The primary locking tabs 5a, 5b are formed on the front part 14 of the housing 2 of the electrical connector 1 on each side of the plug-in axis 20. The primary locking tabs 5a, 5b extend longitudinally and are radially bendable . They furthermore comprise latches 22a, 22b with back 24a, 24b and front sloping flanks 25a, 25b or taperings on their external surface. During the process of plugging the electrical connector 1 into an electrical counter-part connector 54, the front sloping flank 25a, 25b of the latch 22a, 22b of each primary locking tab 5a, 5b slides on a corresponding shoulder of the counter-part connector 54 thus each latch 22a, 22b elastically deflects radially inwards. Next, the latch 22a of the primary locking tab 5a latchs behind the shoulder into a slot or groove.

The electrical elements of the electrical connector 1 consist in conducting wires 13a, 13b connected to sleeves lla, lib that are fixedly inserted inside the housing 2. The wires 13a, 13b are for example and as shown crimped to the sleeves lla, lib, this particular embodiment making use of two wires 13a, 13b and two sleeves lla, lib. The sleeves lla, lib are located in the front part 14 of the electrical connector 1, such that when the electrical connector 1 is plugged onto the corresponding electrical connector counter-part 54 , electrical pin type contacts at the connector counter-part 54 penetrate into the sleeves lla, lib. Ferrite elements 12a, 12b may surround the sleeves lla, lib and serve for filtering possible electrical disturbances.

The electrical connector 1 of the present invention is particularly adapted to be used as a gas generator electrical connector in a vehicle air bag system, which can be plugged in a mating electrical connector of a gas generator. The electrical connection of the gas generator electrical connector to the mating electrical connector is then provided by the sleeves 11a, lib, and the electrical connection to an air bag controlling unit is provided via wires 13a, 13b.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the CPA member 3 as a secondary locking system, being preferably a one-piece member consisting of a molded polymer material. The CPA member 3 can be shifted according to the plug-in direction into the back part 15 of the beforehand assembled housing 2 containing the electrical elements. The CPA member 3 generally comprises an outer part in form of a casing 16 matching in its outer form with the housing 2 and inner elements in an inner part 17.

When the CPA member 3 is mounted to the housing 2, i.e. in a mounted state of the electrical connector 1, the casing 16 surrounds the back part 15 of the housing 2 at least partially or completely. In the particular embodiment of Fig. 2, the casing 16 comprises a back section 18, through which the wires 13a, 13b of the electrical connector 1 are led to e.g. a controlling unit of an air bag system, and a lateral section 19 such that the CPA member 3 can be handled by an installer on the assembly line to properly insert and mount the CPA member 3 to the housing 2 in the plug-in direction.

The inner part 17 of the CPA member 3 comprises, among others, rails 21a,. 21b and secondary locking tabs 4a to 4d, which extend in the plug-in direction and are slidable in corresponding grooves in the housing 2. In case the electrical connector 1 is in a mounted state, said inner part 17 of the^{" ~}CPA^~msmbe^~r^{~ "~}3^~"±s—lτrcrat^"e^~d inside—xrf—the- housing 2. The rails 21a, 21b are adapted to move a short circuit clip of the electrical counter-part connector 54. Indeed, the counter-part connector 54 of the electrical connector 1 of the invention has generally pin contacts and a short circuit clip for electrically shortening said pin contacts. When the CPA member 3 is mounted (or premounted) in the housing 2 and the electrical connector 1 is mated with the connector counter-part 54, said short circuit clip is moved away from the pin contacts by means of the rails 21a, 21b to remove the electrical connection between the short circuit clip and the pin contacts after the pin contacts are in electrical connection with the sleeves 11a, lib.

The secondary locking tabs 4a to 4d are fastened to the casing 16, typically are integrally formed therewith, and extend in pairs along the plug-in direction. They are elastically bendable, and a wedge-shaped projection 23a to 23d is formed on each secondary locking tab 4a to 4d such that two facing secondary locking tabs 4a, 4d bend towards one another when the wedge-shaped projections 23a, 23b strike the counter-part connector 54.

When inserting the assembled electrical connector 1, i.e. with the CPA member 3 mounted in the housing 2, into its counter-part connector 54, the latch 22a of the primary locking tab 5a strikes at first against a shoulder of the counter-part connector 54. If the electrical connector 1 is pushed further into the counter-part connector 54, the latch 22a slides along the shoulder, such that the locking tab 5a bends radially in the direction of the plug-in axis 20, while the secondary locking tabs 4a, 4b are prevented from deflecting in the transversal direction by the bent primary locking tab 5a. Then when the latch 22a passes the shoulder and locks in a recess area of the counter-part connector 54, the primary locking tab 5a springs back into its initial position and the secondary locking tabs 4a, 4b of the CPA member 3 bend behind the primary locking tab 5a due to the contact of the wedge-shaped projections 23a, 23b with the counter-part connector 54.

The lateral section 19 extends from the back section 18 in the plug-in direction up to a front end 30, where longitudinal security locking tabs 6a, 6b are formed. Whereas the embodiment presents two symmetrical security locking tabs 6a, 6b, other embodiments can show only one said tab 6a, 6b, or alternatively more than two said tabs 6a, 6b being preferably regularly distributed. The security locking tabs 6a, 6b will be described in more details with reference to Figs. 4 to 7.

The following description of the security locking mechanism provided at the secondary locking system refers to one security locking tab 6b and to the corresponding elements of the housing 2. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to only one such mechanism and, as stated above, an electrical connector 1 according to the invention can include several, preferably two, security locking tabs 6a, 6b.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 7, an embodiment of the security locking mechanism according to the invention will be described. In this embodiment, each security locking tab 6a, 6b is integrally formed on the lateral section 19 of the casing 16 of the CPA member 3. It extends longitudinally into the plug-in direction and is composed of three successive sections, namely a back section 31, a middle section 32, and a front section 33.

The security locking tab 6b is fastened to the front end 30 of the casing 16 through the back section 31 in form of a rail. From the front end 30 of the CPA member 3 and in the plug-in direction, the back section 31 departs progressively from the plug-in axis 20 radially outwards up to the middle section 32, which is preferably parallel to the plug-in axis 20. The back 31 and the middle 32 sections are so dimensioned that it is possible for a user to press them in order to bend the security locking tab 6a towards the plug-in axis 20.

The security locking tab 6a ends with the front section 33. The front section 33 follows the middle section 32 and is closer to the plug-in axis 20 than the latter. The front section 33 includes two opposing lateral security projections 37a, 37b, a front surface 34, an intermediate surface 35, and a lower surface 36 (see Fig. 2) . Each security projection 37a, 37b comprises a sloping surface

38, an middle surface 39, a retention surface 40, and a lateral surface 41.

The other elements of the security locking mechanism of the invention are part of the housing 2 of the electrical connector 1. On a lateral surface 42 of the housing 2, two parallel supporting surfaces 43a, 43b are formed, which are perpendicular to the lateral surface 42 and parallel to the plug-in axis 20. An abutment surface 44, which is also formed on the lateral surface 42, connects the two supporting surfaces 43a, 43b and is perpendicular to the lateral surface 42 of the housing 2, to the supporting surfaces 43a, 43b, and to the plug-in axis 20. From the lateral surface 42, the supporting surfaces 43a, 43b and the abutment surface 44 lead outwards of the housing 2.

On each supporting surface 43a, 43b, a security shoulder 4ba, 45b is formed in the direction of the other supporting surface 43a, 43b. Each security shoulder 45a, 45b comprises a lateral surface 49, which faces the lateral surface 49 of the other security shoulder 45a, 45b, a retention surface 48, a middle surface 47, and a sloping surface 46.

Fig. 4 shows the electrical connector 1 of the present invention at the beginning of the engagement process of the CPA member 3 into the housing 2. The security locking tab 6b is in its normal position, i.e. it is not bent, and enters between the two supporting surfaces 43a, 43b of the housing 2. During this phase, the supporting surfaces 43a, 43b act as a guide for the CPA member 3 by directing the lateral surfaces 41a, 41b of the two security projections 37a, 37b.

Fig. 5 shows the next step of the engagement of the CPA member 3 into the housing 2. The position of the CPA member 3, the security projections 37a, 37b and the security shoulders 45a, 45b is such that the first contact between the CPA member 3 and the housing 2 occurs between the sloping surfaces 38 of the security projections 37a, 37b and the sloping surfaces 46 of the security shoulders 45a, 45b.

In a particular embodiment of the electrical connector 1, each security shoulder 45a, 45b comprises a guidance section 53a, 53b formed in the direction of the back part 15 of the housing 2, where the CPA member 3 is engageable. The guidance sections 53a, 53b of the two security shoulders 45a, 45b are funnel-shaped, such that the security locking tab 6a, 6b is directed between the security shoulders 45a, 45b during the engagement of the CPA member 3. The guidance sections 53a, 53b guide side edges 58a, 58b of the front section 33 of the security locking tab 6a, 6b.

An angle α_s between the sloping surface 38 of the security projections 37a, 37b and the plug-in axis 20 and an angle β_s between the sloping surface 46 of the security- shoulders 45a, 45b and the plug-in axis 20 are equal or at least very close. As the CPA member 3 is introduced further into the housing 2, each security projection 37a, 37b slides along the fixed corresponding complementary security shoulder 45a, 45b in the plug-in direction and radially towards the plug-in axis 20. To enable the gliding movement of the security projections 37a, 37b, the security locking tabs 6a, 6b deflect inwardly up to an angle Δ=Δi≠0 with reference to the plug-in axis 20, the initial angle of the non-bended security locking tabs 6a, 6b with said axis being Δ=Δ₀=0.

Thereby, the width of the security locking tabs 6a, 6b is such that they can be inserted between the two security shoulder 45a, 45b. Particularly, the width of at least their front section 33 and advantageously of that of their middle section 32 is lower than the distance between the two security shoulders 45a, 45b. The security locking tabs 6a, 6b have in any case a shoulder passage space 50 for each security shoulder 45a, 45b to slide along and pass behind the corresponding security projection 37a, 37b.

In a next step, the middle surface 39 of the security projections 37a, 37b slides along the middle surface 47 of the security shoulders 45a, 45b, preferably without additional deflection of the security locking tabs 6a, 6b such that at the end of this sliding In a preferred embodiment, the angle oci of the intermediate surface 35 of the non-deflected security projections 37a,

37b with the plug-in axis 20 equals or approximates A₁ such that the contact between the security locking tabs

6a, 6b and the housing 2 is smooth and not disturbed by any square edge. In another embodiment, the angle β_m of the middle surface 47 of the security shoulders 45a, 45b with the plug-in axis 20 is zero and the angle O₁₁ of the middle surface 39 of the non-deflected security projections 37a, 37b with said plug-in axis 20 is Δi. In that way , the contact between said middle surfaces 39 and 47 is maximal as they are parallel in this phase.

With reference to Figs . 6 and 7 and when pushing further the CPA member 3 into the housing 2 , the security locking tabs 6a, 6b spring back to their initial position with an angle Δ₃=Δ₀=0 to the plug-in axis 20, and the CPA member 3 comes in its fully engaged position. In this engaged position, the CPA member 3 is blocked by the abutment surface 44 of the housing 2 in the plug-in direction and by the security shoulders 45a, 45b in the opposite direction, such that the CPA member 3 is locked in place. The angle β_r of the retention surface 48 of the security shoulders 45a, 45b and the angle α_r of the retention surface 34 of the security locking tabs 6a, 6b in their initial or final position are preferably 90° with respect to the plug-in axis 20 in order to prevent the security locking tabs 6a, 6b from deflecting radially inwards or outwards .

In this embodiment, the front surface 34 of the security locking tabs 6a, 6b come in abutment with the abutment surface 44 of the housing 2. According to other embodiments, only the front surface of the security projections 37a, 37b or only the front surface of the front section 33 are designed to abut against said abutment surface 44.

To disengage the CPA member 3 from the housing 2 of the electrical connector 1, an operator needs actively press according arrows 55 the security locking tabs 6a, 6b inwardly and then pull according arrow 56 the CPA member 3 out of the housing 2. The security of the connection is specifically ensured by this two-step disengagement process of the CPA member 3. Indeed, if the operator pulls the CPA member 3 by mistake from the housing 2, the security locking tabs 6a, 6b remain engaged such that the connection cannot be mistakenly broken.

Once the operator presses according arrows 55 the back section 31 and / or the middle section 32 of the security locking tabs 6a, 6b, the security projections 37a, 37b are not retained anymore by the retention surface 48 of the corresponding security shoulder 45a, 45b, such that a second action of pulling according arrow 56 the CPA member 3 reverse to the plug-in direction results in separating it from the housing 2. This is shown in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, respectively. Thereafter the electrical connector 1 may be separated by further pulling according arrow 57 from its counter-part 54, see Fig. 3C.

The embodiments shown with reference to Figs. 4 to 7 show a security locking tab 6a, 6b having two security projections 37a, 37b formed on the opposing sides of said security locking tab 6a, 6b. Other embodiments of an electrical connector 1 according to the present invention include only one such security projection, which may be located on one side of the front section 33 or in another area of said front section 33, e.g. in the middle of the front section 33. Thereby, it is necessary to provide one free shoulder passage space 50 per security projection 37a, 37b such that the security shoulder 45a, 45b can slide by pushing behind the security projection 37a, 37b, i.e. such that the security projection 37a, 37b can be moved, over a projection passage slot 52 located between the lateral surface 42 and the security shoulder 45a, 45b, to the free retention slot 51 behind the security shoulder 45a, 45b. In other embodiments of the invention, the sloping surface 38 of the security projections 37a, 37b of one security- locking tab 6a, 6b and the sloping surface 46 of the corresponding security shoulder 45a, 45b may have an inverse orientation with reference to the above embodiments. That is that when engaging the CPA member 3 into the housing 2, the security locking tab 6a, 6b does not deflect inwards but outwards. The arrangement of the different elements of the security locking mechanism has therefore to be accordingly inversed or changed, and disengaging needs lifting instead of pressing.

The above described embodiments are dedicated to so-called 180° electrical connectors 1, or of straight line type, referring to the angle between the plug-in direction and the output direction of the wires 13a, 13b. The present invention is nevertheless advantageously usable with other connector configurations e.g. to 90° connectors, wherein said angle is a right angle.

Further, other embodiments of the invention can present a type of secondary locking system that is different from the one described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Said mechanism may e.g. consist in inserting rigid longitudinal rails formed on the CPA member 3 into the housing 2 to prevent any movement of the primary locking tabs 5a, 5b. However, also with those types of a secondary locking system the security locking tabs, like tabs 6a, 6b, may be used.

Referring to Fig. 8 there is shown such an embodiment of the invention presenting an alternative type of secondary locking system, wherein an electrical connector 59 is plugged into an electrical counter-part connector 54. The electrical connector 59 is mainly composed of a housing 2, a CPA member 3, and electrical elements comprising sleeves 11a, lib that connect to corresponding electrical pins 61 of the counterpart connector 54 during plugging.

Primary locking tabs 5a, 5b are formed on the housing and extend longitudinally into the plugging direction. They are radially deflectable and comprise on their external side a latch 22a, 22b with sloping back 24a, 24b and front 25a, 25b flanks. During the plugging process, the front flank 25a, 25b of the latch 22a, 22b hits on a shoulder 64 of the counterpart connector 54, what results in an elastically inwards deflection of the primary locking tabs 5a, 5b. Inserting further the connector 59 then causes the latch 22a, 22b to spring into a recess 60 of the counterpart connector 54 and the primary locking tabs 5a, 5b to be locked with the counterpart connector 54.

The CPA member 3 comprises rigid secondary locking rails 62 that extend longitudinally along the plugging direction. Each secondary locking rail 62 is designed to be inserted into a slot 63 radially behind a corresponding primary locking tab 5a, 5b of the housing 2 in order to prevent an unlocking of the primary locking system.

It is important to note that the CPA member 3 is mounted into the housing 2 once the latter is plugged into the counterpart connector 54 and locked by means of the primary locking tabs 5a, 5b. Until completion of this locking, the CPA member 3 is either separated from said housing 2 or located in a pre-assembled position within the housing 2. The pre-assembled position should in any case allow an inwards deflection of the primary locking tabs 5a, 5b that is sufficient to latch behind the shoulder 64. The security locking system of this embodiment is the same as that of the embodiments described with reference to Fig. 4 to 7. In particular, the housing 2 comprises security shoulders 45a, 45b and the CPA member comprises security locking tabs 6a, 6b with security projections 37a, 37b that are designed to lock behind said security shoulders 45a, 45b.

Thus if an operator wants to disengage the CPA member 3 from the housing 2, he has to deliberately press or lift the security locking tabs before pulling the CPA member 3. Accordingly, an accidental disengagement of the CPA member 3 can be prevented. The operator has further the possibility to remove the CPA member manually without any tool in opposition to prior art connectors.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 11 there is shown an electrical connector 70 with a secondary locking system according to another embodiment of the invention.

The electrical connector 70 comprises a CPA member 3 ' and a housing 2', which consists of a holder module 71, an interface housing module 72, and a cover 8. The holder module 71 and the interface housing module 72 compose a connector body 7 ' and are fastened together by means of two shoulders 73a, 73b of the holder module 71 that are designed to lodge in two corresponding recesses of the interface housing module 72.

Primary locking tabs 5a, 5b adapted to latch into grooves of the counter-part connector 54 are formed on the interface housing module 72.

Security locking tabs 74a, 74b are formed on the holder module 71 and extend longitudinally in the opposite plugging direction up to a front end section 79. Each security locking tab 74a, 74b can deflect radially inwards or outwards with respect to the plug-in axis 20, and comprises on the external side of the front end section 79 a front surface 75 that is perpendicular to the plug-in axis 20, a sloping surface 76, a middle surface 77 preferably parallel to the plug-in axis 20, and a retention surface 78 perpendicular to said plug-in axis 20.

The CPA member 3' comprises a back section 80, a lateral section 81, and a front section 82. Secondary locking tabs 4a to 4d and rails 21a, 21b of the CPA member 3' project through the front section 82 into the plugging direction. Security slots 83 are formed on the lateral section 81 of the CPA member 3 ' and extend longitudinally up to the front section 82.

The secondary locking tabs 4a to 4d and the rails 21a, 21b are similar to that of the embodiments shown with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. According to an alternative embodiment, the secondary locking system of the CPA member 3¹ consists in rigid locking rails, described above with reference to Fig. 8, which are designed to be inserted radially behind the corresponding primary locking tab 5a, 5b of the housing 2 ^■ .

In each security slot 83 of the CPA member 3 ' are formed a security shoulder 45', a releasing tab 84, and an abutment shoulder 85.

The security shoulder 45 ' is preferably formed between the two opposite lateral flanks 86 of the security slot 83. Said security shoulder 45' shows a sloping surface 46', a middle surface 47' being advantageously parallel to the plug-in axis 20, and a retention surface 48'. The edge 87 between the middle surface 47' and the retention surface 48' is preferably chamfered. A passage slot 93 separates the security shoulder 45' and the back surface 94 of the security slot 83.

The releasing tab 84 is rigidly fixed to the back section 80 of the CPA member 3'. It extends into the plugging direction and can deflect radially inwards towards the plug-in axis 20. The external side 88 comprises a section 89 that can be pushed by an operator in order to deflect the releasing tab 84 inwardly. The internal side 90 of the releasing tab 84 comprises an internal surface 91 and an abutment surface 92. When deflecting inwardly the releasing tab 84, the internal surface 91 is adapted to push radially the corresponding security locking tab 74a, 74b of the housing 2 ' and the abutment surface 92 is designed to abut against the security shoulder 45'.

The abutment shoulder 85 is formed within the security slot 83 between the two opposite lateral flanks 86 and is located between the passage slot 93 and the back section 80 of the CPA member 3 ' , such that the security locking tab 74a, 74b can abut against the abutment shoulder 85 during its insertion into the passage slot 93.

Figs. 10 and 11 show the process of engaging the CPA member 3' into the housing 2'. During this engagement, the sloping surface 76 of the security locking tab 74a, 74b abut against the sloping surface 46' of the security shoulder 45'. When engaging further the CPA member 3' the security locking tab 74a, 74b deflects inwardly and slides along the sloping surface 46' and the middle surface 47' into the passage slot 93. Once the middle surface 77 has passed the security shoulder 45 ' , the security locking tab 74a, 74b reverts to its initial position and latches behind the retention surface 48' of the security shoulder

45¹.

In order to disengage the CPA member 3 ' from the housing 2 ' it is necessary for an operator to actively deflect the releasing tab 84 by e.g. pressing the pushing section 89 and, at the same time, to pull the CPA member 3' out of the housing 2 ' . An accidental disengagement of the CPA member 3 ' is therefore avoided.

As a consequence of the deflection of the releasing tab 84, the internal surface 91 pushes back the security locking tab 74a, 74b in the passage slot 93, such that the retention surface 48' no longer locks said security locking tab 74a, 74b. The CPA member 3¹ can then be easily separated from the housing 2¹ by pulling it out.

Claims

1. An electrical connector (1) comprising:

- a housing (2) having at least one primary locking means (5a, 5b) for locking the electrical connector (1) with an electrical counter-part connector (54) , and

- a connector position assurance (CPA) member (3) , which is engageable with the housing (2) and comprises at least one secondary locking means (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) blocking the primary locking means (5a, 5b) , characterized by at least one security locking tab (6a, 6b) formed on the CPA member (3) or the housing (2) adapted to latch behind a security shoulder (45a, 45b) provided on the other of the CPA member (3) and the housing (2) to prevent an accidental disengagement of the CPA member (3) .

2. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the security locking tab (6a, 6b) is radially deflectable to actively disengage the engaged CPA member (3) .

3. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the security locking tab (6a, 6b) has a sloping surface (38) for sliding along a sloping surface (46) of the security shoulder (45a, 45b) during the engagement of the CPA member (3) with the housing (2) .

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the orientation of the sloping surface (38) of the security locking tab (6a, 6b) and of the sloping surface

(46) of the security shoulder (45a, 45b) causes a radially deflection of the security locking tab (6a, 6b) during the engagement of the CPA member (3) .

5. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has an abutment surface (44) for the security locking tab (6a, 6b) to come in abutment therewith during the engagement of the CPA member (3) .

6. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the security locking tab (6a, 6b) has at least one, preferably two laterally security projections (37a, 37b) for latching behind respective security shoulders (45a, 45b) of the housing (2) .

7. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) comprises a retention slot (51) for the security locking tab (6a, 6b) to latch therein.

8. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the CPA member (3) comprises preferably two security locking tabs (6a, 6b) being regularly arranged on the casing (16) of the CPA member (3) .

9. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the CPA member (3) is engageable with the housing (2) before plugging the electrical connector (1) into the electrical counter-part connector (54) .

10. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by two secondary latching tabs (4a, 4b; 4c, 4d) adapted to spring radially behind one primary locking tab (5a; 5b) .

11. The electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a releasing tab (84) adapted to radially deflect the security locking tab in order to actively disengage the engaged CPA member.