EP3687004A1

EP3687004A1 - Connector device equipped with connector position assurance member

Info

Publication number: EP3687004A1
Application number: EP19212631.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jung-Kyu HWANG
Original assignee: UJU Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: UJU Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-01-23
Filing date: 2019-11-29
Publication date: 2020-07-29
Also published as: KR101998077B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance (CAP) member having a reduced size compared with a conventional CPA member. The connector device includes a first connector having a first housing, a second connector including a second housing inserted into the first housing and an elastic lever provided in the second housing, and a connector position assurance member that prevents elastic deformation of the elastic lever after the elastic lever is locked in the first housing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0008754, filed January 23, 2019 , the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance (CPA) member and, more particularly, to a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member capable of reducing the overall size of the connector device.

Description of the Related Art

Automobiles are used in a very complex environment in which electrical characteristics, mechanical characteristics, and/or weather irregularly changes. This means that automotive connectors are also used in the same environment. Since connectors are used for electrical connections, the connectors are required to ensure reliable electrical connections and mechanical couplings with other connectors. Among them, in the case of connectors used for safety-related electronic parts such as an airbag, since they are closely associated with driver's safety, it is very important that the electrical connections and mechanical couplings of the connectors must not be released by an improper coupling between a terminal and a housing under any circumstances. Accordingly, when a first connector and a second connector are engaged, a connector position assurance (CPA) device is used to ensure that these connectors are securely and perfectly mated.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a connector assembly including a conventional connector position assurance device, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a conventional connector position assurance device.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a connector assembly including a conventional connector position assurance device includes a first connector 10, a second connector 20, and a connector position assurance device 30.
The first connector 10 is a receptacle connector mounted on a circuit board S, and the second connector 20 is a plug connector connected to a wire W and configured to be inserted into the first connector 10. The connector position assurance device 30 has a connector position assurance (CPA) function. The connector position assurance device 30 includes a sliding member base 31, a main arm 32 protruding from the center of the sliding member base 31, and two support arms 34R and 34L protruding from the respective ends of the sliding member base 31. The main arm 32 comes into contact with a fitting fixing portion (not shown) provided in the second connector 20, thereby being locked. The support arms 34R and 34L are engaged with reverse insertion prevention ribs (not shown) provided inside the second connector 20 and function to guide the sliding of the sliding member base 31. After the first and second connectors 10 and 20 are engaged with each other, the main arm 32 of the connector position assurance member 30 is engaged with the fitting fixing portion that serves as a locking lever, thereby preventing the first and second connectors 10 and 20 from being accidently disengaged from each other. When the first and second connectors 10 and 20 need to be disengaged, the connector position assurance member 30 must be first released so that the first and second connectors 10 and 20 can be disengaged. Accordingly, accidental disengagement of the first and second connectors 10 and 20 can be prevented.
On the other hand, the connector position assurance member 30 is provided with the support arms 34R and 34L on the respective sides of the sliding member base 31 so that the sliding of the sliding member base 31 cab be guided as described above. This configuration has a problem in that the overall width W1 of the connector position assurance member 30 is increased due to the presence of the support arms 34R and 34L. For this reason, the sizes of the first and second connectors 10 and 20 are increased.

Documents of Related Art

(Patent Document 1) Korean Patent No. 10-1886959

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the problem occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member having a reduced size compared with a conventional CPA member so that the overall size of the connector device can be reduced.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member, the connector device including: a first connector including a first housing and an engagement portion provided inside an insertion portion of the first housing, the first housing having the insertion portion formed on a first side surface thereof and a plurality of first terminal guide portions formed in a second side surface that is opposite to the first side surface, the first terminal guide portions extending toward the insertion portion and being formed to pass through the second side surface; a second housing formed to be inserted into the insertion portion of the first housing, the second housing including a plurality of guide portions arranged in parallel, an elastic lever protruding in a cantilever shape to be resilient from one surface of the second housing, in which one of the guide portions selected from the plurality of guide portions is classified as a sliding guide portion, the other guide portions except the sliding guide portion are classified as second terminal guide portions facing the first terminal guide portions, the elastic lever is elastically deformed to be locked to the engagement portion when the second housing and the elastic lever are inserted into the insertion portion; and a connector position assurance member including a first leg portion inserted into a locking space portion elongated between one surface of the second housing and the elastic lever so that the elastic lever cannot be elastically deformed after the elastic lever is locked to the engagement portion, a head portion provided on an external surface of the first leg portion, and a second leg portion having a first end connected to the heat portion and a second end inserted into the sliding guide portion.
The second housing may include a first surface portion, a second surface portion spaced apart from and facing the first surface portion, a pair of sidewall portions connecting side portions of the first surface portion and the second surface portion, a bottom surface portion connecting a first end of the first surface portion and a first end of the second surface portion, and a plurality of the guide portions arranged in parallel between the first surface portion and the second surface portion. The sliding guide portion among the plurality of guide portions may be located between two of the second terminal guide portions adjacent to each other, and the elastic lever may extend from the first end of the first surface portion to a second end of the first surface portion.
The elastic lever may include: a pair of lever portions protruding from toward a second side of the second housing from a first side of the second housing; a first locking connection portion connecting distal ends of the lever portions to each other; and a second locking connection portion spaced apart from the first locking connection portion and configured to connect the lever portions to each other. A first locking space portion may be provided between the first locking connection and the pair of lever portions, and a second locking space portion may be provided between the second locking connection portion and the pair of lever portions. When the second housing is inserted into the insertion portion, the engagement portion sequentially passes the first locking space portion and the second locking connection portion and is then locked to the first locking space portion, the engagement portion presses the second locking connection portion when passing the second locking portion so that the lever portions are elastically deformed toward the second housing, and the lever portions are elastically deformed to return to their original positions when the engagement portion is locked to the first locking space portion.
The first leg portion may be inserted into the locking space portion before the second housing is inserted into the inserting portion. A leg engagement portion may be formed to protrude from an end of the first leg portion so as to be locked to the first locking space portion. The first leg portion may be positioned to be spaced apart from the first locking connection portion and the second housing. The engagement portion may press the leg engagement portion in a state of being locked to the first locking space when the second housing is inserted into the insertion portion. The first leg portion may move forward and the leg engagement portion may pass the second locking connection and enter into the second locking space portion to be locked when an forward-pushing force is applied to the head in a state where the leg engagement portion is removed from the first locking space portion by the pressure of the engagement portion.
The elastic lever may be provided on a first surface of the second housing, a second surface of the housing may be provided with a receiving recess that is recessed inward, and the guiding portion may be exposed to the outside via the receiving recess. A terminal position assurance member for determining a position of a terminal inserted into the second terminal guide portion may be provided in the receiving recess. A first locking protrusion and a second locking protrusion may be provided at one end, in a longitudinal direction, of the second leg portion, in this order in which a distance from the head portion is increased, the second leg portion being positioned at the opposite side of the elastic lever, in a state in which the leg engagement portion is locked to the first locking space portion. The second locking protrusion provided at the end of the second leg portion may be caught by the terminal position assurance member.
The second housing may include a first surface portion, a second surface portion spaced apart from the first surface portion and facing the first surface portion, a pair of sidewall portions connecting side portions of the first surface portion and the second surface portion, a bottom surface portion connecting a first end of the first surface portion and a first end of the second surface portion, the multiple guide portions arranged in parallel between the first surface portion and the second surface portion, the receiving recess formed to be recessed in the second surface portion, a receiving hole formed to pass through the sidewall portions provided at both sides of the receiving recess, and a fastening protrusion protruding toward the receiving recess from an inner periphery of the receiving hole disposed at the opposite side of the first surface portion. The terminal position assurance member may include a cover portion covering the receiving recess, a position assurance protrusion protruding toward the guide portion from an inner surface of the cover portion, bending portions bent toward the receiving hole from both sides of the cover portion, and cover coupling portions provided on an outer surface of the respective bending portions and engaged with the fastening protrusion. When the leg engagement portion is locked to the first locking space portion, the second locking protrusion may be caught by the position assurance protrusion.
According to the present invention, since the second leg portion moves along the sliding guide portion, the support arms for guiding the sliding of the connector position assurance member are not required, resulting in a decrease in the overall width of the connector position assurance member.
In addition, when the leg engagement portion is locked to the second locking space portion in a state where the engagement portion is locked to the first locking space portion, the elastic lever cannot be moved downward. Therefore, the state in which the engagement portion is locked to the first locking space portion can be reliably secured. In this state, the engagement between the first connector and the second connection is not accidently released even under conditions of continuous external impacts such as vibrations.
In addition, since existing first housings in which a connector position assurance member is not provided can be used as they are to implement the present invention, there is an effect of not having to manufacture new first connectors to implement the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a connector assembly including a conventional connector position assurance device;
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a conventional connector position assurance device;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the connector position assurance member is inserted into a second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the connector position assurance member is inserted into the second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a view schematically illustrating a state in which a terminal position assurance member is engaged with the second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
7A is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which the terminal position assurance member is primarily coupled to the second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which the terminal position assurance member is primarily engaged with the second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8A is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which the terminal position assurance member is secondarily engaged with the second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which the terminal position assurance member is secondarily engaged with the second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating a state in which the connector position assurance member of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is primarily engaged;
FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating a state in which the connector position assurance member of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is secondarily engaged; and
FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating various examples of a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance (CPA) member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, a connector device 1000 having a CPA member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be used for connection of various electronic devices in automotive industry or electronics industry. Specifically, the connector device 1000 may be used for wire-to-wire connection or wire-to-board connection. The connector device 1000 equipped with a connector position assurance member includes a first connector 100, a second connector 200, a connector position assurance (CPA) member 300, and a terminal position assurance (TPA) member 400.
The first connector 100 includes a first housing 110 and one or more first terminals 120 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B). The first housing 110 has, for example, a substantially hexahedron shape. The first housing 110 has an insertion portion 112 recessed from a first side surface of the first housing 110 and a plurality of first terminal guide portions 114 (see FIG. 9) extending inward from a second side surface (which is opposite to the first side surface) of the first housing 110. That is, the first terminal guide portions 114 are recessed toward the insertion portion 112 from the second side surface. A engagement portion 112a protrudes downward from the inner upper surface of the insertion portion 112. The first terminal 120 has a known pin shape and is inserted into the first terminal guide portion 114. A first end of the first terminal 120 is electrically connected to a second terminal (not shown), which will be described later, provided a second housing 210. A second end of the first terminal 120 is connected to the board of an automotive electronic part.
The second connector 200 includes a second housing 210, an elastic lever 230, and a second terminal. The second housing 210 has a substantially hexahedral shape so as to be inserted into the insertion portion 112 of the first housing. The second housing 210 has a first surface portion 212, a second surface portion 214 facing the first surface portion 212 and being spaced from the first surface portion 212, a pair of side walls 216 that connect the first surface portion 212 and the second surface portion 214, and a bottom surface portion 218 connecting a first end of the first surface portion 212 and a first end of the second surface portion 214. In addition, a plurality of guide portions 220 is arranged in parallel between the first surface portion 212 and the second surface portion 214. The end of each guide portion 220 passes through an area between a second end of the first surface portion 212 and a second end of the second surface portion 214 such that the end of each guide portion 220 is exposed at the second end side of the first and second surface portions. One of the guide portions 220 selected from the plurality of guide portions 220 is referred to as a sliding guide portion 222, and the other guide portions 220 except for the sliding guide portion 222 are referred to as second terminal guide portions 224 opposed to the first terminal guide portions 114. The sliding guide portion 222 is disposed between the second terminal guide portions 224 adjacent to each other.
The elastic lever 230 includes a pair of lever portions 232 having a cantilever form so as to be resilient, facing each other, and extending toward the rear end of the first surface portion 210 from the front end of the first surface portion 210. In addition, the elastic lever 230 includes a first locking connection portion 234 connecting the distal ends of the lever portions 232 to each other and a second locking connection portion 236 spaced apart from the first locking connection portion 234 and connecting the lever portions 232 to each other. A first locking space portion 234a is formed in a space between the first locking connection portion 234 and the rear end of the par of lever portions 232, and a second locking space portion 236a is formed in a space between the second locking connection portion 236 and the front end of the pair of lever portions 232. The distal end of the lever portion 232 is spaced apart from the first surface portion 212, and a space for spacing is provided between the lever portion 232 and the first surface portion 212. Elastic force-suppressing portions 234b protrude from the distal ends of the lever portions 232, respectively, and stoppers 213 protrude toward the elastic force-suppressing portions 234 from the respective sides of the first surface portion 212. Therefore, when the distal ends of the lever portions 232 are elastically deformed, the elastic force-suppressing portions 234 are stopped by the stoppers 213, thereby preventing the lever portions 232 from being excessively deformed upward. On the other hand, unless otherwise described in embodiments of the present invention, a position relatively close to the bottom portion 218 is referred to as the front side or front end, and a position relatively far from the bottom portion 218 is referred to as the rear side or rear end.
The second terminal has a conventional configuration in which it is inserted into the second terminal guide portion 224 to be electrically connected to the first terminal 120. For example, the second terminal includes a wire connected to an external device.
The connector position assurance member 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 in detail below, and the terminal position assurance member 400 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 in detail below.
FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the connector position assurance member is inserted into the second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the connector position assurance member is inserted into the second housing of the connector device equipped with the connector position assurance member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the connector position assurance member 300 is used to prevent the elastic levers 230 from being elastically deformed after the elastic members 230 are locked to the engagement portion 112a. The connector position assurance member 300 includes a first leg portion 302 that is inserted into a locking space portion 210 elongated between one surface of the second housing 210 and the elastic member 302, a head portion 304 provided on an external surface of the first leg portion 302, and a second leg portion 306 that is elongated such that a first end thereof is connected to the head portion 304 and a second end thereof is inserted into the sliding guide portion 222. In addition, a first locking protrusion 306a and a second locking protrusion 306b are provided at a lower end, in the longitudinal direction, of the second leg portion 306 positioned at the opposite side of the elastic lever 230. The first locking protrusion 306a and the second locking protrusion 306b are disposed in this order in a direction in which the distance is increased from the head portion 304.
Before the second housing 210 is inserted into the insertion portion 112, the first leg portion 302 is inserted into the locking space portion 219. A leg engagement portion 302 is formed to protrude from an end of the first leg portion so that the leg engagement portion 302 is locked to the first locking spacer portion 234a. When the leg engagement portion 302a is locked to the first locking space portion 234a, the first leg portion 302 is positioned to be spaced apart from both of the first locking connection portion 234 and the second housing 210 and is elastically biased upwards. Accordingly, when the second housing 210 is inserted into the insertion portion 112 in a state where the leg engagement portion 302a is locked to the first locking space portion 234a, the elastic lever 230 is elastically deformed downwards while pressing the first locking connection portion 234 downwards. This will be described later in more detail with reference to FIG. 9.
When the first leg portion 302 is inserted into the locking space portion 219, the second leg portion 306 slides along the longitudinal direction of the sliding guide portion 222 in a state of being inserted into the sliding guide portion 222. As such, since the second leg portion 306 moves along the sliding guide portion 222, an additional support arm for guiding the sliding of the connector position assurance member 300. Therefore, the width W2 of the connector position assurance member 300 can be reduced.
FIG. 6 is a view schematically illustrating a state in which the terminal position assurance member is engaged with the second housing of the connector device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 6, the second housing 210 is provided with the terminal position assurance (TPA) member 400 serving as as a terminal position assurance (TPA) device that determines a position of the second terminal (not shown) inserted into the second terminal guide portion 224. To this end, a receiving recess 214a is formed to be recessed inward from a second surface portion 214 of the second housing 210. The sliding guide portion 222 and the second terminal guide portion 224 are configured to be exposed to the outside through the receiving recess 214a. In addition, the side walls 216 of the receiving recess 214a are provided with respective receiving holes 216a through which first and second cover coupling portions 404a and 404b to be described later are exposed to the outside. In this case, a fastening protrusion 2126b is formed to protrude from a portion of the inner periphery of the receiving hole 216a disposed in the opposite side of the first surface portion 212 toward the center of the receiving recess 214a.
The terminal position assurance member 400 includes a cover portion 402 for covering the open lower end of the receiving recess 214a, a position assurance protrusion 406 that protrudes toward the guide portions 220 from an inner surface of the cover portion 402, bending portions 404 that are bent toward the receiving recess 216a from respective sides of the cover portion 402, and first and second cover coupling portions 404a and 404b provided on the external surfaces of the respective bending portions 404 so as to be engaged with the fastening protrusion 2126b. When the terminal position assurance member 400 is inserted into the receiving recess 214a after the second terminal is inserted into the second terminal guide portion 224, the second terminal is caught by the position assurance protrusion 406 and thus the position of the second terminal is determined.
Hereinafter, a process of assembling a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
7A is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which a terminal position assurance member is primarily engaged with a second housing of a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which the terminal position assurance member is primarily engaged with to the second housing of the connector device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in a state in which the second terminal is inserted into the second terminal guide portion 224 of the second housing 210, the first leg portion 302 and the second leg portion 306 of the connector position assurance member 300 are inserted respectively into a locking space portion 219 and a sliding guide portion 222. At this time, the connector position assurance member 300 is in a state in which the leg engagement portion 302a is not in a CPA secondary engagement state where the leg engagement portion 302a is not completely locked to the second locking space portion 236a and the leg engagement portion 302a is in a primary engagement state (temporarily engaged state) where the leg engagement portion 302a is temporarily locked to the first locking space portion 234a.
Thereafter, the terminal position assurance member 400 is inserted into the receiving recess 214a of the second housing 210. Here, the cover portion 402 of the terminal position assurance member 400 is not completely inserted into the receiving recess 214a of the second housing 210 but is positioned to be slightly spaced apart from the receiving recess 214a. At this time, the first cover coupling portion 404a is a TPA primary engagement state where the first cover coupling portion 404a is temporarily locked to the fastening protrusion 2126b (TPA primary coupling state).
Here, the second locking protrusion 306b positioned at the distal end of the second leg portion 306 is caught by the first locking protrusion 306a of the terminal position assurance member 400. Therefore, the second leg portion 306 cannot move backward. In addition, since the leg engagement portion 302a is locked to the first locking space portion 234a, the first leg portion 302 cannot move forward. As such, when the terminal position assurance member 400 is primarily engaged with the fastening protrusion 2126b, the connector position assurance member 300 cannot move forward and backward. That is, there is an effect that the connector position assurance member 300 is not accidently removed from the second housing 210.
FIG. 8A is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which the terminal position assurance member is secondarily engaged with the second housing of the connector device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which the terminal position assurance member is secondarily engaged with the second housing of the connector device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 8A, and 8B, when the cover portion 403 is moved to be completely inserted into the receiving recess 214a of the second housing 210 in a state in which the first cover coupling portion 404a of the terminal position assurance member 400 is primarily engaged with the fastening protrusion 2126b, the second cover coupling portion 404b enters the TPA secondary coupling state where the second cover coupling portion 404b is secondarily (i.e., completely) engaged with the fastening protrusion 2126b.
FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating a state in which the connector position assurance member of the connector device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is primarily coupled.
Referring to FIG. 9, after the leg engagement portion 302a of the connector position assurance member 300 is locked to the first locking space portion 234a (the CPA primary engagement state), and the terminal position assurance member 400 enters the TPA second engagement state where the terminal position assurance member 400 is secondarily engaged to the second housing 210, the second housing 210 is moved forward to be inserted into the insertion portion 112. Therefore, the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are mutually coupled to each other. At this time, the engagement portion 112a is positioned to be locked to the first locking space 234a after sequentially passing through the second locking space 236a and the second locking connection portion 236 of the elastic lever 230. Here, the second housing 210 inserted into the insertion portion 112 of the first housing 110 is moved forward along the insertion portion 112, so that the engagement portion 112a applies a downward pressing force to the second locking engagement portion 236 when passing by the second locking connection portion 236. Thus, the lever portion 232 connected to the second locking connection portion 236 is pressed toward the second housing 210 so as to be elastically deformed. Thereafter, when the second housing 210 continues to move forward and the engagement portion 112a is locked to the first locking space portion 234a, the lever portion 232 is elastically deformed to its original position.
On the other hand, when the engagement portion 112a is locked to the first locking space portion 234a, the engagement portion 112a presses the leg engagement portion 302a that is locked to the first locking space portion 234a. Due to the down pressing, the leg engagement portion 302a is removed downward from the first locking space portion 234a. As such, when the leg engagement portion 302a is removed from the first locking space portion 234a, the connector position assurance member 300 enters a state in which the leg engagement portion 302a can be moved forward to be locked to the second locking space portion 236a.
FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating a state in which the connector position assurance member of the connector device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is secondarily engaged.
Referring to FIG. 10, when an advancing force is applied to the head portion 304 after the leg engagement portion 302a is removed downward from the first locking space portion 234a due to the pressing force of the engagement portion 112a, the first leg portion 302 is advanced along the locking space portion 219, and the leg engagement portion 302a is moved to the second locking space portion 236a through the second locking connection portion 236. When the leg engagement portion 302a passes the second locking connection portion 236, and when the leg engagement portion 302a is locked to the second locking space portion 236a after the first leg portion 302 is elastically deformed downward, the first leg portion 302 is elastically deformed to its original position. At this time, the leg engagement portion 302a enters the CPA secondary engagement state (fully engaged state) where the leg engagement portion 302a is locked to the second locking space portion 236a. As such, when the engagement portion 112a is locked to the second locking space portion 236a in a state in which the engagement portion 112a is locked to the first locking space portion 234a, the elastic lever 230 cannot move downward. That is, the state in which the engagement portion 112a is locked to the first locking space portion 234a is reliably maintained. Thus, even though external shock such as vibration is continuously applied to the connector device, there is an effect that the coupling between the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 is not accidently released.
On the other hand, in order to release the coupling between the first connector 100 and the second connector 200, the connector position assurance member 300 must be removed from the second housing 210. At this time, the front side of the second locking connection portion 236 is formed to have an inclined profile. In this case, when the head portion 304 of the connector position assurance member 300 is moved backward, the leg engagement portion 302a locked to the second locking space portion 236a can easily pass by the front side of the second locking connection portion 236, and the leg engagement portion 302a is locked to the first locking space portion 234a. Therefore, the connector position assurance member 300 can be easily removed from the second housing 210.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating various examples of a connector device having a connector position assurance member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 11A, the first housing 110 has an odd number of (for example, three) first terminal guide portions 114. The first terminals 120 are inserted into two first terminal guide portions 112 provided at respective sides of the first housing 110. That is, a first terminal 120 to be inserted into the first terminal guide portion 114 positioned at the center is removed. Instead of the central first terminal 120, when the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are coupled, the second leg portion 306 of the connector position assurance member is located in the first terminal guide portion 114 from which the first terminal 120 has been removed. As described above, since the present invention can use the existing first housing 110 to which the connector position assurance member 300 is not applied as it is, it is not needed to manufacture new first connectors 100.
Referring to FIG. 11B, the first housing 110 has an even number of (for example, four) first terminal guide portions 114. In this case, the first terminals 120 are inserted into the leftmost first terminal guide portion 114 and other two first terminal guide portions 114 provided at a right side of the first housing 110. That is, no first terminal is inserted into the first terminal guide portion 114 that is located on the left side of the center of the first housing 110, but the second leg portion 306 of the connector position assurance member 300 is located in the first terminal guide portion 114 at which the first terminal 120 is not inserted.
The present invention may be summarized as follows: Disclosed is a connector device equipped with a connector position assurance (CAP) member having a reduced size compared with a conventional CPA member. The connector device includes a first connector having a first housing, a second connector including a second housing inserted into the first housing and an elastic lever provided in the second housing, and a connector position assurance member that prevents elastic deformation of the elastic lever after the elastic lever is locked in the first housing.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited thereto and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. When these changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, they should also be regarded as belonging to the present invention.

Claims

A connector device equipped with a connector position assurance member, the connector device comprising:
a first connector including a first housing and an engagement portion provided inside an insertion portion of the first housing, the first housing having the insertion portion formed on a first side surface thereof and a plurality of first terminal guide portions formed in a second side surface that is opposite to the first side surface, the first terminal guide portions extending toward the insertion portion and being formed to pass through the second side surface;

a second housing formed to be inserted into the insertion portion of the first housing, the second housing including a plurality of guide portions arranged in parallel, an elastic lever protruding in a cantilever shape to be resilient from one surface of the second housing, in which one of the guide portions selected from the plurality of guide portions is classified as a sliding guide portion, the other guide portions except the sliding guide portion are classified as second terminal guide portions facing the first terminal guide portions, the elastic lever is elastically deformed to be locked to the engagement portion when the second housing and the elastic lever are inserted into the insertion portion; and

a connector position assurance member including a first leg portion inserted into a locking space portion elongated between one surface of the second housing and the elastic lever so that the elastic lever cannot be elastically deformed after the elastic lever is locked to the engagement portion, a head portion provided on an external surface of the first leg portion, and a second leg portion having a first end connected to the heat portion and a second end inserted into the sliding guide portion.
The connector device of claim 1, wherein the second housing comprises a first surface portion, a second surface portion spaced apart from and facing the first surface portion, a pair of sidewall portions connecting side portions of the first surface portion and the second surface portion, a bottom surface portion connecting a first end of the first surface portion and a first end of the second surface portion, and a plurality of the guide portions arranged in parallel between the first surface portion and the second surface portion,
the sliding guide portion among the plurality of guide portions is located between two of the second terminal guide portions adjacent to each other, and
the elastic lever extends from the first end of the first surface portion to a second end of the first surface portion.
The connector device of claim 1 and/or 2, wherein the elastic lever comprises: a pair of lever portions protruding from toward a second side of the second housing from a first side of the second housing; a first locking connection portion connecting distal ends of the lever portions to each other; and a second locking connection portion spaced apart from the first locking connection portion and configured to connect the lever portions to each other,
wherein a first locking space portion is provided between the first locking connection and the pair of lever portions,
wherein a second locking space portion is provided between the second locking connection portion and the pair of lever portions,
wherein when the second housing is inserted into the insertion portion, the engagement portion sequentially passes the first locking space portion and the second locking connection portion and is then locked to the first locking space portion, the engagement portion presses the second locking connection portion when passing the second locking portion so that the lever portions are elastically deformed toward the second housing, and the lever portions are elastically deformed to return to their original positions when the engagement portion is locked to the first locking space portion.
The connector device of claim 3, wherein the first leg portion is inserted into the locking space portion before the second housing is inserted into the inserting portion,
a leg engagement portion is formed to protrude from an end of the first leg portion so as to be locked to the first locking space portion,
the first leg portion is positioned to be spaced apart from the first locking connection portion and the second housing,
the engagement portion presses the leg engagement portion in a state of being locked to the first locking space when the second housing is inserted into the insertion portion, and
the first leg portion moves forward and the leg engagement portion passes the second locking connection and enters into the second locking space portion to be locked when an forward-pushing force is applied to the head in a state where the leg engagement portion is removed from the first locking space portion by the pressure of the engagement portion.
The connector device of claim 4, wherein the elastic lever is provided on a first surface of the second housing, a second surface of the housing is provided with a receiving recess that is recessed inward, and the guiding portion is exposed to the outside via the receiving recess,
wherein a terminal position assurance member for determining a position of a terminal inserted into the second terminal guide portion is provided in the receiving recess,
wherein a first locking protrusion and a second locking protrusion are provided at one end, in a longitudinal direction, of the second leg portion, in this order in which a distance from the head portion is increased, the second leg portion being positioned at the opposite side of the elastic lever, in a state in which the leg engagement portion is locked to the first locking space portion, and
the second locking protrusion provided at the end of the second leg portion is caught by the terminal position assurance member.
The connector device of claim 5, wherein the second housing comprises a first surface portion, a second surface portion spaced apart from the first surface portion and facing the first surface portion, a pair of sidewall portions connecting side portions of the first surface portion and the second surface portion, a bottom surface portion connecting a first end of the first surface portion and a first end of the second surface portion, the multiple guide portions arranged in parallel between the first surface portion and the second surface portion, the receiving recess formed to be recessed in the second surface portion, a receiving hole formed to pass through the sidewall portions provided at both sides of the receiving recess, and a fastening protrusion protruding toward the receiving recess from an inner periphery of the receiving hole disposed at the opposite side of the first surface portion,
wherein the terminal position assurance member comprises a cover portion covering the receiving recess, a position assurance protrusion protruding toward the guide portion from an inner surface of the cover portion, bending portions bent toward the receiving hole from both sides of the cover portion, and cover coupling portions provided on an outer surface of the respective bending portions and engaged with the fastening protrusion, and
wherein when the leg engagement portion is locked to the first locking space portion, the second locking protrusion is caught by the position assurance protrusion.