Connector assembly and connector assembly with position assurance device

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector assembly (1) and a connector group (95) comprising such a connector assembly (1) and a mating connector housing (65) with a coupling element (66) adapted to engage with a coupling (73) of the connector assembly (1). In prior art solutions, the rod arrangement (69) can be unintentionally detached. These solutions are improved by the invention, providing a connector housing (2) adapted to be plugged together with a mating connector (67), a rod arrangement (69) having a rod (71) attached to the connector housing and a coupling (73) adapted to be moved by the rod (71) and to engage with the mating connector (67), and a position assurance device (3) configured as a separate part, attachable to the connector housing (2) and movable on the connector housing (2) from a release position (47) to a fixed position (87), which can only be transferred to the fixed position (87) in a predetermined rod position (81) and which fixes the rod (71) in the predetermined rod position (81) in the fixed position (87), wherein the position assurance device (3) comprises at least one stop surface (63) which directly blocks the rod (71) in the predetermined rod position (81) in the fixed position (87).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector assembly and a connector group. BACKGROUND

[0002] From the prior art, connector assemblies and connector groups are known which have a connector housing and a position assurance device, in particular a contact position assurance device. These contact position assurance devices (abbreviation: CPA) are usually configured in such a way that, once the final insertion position between the connector housing and the mating connector has been achieved, they prevent the connection from being released.

[0003] In particular in the automotive sector, and when using connector assemblies which are configured for gearboxes and thus for contacting a plurality of power lines and / or data lines, a lever device is usually used for the coupling between the connector and the mating connector in order to achieve the necessary plug-in force for plugging them together. During assembly, there is a risk that the lever of such a lever device opens, for example due to vibrations or already due to gravity. SUMMARY

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly and a connector group which improve the prior art solutions with regard to unintentional opening of the lever of the lever device, i.e. to prevent unintentional opening.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned objects for a connector assembly mentioned at the outset, wherein the connector device comprises a connector housing which is adapted to be plugged together with a mating connector, a lever device having a lever attached to the connector housing and a coupling adapted to be moved by the lever and to engage with the mating connector, and a position assurance device configured as a separate component which is attachable to the connector housing and which is movable on the connector housing from a release position to a fixed position which can only be transferred to the fixed position in a predetermined lever position and which fixes the lever in the predetermined lever position in the fixed position, wherein the position assurance device comprises at least one stop surface which directly blocks the lever in the predetermined lever position in the fixed position.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned objects for a connector group mentioned at the outset, wherein a connector assembly according to the invention and a mating connector housing having a coupling element are provided, wherein the coupling element is adapted to engage with the coupling of the connector assembly.

[0007] The connector assembly according to the invention and the connector group according to the invention have the advantage that the unintentional opening of the lever and the risk of the plug-in connection between the connector housing and the mating connector being released in the final assembled state, if not completely prevented, are reduced.

[0008] The connector assembly and the connector set can be further improved by the embodiments described in more detail below. The additional technical features of these embodiments can be combined with each other as desired or can also be omitted, provided that the technical effect achieved by the omitted technical features is not essential.

[0009] In one embodiment of the connector assembly according to the application, the lever can be folded onto the connector housing in the predetermined lever position. This has the advantage that the assembled connector, i.e. the connector assembly in the assembled state, can be smaller than known solutions.

[0010] In the fixed position, the position assurance device can engage at least partially around the lever. In this embodiment, it can thus be ensured that the lever is directly blocked in the fixed position by the position assurance device.

[0011] Here, the position assurance device can engage around a beam of the lever, which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the folding direction, in particular. The position assurance device can be a clamp that engages around the lever on its beam. The position assurance device can be configured to have a U-shaped shape, in particular, in order to achieve this engagement.

[0012] The stop surface can abut against the beam of the lever.

[0013] In another embodiment, the stop surface can be oriented substantially parallel to the lever axis. The lever axis is the axis about which the lever is pivotably held on the connector housing. The lever axis can be arranged asymmetrically in the lever device, wherein the lever and the coupling can be arranged on different sides of the lever axis. The lever device can have a shaft pin or a shaft receiving opening on the lever axis. The connector housing according to the application can be further improved, wherein the lever in the predetermined lever position is at least partially received in a receiving portion of the connector housing. This embodiment can result in a further reduced structural shape of the assembled connector, since components of the lever are received in the connector housing.

[0014] In another advantageous embodiment of the connector assembly according to the application, the position assurance device can be displaced in a linear manner in a receiving portion in the connector housing. The receiving portion of the connector housing can be configured to have the shape of a channel or a slide. In the release position, the position assurance device can be displaced, in particular, in the direction of the lever axis. This embodiment then allows the position assurance device to be accommodated in a space-saving manner on or in the connector housing.

[0015] It is also advantageous if the position assurance device is fixed in a pre-assembly position spaced apart from the predetermined lever position by a locking element, for example by a detent, wherein the lever comprises an unlocking member by which the locking element in the predetermined lever position is unlocked. The unlocking member can in particular act on the locking element or a force can only act on it in the predetermined lever position.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the connector assembly according to the application, the locking element can be formed on the elastically deflectable element of the position assurance device. The elastically deflectable element can be a spring arm. The locking element can then fix the position assurance device in its position relative to the connector housing in the pre-assembled position of the lever, so that it is not possible to actuate the position assurance device from the release position to the fixed position due to the locking element.

[0017] If the lever is moved in the predetermined lever position, the unlocking member of the lever can unlock the locking element, i.e. disengage the latching or locking between the locking element of the position assurance device and the connector housing. If the lever is in the predetermined lever position, the locking element is unlocked by the unlocking member of the lever, i.e. the latching between the locking element of the position assurance device and the connector housing is disengaged. This is done in particular and advantageously, wherein the position of the locking element is changed by the unlocking member, so that the locking element no longer engages with the locking surface of the connector housing and can be moved with the position assurance device past such a locking surface. This movement past each other occurs when the position assurance device is moved from the release position to the fixed position.

[0018] In the fixed position, the elastically deflectable element can in particular return to the non-deflected state. The elastically deflectable element can thus be a spring arm that returns to the original state after a deflection has occurred. This happens automatically when the fixed position is reached.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the connector assembly according to the application, the position assurance device can have a latching element which, at least in the release position, latches the position assurance device captive on the connector housing.

[0020] The advantage of this is that the position assurance device, which is thus attached to the connector housing, is not lost.

[0021] The latching element and / or the locking element can both be arranged on the elastically deflectable element. The latching element and the position assurance device can be arranged on a common protrusion of the elastically deflectable element. They can preferably be directed in opposite directions. The locking element can here be a locking surface which is directed in the direction from the release position to the fixed position, while the latching element can be a locking or latching surface which is directed in the direction from the fixed position to the release position, i.e. in the opposite direction to the direction in which the locking element is directed.

[0022] The protrusion can thus first of all prevent the position assurance device from being pushed into the receptacle of the connector housing if the lever is not in the predetermined lever position. Secondly, the latching element can engage with the mating latching surface of the connector housing when the position assurance device is accommodated in the receptacle of the connector housing, so that it is not possible to remove the position assurance device from the connector housing.

[0023] To realize this latching, the elastically deflectable element can comprise an insertion ramp, in particular on the latching element, which allows deflecting the elastically deflectable element into the accommodation of the connector housing when the position assurance device is inserted, thus ensuring an easy insertion of the position assurance device.

[0024] The above-described embodiments of the connector assembly can be used in a connector set according to the present application. Furthermore, embodiments of the connector assembly which are not explicitly described are also possible, wherein the above-described features can be combined with each other and / or omitted in any desired manner.

[0025] For example, a pin or a shaft pin attached to the mating connector housing can be used as a connecting element of the mating connector housing and can be inserted into the corresponding accommodation slot of the coupling of the lever device when inserted together with the connector housing, and by this engagement it can be made possible that upon actuation of the lever a movement of the connector housing and the mating connector housing towards each other can be achieved. It is also conceivable that the coupling of the lever device comprises a pin and the coupling element of the mating connector housing is configured as a slot. The use of a slot and a corresponding pin engaged therein only represents one possibility of coupling the connector housing to the mating connector housing. Furthermore, an arrangement with a gear or a hinge for force amplification when inserting the connector housing and the mating connector housing together is also conceivable.

[0026] If in the present disclosure reference is made to a singular (plural) feature, a plural (singular) of said technical features is not excluded. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] The application will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which specific embodiments of the application are described and merely by way of example. The technical features of the drawings can be combined with each other as desired in accordance with the application. Redundant descriptions of the technical features in the drawings will be omitted. Identical technical features and features having the same function have the same reference signs, wherein:

[0028] Figure 1 A connector assembly according to the application is shown without a lever device;

[0029] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the connector assembly of Figure 1 is shown;

[0030] Figure 3 A position assurance device according to the application is shown in a perspective view;

[0031] Figure 4 A connector assembly in a pre-assembled position is shown in a cross-sectional view;

[0032] Figure 5 A connector assembly is shown in a cross-sectional view, wherein the lever is in a predetermined lever position;

[0033] Figure 6 a top view of the connector assembly of Figure 5 is shown;

[0034] Figure 7 a detailed view of a latch of the position assurance device of the connector assembly of Figure 5 and 6 is shown;

[0035] Figure 8 a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly in the final insertion position is shown; and

[0036] Figure 9 a connector assembly according to the application is shown, wherein the connector assembly is in the final insertion position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Figure 1 A connector assembly 1 with a connector housing 2 is shown, which is shown for simplicity without a lever device. The connector assembly 1 comprises a position assurance device 3, which is positioned and held at a first side 5 of the connector housing 2. The first side 5 can be the upper side 7, merely by way of example. However, if the connector housing 2 is used in a different orientation, the designations of the respective sides are adjusted accordingly.

[0038] The connector housing 2 comprises lever accommodation devices 9, in which the lever device can be accommodated. Such lever accommodation devices 9 are located both on a second side 11 of the connector housing 2 and on a third side 13 (not visible). A fourth side 15 can be designated as a lower side 17.

[0039] The connector housing 2 further comprises an end 19 on the connector side and an end 21 on the cable side. In Figure 1 , the end 21 on the cable side can be seen, the end 19 on the connector side is not shown and is directed obliquely into the plane of the drawing. A cable accommodation opening 23 is shown at the end 21 on the cable side and will not be discussed in more detail.

[0040] The geometry of the position assurance device 3 will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 3 .

[0041] In the illustration of Figure 1 , it is indicated that the position assurance device 3 is accommodated in an accommodation 25 of the connector housing 2.

[0042] Figure 2 The connector assembly 1 of Figure 1 is shown in a lateral cross-sectional view. Here, the accommodation 25, in which the position assurance device 3 is accommodated, can be seen. In particular, two guide arms 27, which are aligned parallel to one another, and an elastically deflectable element 31, which is configured as a spring arm 29, are accommodated in this accommodation 25.

[0043] Due to the cross-sectional view in Figure 2 only one guide arm 27 is visible.

[0044] The position assurance device 3 comprises two protrusions 33 on the spring arm 29. The protrusion 33 arranged at an end portion 35 of the spring arm 29 represents a latching element 37 comprising a latching stop surface 39 pointing towards the cable side end portion 21 and an insertion ramp 41 opposite thereto.

[0045] The insertion ramp 41 as well as the latching stop surface 39 interact with a latching and locking portion 43 of the connector housing 2. The insertion ramp 41 allows the insertion of the position assurance device 3 into the accommodation 25, wherein the spring arm 29 is deflected in a deflection direction 45 when the insertion ramp 41 is moved upwards on the latching and locking portion 43. In the release position 47 of the position assurance device 3 shown, the latching stop surface 39 of the latching element 37 prevents the latching stop surface 39 of the position assurance device 3 from being unintentionally moved out of the accommodation 25. In order to disengage the latching stop surface 39 from the latching and locking portion 43, the spring arm 29 has to be actuated.

[0046] In the release position 47, the protrusion 33 arranged at the cable side end portion 21 of the connector housing 2 and representing a locking element 49 prevents at the same time that the position assurance device 3 in the release position 47 can be moved further into the accommodation 25. This is done by a locking surface 53 pointing in the insertion direction 51 and engaging with the latching and locking portion 43.

[0047] Figure 3 The position assurance device 3 is shown in a perspective view. It shows the two guide arms 27, the spring arm 29, the protrusions 33 in the form of the latching element 37 and the locking element 49 as well as the actuation portion 55 and the two blocking arms 57.

[0048] The blocking arms 57 comprise a vertical portion 59 and a horizontal portion 61. The designation refers to the position / orientation of the connector assembly or the connector housing 2, respectively, and thus independent of the position of the position assurance device 3.

[0049] Each horizontal portion 61 comprises a stop surface 63 pointing essentially in the direction of the guide arm 27. This is also shown in Figure 2 .

[0050] The different positions of the elements of the connector assembly 1 when the connector housing 2 is inserted together with a mating connector housing 65 will now be shown in Figures 4-9 . The mating connector housing 65 is only shown in Figure 9 . The mating connector housing 65 is part of a mating connector 67, which will not be discussed in detail at present. The mating connector housing 65 comprises a coupling element 66, e.g. in the form of a slot 66a. Other types of coupling elements 66 are conceivable.

[0051] Figure 4 The connector assembly 1 and the position guarantee device 3 housed within it are shown. Figure 9 The lever assembly 69 is shown as a whole. The lever assembly 69 includes a lever 71 and a connector 73, which is only... Figure 9 The position of the connector 73 on the rod assembly 69 is shown in the diagram. Since a wide variety of coupling systems with slots and bearing pins, hinges, or even gears are known in the prior art, the connector 73 will not be discussed further.

[0052] Figure 9 Also shown is a rod axis 75, around which the rod 71 is pivotally held on the connector housing 2.

[0053] The lever 71 also includes unlocking components 77, which are respectively located in Figure 4 The pre-assembled position 79 of the connector assembly 1 and connector housing 2 shown does not contact the position guaranteeing device 3. As described above, the position guaranteeing device 3 is blocked by the latch and locking portion 43 of the connector housing 2 by the locking element 49 and cannot move further in the insertion direction 51.

[0054] Specifically, the rod 71 can only move when a mating connector housing 65 that matches the connector housing 2 is provided and is oriented relative to the connector housing 2 in a pre-assembled position.

[0055] exist Figure 5 The image shows lever 71 in a predetermined lever position 81. In this predetermined lever position 81, unlocking member 77 contacts locking element 49, causing spring arm 29 of position securing device 3 to deflect in deflection direction 45. Spring arm 29, in its deflected state 83, is therefore no longer locked to the latch and locking portion 43 by locking element 49. Locking element 49 is thus unlocked in the predetermined lever position 81.

[0056] Therefore, in this unlocked position 85 of the spring arm 29, the position securing device 3 can be further displaced in the insertion direction 51 and can be further moved into the receiving portion 25. In the predetermined rod position 81 of the rod 71, the position securing device 3 can be displaced from the release position 47 to the reference position. Figure 8 The fixed position shown is 87.

[0057] Figure 6 and 7 It shows Figure 5 Top view of the state shown ( Figure 6 ) and detailed view ( Figure 7 As can be seen, the unlocking component 77 is covered by the blocking arm 57 of the position guarantee device 3, and the unlocking component 77 is a beam 89 oriented parallel to the rod axis 75.

[0058] The latching element 37 is visible in the entry opening 91 of the connector housing 2, wherein the spring arm 29 is in the deflected state 83. As mentioned above, in this pre-assembly position 79, the position assurance device 3 is movable in the insertion direction 51 and in the direction opposite to the insertion direction 51. Thus, the position assurance device 3 can be moved out of the connector housing in the illustrated state.

[0059] When the position assurance device 3 is moved further in the insertion direction 51, it is then in the Figure 8 and 9 illustrated fixed position 87. In this case, the lever 71 is held in the predefined lever position 81. In addition, the lever 71 is directly blocked by the stop surface 63 of the blocking arm 57 in exactly this predefined lever position 81.

[0060] In addition, due to the engagement of the locking element 49 with the latching and locking portion 43, the spring arm 29 is again in the relaxed state 93 and is prevented from being moved out of the receptacle 25 in the direction opposite to the insertion direction 51. Thus, the lever 71 is blocked by the position assurance device 3 in its predefined lever position 81. Since the coupler 73 is also actuated by the lever 71, the position of the connector housing 2 relative to the mating connector housing 65 is also fixed and cannot be changed unintentionally (i.e. the connector housing 2 and the mating connector housing 75 are detached from each other).

[0061] Figure 9 The connector set 95 is shown in the final assembly position 97, wherein it is apparent that the latching element 37 as well as the locking element 49 are visible and accessible in the entry opening 91 (compare Figure 6 and 7 ). It can also be seen that the blocking arm 57 of the position assurance device 3 encloses the beam 89 of the lever 71. This, together with the spring arm 29, corresponds to a U-shaped housing when viewed along the lever axis 75.

[0062] List of reference signs

[0063] 1 connector assembly

[0064] 2 connector housing

[0065] 3 position assurance device

[0066] 5 first side

[0067] 7 upper side

[0068] 9 lever receptacle

[0069] 11 second side

[0070] 13 third side

[0071] 15 fourth side

[0072] 17 lower side

[0073] 19 end on the connector side

[0074] 21 end on the cable side

[0075] 23 cable accommodation opening

[0076] 25 accommodation

[0077] 27 guide arm

[0078] 29 spring arm

[0079] 31 elastically deflectable element

[0080] 33 protrusion

[0081] 35 end

[0082] 37 latching element

[0083] 39 latching stop surface

[0084] 41 insertion ramp

[0085] 43 latching and locking portion

[0086] 45 deflection direction

[0087] 47 release position

[0088] 49 locking element

[0089] 51 insertion direction

[0090] 53 locking surface

[0091] 55 actuation portion

[0092] 57 blocking arm

[0093] 59 vertical portion

[0094] 61 horizontal portion

[0095] 63 stop surface

[0096] 65 mating connector housing

[0097] 66 coupling element

[0098] 66a slot

[0099] 67 mating connector

[0100] 69 lever arrangement

[0101] 71 lever

[0102] 73 coupling

[0103] 75 lever axis

[0104] 77 unlocking member

[0105] 79 pre-assembly position

[0106] 81 predetermined lever position

[0107] 83 deflected state

[0108] 85 unlocked position

[0109] 87 fixed position

[0110] 89 beam

[0111] 91 entry opening

[0112] 93 relaxed state

[0113] 95 connector set

[0114] 97 final assembly position

Claims

1. Connector assembly (1), comprising: - a connector housing (2) adapted to be plugged together with a mating connector (67); - a lever arrangement (69) having a lever (71) attached to the connector housing (2) and a coupling (73) adapted to be moved by the lever (71) and to engage with the mating connector (67); and - a position assurance arrangement (3) configured as a separate component and adapted to be attached to the connector housing (2) and to be moved on the connector housing (2) from a release position (47) to a fixed position (87) and to be transferred to the fixed position (87) only in a predetermined lever position (81) and to fix the lever (71) in the predetermined lever position (81) in the fixed position (87), wherein the position assurance arrangement comprises at least one stop surface (63) directly blocking the lever (71) in the predetermined lever position (81) in the fixed position (87).

2. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein The lever (71) in the predetermined lever position (81) is folded onto the connector housing (2).

3. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The position assurance arrangement (3) in the fixed position (87) engages at least partially around the lever (71).

4. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein The position assurance arrangement (3) engages around a beam (89) of the lever (71) oriented essentially perpendicular to the folding direction.

5. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The stop surface (63) is oriented essentially parallel to a lever axis (75) around which the lever (71) is pivotably held on the connector housing (2).

6. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The lever (71) in the predetermined lever position (81) is at least partially accommodated in an accommodation (25) of the connector housing (2).

7. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The position assurance arrangement (3) is displaced in the accommodation (25) of the connector housing (2) in a straight manner.

8. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The position assurance arrangement (3) is fixed by a locking element (49) in a pre-assembly position (79) spaced apart from the predetermined lever position (81), and wherein the lever (71) comprises an unlocking means (77) by which the locking element (49) in the predetermined lever position (81) is unlocked.

9. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein The locking element (49) is formed on an elastically deflectable element (31) of the position assurance arrangement (3).

10. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein The elastically deflectable element (31) in the fixed position (87) is returned again to an undeviated state.

11. The connector assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The position assurance arrangement (3) comprises a latching element (37) which at least in the release position (47) latches the position assurance arrangement (3) captive on the connector housing (2).

12. Connector group (95) comprising a connector assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and a mating connector housing (65) with a coupling element (66) adapted to engage with the coupling (73) of the connector assembly (1).

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