Finger-Operated Connector Position Assurance for Secure Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional TPA and CPA members in electrical connectors are cumbersome to operate with fingers or nails, often leading to insecure locking and unintentional disconnection due to difficulty in handling.
Innovation Solution
A finger-operated position assurance member with a main locking arm and assisting locking arm, featuring protrusions that provide resistive forces in specific directions, allowing easy movement between pre-lock and final-lock positions using lateral forces perpendicular to the main movement direction, ensuring secure locking and easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional TPA/CPA members are used, then locking function is provided, but operation becomes difficult and insecure with fingers
Solution Approach 1:
The locking arm is divided into two functional segments: a main locking arm for primary locking and an assisting locking arm for providing mechanical advantage during operation. This segmentation allows the device to be operated easily with fingers while maintaining secure locking through the coordinated action of both arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The assisting locking arm extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main locking arm, creating a two-dimensional configuration. This dimensional arrangement allows the assisting arm to engage with the housing at a different location, providing leverage that enables easy finger operation while maintaining locking security.
2Reliability
If conventional TPA/CPA members are used, then locking function is provided, but unintentional disconnection occurs due to insecure holding
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the locking mechanism have specialized functions: the main locking arm provides robust locking engagement, while the assisting locking arm provides mechanical advantage for operation. The protrusions on both arms are positioned at specific locations to engage with corresponding features on the housing, creating localized engagement points that ensure secure holding while enabling easy operation.
3Reliability
If protrusions provide resistive forces in specific directions, then secure locking is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The main locking arm and assisting locking arm are combined into a single integrated PA member that can be operated as one unit. The protrusions on both arms work together to provide resistive forces in specific directions, creating a unified locking mechanism that achieves secure locking without requiring separate complex components for each function.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The present invention relates to a position assurance, PA, member (20), such as a terminal position assurance, TPA, member or a connector position assurance, CPA, member, for an electrical connector assembly (1), the PA (20) being configured to assure a position of one or more terminals in the electrical connector assembly, the PA (20) comprising: a main locking arm (21, 21a) having an assisting locking arm (22, 22a); wherein the PA member (20) is adapted to be mounted to a connector housing (10) of the electrical connector assembly (1) and being movable relative to the connector housing (10) between a pre lock position and a final-lock position along a PA movement direction, when mounted; wherein the main locking arm comprises a first protrusion (23) for providing a resistive force against movement from the pre-lock to the final-lock position; wherein the assisting locking arm comprises a second protrusion (24) for providing a resistive force against movement from the final-lock to the pre-lock position; wherein the PA member is adapted to be moved from the final-lock to the pre-lock position by providing a force to the main locking arm in a lateral direction, the lateral direction being substantially perpendicular to the PA movement direction, wherein upon providing the force to the main locking arm, the second protrusion is configured to disengage with the housing of the electrical connector assembly.