WO2008132180A2

WO2008132180A2 - Connector with connector position assurance

Info

Publication number: WO2008132180A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/055102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lam Nguyen Nhu; Dirk Duenkel; Volker Bergmann
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-04-26
Filing date: 2008-04-25
Publication date: 2008-11-06
Also published as: WO2008132180A3; DE102007019713A1

Abstract

A connector (100), in particular an electrical connector for the automotive field, includes a lever (110) provided pivotally on the connector (100) that locks the connector (100) in a mated position with a mating connector (200), the lever (110) having a connector position assurance member (300) for this purpose, which is lockable on the connector (100) or the mating connector (200), the lever (110) being fixable in a locked position on the connector (100) or the mating connector (200) by the connector position assurance member (300) in such a way that a release path of a slider (120) is blockable at least in part, and with the lever (110) the mated position between the connector (100) and the mating connector (200) is established.

Description

CONNECTOR WITH CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE

The invention relates to a connector, in particular an electrical connector for the automotive field, the connector having a connector position assurance (CPA) member, which prevents it from being unintentionally released from a mating connector. Furthermore, the invention relates to a connector arrangement for an electrical control device, in particular a motor control device, with a connector according to the invention and a mating connector.

In certain applications, particularly in motor control devices in the automotive field, electrical connectors must be connected permanently and securely with electrical mating connectors in order to ensure secure electrical routing of signals in every operating condition of the motor control device. In the automotive field this relates particularly to safety components, such as airbag and antilock breaking systems and antislip regulation control devices.

To secure a simple engagement of an electrical connector with an electrical mating connector with low engaging forces, such connections are usually activated by levers. Such connections are known from US 2006/0211286 Al, US 2006/0089031 Al, US 2004/0192090 Al, US 6 793 522 B2, US 6 773 279 B2, US 6 328 582 Bl and US 6 319 050 Bl, for example. An electrical connection not activated by a lever is disclosed in US 5 967 809 A, for example. - -

Drawbacks of electrical connectors in the prior art include, for example, the fact that they can disconnect from a mating connector when exposed to vibrations, and/or have a complicated construction, and/or only achieve connector position assurance in their mated position via an additional mechanism.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved connector, in particular an improved electrical connector for the automotive field. In particular it is an object of the invention to provide a connector which achieves connector position assurance in a mated position with a mating connector as simply as possible. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a connector position assurance member that is simple to achieve for a lever-operated connection.

The object of the invention is achieved by means of a connector, the connector position assurance member of which is formed on a lever. In a mated position of the connector, the connector position assurance member can fix the lever on the connector itself or on a mating connector in such a way that disconnection of the connector from the mating connector is no longer possible. It is not strictly necessary in this case for the connector to be connected to the mating connector with the aid of the lever. It is likewise possible to provide the lever as an additional component on the connector, which then substantially becomes - -

the connector position assurance member in the locked position .

The object of the invention is achieved by a connector, in particular an electrical connector, the connector having a pivotally arranged connector position assurance member, with which the connector can be retained in the mated position in a mating connector. In this case, the connector position assurance member can be locked on the connector or the mating connector in such a way that in a locked position it blocks a slider with which the connector can be connected to the mating connector. The connector position assurance member is preferably provided on a lever which is pivotally provided on the connector and is preferably lockable to the connector by the connector position assurance member. In one embodiment of the invention, the slider between the connector and the mating connector is inserted in such a way when the connection is closed that the connector and the mating connector are moved towards each other. The slider, the connector and the mating connector are provided with corresponding guides for this purpose. The lever can be provided on the connector or also on the mating connector in such a way that it supports or simplifies the movement of the slider when the connection is established. In one embodiment of the invention the lever cannot have this additional function and serves as a connector position assurance member of the slider inside the established connection . - -

By constructing the connector position assurance member on the lever, which blocks at least in part a release path of the slider in the locked position, secure and permanent cohesion of the connection is guaranteed. Because the lever is lockable on the connector or the mating connector, it is also guaranteed that when the connection is exposed to vibration the slider does not release itself from the connection. The lever is thus preferably located in the locked position substantially free of play on the connection. This is achieved preferably via projections corresponding to one other, like a locating and/or guide pin on the lever, and the connector position assurance member itself. It is also possible to achieve this substantially through the connector position assurance member. In one embodiment of the invention, the connector position assurance member locks onto the same component or portion of the connector or the mating connector, on which a locating/guide member for the lever is formed. It is guaranteed according to the invention, as a result, that the lever is retained or fixed securely in the locked position.

The locked position of the connector position assurance member on the connector or mating connector can be achieved using any detachable mechanical type of connection. These include positive or non-positive connections in particular, clamp or snap-on connections being preferred.

In one embodiment of the invention the connector position assurance member is formed as a locking member on - -

the lever, the locking member being lockable on the connector or the mating connector by, for example, a shoulder or cutout. An easily achievable and also easily releasable locked position of the lever on the connector or the mating connector is achieved as a result.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the locked position of the connector position assurance member is fixable, for example, the connector position assurance member is retained in the locked position so that the connector position assurance member can no longer be released. Release of the connector position assurance member, and therefore movement of the lever into a non- locked position, is only possible by removing the locking of the connector position assurance member. The connector position assurance member can be fixed in the locked position, for example, by a retaining element. In this case, the mounted retaining element holds the connector position assurance member in the locked position. This can be achieved, for example, by a locking projection on the lever, the locking projection being provided near the connector position assurance member. The retaining element can be accommodated in or on the locking projection, the accommodated retaining element securing the connector position assurance member in the locked position. Only when the retaining element is removed can the locked position of the connector position assurance member and the lever be released again. - -

In one embodiment of the invention, the retaining element has at least one elongate arm, which is insertible into or onto the locking projection in such a way that in a connected position on the locking projection the retaining element fixes the connector position assurance member in the locked position. This is preferably achieved by a longitudinal end portion of the arm of the retaining element overlapping the connector position assurance member in the locked position. In order to fix the retaining element onto the locking projection, the locking projection has a slot, a projection or a through hole, for example.

In one embodiment, of the invention the locking projection is formed on an exterior face of the lever in the form of a plate, a plate of the locking projection being formed by a web in one piece materially with the exterior face of the lever and preferably being formed centrally. As a result, two recesses arranged in parallel are defined between the plate of the locking projection and the exterior face of the lever, into which recesses the retaining element can be inserted.

The retaining element has two arms accordingly for this purpose, which are constructed via a connecting member to form a U-shaped retaining element. The U-shaped retaining element is now insertible into the recesses on a longitudinal end of the locking projection with its two arms, the longitudinal end portions, which project at an opposing longitudinal end of the locking projection, of the - -

two arms of the retaining element overlapping the connector position assurance member in its locked position and thus locking said connector position assurance member. Because the connector position assurance member is fixed at two points in the locked position, a particularly secure locking of the locking position of the connector position assurance member or the lever is achieved.

In one embodiment of the invention the retaining element and the locking projection have cooperating locking devices, so that a retaining element inserted into the locking projection can be fixed on or in the locking projection .

The lever can have a recess, particularly in the case of a connector with a 180° cable outlet, in which a cable or cable harness of the connector can be accommodated at the connector in a non-locked position of the lever. The recess can be arranged advantageously as a handle depression for easy operation of the lever. This is a particular advantage if the lever activates the slider of the connector or the slider of the mating connector.

Further embodiments of the invention will emerge from the other dependent claims.

The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to embodiments referring to the attached drawings, in which: - -

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector arrangement with a connector according to the invention in a mated position with a mating connector;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a lever of the connector for activating a slider of the connector arrangement, with a connector position assurance member according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a retaining element according to the invention for the connector position assurance member according to the invention from Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mating connector with two accommodating regions separated from each other for one or two connectors according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a three-dimensional exploded view of a first module of the connector according to the invention from Fig. l;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the assembled first module from Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a side view of the first module from Fig. 6 with a slider in a pre-locked position.

The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to a connection arrangement comprising a connector and a mating connector for a motor control device of a vehicle, the connector being formed from two modules, a first and a second module. In this case, the connector is equipped as a socket with electrical socket plugs and the mating connector as a pin header or tab header with - -

electrical pin connectors. A mated position between the connector and the mating connector is achieved using a slider which can be inserted into the connector and establishes the mated position between the connector and the mating connector with the connector being arranged on the mating connector; for example, the connector moves towards the mating connector and thus the respective electrical contacts are brought together. Furthermore, a lever activating the slider is articulated on the connector. It is expressly pointed out at this point that the invention is not to be restricted to such an embodiment. It is therefore possible, for example, to equip the mating connector according to the invention and not the connector. Furthermore, it is possible to equip the connector with a single module or a large number thereof. The connector can also have electrical pin contacts, for example, and the mating connector electrical socket contacts, combinations also being applicable, for example, electrical pin and socket contacts inside the connector and corresponding electrical contacts in the mating connector. Furthermore, it is conceivable to arrange the slider inside the mating connector and not in the connector, the lever then also being expediently articulated to the mating connector. This is, however, not strictly necessary, so that the lever can also be articulated to the connector in the case of a slider in the mating connector. This is particularly applicable to the embodiments in which the lever does not activate the - -

slider and represents substantially a connector position assurance member for the slider.

As a whole the invention is applicable to all connectors. This relates, for example, to sockets, socket connectors, socket housings, pin connectors, tab headers, pin headers, pin housings and pin connectors.

Fig. 1 shows a connector arrangement 1 according to the invention in a three-dimensional view of a connector 100 according to the invention and a mating connector 200. The connector 100 is shown in a mated position with the mating connector 200.

The mating connector 200, also shown in Fig. 4, can be arranged on a printed circuit board of a motor control device, for example, and thus electrically contacts its conductor lines accordingly. It is, of course, also possible to connect the mating connector 200 to a cable 400 (Fig. 1) or other continuing electrical lines and/or as a floating coupling .

In the embodiment shown a housing of the mating connector 200 is preferably produced in one piece from a plastic material. The mating connector 200 has two plug regions separated from each other, which are each surrounded by a contact housing 220. Inside the respective contact housing 220 electrical pin/tab contacts 210 protrude inwards into the contact housing 220. The electrical contacts 210 are electrically contacted by socket contacts arranged in contact carriers 152 (Fig. 5) of the connector 100. In the - -

present embodiment, the mating connector 200 is formed with a 94-pin pin header in the contact housing 220, as shown on the right in Fig. 4 and a 60-pin pin header in the contact housing 220, as shown on the left in Fig. 4, so that overall a 154-pin mating connector is achieved. Any number of the electrical contacts 210 can be achieved in the case of the mating connector 200 and also the connector 100.

Near a free end of the respective contact housing 220 (open side of the respective contact housing 220) at least one outwardly projecting guide element 221 is provided on each opposing longitudinal side. The guide elements 221 are preferably formed as guide pins, which guide a slider 120 (Fig. 5) when the connector 100 is engaged with the mating connector 200. The process of drawing together the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 is described in more detail below.

The connector 100 shown in Fig. 1 has first and second modules 101, 102, analogous to the contact housings 220 of the mating connector 200. In this case, the first module 101 is formed as a 94-pin module and the second module 102 is formed as a 60-pin module. See below for the construction of the first and second modules 101, 102.

The connector 100 and the mating connector 200 are connected using the slider 120, which can be inserted between the connector 100 and the mating connector 200

(Figs. 5 to 7) and moves the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 towards each other during a mating process. - -

The slider 120 is preferably arranged in the connector 100 for this purpose and is correspondingly positioned. Also see below for the operation and construction of the slider 120.

In order to avoid unintentional release of the connector arrangement 1, for example, under exposure to vibrations, the slider 120 (in the present example, two of the sliders 120) is held in position via a connector position assurance member 300 when the connector position assurance member 300 is in a locked position (Fig. 1) so that it is not possible to pull the slider 120 out of the connector arrangement 1 and release the connector 100 from the mating connector 200.

Two embodiments of the connector position assurance member 300 are shown in Fig. 1. One connector position assurance member 300 is arranged on each lever 110 provided pivotally on the connector 100. The lever 110 shown on the left in Fig. 1 of the connector 100 shows a "passive" connector position assurance member 300, whereas the lever 110 shown on the right in Fig. 1 shows an "active" connector position assurance member 300.

In the two embodiments, the connector position assurance member 300 is formed on the lever 110 of the connector arrangement 1 or the lever 110 of the connector 100. The lever 110 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. The lever 110 acts, inter alia, to retain the slider 120 in the locked position in the connector arrangement 1 after the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 have been mated. - -

The lever 110 can also be used during the mating process. See the configuration of the slider 120 and a carrier element 140 in Figs. 5 to 7 on this subject.

In the embodiments shown in Fig. 1, the lever 110 has two side walls 115. The side walls 115 are connected via a connecting portion 111. It is, however, also possible to form the lever 110 with only one of the side walls 115, the connecting portion 111 then having a free end portion. In such an embodiment, the free end portion then preferably projects into a release path of the slider 120 when the slider is inserted. The lever 110 preferably has a recess 112 in a region of the connecting portion 111, in which the cable 400 or a cable harness of the connector 100 can be located in an open position of the lever 110 (not shown) . Depending on the connector 100 and a cable outlet (in the present example a 180° cable outlet), it is necessary to provide the recess 112 in such a way that the lever 110 can be mounted on the connector 100 in an open position. The recess 112 is preferably suitable as a handle depression for at least one human finger.

Fig. 1 shows the lever 110 in a closed or locked position on the connector 100. In this position, the connecting portion 111 of the lever 110 is arranged in such a way as to effectively prevent removal of the slider 120 which has been inserted. The connecting portion 111 projects in a release direction of the slider 120 for this purpose. In this case, the connecting portion 111 preferably closely -

abuts a longitudinal end of the slider 120 with little play. Furthermore, the connecting portion 111 can thus be connected to the slider 120.

The lever 110 on the connector 100 comprises the connector position assurance member 300, which retains or locks the lever 110 in the locked position, for its closed or locked position, in which it blocks the release path of the slider 120.

Hereinafter, the connector position assurance member 300 is to be understood as any option for fixing the lever 110 to the connector arrangement 1, the connector 100, or mating connector 200. This is also described as the locked position of the connector position assurance member 300. In particular positive or non-positive connections are possible for this purpose. This can, for example, be quite generally a clamp or snap-on connection or specifically locking elements that correspond to one other such as a locking element and a locking projection or shoulder.

In the embodiment shown, the connector position assurance member 300 is formed as a hook with a locking projection 301 (Fig. 2), the locking projection 301 being lockable on a projection 141 of the connector 100, preferably on a border of the carrier element 140 of the connector 100. It is, however, also possible that the connector position assurance member 300, in the locking position, enters into a corresponding connection with - -

another member of the connector 100 or with a portion of the mating connector 200.

If the connector position assurance member 300 is in its locked position (Fig. 1) then it is no longer possible to remove the slider 120 from the connector arrangement 1, so the connector 100 remains securely connected with the mating connector 200. In particular, it is no longer possible for the slider 120 to move out of the connector arrangement 1 due to an exposure to vibration. In order to provide the connector position assurance member 300, which is preferably formed as a hook, enough flexibility, the hook can be arranged at a distance from the side wall 115 of the lever 110 by a through slot 302 (Fig. 2) .

There is at least one connector position assurance member 300 on the lever 110. Preferably, however, each of the side walls 115 of the lever 110 comprises the connector position assurance member 300. A plurality of connector position assurance members 300 per the side walls 115 is also applicable. In an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to lock the connector position assurance member 300 in the locked position on the connector arrangement 1. This is shown in Fig. 1 on the lever 110 on the right where a retaining element 320 restricts the flexibility of the connector position assurance member 300 at least to such an extent that the connector position assurance member 300 can - -

no longer be moved out of the locked position, therefore opening of the lever 110 is no longer possible.

A locking projection 310 is formed for this purpose adjacent to the connector position assurance member 300 on one or both of the side walls 115 of the lever 110.

According to the invention, the retaining element 320 can now be provided on the locking projection 310 in such a way that the retaining element 320 locks the connector position assurance member 300 or the lever 110 in the locked position. Therefore, in such a case the connector position assurance member 300 or the lever 110 can only be opened by force .

In one embodiment of the invention (not shown) , the retaining element 320 has a single arm 321 (analogous to Fig. 3), a portion of the arm 321, preferably a longitudinal end portion of the arm 321, overlapping at least in part the connector position assurance member 300 in a connected position of the retaining element 320 on or in the locking projection 310. So that the retaining element 320 can be provided on or in the locking projection 310, the locking projection 310 correspondingly comprises a recess or a through hole 315. It is therefore possible in such an embodiment of the invention, for example, to configure the locking projection 310 as a tube, the arm 321 extending from an open longitudinal end being inserted through the locking projection 310 and a longitudinal end portion of the arm 321 projecting out of the other opening of the locking - -

projection 310 in such a way that this portion locks the connector position assurance member 300 in the locked position .

Another embodiment of the locking member of the connector position assurance member 300 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. The locking projection 310 has a plate 311 which is arranged substantially parallel to the side wall 115 of the lever 110 and is connected to the side wall 115 via a web 312. The side wall 115, the web 312, and the plate 311 in this case are preferably produced in one piece out of a plastic material. The web 312 and the plate 311 are arranged in such a way that two longitudinal through holes 315, which are bordered on three sides by the plate 311, the web 312, and the side wall 115, are formed on two sides of the web 312 between the plate 311 and the side wall 115. It is also possible to close the longitudinal through holes 315 in the longitudinal direction on all four sides, so that two tubular entrances are formed (analogous to the above) .

The arm 321 of the U-shaped retaining element 320 shown in Fig. 3 is insertible into each of the longitudinal through holes 315, both longitudinal end portions of the arms 321 overlapping the connector position assurance member 300 in the connected position of the retaining element 320 on or in the locking projection 310 in such a way that the connector position assurance member 300 is clamped between the connector 100 or the carrier element 140 and the two arms 321 (right side of Fig. 1), so the connector position - -

assurance member 300 can no longer be released. This means, for example, that the locking projection 301 of the connector position assurance member 300 permanently rests on the projection 141 when the retaining element 320 is inserted.

At least one of the two arms 321 has a locking member 323 in such a way that it can cooperate with a corresponding locking element 313 of the locking projection 310, i.e. the locking member 323 and the locking element 313 lock together on the locking projection 310 in a connected position of the retaining element 320, so that the retaining element 320 does not disconnect unintentionally from the locking projection 310.

To improve the resiliency of the plate portions projecting from the web 312, the plate 311 can be provided with a cutout 314, which is preferably formed in a corner region of the plate 311. Consequently, on the one hand it is easier to pull the retaining element 320 out of the locking projection 310 by a connecting member 322, and on the other hand the corner region is no longer so rigidly formed, as a result, so the plate 311 can resile better when the retaining element 320 is being inserted and pulled out. Preferably, two of the cutouts 314 are provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one or both of the arms 321 has at least one, preferably, however, two of the locking members 323. A large number of (greater than two) the locking members 323 is, of course, applicable. In - -

this case, the locking members 323 are preferably not provided extending along the entire transverse length of the arm 321, but rather only along a transverse portion (Fig. 3) . The locking member 323 preferably extends from an outer transverse end of the arm 321 in a transverse direction to the arm 321. The locking member 323 thus preferably occupies approx. 20 to 60% of the transverse length of the arm 321. Corresponding to the locking members 323, the plate 311 has the internally located locking elements 313, which can also be provided as through holes in the plate 311. The locking elements 313 can thus extend as far as the web 312 of the plate 311, or have similar dimensions to the locking members 323 of the retaining element 320. In the assembled state, the locking members 323 are located in the locking elements 313, preferably in a positive manner.

Fig. 5 shows a possible construction of the first module 101 of the connector 100 in an exploded view with the electrical contacts 210 of the contact carriers 152 not being shown. The contact carriers 152 are provided with seals 153 and seal retainers 151 in the carrier element 140. A guide element 155 with a seal 154 is also inserted into the carrier element 140 from an opposite side. The slider 120 is subsequently inserted into the carrier element 140, a pre-locking position of the slider 120 in the carrier element 140 being shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Preferably, a cover 130 (Fig. 1) is inserted into the carrier element 140 before the lever 110 is fixed on the carrier element 140 or - -

the slider 120. As an alternative to the contact carriers 152 the electrical contacts 210 can be mounted individually or in groups .

To assemble the lever 110 on the slider 120 and the carrier element 140, the slider 120 has an opening 123 on one side for a positioning member 113 (Fig. 2) of the lever 110. The carrier element 140 also has a preferably substantially L-shaped guide 143, 144. The guide 143, 144 serves to guide the lever 110 on the carrier element 140. If the carrier element 140 is in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with the slider 120 inserted, the lever 110 is locked by pressure on the positioning member 113 (Fig. 2) with the slider 120 in the opening 123. When the lever 110 is substantially completely lifted up (not shown) , a guide pin 114 (Fig. 2) of the lever 110 is located at an open longitudinal end of the guide 144 of the carrier element 140. Starting from the position in which the lever 110 points upwards (the cable 400 is preferably located in the recess 112) the slider 120 is moved further forward into the carrier element 140 when the lever 110 is moved into the locked position, until finally the slider 120 is almost completely inserted in the carrier element 140 and only a longitudinal end can be seen at a side wall of the carrier element 140. In this case, the position of the lever 110 and slider 120 shown in Fig. 1 is achieved. The connector position assurance member 300 is thus also in the locked position . - -

By guiding the lever 110 in the carrier element 140 and mechanically connecting the lever 110 and the slider 120 via the positioning member 113 and the opening 123, it is possible to move the slider 120 forward in two ways simultaneously into the carrier element 140, which enables a better introduction of force when the connector 100 is being connected to the mating connector 200. On one hand, the slider 120 can be moved forward translational to the carrier element 140, this translational movement being supported, on the other hand, by a rotational movement of the lever 110. The slider 120 has guide recesses 121 for connecting the carrier element 140 and therefore the connector 100 to the mating connector 200. The guide recesses 121 preferably extend obliquely on an internal face of the slider 120, which is substantially U-shaped. When the connector 100 is connected to the mating connector 200, the slider 120 slides with the guide recesses 121 along the guide elements 221 (Fig. 4) of the mating connector 200, the slider 120 and also carrier element 140, which is rigidly fixed thereto perpendicular to the sliding direction, and the mating connector 200 being moved towards one other due to the oblique arrangement of the guide recesses 121, resulting in the mating of the connector 100 and the mating connector 200. A connector position assurance member 300 of the slider 120 results, as described above.

So that the lever 110 cannot move in the locked position, a gap in the insertion direction between the - -

connector position assurance member 300 or the locking projection 301 and the positioning member 113 and/or the guide pins 114 is provided such that a minimum gap A (Fig. 7) between the guide 143 and the projection 141 corresponds substantially to the gap in the insertion direction between the locking projection 301 and the positioning member 113 and/or the guide pins 114. Preferably, the latter is slightly smaller, so that a clamping effect is achieved.

Claims

- -CLAIMS

1. Connector, in particular a connector (100) for the automotive field, with a lever (110) provided pivotally on the connector

(100), with which the connector (100) can be locked in an mated position on a mating connector (200), the lever (110) having a connector position assurance member (300) for this purpose, which is lockable on the connector (100) or the mating connector (200), wherein the lever (110) is fixable in a locked position on the connector (100) or the mating connector (200) by means of the connector position assurance member (300) in such a way that a release path of a slider (120) is at least partially blockable, and with which the mated position between the connector (100) and the mating connector (200) is locked.

2. Connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector position assurance member (300) of the lever (110) is lockable in the locked position on the connector (100) or the mating connector (200) in such a way that release of the connector position assurance member (300) is impossible.

3. Connector according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lever (110) has a locking projection (310) adjacent to the connector position assurance member (300), in which - -

a retaining element (320) can be accommodated in such a way that release of the connector position assurance member (300) can be prevented by the retaining element (320) .

4. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the retaining element (320) being insertible between a side wall (115) of the lever (110) and the locking projection (310 ) , wherein the retaining element (320) overlaps the connector position assurance member (300) in a connected position on the locking projection (310).

5. Connector according to claim 4, wherein the retaining element (320) is substantially U-shaped and can engage with its two arms (321) between a plate (311) of the locking projection (310) and the side wall (115) of the lever, and the plate (311) of the locking projection (310) preferably being formed in one piece materially with a web (312) with the side wall (115) of the lever (110) .

6. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking projection (310) and the retaining element (320) have locking elements (313) and locking member (323) corresponding to one other, with which the retaining element (320) is lockable on the locking projection (310).

7. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connector position assurance member (300) is formed as a hook with a locking member (301), which is - -

lockable on a projection (141) of the connector (100) or the mating connector (200).

8. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lever (110) has a recess (112) in which a cable (400) of the connector (100) can be located in an open position of the lever (110) on the connector (100).

9. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the recess (112) is provided in a connecting portion (111) of the lever (110), for easy handling of the lever (110) which blocks the release path of the slider (120) in the locked position of the lever (110), the recess (112) being formed as a handle depression for at least one human finger .

10. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a locking of the connector position assurance member

(300) with the connector (100) or the mating connector (200) takes place at the carrier element (140) of the connector (100) or the mating connector (200) at which a guide (113, 114; 143, 144) for the lever (110) is also formed.

11. Connector according to claim 1, wherein the slider (120) can be inserted into the connector (100) and facilitates a movement of the connector (100) and the mating connector (200) towards each other during mating.

12. Connector arrangement for an electrical control device, in particular a motor control device, with the connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and the mating connector (200).