US Patent 9608369 Connector system with connector position assurance

A connector system includes an electrical connector that has a housing, a rounded member, and a connector position assurance (CPA) lever. The housing defines a cavity that receives a mating connector and a socket that holds the rounded member therein. The rounded member is moved by the mating connector from a seated position to a lifted position, and attains the lifted position when the mating connector is fully loaded in the cavity. The CPA lever is slidable relative to the housing between an extended position and a retracted position. When the rounded member is in the seated position, a protrusion on the housing blocks movement of the CPA lever from the extended position to the retracted position. When the rounded member is in the lifted position, the rounded member deflects the deflectable tab to clear the protrusion, allowing the CPA lever to be moved to the retracted position.