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A connector assembly having a first connector portion, a second connector portion, and connector position assurance structure. An anti-deflection tab and an anti-deflection protrusion are employed in the connector assembly to control movement of the connector position assurance structure relative to

A connector assembly having a first connector portion, a second connector portion, and connector position assurance structure. An anti-deflection tab and an anti-deflection protrusion are employed in the connector assembly to control movement of the connector position assurance structure relative to the remainder of the connector assembly.

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1. A connector assembly comprising: a first connector part configured to house a first set of terminals, the first connector part having a control protrusion;a second connector part configured to house a second set of terminals, the second connector part being configured to engage the first connecto

1. A connector assembly comprising: a first connector part configured to house a first set of terminals, the first connector part having a control protrusion;a second connector part configured to house a second set of terminals, the second connector part being configured to engage the first connector part in a fully engaged position in which the first and second sets of terminals are engaged to one another, the second connector part having a lock member and at least one slider rail; anda connector position assurance structure slidably mounted on the second connector part, the connector position assurance structure being movable from a first position to a second position only when the second connector part is in the fully engaged position to thereby inhibit uncoupling of the first and second connector parts;wherein the connector position assurance structure has a locking finger and a slider that is fixedly coupled to the locking finger, the locking finger having a locking tab and an anti-deflection tab, the locking tab being configured to abut a first side of the lock member on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is in the first position, the locking tab being configured to abut a second, opposite side of the lock member on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the second connector part is in the fully engaged position, the control protrusion contacting the locking tab when the second connector part is in the fully engaged position and the connector position assurance structure is in the first position to urge the locking tab out of alignment with the lock member so that the connector position assurance structure can be moved to the second position, the anti-deflection tab contacting an anti-deflection protrusion on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the second connector part is in the fully engaged position to thereby inhibit disengagement of the locking tab from the lock member when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position, wherein the locking finger is spaced apart from the control protrusion when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the second connector part is in the fully engaged position to permit the control protrusion to fully seat against the lock member;wherein the slider engages the slider rail to inhibit deflection of the slider when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position, the slider being configured to disengage the slider rail to permit deflection of the slider an amount that permits the lock member to disengage the control protrusion when the connector position assurance structure is in the first position. 2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the second connector part includes a plurality of the slider rails and the slider engages the plurality of slider rails on the second connector part when the conector position assurance structure is in the second position and the second connector part is in the fully engaged position, the slider being configured to disengage the plurality of slider rails on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is moved from the second position toward the first position by an amount that permits the locking tab to disengage the lock member. 3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the slider includes a slider input member that is adapted to receive a manual input to push the slider between the first and second positions. 4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of slider rails comprises a pair of side rails that support opposite lateral sides of the slider. 5. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the slider input is disposed laterally between the side rails. 6. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of slider rails comprises a central rail that is received into a pocket that is formed into the connector position assurance structure when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position. 7. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the locking finger extends along an axis about which the connector position assurance structure slides and wherein the slider is disposed generally perpendicular to the axis. 8. A connector assembly comprising: a first set of terminals;a first connector part housing the first set of terminals, the first connector part having a control protrusion;a second set of terminals;a second connector part housing the second set of terminals, the second connector part being configured to engage the first connector part in a fully engaged position in which the first and second sets of terminals are engaged to one another, the second connector part having a lock member and at least one slider rail; anda connector position assurance structure slidably mounted on the second connector part, the connector position assurance structure being movable from a first position to a second position only when the second connector part is in the fully engaged position to thereby inhibit uncoupling of the first and second connector parts;wherein the connector position assurance structure has a locking finger and a slider that is fixedly coupled to the locking finger, the locking finger having a locking tab and an anti-deflection tab, the locking tab being configured to abut a first side of the lock member on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is in the first position, the locking tab being configured to abut a second, opposite side of the lock member on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the second connector part is in the fully engaged position, the control protrusion contacting the locking tab when the second connector part is in the fully engaged position and the connector position assurance structure is in the first position to urge the locking tab out of alignment with the lock member so that the connector position assurance structure can be moved to the second position, the anti-deflection tab contacting an anti-deflection protrusion on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the second connector part is in the fully engaged position to thereby inhibit disengagement of the locking tab from the lock member when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position, wherein the locking finger is spaced apart from the control protrusion when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the second connector part is in the fully engaged position to permit the control protrusion to fully seat against the lock member;wherein the slider engages the slider rail to inhibit deflection of the slider when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position, the slider being configured to disengage the slider rail to permit deflection of the slider an amount that permits the lock member to disengage the control protrusion when the connector position assurance structure is in the first position. 9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the second connector part includes a plurality of the slider rails and the slider engages the plurality of slider rails on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the second connector part is in the fully engaged position, the slider being configured to disengage the plurality of slider rails on the second connector part when the connector position assurance structure is moved from the second position toward the first position by an amount that permits the locking tab to disengage the lock member. 10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the slider includes a slider input member that is adapted to receive a manual input to push the slider between the first and second positions. 11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of slider rails comprises a pair of side rails that support opposite lateral sides of the slider. 12. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the slider input is disposed laterally between the side rails. 13. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of slider rails comprises a central rail that is received into a pocket that is formed into the connector position assurance structure when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position. 14. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the locking finger extends along an axis about which the connector assurance position structure slides and wherein the slider is disposed generally perpendicular to the axis. 15. A connector assembly comprising: first and second connector parts that are configured to engage one another in a fully engaged position; anda connector position assurance structure slidably mounted on the second connector part for movement between a first position and a second position, the connector position assurance structure being movable from the first position to the second position when the first and second connector parts engage one another in the fully engaged position, the connector position assurance structure being configured to contact a first side of a lock member on the second connector part to thereby inhibit movement of the connector position assurance structure from the first position to the second position when the first and second connector parts are not engaged to one another in the fully engaged position, the connector position assurance structure being configured to contact a second side of the lock member to inhibit the connector position assurance structure from being moved from the second position to the first position;wherein the first connector part has a control protrusion that is configured to push the connector position assurance structure away from the lock member so that the connector position assurance structure can be moved from the first position to the second position when the first and second connector parts are engaged to one another in the fully engaged position;wherein the control protrusion is disposed against the first side of the lock member when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the first and second connector parts are engaged to one another in the fully engaged position; andwherein the connector position assurance structure does not contact the control protrusion when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position and the first and second connector parts are engaged to one another in the fully engaged position;wherein the connector position assurance structure has a slider that engages at least one slider rail on the second connector part to inhibit deflection of the slider when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position, the slider being configured to disengage the slider rail to permit deflection of the slider an amount that permits the lock member to disengage the control protrusion when the connector position assurance structure is in the first position. 16. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the slider engages a plurality of the slider rails when the connector position assurance structure is in the second position, the plurality of slider rails being configured to inhibit deflection of the connector position assurance structure so that the connector position assurance structure cannot be deflected to a point where the first and second connector parts can be disengaged from one another while the connector position assurance structure is in the second position.