Patent ID: 6830485
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly, comprising:a first electrical connector including a dielectric housing, a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the housing and having pin portions projecting therefrom, a pin stabilizing plate having a plurality of apertures for receiving the pin portions of the terminals, said pin stabilizing plate being movable between two operative positions, the first such position being a protecting position wherein said pin stabilizing plate is disposed at distal ends of said pin portions and the second such position being a mating position wherein said pin stabilizing plate is spaced inwardly of said terminal pin portion distal ends; a second electrical connector mateable with the first electrical connector and engageable with the pin stabilizing plate for moving the plate from the protecting position to its mating position in response to mating of the connectors; and, complementary interengaging return means between the second electrical connector and the pin stabilizing plate for moving said pin stabilizing plate back from the mating position to said protecting position in response to unmating of said first and second connectors, said complementary interengaging return means including a flexible latch arm disposed on said second electrical connector and which is engageable with a latch boss disposed on said pin stabilizing plate, said flexible latch arm being disposed inside a housing wall of the second electrical connector to protect the flexible latch arm from breakage.