Abstract:
An electrical connector according to the present teachings can be coupled together with a low insertion force. The electrical connector can utilize levers to create a mechanical advantage and reduce the input force required to couple the mating members together and interconnect the electrical terminals. When utilized as a blind mating electrical connector, the connector can include visual indicators indicative of the proper and complete coupling of the mating members and interconnection of the terminals.

Description:
FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates to a blind mating connector and, more particularly to a low insertion force blind mating connector with a lever. 
   BACKGROUND 
   The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present teachings and may not constitute prior art. 
   Electrical connectors are used to electrically interconnect bundles of wires together. The connector can include complementary mating members. Each mating member includes wires that are to be electrically connected together. Each of the wires in one of the mating members can be coupled to a male terminal while each of the wires in the other one of the mating members can be coupled to a female terminal. When the two mating members are coupled together, the male and female terminals engage with one another to electrically interconnect the wires. 
   In blind electrical connectors, the mating of the terminals on the ends of the wires when coupling the two mating members together is visibly hidden from view. In other words, a person coupling the two mating members together cannot visually see the interconnection of the terminals with one another. Thus, in blind connectors, the proper and complete coupling of the mating members and of the terminals can be difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, it would be advantageous if the proper and complete mating of the mating members and of the terminals could be easily ascertained in a blind electrical connector. 
   Some electrical connectors may involve a large number of electrical wires that are to be interconnected, such as in a bus electrical center on a vehicle or stationary application. These large connectors typically include a large number of terminals and may require a significant amount of force to couple the mating members together and interconnect the electrical terminals. The required force can be greater than what can be reasonably applied manually. Typically, a mechanical assist is used to couple the mating members together due to the high insertion and extraction forces. The mechanical assist is typically provided by fasteners, such as bolts, which bring the mating members together and interconnect the terminals. The bolts are driven by a special tool, such as a torque gun, capable of applying a sufficient torque to the bolts so that the force imparted to the mating members is large enough to couple the mating members together and interconnect the terminals. The use of a torque gun, however, can limit the assembly location to locations where power and/or resources required by the torque gun are available. Limiting the assembly location can increase the manufacturing cost of assembling an item that uses these electrical connectors and can reduce manufacturing flexibility. Moreover, supplying the required resources in a desired assembly location increases the cost of that assembly location and still limits the assembly to that particular location. 
   Thus, it would be advantageous to have an electrical connector that needs a lower input force to be coupled together. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if the lower input force could be low enough to enable manual assembly of the electrical connectors. The manual assembly can advantageously facilitate the assembly of the electrical connectors at locations that are conducive to the manufacturing process and do not rely upon the need of special resources at the assembly location. 
   SUMMARY 
   An electrical connector according to the present teachings can be coupled together with a low insertion force. The electrical connector can utilize levers to create a mechanical advantage and reduce the input force required to couple the mating members together and interconnect the terminals. When utilized as a blind mating electrical connector, the connector can include visual indicators indicative of the proper and complete coupling of the mating members and interconnection of the terminals. 
   A connector assembly according to the present teachings can include a first connector having a section for securing a first plurality of electrical terminals to the first connector. The first connector can have an interior and have an opening to the interior opposite the securing section. The connector assembly can include a second connector having inner chambers for holding a second plurality of electrical terminals. The second connector can be complementary to the first connector such that a portion of the second connector can be disposed in the interior of the first connector to interconnect the first and second terminals. The connector assembly can also include at least one lever having first and second arms disposed on opposite first and second sides of one of the connectors with a bridge member joining the arms across the one connector. The first arm can have a pivot aperture disposed on a first pin projecting outwardly from the first side of the one connector and the second arm can have a slot longer than the aperture disposed on a second pin projecting outwardly from the second side of the one connector. At least one of the arms can have a coupling projection that engages with the other one of the connectors. Receipt of the second connector into the interior of the first connector engages the lever which thereby pivots and exerts a force on the coupling projection with the other one of the connectors pulling the second connector further into the first connector and electrically mating the first and second plurality of terminals. 
   A connector assembly according to the present teachings can have a first connector including a section for securing a first plurality of electrical terminals to the first connector. The first connector can have an interior and an opening to the interior opposite the securing section. The connector assembly can include a second connector sized to be inserted into the interior of the first connector. The second connector can have chambers for holding a second plurality of electrical terminals. The connector assembly can include an indicator coupled to one of the connectors. The indicator can pass through an opening located on a back side of the other one of the connectors when the first and second plurality of terminals are mated together thereby indicating electrical mating of the terminals. 
   Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector according to the present teachings; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the male mating member of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the female mating member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the female mating member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 6A-C  are cross-sectional views of the connector system along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the coupling of the two mating members according to the present teachings; 
       FIGS. 7A-D  are fragmented simplified cross-sectional views of the coupling of the mating members along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the operation of the position preset feature according to the present teachings; and 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the connector similar to that of  FIG. 6A  but illustrating the uncoupling of the mating members of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present teachings, application, or uses. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , details of a connector according to the present teachings are shown. Connector  20  includes a male mating member  22  and a complementary female mating member  24  configured to be coupled together and interconnect electrical wires attached to each mating member. Female mating member  24  includes a pair of levers  26  that provide a mechanical advantage that facilitates the insertion and extraction of mating member  24  into and out of mating member  22 , as described below. Female mating member  24  and levers  26  are configured to be disposed on a panel or base  28  to facilitate the coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  as described below. 
   In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , male mating member  22  has a first pair of spaced-apart side walls  40  interconnected by a second pair of spaced-apart side walls  42 . Side walls  40 ,  42  define an interior cavity  44  which is open on a front side  46 . Cavity  44  is configured to receive mating member  24 , as described below. A back side  48  of mating member  22  includes a terminal block  50  extending therefrom. Terminal block  50  includes a plurality of terminal openings  52  configured to receive wires  54  (which are only partially shown) having a male terminal  55  thereon. The wires  54  are inserted into openings  52  so that the male terminals  55  extend into interior cavity  44  from back side  48 . Each terminal  55  can engage mating member  22  within an opening  52  to secure terminal  55  and the wire  54  in the associated opening  52  thereby securing the wire  54  and terminal  55  to mating member  22 , as known in the art. Openings  52  can be of varying sizes to accommodate terminals of varying size. The varying terminal sizes can be associated with wires of differing gauge. Thus, male mating member  22  is configured to receive a plurality of male terminals that extend into cavity  44  from back side  48 . The male terminals interconnect with female terminals on female mating member  24 , as described below. 
   Mating member  22  includes various features that facilitate coupling to mating member  24  and can provide visual indication of a complete and proper coupling of mating members  22 ,  24 . Indicator apertures  56  can be disposed on back side  48  on opposite sides of terminal block  50 . Indicator apertures  56  can provide a visual indication of the complete and proper coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  and of the terminals therein, as described below. Interior cavity  44  also includes various features that facilitate the coupling of mating members  22 ,  24 . Each side wall  40  includes first and second lever recesses  60 ,  64 , respectively, that facilitate insertion and extraction of mating member  24  into and out of mating member  22  as described below. First and second lever recesses  60 ,  64  extend from front side  46  toward back side  48 . First and second lever recesses  60 ,  64  include tapered surfaces  61 ,  65  ( FIG. 6A ), respectively, that facilitate the coupling and uncoupling. 
   Each side wall  40  also includes a preset position recess  68  that extends from front side  46  toward back side  48 . Preset position recess  68  is configured to accommodate a portion of lever  26 , as described below. A preset position release  70  having first and second tapered surfaces  71 ,  72  with flat surface  73  therebetween is disposed adjacent preset position recess  68  adjacent front side  46 . Each side wall  40  also includes a guide recess  74  which extends from front side  46  toward back side  48 . Guide recess  74  helps retain the arms of lever  26  in the proper position, as described below. 
   In  FIGS. 2 and 4 , female mating member  24  includes a body  78  that can have a pair of spaced-apart side walls  80  interconnected by a second pair of spaced-apart side walls  82 . The body  78  can be sized to be received into interior cavity  44 . Mating member  24  can include a front side  84  and a back side  86 . A terminal block  88  is formed in back side  86  and extends toward front side  84 . Terminal block  88  includes a plurality of openings  90  that are configured to receive wires  92  having female terminals  93  thereon (which are only partially shown). Openings  90  can extend through terminal block  88  from back side  86  to front side  84 . The female terminals  93  can engage body  78  within openings  90  in a manner that is well known in the art and secure the wires  92  to terminal block  88 . Openings  90  in front side  84  align with the male terminals  55  ( FIG. 3 ) protruding into interior cavity  44  of female mating member  22  to allow the male terminals  55  to enter into and electrically interconnect with the female terminals  93  on female mating member  24  when mating members  22 ,  24  are coupled together. Openings  90  can be of varying sizes to accommodate terminals of varying sizes. The varying terminal sizes can be associated with wires of differing gage. 
   Mating member  24  includes various features that facilitate the coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  together. Side walls  80  each include a tapered edge  94  that tapers outwardly from front side  84  as it extends toward back side  86 . Tapered edges  94  may engage with front side  46  of mating member  22  when coupling mating members  22 ,  24  together. The tapering of edge  94  facilitates alignment of mating member  24  with interior cavity  44  of mating member  22 . A flat surface  96  is disposed on the back side of tapered edge  94  and can be substantially parallel with back side  86 . Flat surface  96  can aid in limiting relative movement of lever  26 . 
   Mating member  24  includes a pair of indicator arm guides  98  that align with indicator apertures  56 . Side walls  80  can each include a preset position projection  100  extending outwardly therefrom. Preset position projection  100  can include a tapered surface  102  that generally faces front side  84  and a flat surface  104  that generally faces back side  86  and extends substantially perpendicularly outwardly from side wall  80 . A guide member  108  can extend from a portion of tapered edge  94  toward back side  86  and can be spaced apart from side wall  80  by a distance that permits lever  26  to be received between guide member  108  and side wall  80 . A back surface  110  of guide member  108  can function as a stop to limit the movement of lever  26  relative to mating member  24 , as described below. 
   A pivot pin  114  extends outwardly from each side wall  80  adjacent opposite side walls  82 . Each pivot pin  114  serves as a fulcrum for the engagement arm of one of the levers  26  and also serves as an alignment member for the indicator arm of the other lever  26 , as described below. Pivot pins  114  extend outwardly from a recess  116  in each side wall  80 . Guide members  118 ,  120  are spaced apart from recess  116  and function to guide the indicator arms of levers  26 . Another guide  124  is spaced outwardly from guide  120  with a flat surface  126  facing back side  86 . Guide  124  and flat surface  126  can function to limit relative movement of levers  26 . 
   With additional reference to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , each lever  26  includes an engagement arm  140  and an indicator arm  142 . Arms  140 ,  142  are spaced apart by a bridge  144  so that each arm  140 ,  142  is adjacent a different one of side walls  80  on body  78  and bridge  144  extends across back side  86  between side walls  80  and adjacent side walls  82 . Bridge  144  includes a pair of lips  146  that extend outwardly beyond arms  140 ,  142 . Lips  146  engage with panel  28  during the coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  as described below. Each arm  140 ,  142  includes panel lock arm  148  extending outwardly therefrom. Panel lock arms  148  include a rounded surface  150  that engages with the opposite side of panel  28 . Panel lock arms  148  can be flexed toward arms  140 ,  142  to facilitate the insertion of mating member  24  and levers  26  through panel  28 , as described below. Panel lock arms  148  function to maintain levers  26  and mating member  24  attached to panel  28  and to transmit coupling and uncoupling forces from panel  28  to levers  26 . 
   Engagement arm  140  includes opposite inner and outer surfaces  156 ,  158 , respectively. Engagement arm  140  includes a preset position arm  160  that engages with preset position projection  100  to retain levers  26  in a preset position prior to the coupling of mating members  22 ,  24 , as described below. Preset position arm  160  includes a first portion  162  that engages with preset position projection  100  on mating member  24 . First portion  162  includes a flat surface  164  that faces front side  84  of mating member  24 . Flat surface  164  engages with flat surface  104  of preset position projection  100 . A second portion  170  of preset position arm  160  includes a first tapered surface  172  that generally faces front side  84  of body  78  and a second tapered surface  174  that generally faces back side  86  of body  78 . Second portion  170  of preset position arm  160  engages with preset position release  70  ( FIG. 3 ) during the coupling and uncoupling of mating members  22 ,  24 , as described below. Preset position arm  160  fits within preset position recess  68  ( FIG. 3 ) in mating member  22  when mating members  22 ,  24  are coupled together. Engagement arm  140  includes a recess  168  on inner surface  156 . Recess  168  is configured to accommodate preset position projection  100  when mating members  22 ,  24  are coupled together. Engagement member  140  also includes another recess  176  in outer surface  158 . Recess  176  is configured to allow the portion of engagement arm  140  over which recess  176  extends to fit between guide member  108  and side wall  80  of mating member  24 . The bottom of recess  176  includes a flat surface  178  that can engage with back surface  110  of guide member  108  to function as a stop. 
   An opening  180  extends through engagement arm  140  adjacent its end and the pivot pin  114  is received therethrough, thereby permitting engagement arm  140  to rotate about pivot pin  114 . An uncoupling projection  184  extends outwardly from outer surface  158  of engagement arm  140  adjacent opening  180 . Uncoupling projection  184  fits within first lever recess  60  ( FIG. 3 ) in mating member  22 . Uncoupling projection  184  functions to facilitate the uncoupling of mating members  22 ,  24 , as described below. A coupling projection  188  extends outwardly from outer surface  158  of engagement arm  140  at the tip  190  thereof. Coupling projection  188  fits within second lever recess  64  ( FIG. 3 ) of mating member  22 . Coupling projection  188  facilitates the coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  together, as described below. A recess  194  is disposed on inner surface  156  of engagement arm  140  adjacent tip  190 . Recess  194  accommodates a portion of panel lock arm  148  when mating members  22 ,  24  are coupled together. A recess  196  is disposed on outer surface  158  of engagement arm  140  adjacent tip  190 . Recess  196  is retained by projection  124  such that lever arm  26  is not dislodged during handling. 
   Indicator arm  142  has an inner surface  200  that faces side wall  80  and an opposite outer surface  202 . An arcuate slot  204  is disposed in indicator arm  142  and is sized to receive the pivot pin  114  that is located on a side of body  78  opposite the associated engagement arm  140 . Slot  204  guides the rotation of lever  26  about the pivot pin  114  disposed in opening  180  of engagement arm  140 . Recesses  208 ,  210  are located on outer surface  202  of indicator arm  142  adjacent the edges. Recesses  208 ,  210  extend along a portion of a length of indicator arm  142  and are configured to engage with guides  118 ,  120 , respectively, to guide the movement of indicator arm  142 . Indicator arm  142  can include an indicator  214  that can extend through indicator arm guide  98  of body  78  and indicator aperture  56  of mating member  22  when mating members  22 ,  24  are coupled together. Indicator  214  can be configured to extend all the way through indicator aperture  56  when complete and proper coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  is achieved. Alternatively, indicator  214  can be configured to be flush with or visible through indicator aperture  56  when mating members  22 ,  24  are completely and properly coupled together. In this manner, indicator  214  can provide a visual indication to a user of the proper and complete coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  together. The proper coupling together of mating members  22 ,  24  also corresponds to the interconnection of terminals  55  ( FIG. 3 ) with terminals  93  ( FIG. 2 ). Indicator  214  can be colored differently than back side  48  of mating member  22  to enhance the visual indication. 
   Levers  26  are configured to be attached to body  78  with each bridge  144  extending along back side  86  between side walls  80  adjacent side walls  82 . Engagement arms  140  of each lever  26  extend along opposite side walls  80  of mating member  24 . Similarly, indicator arms  142  of each lever  26  extend along opposite side walls  80  of body  78 . Indicator arm  142  of each lever  26  is sandwiched between the engagement arm  140  of the other lever  26  and a side wall  80  of mating member  24 . Slot  204  of each indicator arm  142  is disposed on pivot pin  114  with guides  118 ,  120  engaged in recesses  208 ,  210 , respectively, and with indicator  214  disposed in indicator arm guide  98 . Opening  180  of engagement arm  140  is engaged with pivot pin  114  with tip  190  disposed behind guide  124 . Guide member  108  is disposed in recess  176 . Preset position arm  160  is engaged with preset position projection  100  so that levers  26  are in their preset position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this position, movement of levers  26  toward front side  84  of mating member  24  is prevented. 
   Mating member  24  is configured to be attached to panel  28 . Panel  28  includes opposite surfaces  220 ,  222  with an opening  224  extending therethrough. Opening  224  is configured to allow portions of body  78  and levers  26  to pass therethrough. When inserting mating member  24  through opening  224 , panel lock arms  148  are compressed inwardly by the sidewalls  225  of opening  224  to pass through opening  224 . Lips  146  of bridge  144  are too wide to pass through opening  224 . As a result, once panel lock arms  148  pass through opening  224  and are released from the sidewalls  225 , the panel lock arms  148  spring outwardly such that panel  28  is disposed between lips  146  and panel lock arms  148 . First surface  220  of panel  28  can engage with rounded surface  150  of panel lock arms  148  while second surface  222  can engage with lips  146 . This condition is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The wires  92  with the female terminals  93  ( FIG. 2 ) thereon may be secured to body  78  prior to or after the coupling of mating member  24  to panel  28 . Mating member  24  can undergo limited movement relative to panel  28  when disposed within opening  224 . 
   Panel  28  can be fixed in place while mating member  22  can be moved toward and engaged to mating member  24 .  FIGS. 6A through 6C  illustrate the coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  (for purpose of clarity, only one of the levers  26  has been shown). In  FIG. 6A , mating member  22  is aligned with mating member  24  so that front side  84  of mating member  24  faces front side  46  of mating member  22  and is aligned with interior cavity  44 . Mating member  22  is moved toward panel  28  with coupling force F c  being applied to mating member  22  in a coupling direction. 
   During the initial coupling of mating member  22  with mating member  24 , levers  26  remain in the preset position due to the engagement of preset position projection  100  with preset position arm  160 . More specifically, flat surface  164  ( FIG. 5 ) on preset position arm  160  is abutted against flat surface  104  ( FIG. 4 ) of preset position projection  100 . This engagement continues until preset position arm  160  is disengaged from preset position projection  100  by preset position release  70 . The releasing of preset position arm  160  from preset position projection  100  is initiated in  FIG. 6B  and shown in more detail in  FIGS. 7A-7D . With reference to  FIGS. 6B and 7A , mating member  22  is moved relative to mating member  24  in the coupling direction so that second portion  170  of preset position arm  160  engages with preset position release  70 . During initial engagement, first tapered surface  172  of second portion  170  engages with first tapered surface  71  of preset position release  70  thereby causing preset position arm  160  to move away from side wall  80  of mating member  24  and toward side wall  40  of mating member  22 . As mating member  22  continues to move relative to mating member  24  in the coupling direction, second portion  170  moves along flat surface  73  of preset position release  70 . Disengagement of preset position arm  160  from preset position projection  100  as shown in  FIG. 7B  permits lever  26  to pivot about pivot pin  114  and move relative to body  78 . As lever  26  moves relative to mating member  24 , indicator arm  142  slides within guides  118 ,  120  and  98  ( FIG. 2 ) and slot  204  slides along opposite pivot pin  114 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 6C ,  7 C and  7 D, continued movement of mating member  22  relative to mating member  24  in the coupling direction continues to cause relative movement between lever  26  and body  78  and eventually results in second tapered surface  174  of second portion  170  sliding along second tapered surface  72  of preset position release  70 . Movement of second portion  170  along second tapered surface  72  allows preset position arm  160  to move toward side wall  80  of body  78  due to the resilient nature of preset position arm  160 , as shown in  FIG. 7C . Continued relative movement between mating members  22 ,  24  in the coupling direction eventually results in preset position arm  160  returning to its relaxed state and being free of engagement with preset position projection  100  as shown in  FIG. 7D . Lever  26  is then free to pivot about pivot pin  114  due to the coupling force F c  being applied to mating member  22  and transferred to lever  26  via engagement between first surface  220  of panel  28  and panel lock arm  148 , as shown in  FIG. 6C . 
   Referring back to  FIGS. 6A-6C , as mating member  22  moves relative to mating member  24  in the coupling direction, uncoupling and coupling projections  184 ,  188  move along first and second lever recesses  60 ,  64  toward back side  48  of mating member  22  such that uncoupling projection  184  engages with tapered surface  61  of first lever recess  60 , which pushes coupling projection  188  toward tapered surface  65  of second lever recess  64 . This movement causes lever  26  to pivot about pivot pin  114  and, as a result, coupling projection  188  to engage with tapered surface  65 . The resulting interactions between coupling projection  188  with tapered surface  65  and rounded surface  150  of panel lock arm  148  on first surface  220  of fixed panel  28  allows lever  26  to amplify the coupling force F c  based on the relative distances of the surface interactions from pivot pin  114  which is now acting as a fulcrum point. The distance D 1  between pivot pin  114  and engagement of coupling projection  188  with tapered surface  65  is significantly less than the distance D 2  between the center of pivot pin  114  and the engagement between panel lock arm  148  and first surface  220  of panel  28 . In the particular example provided, D 2 ≧4.4*D 1 . Thus, a mechanical advantage is realized and continued application of coupling force F c  is amplified. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the mechanical advantage can be employed to initiate and/or complete the coupling of terminals  55  ( FIG. 3 ) with terminals  93  ( FIG. 2 ). In this way, the coupling force F c  exerted by a technician assembling the mating members  22 ,  24  can be relatively low, even when relatively large numbers of terminal connections and/or relatively large terminals are coupled together. 
   As coupling force F c  is continued to be applied to mating member  22 , lever  26  continues to pivot about pivot pin  114  and engagement between coupling projection  188  and tapered surface  65  pulls mating members  22 ,  24  together until a complete coupling is achieved, as shown in  FIG. 6C . Additionally, as mating members  22 ,  24  couple together, indicator  214  on indicator arm  142  extends into and through indicator aperture  56  ( FIG. 2 ) in mating member  22 . As a result, once a complete and proper coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  is achieved, indicator  214  extends beyond back side  48  of mating member  22  thereby providing a visual indication of a complete and proper coupling of mating members  22 ,  24  together. The degree to which indicator  214  extends beyond back side  48  can be configured as desired. For example, indicator  214  can include surface features, such as indicating lines or texture, that when extended beyond back side  48  corresponds to the complete and proper coupling of mating members  22 ,  24 . Indicator  214  may alternatively be configured to be flush with back side  48  when a complete and proper coupling between mating members  22 ,  24  is achieved, or could have a different color that is visible through indicator aperture  56  ( FIG. 2 ) when a complete and proper coupling between mating members  22 ,  24  is achieved. Thus, indicator  214  can function to indicate when a complete and proper mating between mating members  22 ,  24  is achieved in a blind connector. 
   To uncouple mating members  22 ,  24  an uncoupling force F u  is applied to mating member  22 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The application of uncoupling force F u  causes lip  146  to engage with second surface  222  of panel  28  and be transferred into lever  26 . The transfer of the force into lever  26  causes lever  26  to pivot about pivot pin  114  in the direction shown in  FIG. 8 . The relative movement causes uncoupling projection  184  to engage with tapered surface  61  and thereby push mating member  22  away from mating member  24 . Again, lever  26  provides a relatively large moment arm thereby amplifying uncoupling force F u  resulting in an increase in the effective force being transmitted to uncouple mating members  22 ,  24 . The relative movement between lever  26  and mating member  24  can cause second portion  170  of preset position arm  160  to engage with preset position release  70  in a reverse fashion illustrated in  FIGS. 7D through 7A , thereby allowing lever  26  to return to its preset position. In this manner, connector  20  can be reset to allow future coupling of mating members  22 ,  24 . 
   The engagement arms  140  of each lever  26  act on diagonally-opposed portions of mating member  22 . In this manner, the coupling force F c  and uncoupling force F u  can be applied in a somewhat symmetrical manner to stabilize alignment of mating members  22 ,  24  and facilitate their coupling. The combining of the indicator feature into levers  26  provides for a simple assembly that eliminates the need for extra parts or complexity in connector  20 . 
   The various components of connector  20  can be made from a variety of materials. By way of non-limiting example, levers  26  have resilient and flexible characteristics and, accordingly, can be made of plastic, such as glass-filled polyester, glass-filled nylon, glass-filled PBT, stamped-steel and the like. Mating members  22 ,  24  can also be made from a variety of materials. By way of non-limiting example, mating members  22 ,  24  can be made from an insulating material like nylon, PBT, and the like. 
   While the present teachings have been described with reference to particular illustrations and figures, it should be appreciated that changes can be made to that shown without deviating from the present teachings. For example, mating member  22  could be held stationary while mating member  24  and panel  28  are advanced toward mating member  22  to couple mating members  22 ,  24  together. Moreover, the male and female terminals that are disposed in mating members  22 ,  24  may be reversed. Additionally, it may be possible to attach levers  26  to mating member  22  instead of mating member  24 . Additionally, the specific shapes shown for mating members  22 ,  24 , levers  26  and the features thereon may be different than those shown and still be within the present teachings. Accordingly, the description is merely exemplary in nature and variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.