Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly is provided. The electrical connector assembly includes a stationary arm on a first connector to which a moveable latch on a second connector is locked and unlocked. The first connector includes a release arm for lifting the moveable latch from the stationary arm. A driving member on the first connector drives the release arm from first to second positions, causing the release arm to lift the moveable latch. A first spring returns the release arm to the first position, while a second spring returns the moveable latch downward after it has been lifted. The release arm may be flexible, slidable, or rotatable between the first and second positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an electrical connector assembly having a header connector mateable with a receptacle connector, and more particularly, to apparatus for fastening and unfastening cable connectors to and from one another. 
     Electrical connectors typically are arranged to be connected to complimentary connector halves to form connector pairs. It is well known to use mechanical latching mechanisms for maintaining the connection between connector halves. Typically, latching mechanisms include a projection on a first connector half that extends therefrom in a direction transverse to a mating direction along which the first connector half and a second connector half are mated. The second connector half typically includes a notch or hole for receiving the projection on the first connector half, or includes a wall or another projection for engaging with the projection on the first connector half. It is further well known to use mechanical latch-releasing mechanisms for disengaging the latching mechanisms between the connector halves in order to facilitate unmating of the connector halves. Typically, latch-releasing mechanisms include a driving member, to be activated by a user, that causes the projection on the first connector half to move, thereby disengaging the projection from a notch, hole, wall, or projection on the second connector half. 
     One of the problems with conventional latch-releasing mechanisms is that access to the mated connectors is needed in order to release the latching mechanism to unmate the connectors. Some connectors employ latch-releasing mechanisms that are disposed on opposite sides of the connectors. These latch-releasing mechanisms require pinching or squeezing on opposite sides of the connectors to release a locking mechanism such as a latch. Consequently, these connectors require access to the connectors from both sides thereof in order to release the latching mechanism. 
     In one conventional latch-releasing mechanism, a connector has latches on opposite sides thereof and a U-shaped latch-releasing mechanism, accessible from the top of the connector. The latch-releasing mechanism can be pushed downward, causing the latches on the sides to release. Hence, the latch-releasing mechanism requires access only to the top of the connector and not to the sides of the connector. The latches on the sides and the latch-releasing mechanism on top, however, thereby increase both the connector&#39;s width and height. 
     Other conventional latch-releasing mechanisms are designed so that access to the latch-releasing mechanisms, such as by hand or a tool, is unnecessary. Typically, connectors have ramped or chamfered surfaces for forcing locking means to flex or compact during mating and unmating of connector halves. Thus, the connector halves are simply pushed on to, and pulled off from, complimentary connector halves. Mating and unmating by the sheer application of force can damage the connector housings and the precisely arranged contacts within the housings as well as the connections between the connectors and printed circuit boards (PCBs). 
     An example of an environment wherein access to a pair of mated connector halves is very limited, is in the field of telecommunications cables. For example, several cable connectors may be required to fit into a small box that also houses a back plane PCB and several daughter PCBs. Often the daughter PCBs may be arranged parallel to one another and only separated from one another by a small distance such as one inch. It may be required that the cable connectors be mounted to the daughter PCBs and positioned in the small distances between the daughter PCBs. The cable connectors may also be mounted side by side with one another in very close proximity or even abutting one another. 
     A need remains for a cable connector system that provides easier unmating of cable connectors under space constraints. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides a cable connector assembly with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a stationary arm on a first connector to which a moveable latch on a second connector is locked and unlocked. The first connector includes a moveable arm, or a plurality of moveable arms, for lifting the moveable latch on the second connector to disengage the stationary arm on the first connector. A driving member on the first connector drives the moveable arm from first to second positions, causing the moveable arm to lift the moveable latch. A first spring returns the moveable arm to the first position, while a second spring biases the moveable latch downward to return the moveable latch to a resting position after the moveable latch has been lifted. 
     Optionally, the moveable arm may be modified to offer flexible, slidable, or liftable motion. The moveable arm may have a chamfered or ramped surface that engages a complimentary ramped surface on the connector housing, thereby forcing the flexible arm to flex. The moveable arm may have a chamfered or ramped surface that engages and lifts the moveable latch directly. The moveable arm may constitute an end of a lever that lifts the moveable latch. Optionally, the driving member may be configured to be slidable toward or away from the moveable latch, or, alternatively, it may be configured to be rotatable about an axis. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a top rear perspective view of a header assembly formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of the header assembly taken along line  2 — 2  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the header assembly taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a top rear perspective view of a receptacle assembly formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a top rear perspective view of receptacle and header assemblies mated, but not locked, to one another. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of a receptacle assembly formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a top rear perspective view of a receptacle assembly mated, and locked, with a header assembly formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a top rear perspective view of the receptacle and header assemblies of FIG. 7 mated, but not locked, to one another. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional view of the receptacle and header assemblies taken along line  9 — 9  in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional view of portions of the receptacle and header assemblies taken along line  10 — 10  in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of a receptacle assembly formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a top rear perspective view of a receptacle assembly mated, and locked, with a header assembly formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a top rear perspective view of the receptacle and header assemblies of FIG. 12 mated, but not locked, to one another. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a cross sectional view of the receptacle and header assemblies taken along line  14 — 14  in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a cross sectional view of portions of the receptacle and header assemblies taken along line  15 — 15  in FIG.  13 . 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a right angle header assembly  2  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The header assembly  2  includes a header housing  4  holding a plurality of signal modules  6  therein. The signal modules  6  are aligned adjacent to one another. The signal modules  6  include pins  7  for mating with vias on a back plane PCB (not shown). The header housing  4  includes top and bottom walls  8  and  10 , respectively, that are aligned parallel to, and spaced apart from, one another by a main wall  12 . The main wall  12  includes a signal module-mating surface  14  and a receptacle assembly-mating surface  16  opposite one another. The signal modules  6  are joined with the header housing  4  along the signal module-mating surface  14 . The signal modules  6  include signal pins  18  arranged in differential pairs  19  and L-shaped ground shields  20  protruding through the main wall  12  and extending beyond the receptacle assembly-mating surface  16  for mating with receptacle assemblies  44 ,  90 , and  186  (FIGS. 4,  6 , and  11 ). Two of the ground shields  20  are partially cut away to reveal the signal pins  18 . 
     The receptacle assembly-mating surface  16  and the top and bottom walls  8  and  10  define a space for receiving receptacle assemblies  44 ,  90 , and  186 . The top and bottom walls  8  and  10  include edges  22  and rails  24 , respectively, for guiding the receptacle assemblies  44 ,  90 , and  186  onto the header assembly  2  during mating. The main wall  12  includes a cantilever latch  26  proximate the top wall  8 . The cantilever latch  26  is formed from metal or another flexible material. The cantilever latch  26  includes a square window  28  for locking with a mated receptacle assembly  44 ,  90 , and  186 . A rear edge  30  of the cantilever latch  26  is curved upward away from the bottom wall  10 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the header assembly  2  taken along line  2 — 2  in FIG.  1 . Each cantilever latch  26  includes a mounting blade  32  and a flexible body section  34 . The mounting blade  32  is flat and generally rectangular in shape. The mounting blade  32  is secured in a slot  36  formed in the main wall  12 . The flexible body section  34  is generally flat and rectangular in shape. The flexible body section  34  includes square cutout  38  and the square window  28 . The square cutout  38  includes a cantilever tab  40 . The cantilever latch  26  is loaded into the header assembly  2  in the direction of arrow A until the mounting blade  32  occupies the slot  36 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of a portion of the header assembly  2  taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  1 . The cantilever tab  40  of the cantilever latch  26  extends upward at an angle from the plane of the flexible body section  34  and toward a bottom surface  42  of the top wall  8 . As the cantilever latch  26  is loaded into the header assembly  2  in the direction of arrow A, the cantilever tab  40  is deflected rotatably downward in the direction of arrow B and into the square cutout  38 . Once the cantilever tab  40  exits the slot  36 , the cantilever tab  40  biases rotatably upward to a locked position (shown in FIG.  3 ). Thus, the cantilever latch  26  may not move in the direction of arrow C because the cantilever tab  40  now engages the receptacle assembly-mating surface  16 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a receptacle assembly  44  for mating with the header assembly  2  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The receptacle assembly  44  includes front and rear housings  46  and  48 . The rear housing  48  optionally may comprise a plurality of signal modules  49 , which are illustrated by dashed lines  51  only in the example of FIG.  4 . The rear housing  48  includes a rear surface  50  having a plurality of cables  52  extending therefrom. In the example of FIG. 4, each cable  52  corresponds to two pins  18  and one ground shield  20  on the receptacle assembly-mating surface  16  of the header assembly  2 . The front housing  46  includes a header assembly-mating surface  54  opposite the rear surface  50  for mating with the header assembly  2 . A top surface  56  of the front housing  46  includes a locking arm  60  straddled on both sides by channels  62 . The locking arm  60  includes an upwardly projecting tooth  64  that has a front ramped surface  66  and a rear walled surface  68 . The top surface  56  also includes a latching member  58  for locking and unlocking with the cantilever latch  26  of the header assembly  2 . 
     The latching member  58  includes a lever  70  rotatable about a pin  72 . The lever  70  includes an actuating end  74  and a working end  76 . The actuating end  74  includes a push surface  78 . Opposite the push surface  78 , the actuating end  74  includes a spring beam  80  and a stop rib  82 . A free end  84  of the spring beam  80  contacts a top surface  86  of the rear housing  48 . The working end  76  of the lever  70  includes a pair of forked fingers  88  that partially occupy the channels  62  for lifting the cantilever latch  26  on the header assembly  2 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the header assembly  2  mated with, but not locked to, the receptacle assembly  44 . In the example of FIG. 5, the header assembly  2  is capable of mating with two receptacle assemblies  44 , but only one receptacle assembly  44  is shown. When the receptacle assembly  44  is mated with the header assembly  2 , the front ramped surface  66  of the tooth  64  engages and lifts the upwardly curved rear edge  30  of the cantilever latch  26  in the direction of arrow D, allowing the tooth  64  to pass under the cantilever latch  26 . When the tooth  64  reaches the square window  28 , the cantilever latch  26  recoils downward to a locked position (shown in FIG.  1 ). In the locked position, the tooth  64  projects upward through the square window  28  of the cantilever latch  26 . Unmating of the receptacle assembly  44  from the header assembly  2  is prohibited by interaction of the rear walled surface  68  of the tooth  64  and the square window  28 . 
     When a user presses down on the pushing surface  78 , the spring beam  80  is bent in the direction of arrow E, and the actuating end  74  moves downward until the stop rib  82  abuts the top surface  86  of the rear housing  48 . Downward movement of the actuating end  74  causes the lever  70  to rotate about the pin  72 , thereby lifting the working end  76  in the direction of arrow D. As the working end  76  rises, the forked fingers  88  lift the cantilever latch  26  until the cantilever latch  26  clears the tooth  64 . Hence, the receptacle assembly  44  can be pulled free, in the direction of arrow F, from the header assembly  2  because the rear walled surface  68  of the tooth  64  no longer engages the square window  28 . Once the user ceases pressing downward on the pushing surface  78 , the spring beam  80  on the actuating end  74  biases the lever  70  to recoil to the rest position. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of a receptacle assembly  90  for mating with the header assembly  2  formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The receptacle assembly  90  includes front, rear, and pull housings  92 - 94 . The rear housing  93  includes a rear surface  96  having a plurality of cables  98  extending therefrom. In the example of FIG. 6, each cable  98  corresponds to two pins  18  and one ground shield  20  on the receptacle assembly-mating surface  16  of the header assembly  2 . 
     The front housing  92  includes a header assembly-mating surface  100  opposite the rear surface  96  for mating with the header assembly  2 . The front housing  92  includes a top surface  102  having rectangular windows  104  for manufacturing purposes formed therein. The front housing  92  includes rails  106 - 108  separated from one another by channels  110  and  112 . A center rail  107  includes an upwardly projecting tooth  116 . The tooth  116  has a front ramped surface  118  and a rear walled surface  120 . 
     The pull housing  94  includes flexible arms  122  that extend through the front housing  92  and slidably rest in, and partially occupy, the channels  110  and  112 . The flexible arms  122  are positioned on either side of the center rail  107 . The pull housing  94  includes ribbed pull surfaces  124  along top and bottom surfaces  126  and  128  of the pull housing  94 . The pull housing  94  also includes a rear surface  130  having a spring-loading chamber  132  formed therein. 
     The spring-loading chamber  132  in the rear end of the pull housing  94  receives a spring  140  that is inserted in the direction of arrow G. The spring  140  includes a front section  142 , a coil  144 , and a rear section  146 . The front section  142  is generally square in shape and includes side edges  148  having triangular projections  150  extending outward therefrom. The triangular projections  150  allow loading of the front section  142  into the front housing  92  in the direction of arrow G, and, thereafter, prevent rearward movement of the front section  142  in the direction of arrow H. The coil  144  connects the front section  142  to the rear section  146 , and is extendable in length so as to allow the front and rear sections  142  and  146  to move relative to one another. In FIG. 6, the coil  144  is shown in its resting state. The rear section  146  is rectangular in shape and has leading edges  152 . 
     The pull housing  94  is loaded in the direction of arrow G into a rectangular chamber  154  in the rear end of the front housing  92 . The pull housing  94  includes a rectangular mating portion  156  that is inserted into the chamber  154 . The mating portion  156  includes a top surface  157  and includes sides  158  having triangular projections  160  extending therefrom. The triangular projections  160  allow loading of the mating portion  156  into the front housing  92  in the direction of arrow G and prevent removal of the mating portion  156  from the chamber  154  in the direction of arrow H beyond a predetermined action distance  182  (FIG.  9 ). The action distance  182  defines an operating range for the pull housing  94 . As explained below, when the pull housing  94  is pulled by a user rearward through the action distance  182 , the pull housing  94  releases the receptacle assembly  90  from the header assembly  2  (FIG.  8 ). The flexible arms  122 , which extend from the front of the mating portion  156 , include downwardly projecting ramps  162  for engaging upwardly projecting ramps  164  (more easily seen in FIG. 10) on the front housing  92 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the receptacle assembly  90  mated with, and locked to, the header assembly  2 . In the example of FIG. 7, the header assembly  2  is capable of mating with two receptacle assemblies  90 , but only one receptacle assembly  90  is shown. During mating of the receptacle assembly  90  to the header assembly  2 , the front ramped surface  118  of the tooth  116  engages and lifts the upwardly curved rear edge  30  of the cantilever latch  26 , allowing the tooth  116  to pass under the cantilever latch  26 . When the tooth  116  reaches the square window  28 , the cantilever latch  26  recoils downward to a locked position (shown in FIG.  7 ). In the locked position, the tooth  116  projects upward through the square window  28  of the cantilever latch  26 . When in the locked position, the front and pull housings  92  and  94  abut one another at interface  166 . Unmating of the receptacle assembly  90  from the header assembly  2  is prevented since the rear walled surface  120  of the tooth  116  is held within the square window  28 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the header assembly  2  mated with the receptacle assembly  90 , but with the pull housing  94  pulled in the direction of arrow H. A rearward force applied by the user to the pull housing  94  in the direction of arrow H causes the front and pull housings  92  and  94  to become separated by a gap  168 . When the pull housing  94  is located as shown in FIG. 8, the receptacle assembly  90  can be pulled free, in the direction of arrow H, from the header assembly  2  because the rear walled surface  120  of the tooth  116  no longer engages the square window  28 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the header assembly  2  mated with the receptacle assembly  90  taken along line  9 — 9  in FIG.  7 . The spring-loading chamber  132  includes rectangular sub-chambers  170  and  172 . The sub-chamber  170  has a width  174  that is greater than a width  176  of the sub-chamber  172 . The width  176  of the sub-chamber  172  is great enough to allow the loading of the front section  142  and the coil  144 , but not the rear section  146 , of the spring  140 . Thus, the spring  140  is loaded into the spring-loading chamber  132  until the leading edges  152  of the rear section  146  abut walls  178  at the rear of the sub-chamber  172 . 
     The front section  142  of the spring  140  and the mating portion  156  of the pull housing  94  extend into the chamber  154 . The front section  142  lies on the top surface  157  of the mating portion  156 . The chamber  154  includes rear walls  180  for engaging the triangular projections  150  and  160 . The triangular projections  150  prevent the front section  142  of the spring  140  from moving in the direction of arrow H. The triangular projections  160  prevent the pull housing  94  from moving more than the distance  182  in the direction of arrow H. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of the flexible arms  122  lifting the cantilever latch  26  taken along line  10 — 10  in FIG.  8 . The flexible arms  122  are flexed upward a distance  184 , thereby lifting the cantilever latch  26  over the tooth  116  and unlocking the receptacle assembly  90  from the header assembly  2 . 
     As the pull housing  94  moves rearward in the direction of arrow H, the pull housing  94  pulls the flexible arms  122  rearward. Consequently, the ramps  162  on the flexible arms  122  slide rearward across the ramps  164  on the front housing  92 , causing the flexible arms  122  to flex upward in the direction of arrow I. As the flexible arms  122  flex upward, the flexible arms  122  lift the cantilever latch  26  above the tooth  116 . While the pull housing  94  pulls the flexible arms  122  rearward, the pull housing  94  also pulls the rear section  146  of the spring  140  rearward, thereby elongating the coil  144 . Once the rearward force on the pull housing  94  is removed, the coil  144  causes the pull housing  94  to recoil in the direction of arrow G to the locked position (shown in FIG.  7 ). 
     FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of a receptacle assembly  186  for mating with the header assembly  2  formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The receptacle assembly  186  includes front, rear, and push housings  188 - 190 . The rear housing  189  includes a rear surface  192  having a plurality of cables  194  extending therefrom. In the example of FIG. 11, each cable  194  corresponds to two pins  18  and one ground shield  20  on the receptacle assembly-mating surface  16  of the header assembly  2 . 
     The front housing  188  includes a header assembly-mating surface  196  opposite the rear surface  192  for mating with the header assembly  2 . The front housing  188  includes a top surface  198  having channels  200  and  202  formed therein. The channels  200  and  202  include a rail  204  therebetween. The rail  204  includes an upwardly projecting tooth  206 . The tooth  206  has a front ramped surface  208  and a rear walled surface  210 . The front housing  188  also includes a rear wall  211  having a rectangular chamber  213  formed therein. 
     The push housing  190  includes a mating portion  212  for mating with the front housing  188 . The mating portion  212  includes a top surface  214  and a rectangular body section  216 . The body section  216  includes beams  218 - 220  that connect the body section  216  to the remainder of the push housing  190 . The beams  218 - 220  are separated from one another by channels  222  and  224 . Opposite the beams  218 - 220 , the body section  216  includes beams  226  and  228  extending therefrom. The beams  226  and  228  include chamfered ends  230  for lifting the cantilever latch  26  on the header assembly  2 . The push housing  190  also includes a spring-loading chamber  232  (FIG. 14) formed therein and includes a circular hole  233  formed therethrough for manufacturing purposes. 
     The spring-loading chamber  232  opens on the front end of the push housing  190  and receives a spring  234  that is inserted in the direction of arrow J. The spring  234  includes rectangular front and rear tabs  236  and  238  for pushing off the front and push housings  188  and  190 , respectively. The front tab  236  includes an upwardly projecting blade  240  for pushing against the rear wall  211  of the front housing  188 . A coil  242  connects the front tab  236  to the rear tab  238 , and is compressible in length so as to allow the front and rear tabs  236  and  238  to move relative to one another. In FIG. 11, the coil  242  is shown in its resting state. When loaded, the spring  234  partially rests on the top surface  214  of the mating portion  212 . With the spring  234  loaded into the push housing  190 , the push housing  190  is mated with the front housing  188 . As the front and push housings  188  and  190  are mated, the mating portion  212  is loaded in the direction of arrow K into the chamber  213  formed in the rear wall  211  of the front housing  188 . 
     FIG. 12 illustrates the receptacle assembly  186  mated with, and locked to, the header assembly  2 . In the example of FIG. 12, the header assembly  2  is capable of mating with two receptacle assemblies  186 , but only one receptacle assembly  186  is shown. During mating of the receptacle assembly  186  to the header assembly  2 , the front ramped surface  208  of the tooth  206  engages and lifts the upwardly curved rear edge  30  of the cantilever latch  26 , allowing the tooth  206  to pass under the cantilever latch  26 . When the tooth  206  reaches the square window  28 , the cantilever latch  26  recoils downward to a locked position (shown in FIG.  12 ). In the locked position, the tooth  206  projects upward through the square window  28  of the cantilever latch  26 . When in the locked position, the front and push housings  188  and  190  are separated from one another by a gap  244 . Unmating of the receptacle assembly  186  from the header assembly  2  is prevented since the rear walled surface  210  of the tooth  206  is held within the square window  28 . 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the header assembly  2  mated with the receptacle assembly  186 , but with the push housing  190  pushed in the direction of arrow K. A forward force applied by the user to the push housing  190  in the direction of arrow K causes the push housing  190  to move toward the front housing  188 , thereby closing the gap  244 . When the push housing  190  is located as shown in FIG. 13, the receptacle assembly  186  can be pulled free, in the direction of arrow J, from the header assembly  2  because the rear walled surface  210  of the tooth  206  no longer engages the square window  28 . 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the header assembly  2  mated with the receptacle assembly  186  taken along line  14 — 14  in FIG.  12 . The spring-loading chamber  232  includes a rear wall  246  that abuts against the rear tab  238  of the spring  234 . When the push housing  190  is pushed in the direction of arrow K, the chamfered ends  230  of the beams  226  and  228  slide under the upwardly curved rear edge  30  and lift the cantilever latch  26 . Also, when the push housing  190  is pushed in the direction of arrow K, the gap  244  closes and the rear wall  246  of the spring-loading chamber  232  and the rear wall  211  of the front housing  188  compress the spring  234 . When the push housing  190  is released, the spring  234  recoils, returning the push housing  190  rearward in the direction of arrow J. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of the beams  226  and  228  lifting the cantilever latch  26  taken along line  15 — 15  in FIG.  13 . The chamber  213  includes a ceiling surface  248  having a pair of teeth  250  (only one tooth  250  is shown in FIG. 15) extending downward therefrom. The teeth  250  have rear ramped surfaces  252  and front walled surfaces  254 . When the push housing  190  is mated with the front housing  188 , the rear ramped surfaces  252  slide over the top surface  214  of the mating portion  212 . Once the push and front housings  190  and  188  are mated, the teeth  250  partially occupy the channels  222  and  224  of the mating portion  212 . The front walled surfaces  254  of the teeth  250  prohibit rearward movement of the push housing  190  in the direction of arrow J beyond a distance  256 , thereby preventing unmating of the push and front housings  190  and  188 . 
     As the push housing  190  moves forward in the direction of arrow K, the push housing  190  pushes the beams  226  and  228  forward. Consequently, the chamfered ends  230  slide forward under the upwardly curved rear edge  30  of the cantilever latch  26 , causing the cantilever latch  26  to be raised above the tooth  206 . While the push housing  190  pushes the beams  226  and  228  forward, the push housing  190  also pushes the rear tab  238  of the spring  234 , thereby compressing the coil  242 . Once the forward force on the push housing  190  is removed, the coil  242  causes the push housing  190  to recoil in the direction of arrow J to the locked position (shown in FIG.  12 ). 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention employ a right angle header assembly, other embodiments may include other types of header assemblies, such as vertical header assemblies. 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention employ the header assembly having the cantilever latch and the receptacle assembly having means for lifting the cantilever latch, other embodiments may employ the receptacle assembly having the cantilever latch and the header assembly having means for lifting the cantilever latch. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.