A connector assembly comprising: a first connector including a generally rectangular housing for carrying first electrical contacts, said housing comprising opposing side walls; a lever assembly having a generally U-shaped lever with opposite extending end portions and a force-input end; a pair of drive gears having a lever lobe extending from one side and a plurality of drive teeth extending from another side than the side from where the lever lobe extends; a pair of mating gears rotatably carried by said first connector, each mating gear having a lever lobe extending from one side and a plurality of mating teeth extending from another side, said mating gears having their mating teeth in mating relationship respectively with said drive teeth of said drive gears; a second connector defining a generally rectangular header for carrying second electrical contacts for respective connection to said first electrical contacts in response to said second connector being fully engaged with said first connector; said header including a pair of cam tracks on each longitudinal side of the header for respectively receiving the lever lobes (18, 19) of the drive gears and mating gears; said lever assembly having a first position whereat said header is in an unengaged position with respect to said first connectors; and said lever assembly is rotatable to a second position whereat said drive gears and associated mating gears are moved to cause said lever lobes (18, 19) within said cam tracks to move said header to said fully engaged position, characterized in that said drive gears are carried pivotably about a pivot element on the inner portion of each end portion; and each complementary mating gear is pivotally mounted on the inner surface of each longitudinal side wall and is positioned to engage said drive gears; with the first connector housing having an access channel for receiving said lever assembly, wherein the pivot elements are received in key-hole slots of the housing of the first connector such that lever end portions and force-input end are positioned outside housing, and drive gears are positioned inside housing. a first connector including a generally rectangular housing for carrying first electrical contacts, said housing comprising opposing side walls; a lever assembly having a generally U-shaped lever with opposite extending end portions and a force-input end; a pair of drive gears having a lever lobe extending from one side and a plurality of drive teeth extending from another side than the side from where the lever lobe extends; a pair of mating gears rotatably carried by said first connector, each mating gear having a lever lobe extending from one side and a plurality of mating teeth extending from another side, said mating gears having their mating teeth in mating relationship respectively with said drive teeth of said drive gears; a second connector defining a generally rectangular header for carrying second electrical contacts for respective connection to said first electrical contacts in response to said second connector being fully engaged with said first connector; said header including a pair of cam tracks on each longitudinal side of the header for respectively receiving the lever lobes (18, 19) of the drive gears and mating gears; said lever assembly having a first position whereat said header is in an unengaged position with respect to said first connectors; and said lever assembly is rotatable to a second position whereat said drive gears and associated mating gears are moved to cause said lever lobes (18, 19) within said cam tracks to move said header to said fully engaged position, characterized in that said drive gears are carried pivotably about a pivot element on the inner portion of each end portion; and each complementary mating gear is pivotally mounted on the inner surface of each longitudinal side wall and is positioned to engage said drive gears; with the first connector housing having an access channel for receiving said lever assembly, wherein the pivot elements are received in key-hole slots of the housing of the first connector such that lever end portions and force-input end are positioned outside housing, and drive gears are positioned inside housing.