Patent ID: 6854992

Claim:
An electrical connector assembly comprising: first and second housings formed along a longitudinal axis and being configured to be mateable with one another at a mating interface that extends parallel to said longitudinal axis, said first and second housings being movable between initial and final mating positions, said second housing having an end wall containing a rack and a blocking member thereon, said rack and blocking member extending outward along said longitudinal axis first and second distances, respectively, from said end wall, said second distance being shorter than said first distance; and a lever member held by said first housing, said lever member including a cam arm having a first tooth engaging said rack on said second housing as said lever member is rotated through a range of motion from an insertion position to a final engaged position, wherein said first tooth includes a blocking ledge that extends inward from said first tooth along said longitudinal axis toward said first housing and beyond said first tooth, said blocking ledge passing said blocking member as said first and second housings are joined when said lever member is in said insertion position to permit mating, said blocking ledge engaging said blocking member as said first and second housings are joined when said lever member is not in said insertion position to prevent mating.