Patent ID: 7052293

Claim:
A lever type electrical connector assembly, comprising: a first connector including a first housing mounting a plurality of terminals; a mating assist lever pivotally movably mounted on the first connector for movement in a pivotal operating stroke between a pre-mated position at one end of the stroke and a fully mated position at an opposite end of the stroke; a second connector including a second housing mateable with the first housing of the first connector; coupling means between the mating assist lever and the second connector whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to pivotal movement of the lever between its pre-mated and mated positions; and interengaging interference means at spaced locations between the first and second housings of the first and second connectors, respectively, the interference means being engageable when the mating assist lever is at an intermediate point between the opposite ends of its operating stroke whereby the connectors are overstrained during an end portion of the operating stroke as the lever reaches its fully mated position.