Patent ID: 8277241

Claim:
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a first and second connector configured to be mated to each other, each connector including: a housing extending along substantially perpendicular lateral and longitudinal directions, the housing defining an engagement tab that is longer in the lateral direction than in the longitudinal direction, the engagement tab presenting an engagement surface; and a plurality of electrical contacts secured in the housing and arranged in first and second longitudinally elongate rows, the first and second rows being spaced apart in the lateral direction and separated by a housing wall that is disposed between the first and second rows, the contacts defining first terminal ends extending from the housing and configured to connect with an electrical component, and gender-neutral second terminal ends extending from the housing to a height greater than that of the housing wall and less than that of the engagement tab, such that no part of the housing wall that is disposed between the first and second rows extends to a height greater than the height of the gender-neutral second terminal ends, and at least a respective portion the housing walls of the first and second connectors translate past each other as the first and second connectors are mated, wherein the housings of the connectors are configured to engage each other such that the second terminal ends of the each connector mate, and the engagement surfaces of each connector engage at a location between the rows of contacts so as to restrict relative lateral movement of the housings.