Patent ID: 7131854

Claim:
An electrical connector including a first connector housing configured to cooperate with a second connector housing in a mated position to facilitate the making of an electrical connection, the electrical connector comprising: a retainer configured to cooperate with the first connector housing in a first retainer position to allow engagement and disengagement of the first and second connector housings with each other, and further configured to cooperate with at least one of the connector housings in a second retainer position to inhibit disengagement of the first and second connector housings from the mated position, the retainer including: a first locking feature configured to engage the first connector housing when the retainer is in the second retainer position for inhibiting movement of the retainer out of the second retainer position, and a release mechanism operable from outside the first connector housing to disengage the first locking feature from the first connector housing while the retainer is in the second retainer position to facilitate movement of the retainer out of the second retainer position.