Patent ID: 8221153

Claim:
A connector housing system, comprising: a receptacle housing having a receptacle shell and being configured for housing at least one electrical contact; a plug housing having a plug shell, the plug housing being adapted for housing at least one electrical contact and for mating with the receptacle housing in a mating direction, the plug shell being adapted for overlapping the receptacle shell when the plug housing is mated with the receptacle housing, the overlapping shells thereby forming a barrier which inhibits penetration of water and debris to the electrical contacts; a pair of latch pivots extending outward in opposing directions from one of the receptacle housing and the plug housing, the latch pivots extending along an axis perpendicular to the mating direction; a pair of latch posts extending outward in opposing directions from the other of the receptacle housing and the plug housing and configured so as to be aligned with the latch pivots when the receptacle housing is mated with the plug housing; a latch mechanism having a pair of opposing pivot holes and a pair of opposing latch hooks, the pair of opposing pivot holes being rotatably mountable on the pair of latch pivots so as to enable the latch mechanism to rotate between a latched orientation and an open orientation, the latch hooks being configured for hooking attachment to the latch posts when the latch is in the latched orientation, the latch being configured so as to cover at least a portion of the overlapping shells of the receptacle housing and the plug housing and inhibit entry therein of debris and water when the latch mechanism is in the latched orientation; a pair of catch tabs proximal to the pair of latch posts; and a pair of catches proximal to the pair of latch hooks and adapted to automatically engage with the catch tabs when the latch mechanism is in the latched orientation, release of the catches from the catch tabs being required before the latch mechanism can be rotated from the latched orientation to the open orientation, whereby the catches can be released from the catch tabs only by use of a tool, and not by an unaided hand.