Electrical connector assembly

摘要

An electrical connector assembly and method for making it. The assembly has a housing and two slides that are slideably supported in the housing spaced apart from the housing's side walls. The slides each include at least one mating slot adapted to receive a mating portion of a mating connector. A slide assist lever is pivotally interconnected with the housing and the slides to move the slides and facilitate mating with the mating connector. The slide assist lever has a first arm and a spaced apart second arm, the first arm extending between the first slide and the adjacent side wall of the housing, and the second arm extending between the second slide and the adjacent side wall of the housing. The connector assembly can be assembled by inserting the arms of the slide assist lever into the housing to a predetermined assembly position; supporting the slide assist lever with a portion of the housing in the assembly position; inserting the slides into the housing; and moving the slide assist lever from the assembly position into engagement with the slides wherein a portion of each arm of the slide assist lever mates with a portion of each slide.