Electrical connector housing assembly with improved locking means

摘要

A connector assembly (3) comprises a gear member (8) having a pinion (10) engageable with a rack of a complementary connector (2), and a lever arm (14) for actuating the pinion (10). The connector assembly is further provided with a resilient retention arm (20) for securely and reliably holding the gear member (8) in an open position ready for coupling to the complementary connector. Mating of the connectors automatically releases the gear member (8) by biasing the resilient retention arm (20) out of latching engagement with the complementary connector housing.