Lever and header gear tooth engagement to prevent premature connector mating

A connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector housing comprising;
• a lever rotatably mounted relative to the first connector housing, the lever having lever arms having projections provided at free ends of the lever arms, a first projection of the projections has a longer length than a second projection of the projections;
• a second connector housing comprising;
• a connector receiving area for receiving the first connector housing therein, the connector receiving area extending from a connector mating face of the second connector housing;
• a lever receiving recess proximate the connector receiving area, the lever receiving recess having a latching projection and a latch prevention projection provided therein, the latching projection and the latch prevention projection extending from a side wall of the second connector housing, the side wall extending between the second connector mating face and an oppositely facing mounting surface of the second connector housing, the latching projection configured to cooperate with the projections of the lever, a first portion of the side wall extending between the latch prevention projection and the latching projection has a larger thickness than a second portion of the side wall extending between the latching projection and the mounting surface;
• wherein the lever is rotatable between a pre-insertion position and an insertion position;
• and
• wherein the cooperation of the first projection of the projections of the lever with the first portion of the side wall of the lever receiving recess prevents the premature mating of the first connector housing to the second connector housing as the lever is moved between the pre-insertion position and the insertion position, and the cooperation of the first projection of the projections with the second portion of the side wall allows for the first connector housing to be moved to the insertion position in the second connector housing.