Electrical connector with a terminal pin stabilizing plate

An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• a first connector including a dielectric housing, a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the housing and having pin portions projecting therefrom, a pin stabilizing plate having a plurality of apertures for receiving the pin portions of the terminals, said pin stabilizing plate being movable from a protecting position generally at distal ends of said pin portions to a mating position spaced inwardly of said distal ends;
• a second connector mateable with the first connector and engageable with the pin stabilizing plate for moving the plate from the protecting position to the mating position in response to mating of the connectors;
• a flexible latch arm on one of said second connector or pin stabilizing plate engageable with a latch boss on the other of said second connector or pin stabilizing plate to define a complementary interengaging return means between the second connector and said pin stabilizing plate for moving said pin stabilizing plate back from said mating position to said protecting position in response to unmating of the connectors;
• and,
• complementary interengaging stop means between said first connector and said pin stabilizing plate to prevent said pin stabilizing plate from moving beyond said protecting position when said pin stabilizing plate is moved back from said mating position to said protecting position.

An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• a first connector including a dielectric housing, a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the housing and having pin portions projecting therefrom, a pin stabilizing plate having a plurality of apertures for receiving the pin portions of the terminals, the pin stabilizing plate being movable from a protecting position generally at distal ends of said terminal pin portions to a mating position spaced inwardly of said terminal pin portion distal ends;
• a second connector mateable with the first connector and engageable with said pin stabilizing plate for moving said pin stabilizing plate from the protecting position to the mating position in response to mating of said first and second connectors;
• and,
• complementary interengaging guide means disposed between said pin stabilizing plate and said housing and including an elongated guide wall on said housing located amidst said terminal pin portions and projecting in the same direction as the pin portions, but elongated transversely of said terminal pin portions, and an elongated opening in said pin stabilizing plate embracing the elongated guide wall for guiding said pin stabilizing plate in its movement between said protecting and mating positions.