Lever type electrical connector

A lever type electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• a first connector including a first, generally rectangular housing mounting a plurality of terminals;
• a mating assist lever pivotally movably mounted on the first connector for movement in a pivotal operating stroke between a pre-mated position at one end of the stroke and a fully mated position at an opposite end of the stroke;
• a second connector including a second, generally rectangular housing mateable with the first, rectangular housing of the first connector;
• coupling means between the mating assist lever and the second connector whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to pivotal movement of the lever between its pre-mated and mated positions;
• and
• interengaging interference means including a peripheral flange on one of the first and second connector housings and a plurality of peripherally spaced abutment platforms on the other of the first and second connector housings, the abutment platforms being engageable with the peripheral flange when the mating assist lever is at an intermediate point between the opposite ends of its operating stroke, whereby the housings are overstrained during an end portion of the operating stroke as the lever reaches its fully mated position.