Electrical connector with terminal alignment and protection plate

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• a housing having a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing with terminal mating portions projecting from a mating surface of the housing, the mating surface having terminal alignment member receiving channels which extend into the housing, the terminal alignment member receiving channels having first retention projections and second retention projections extending into the terminal alignment member receiving channels;
• a terminal alignment and protection plate having a plurality of terminal receiving openings for receiving mating portions of the terminals therein, the terminal alignment and protection plate having a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, the first surface facing the mating surface of the housing;
• rigid support members extending from the first surface of the terminal alignment and protection plate in a direction away from the second surface, the support members extending perpendicular to a planar portion of the terminal alignment and protection plate, the support members having flexible support beams extending between the support members, the flexible support beams extending essentially parallel to the planar portion of the terminal alignment and protection plate;
• wherein when the terminal alignment and protection plate is spaced from the mating surface of the housing, the flexible support beams are provided in the terminal alignment member receiving channels and are retained between the first retention projections and the second retention projections;
• wherein when the terminal alignment and protection plate is adjacent the mating surface of the housing, the flexible support beams are provided in the terminal alignment member receiving channels and are positioned beyond the second retention projections.