Plug connector having a latch retention assist member

A plug connector comprising:

• a housing having a front and a rear, the housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end extending between the front and the rear, the housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side extending between the front and the rear, the housing having a mating end at the front for mating with a mating connector, the housing having a latch pocket at the first end;
• plug contacts held by the housing, the plug contacts provided proximate to the mating end for mating with the mating connector;
• a latch received in the latch pocket and being rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the latch having a main body and a latch beam extending from the main body, the latch beam including a latch hook configured to be received in a latch opening of the mating connector in the latched position to secure the plug connector to the mating connector;
• and
• a retention assist member received in the latch pocket and configured to engage the latch, the retention assist member including a main body and a ram extending from the main body, the ram including a latch retention support positioned rearward of the latch beam, the retention assist member slidable relative to the housing between an extended position and a retracted position, the retention assist member including a biasing member engaging the retention assist member to drive the retention assist member in a forward biasing direction to the extended position;
• wherein the latch is configured to move to the unlatched position when the retention assist member is in the retracted position, the latch retention support being driven into the latch to move the latch to the latched position when the retention assist member is moved to the extended position.

A plug connector comprising:

• a housing having a front and a rear, the housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end extending between the front and the rear, the housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side extending between the front and the rear, the housing having a mating end at the front for mating with a mating connector, the housing having a latch pocket at the first end;
• plug contacts held by the housing, the plug contacts provided proximate to the mating end for mating with the mating connector;
• a latch received in the latch pocket and movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the latch having a main body and a latch beam extending from the main body, the latch beam including a rail at a proximal end extending from the main body, the latch beam including a ramp extending from the rail, the latch beam including a latch hook at a distal end configured to be received in a latch opening of the mating connector in the latched position to secure the plug connector to the mating connector;
• and
• a retention assist member received in the latch pocket and configured to engage the latch, the retention assist member including a main body and a ram extending from the main body, the ram including a latch retention support positioned rearward of the latch beam, the retention assist member including a biasing member engaging the retention assist member to drive the retention assist member in a forward biasing direction, the latch retention support engaging the ramp of the latch beam to drive the latch to the latching position.