Latching mechanism for a connector

A latching mechanism for securing two halves of a connector housing having a first connector half mateable to a second connector half, said mechanism comprising:

• a raised stop located on the first connector half;
• a latch pocket located on the second connector half having a tunnel-like configuration with an upper surface and a lower surface;
• and
• a latch member constructed of resilient metal retained in said latch pocket, said latch member having a latch arm for engaging with said raised stop when said first connector half is assembled to said second connector half, said latch member further having an integral spring arm, which is formed to engage the upper surface and thereby biases said latch arm to prevent disengagement of said raised stop from said latch arm when said first and second connector halves are assembled.

A latch mechanism combined with a connector, the connector having a first connector half mateable with a second connector half, said combination comprising:

• a raised stop on the first connector half;
• a tunnel-like portion formed on the second connector half for receiving a resilient metal latch member, said latch member being insertable into the tunnel-like portion and being retained therein prior to the mating of the first connector half with the second connector half;
• and
• said latch member having a latch arm, said latch arm including a crossbeam for engaging with said raised stop to latch the first connector half to the second connector half when the two halves are mated.