Mate assist assembly for connecting electrical contacts

An electrical connector comprising:

• first and second housings having ends configured to receive electrical contacts, said first and second housings having front ends configured to be matable with one another to join corresponding electrical contacts, said first and second housings being movable between initial and final positions, at which corresponding electrical contacts partially and fully mate, respectively;
• a lever member engaging said first and second housings and moving said first and second housings between said initial and final positions as said lever member is rotated through a range of motion about a rotational axis, said lever member including at least one cam arm having a retention aperture to engage said first housing and first and second unmating surfaces configured to engage said second housing;
• and
• first and second mating posts mounted within an interior region of said second housing, said first mating post configured to engage said first unmating surface a first distance from said rotational axis as said lever member is rotating through said range of motion to move said first and second housings to said initial position, said second mating post configured to engage said second unmating surface a second distance from said rotational axis as said lever is rotating through said range of motion to move said first and second housings to said initial position, said first and second distances being different.

An electrical connector comprising:

• first and second housings having ends configured to receive electrical contacts, said first and second housings having front ends configured to be matable with one another to join corresponding electrical contacts, said first and second housings being movable between initial and final positions, at which corresponding electrical contacts partially and fully mate, respectively;
• a lever member engaging said first and second housings and moving said first and second housings between said initial and final positions as said lever member is rotated through a range of motion about a rotational axis, said lever member including at least one cam arm having a retention aperture to engage said first housing and first, second, and third gear surfaces engaging said second housing;
• and
• at least one set of first and second mating posts mounted within an interior region of said second housing, said first mating post having a tooth configured to engage said first gear surface a first distance from said rotational axis as said lever member is rotating through said range of motion to move said first and second housings to said final position, said tooth configured to engage said second gear surface a second distance from said rotational axis as said lever member is rotating through said range of motion to move said first and second housings to said initial position, said second mating post configured to engage said third gear surface a third distance from said rotational axis as said lever is rotating through said range of motion to move said first and second housings to said initial position, said first, second, and third distances being different.