Lever type electrical connector

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• first and second electrical connectors including respective first and second connector housings for being mated together;
• an actuating lever mounted to the first electrical connector for being shifted to mate the connectors together, the actuating lever having a predetermined first position with the connectors unmated and a predetermined second position with the connectors fully mated;
• a cam projection of the actuating lever;
• a cam groove of the second connector with the cam projection and groove configured to engage so that shifting of the actuating lever from the first position to the second position causes the connectors to fully mate with each other;
• a blocking portion formed on the first connector housing and extending into the first connector housing in interference with the cam projection for releasable retaining the actuating lever in the first position;
• and
• a release portion formed on the second connector housing operable to shift the blocking portion outwardly to a clearance position to allow the actuating lever to be shifted from the first position to the second position with the cam projection received in the cam groove.