Staged lock feature for an electrical connector assembly having a cam mating device

The present invention relates to a staged lock feature for an electrical connector assembly and more particularly to a staged lock feature for an electrical connector assembly having a cam mating device. An electrical connector assembly has a first connector with preferably two oppositely protruding cam followers and a second connector having a pivoting cam lever having preferably two lever arms. The two lever arms respectively engage the earn followers when the first connector is initially staged and locked partially into a cavity defined by the second connector, and as the cam lever pivots from an open position and towards a mated position. The first connector, once locked in the staged position within the forward cavity of the second connector, can not be easily or inadvertently withdrawn, thus, proper orientation of the cam followers to the cam lever is assured for initial cam engagement. The assembly is locked in the staged position by the snap fitting of a tab, which projects laterally from the first connector, into a close ended groove carried by a flex wall which is cantilevered from the second connector. Should the first connector be inadvertently pulled backward from the mating direction, a forward facing stop surface of the tab engages, and thereby prevents further withdrawal of the first connector, with a rearward facing lock seat of the flex wall. The stop surface of the tab is disposed substantially perpendicular to the mating direction preventing inadvertent flexing of the flex wall which would otherwise un-lock the first connector from the staged position.