Interlocking release latching system for electrical connector

Claim 1

An electrical connector comprising: a connector subassembly having a front section having a mating face and a rear section having a rear face, an insulative cover over said connector subassembly extending from said mating face to said rear face, and said cover further having a cover rear section extending rearwardly beyond said rear face and along a cable exiting from said rear face, and a pair of latch members secured in respective channels of the cover and extending from said mating face, said pair of latch members having actuation sections protruding outwardly from said rear section rearwardly from said rear face to free ends alongside said cover rear section, said actuating sections adapted to be deflected toward and against said rear section of said cover upon actuation of said actuating sections, and cover-facing surfaces of said actuating sections including at least one protuberance extending toward facing surfaces of said cover rear section and to be received into corresponding recesses defined in said facing surfaces of said cover rear section upon full actuation of said actuating sections, whereby rearwardly directed force applied to the actuating sections for rearward movement of the connector is transmitted by the fully actuated actuating sections to said rear section of said cover to relieve stress on at least said latch members.