Lever-type electrical connector

Claim 1

A lever-type electrical connector comprising first and second matable connector parts and a lever, said first connector part having a front face, a rear face, two opposite ends and two opposite side walls extending between said ends, said lever being rotatably mounted on said first connector part and having an actuator portion at one end, two spaced side members extending from the actuator portion alongside said side walls of the first connector part, and at least one engaging portion remote from said actuator portion, said second connector part having a hood portion for housing said first connector part and said lever in the connected position of said connector parts, said hood portion having opposed side walls and at least one lever support and apportioned into at least a first and second accommodating space, wherein, in the operation of bringing said connector parts together to said connected position thereof, said first connector part is received in said hood portion with said front face thereof directed towards said second connector part, and said engaging portion of said lever is engaged with said lever support so that, when said actuator portion is depressed from a starting position to a fully depressed position, said lever pivots on said lever support whereby said first connector part is levered further into said hood portion towards said connected position and whereby the first connector, when in the connected position, is substantially situated in the first accommodating space and the actuator portion of the lever is substantially situated in the second accommodating space, and said actuator portion of said lever and said side walls of said hood portion being shaped so that, at least when said engaging portion is in contact with said lever support during the operation to lever said first connector part into said hood portion, said actuator portion is at least partially located between said side walls of said hood portion.