thereof slots 28 in the preferred embodiment are perpendicular to the axis of the mating portion of the contacts in the connector thus slots 28 are also perpendicular to the direction of mating of connectors 10 and 12 and therefore perpendicular to the direction of forces tending to unmate the connectors cover 32 is typically secured to back shell 26 by screws not shown cover 32 has protrusions 34 which are adapted to extend into slots 28 when cover 32 is mounted on back shell 26 as shown in fig3 as best seen in fig4 slots 28 have a wider region and a narrower region in the preferred embodiment slots 28 have a generally t shaped configuration when viewed from the top and include an enlarged first slot portion 36 as the wider region and a second slot portion 38 of reduced size as the narrower region slot portion 36 is both wider and deeper than slot portion 38 slot portion 38 opens onto and extends from slot portion 36 to and opens onto the front end face 40 of lower back shell 26 when viewed from the front en 40 as shown in fig2 and 3 the slot portions 36 and 38 are of generally rectangular shape the sidewalls o the slot portions 36 38 include first upper sidewall portion 44 46 respectively which are tapered inwardly from top surface 30 and second lower sidewall portions 48 and 50 respectively which are substantially parallel as best seen in fig4 removable latch block 24 which is preferably made of a die cast zinc includes a retaining.