US Patent 7052186 Secondary latch sleeve for connector connections

A plurality of connectors (12, 14) of the type that has a primary latch with a handle (50) that can be depressed so the connector can be pulled out of a receiver passage (20, 22), and a secondary latch with a sleeve (60, 62) that can be slid forward to wedge a part under the handle so it cannot be depressed. The same slidable sleeve is used to normally connect a pair of connectors, while allowing a connector-to-be-serviced of the pair to be disconnected from the other one while said other one continues to lie in a receiver passage and carry signals. The sleeves are identical and each has a tongue and groove (74, 76) at its opposite sides, and also has engaged detents at its opposite sides. The groove is open at its front and rear ends.