Connector

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is intended to prevent the deformation of the weak portion when the paired connector housings are being locked together, to provide an appropriate engagement stroke and also provide a good locking feel of the locking arm returning to its original shape when the locking process is completed.
To achieve the above objective, a connector according to this invention comprises: a pair of mating connector housings; a locking arm provided to the first connector housing, said locking arm rising through a base from the front outer circumference of said first housing and extending axially rearwardly; guide means provided to said base of the locking arm; an engagement sleeve provided to the second connector housing to receive the locking arm; and engagement groove means formed in side walls of said engagement sleeve in such a way that they extend from a front opening of the engagement sleeve toward the rear in the axial direction, said engagement groove means being adapted to receive the guide means of the base of the locking arm.
The engagement--which begins as the first and housings start to be coupled--between the guide means provided to the base of the locking arm and the engagement groove means formed in the walls of the engagement sleeve prevents the housing provided with the locking arm from being deformed and also provides a specified engagement stroke and a good locking feel, making it possible to confirm the secure connection of the housings with an accompanying clicking sound.