Connector

Abstract

The housing (20) has a housing main body (28) and a lock arm (31). The lock arm (31) has: a base end section (38) connected to the front end section of the housing main body (28); an arm main body (39) extending rearward in a cantilevered manner from a base end portion (38) and having a free end portion (42) on the rear end side; and a lock section (41) provided midway in the front-rear direction of the arm main body (39), the lock section (41) being engaged with a counterpart lock section (82) of a counterpart housing (80). The housing main body (28) has, on a central upper surface portion (32), an abutting portion (51) that comes into contact with a free end portion (42) of the arm main body (39) during the fitting process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. Background Art

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a female connector housing and a male connector housing that can be mated with each other. A locking arm is provided on the female connector housing. The locking arm is formed in a shape that extends backward in a cantilevered manner from a supporting leg connected to the upper surface of the female connector housing. During the mating process of the two connector housings, the locking arm is elastically displaced. Although the rear end of the locking arm is close to the upper surface of the female connector housing, it does not contact the upper surface of the female connector housing. When the two connector housings are mated, the locking arm is elastically reset with a predetermined elastic reaction force and is locked with the male connector housing. As a result, the two connector housings are maintained in a mating state. When the locking arm is to be unlocked, the rear end of the locking arm is pressed downward. In the case of Patent Document 1, the rear end of the locking arm can be pressed down to the limit position and abut against the upper surface of the female connector housing. Connectors with locking arms are also disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3. Prior art literature Patent Literature

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-55259 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-250636 Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-179266 Summary of the invention Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] However, when the locking arm extends backward in a cantilevered manner from the base end portion on the front end side (the supporting leg portion of Patent Document 1) as in Patent Document 1, there is a concern that stress will be concentrated on the base end portion when the locking arm is elastically displaced during the connector mating process. For example, when the thickness (section modulus) of the base end portion is reduced due to miniaturization of the connector, there is a concern that the base end portion may be damaged.

[0005] In contrast, if the lock arm is formed into a double-support beam shape with the front and rear ends connected to the main body of the housing, the stress can be dispersed to the front and rear ends of the lock arm. In addition, if the lock arm is formed into a double-support beam shape, the elastic reaction force of the lock arm when the connector is mated can be increased, and the locking feeling can be improved. However, if the elastic reaction force of the lock arm is too high, there is a concern that stress will be concentrated on the front and rear ends of the lock arm, and there is a concern that the mating resistance will become too large, resulting in deterioration of workability.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can avoid stress concentration on the base end portion of a lock arm and can improve the lock feeling. Solutions to Solve Problems

[0007] The connector of the present invention comprises a shell capable of being mated with a counterpart shell, the shell comprising: a locking arm capable of elastic displacement, which maintains the counterpart shell and the shell in a mated state; and a shell body, which has a side opposite to the locking arm in the direction in which the locking arm is elastically displaced during the mating process between the shell and the counterpart shell, and when the front side of the shell relative to the mating direction of the counterpart shell is set as the front side, the locking arm comprises: a base end portion, which is connected to the end of the front side of the shell body; an arm body, which extends backward in a cantilevered manner from the base end portion and has a free end portion on the rear end side; and a locking portion, which is arranged midway in the front-to-back direction of the arm body and is locked with the counterpart locking portion of the counterpart shell, and the shell body has an abutment portion on the one side that contacts the free end of the arm body during the mating process. Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can avoid stress concentration on the base end portion of the lock arm and improve the locking feeling. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the housing and the mating housing are fitted together in the connector according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the shell. Figure 3 is the rear view of the housing. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of the lock arm in the housing. Figure 5 This is a state indicating that the sliding between the locking part of the locking arm and the other locking part has started. Figure 4 The corresponding figure. Figure 6 This indicates that the lock arm is elastically displaced to the maximum extent. Figure 4 The corresponding figure. Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. Connector of the present disclosure (1) A shell capable of being mated with a counterpart shell, the shell having: a locking arm capable of elastic displacement, which maintains the counterpart shell and the shell in a mated state; and a shell body having a surface opposite to the locking arm in the direction in which the locking arm is elastically displaced during the mating process between the shell and the counterpart shell, wherein when the front side of the shell relative to the mating direction of the counterpart shell is set as the front side, the locking arm has: a base end portion connected to the front end of the shell body; an arm body extending rearwardly from the base end portion in a cantilevered manner and having a free end portion on the rear end side; and a locking portion, which is provided midway in the front-to-rear direction of the arm body and is engaged with the counterpart locking portion of the counterpart shell, the shell body having a contact portion on the one surface that contacts the free end of the arm body during the mating process.

[0011] According to the above structure, during the mating process between the housing and the other housing, the stress acting on the lock arm is dispersed to the base end side and the free end side, so that it is possible to avoid the stress being concentrated only on the base end side. In addition, although the free end of the arm body is in contact with the abutment portion, it is not integrated with the abutment portion, so the stress acting on the free end side can be suppressed, and the elastic reaction force of the lock arm can be suppressed from becoming too high. As a result, a good locking feeling can be obtained when the housing and the other housing are mated.

[0012] (2) Preferably, the connector is set so that, during the fitting process, the contact portion comes into contact with the free end portion from a state in which the arm body is elastically displaced toward the one surface side. According to the above configuration, the fitting resistance of the connector can be suppressed until the free end portion of the arm body comes into contact with the abutment portion.

[0013] (3) The contact portion may be provided protrudingly on the one surface. According to the above configuration, the timing at which the free end of the arm body contacts the contact portion and the contact resistance between the free end and the contact portion can be easily adjusted simply by changing the protruding dimension of the contact portion.

[0014] (4) The arm body may include a release operation portion that protrudes toward a side opposite to the one surface side at a location between the free end portion and the lock portion in the front-rear direction. If the free end of the arm body contacts the abutment portion as in the present disclosure, even if the portion on the free end side is pressed, the lock of the lock arm cannot be released, and the housing cannot be separated from the other housing. In this regard, according to the above structure, since the release operation portion is arranged between the free end of the arm body and the lock portion, the lock of the lock arm can be released by pressing the release operation portion, and the housing can be separated from the other housing.

[0015] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Hereinafter, specific examples of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all changes within the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents.

[0016] <Implementation method 1> The connector 10 of the first embodiment of the present disclosure is as follows Figure 1 The housing 20 and the terminal parts 60 accommodated in the housing 20 are provided. The housing 20 is fitted with a counterpart housing 80. In the following description, the side where the housing 20 is fitted with the counterpart housing 80 is referred to as the front side in the front-back direction. Figure 1 The left side becomes the front side (refer to Figure 1 - Figure 3 The vertical direction is Figure 1 The up and down direction is used as the reference. Figure 1 The upper side of becomes the upper side (refer to Figure 1 - Figure 3 The vertical direction is synonymous with the height direction. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction when viewed from the front. Figure 3 The left side becomes the right side (refer to Figure 1 - Figure 3 The left-right direction is synonymous with the width direction. These directional references are adopted for convenience and may not necessarily coincide with the directional references when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown). In the following description, when the housing 20 and the other housing 80 are mated is synonymous with when the housing 20 and the other housing 80 are mated. The mating process of the housing 20 and the other housing 80 refers to the period from when the mating starts to when the mating is completed, excluding when the mating starts and when the mating is completed.

[0017] (Other shell) The other housing 80 is made of synthetic resin, such as Figure 1 As shown, it is arranged on the surface of the circuit substrate 100. The counterpart housing 80 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a counterpart terminal part 85 is mounted on the inner wall. The counterpart terminal part 85 is formed in a pin shape or a protruding piece shape, and has a terminal connection part 86 protruding into the inside of the counterpart housing 80. The counterpart terminal part 85 is bent outside the counterpart housing 80 and soldered to the circuit substrate 100 for connection. A counterpart locking part 82 is protrudingly formed on the inner surface of the upper wall 83 of the counterpart housing 80.

[0018] (Housing and terminal parts) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and is composed of an upper housing 21 and a lower housing 22 stacked in the vertical direction. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22 have a plurality of chambers 23 arranged in the left-right direction. Figure 1 As shown, the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22 have a lance 24 protruding into each chamber 23 and a holding portion 25 arranged corresponding to each chamber 23. The holding portion 25 of the upper housing 21 enters the chamber 23 of the lower housing 22 by assembling the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22. The holding portion 25 of the lower housing 22 enters the chamber 23 of the upper housing 21 by assembling the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22.

[0019] Before the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22 are assembled, the terminal fittings 60 are inserted from the rear into the respective cavities 23 of the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22. The terminal fittings 60 inserted into the respective cavities 23 are once locked by the lances 24.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, after the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22 are assembled, the terminal parts 60 inserted into the cavity 23 of the lower housing 22 are secondarily locked by the retaining portion 25 of the upper housing 21. Similarly, the terminal parts 60 inserted into the cavity 23 of the upper housing 21 are secondarily locked by the retaining portion 25 of the lower housing 22, and are stored in the upper housing 21 in a state of being prevented from falling out. In addition, after the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22 are assembled, the lances 24 of the upper housing 21 and the lances 24 of the lower housing 22 are opposed to each other in a back-to-back state, and the bending action of the lances 24 is prevented. As a result, the terminal parts 60 are retained in the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22 in a state of being prevented from falling out.

[0021] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the lower housing 22 has a pair of locking pieces 26 protruding upward from the ends on both sides. The upper housing 21 has locking ribs 27 at positions corresponding to the locking pieces 26 in the end surfaces on both sides. The locking pieces 26 engage the locking ribs 27, thereby maintaining the assembled state (stacked state) of the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22.

[0022] The terminal part 60 is a female terminal made of conductive metal, such as Figure 1 As shown, the housing 20 has a cylindrical box portion 61 and a barrel portion 62 disposed behind the box portion 61. The box portion 61 receives the terminal connection portion 86 of the other terminal part 85 and is electrically connected to the other terminal part 85 when the housing 20 is mated with the other housing 80. The barrel portion 62 is crimped to the terminal portion of the electric wire 70 for electrical and mechanical connection.

[0023] The upper housing 21 (housing 20) includes: a housing body 28 having each chamber 23, a lance 24, and a retaining portion 25; and a locking arm 31 protruding from the housing body 28. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in the housing body 28, the chamber 23A in the middle (on the middle side) is arranged at a lower position than the chambers 23B on the left and right sides. The lower housing 22 has a fitting recess 29 at a position corresponding to the chamber 23A in the middle, into which the lower end portion of the chamber 23A is inserted.

[0024] like Figure 3 As shown, the upper surface (one surface) of the housing body 28 has a central upper surface portion 32 corresponding to the central cavity 23A and a pair of end upper surface portions 33 corresponding to the left and right cavities 23B. The central upper surface portion 32 is arranged one step lower than each end upper surface portion 33.

[0025] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the housing body 28 includes a side wall portion 34 protruding upward from the end of each end side upper surface portion 33, a cover wall portion 35 spanning between the upper ends of each side wall portion 34, and a pair of closed walls 36 rising from each end side upper surface portion 33 and connected to the side wall portion 34 and the cover wall portion 35. Each side wall portion 34 is formed on the rear side of the housing body 28. Figure 2 As shown, a relief portion 37 that is concave and curved in a plan view is formed at the rear end of the covering wall portion 35 .

[0026] like Figure 4 As shown, the lock arm 31 has a base end portion 38 rising from the front end portion of the center side upper surface portion 32 and an arm body 39 extending rearward from the upper end side of the base end portion 38. In addition, the lock arm 31 has a lock portion 41 protruding upward from the middle of the arm body 39 in the front-to-back direction, a free end portion 42 located at the rear end portion, and a release operation portion 43 protruding upward from a position located between the free end portion 42 and the lock portion 41 in the front-to-back direction.

[0027] like Figure 6 As shown, during the mating process of the housing 20 and the counterpart housing 80, the locking arm 31 uses the front end portion 55 including the base end portion 38 and the rear end portion 56 described later as fulcrums to elastically displace the middle portion of the arm body 39 in the front-to-back direction (the portion corresponding to the locking portion 41) toward the direction (downward direction) of the central side upper surface portion 32 as the upper surface of the housing body 28. When the mating of the housing 20 and the counterpart housing 80 is completed, the locking arm 31 is elastically reset, the arm body 39 rises toward the original position, the striking surface 44 of the upper surface of the arm body 39 adjacent to the locking portion 41 strikes the counterpart locking portion 82 of the counterpart housing 80, and the locking portion 41 is arranged on the counterpart locking portion 82 in a manner that allows it to be locked (see Figure 7 ). Thus, the housing 20 and the counterpart housing 80 are kept in a fitted state.

[0028] The arm body 39 and the base end portion 38 are formed in a plate shape. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. , it has a certain width dimension in the left and right directions. Figure 4 As shown, the arm body 39 has a front portion 45 and a rear portion 46 on both sides of the locking portion 41. The rear portion 46 of the arm body 39 is thinner in the vertical direction than the front portion 45 of the arm body 39, and when the locking arm 31 is in the natural state, the rear portion 46 of the arm body 39 is arranged parallel to and opposite to the central upper surface portion 32. In addition, the free end portion 42 is included in the rear portion 46.

[0029] The release operation portion 43 is connected to the upper surface of the rear portion 46 of the arm body 39. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the release operation portion 43 is formed in a square tube shape and has a through hole 47 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. Figure 3 As shown, the lock portion 41 can be visually confirmed from the rear through the through hole 47. A pressing surface 48 that is flat along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is formed on the upper surface of the release operation portion 43. The pressing surface 48 of the release operation portion 43 is arranged so as to be exposed further rearward than the escape portion 37 of the cover wall portion 35. By pressing the pressing surface 48 from above, the lock of the lock arm 31 can be released.

[0030] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, an abutment portion 51 is provided on the upper surface of the shell body 28. The abutment portion 51 is formed in a rib shape extending in the left-right direction and is protrudingly provided on the central upper surface portion 32 of the shell body 28. The upper surface of the abutment portion 51 has a contact surface 52 along the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction. When the locking arm 31 is in a natural state, the contact surface 52 of the abutment portion 51 is arranged to be parallel to and opposite to the lower surface of the free end portion 42 of the arm body 39 with a gap therebetween. Furthermore, the contact surface 52 of the abutment portion 51 contacts the lower surface of the free end portion 42 of the arm body 39 in a state of surface contact or line contact during the mating process between the shell 20 and the other shell 80. As shown Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , a through hole 53 is formed through the middle portion of the base end portion 38 in the left-right direction at a position opposite to the contact portion 51. The contact portion 51 can be visually confirmed from the front through the through hole 53 (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 3 The through hole 53 is formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape (a cross-sectional shape obtained by projecting the contact portion 51 ), and is formed by drawing a die (not shown) for molding the front surface of the contact portion 51 .

[0031] (Function of connector) When the connector 10 is mated, the housing 20 is inserted into the interior of the mating housing 80. During the mating process of the housing 20 relative to the mating housing 80, the locking portion 41 interferes with the mating locking portion 82 and slides, the arm body 39 tilts and moves toward the center upper surface portion 32, and the locking arm 31 elastically displaces with the front end portion 55 as a fulcrum. Figure 5 As shown in the figure, at the initial stage when the sliding between the locking portion 41 and the counterpart locking portion 82 begins, the free end portion 42 of the arm body 39 is separated from the abutment portion 51, and only the base end portion 38 serves as a fulcrum for the bending action. Therefore, at this initial stage, the locking arm 31 does not appear to be in a double-supported beam state, and the elastic reaction force of the locking arm 31 does not become particularly large, so that the mating resistance of the connector 10 can be suppressed.

[0032] As the mating of the connector 10 progresses and the sliding movement of the locking portion 41 and the other locking portion 82 continues, the arm body 39 tilts and moves closer to the central upper surface portion 32 than described above, and the locking arm 31 elastically displaces more significantly than described above. As a result, the middle portion in the left-right direction of the lower surface of the free end portion 42 of the arm body 39 contacts the contact surface 52 of the abutment portion 51 along the left-right direction, and further descent of the free end portion 42 is prevented. Here, the locking arm 31 is in a state where the base end portion 38 on the front end side is integrally connected to the shell body 28 and the free end portion 42 on the rear end side is in contact with the abutment portion 51 and supported. That is, the locking arm 31 is in an appearance of a double-supported beam state in which the ends on both the front and rear sides are supported by the shell body 28.

[0033] like Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , when the locking portion 41 contacts the top surface 84 (lower end surface) of the other locking portion 82 and sinks downward greatly, the locking arm 31 elastically displaces to the maximum extent and elastically displaces in an arch shape with the front end portion 55 (the connection portion between the base end portion 38 and the front end side of the housing body 28) and the rear end portion 56 (the contact portion between the free end portion 42 and the contact portion 51) as fulcrums. The rear end portion 56 allows the sliding displacement of the free end portion 42 and the contact portion 51, and therefore does not become a fixed end unlike the front end portion 55. Thus, the elastic reaction force of the locking arm 31 is greater than the elastic reaction force of the locking arm 31 as a cantilever beam when the rear end portion 56 does not contact the housing body 28, but is smaller than the elastic reaction force of the locking arm 31 as a double-support beam when the front and rear sides become fixed ends. Furthermore, during the elastic displacement of the lock arm 31 described above, the stress acting on the lock arm 31 is not concentrated on the front end portion 55 but is dispersed to the front end portion 55 and the rear end portion 56 .

[0034] Afterwards, when the locking portion 41 passes through the top surface 84 of the other locking portion 82, the locking arm 31 is elastically displaced in the reset direction, and the arm body 39 rises toward the original horizontal posture. Figure 7 As shown, the free end portion 42 maintains a state of contact with the contact surface 52 of the abutment portion 51. And the locking portion 41 reaches a position where it can engage with the other locking portion 82, thereby maintaining the housing 20 and the other housing 80 in an engaged state. At this time, the striking surface 44 of the arm body 39 collides with the top surface 84 of the other locking portion 82 to produce a locking sound. Thus, the fact that the housing 20 and the other housing 80 have engaged can be detected by hearing. In addition, the locking arm 31, which appears to be in a double-support beam state, is engaged with the locking portion 41 with a moderate elastic reaction force, so that the operator can obtain a good locking feeling.

[0035] In order to disengage the housing 20 in the mating state from the counterpart housing 80, the pressing surface 48 of the release operation portion 43 is pressed from above to push the release operation portion 43 downward. Then, the middle portion in the front-to-back direction of the arm body 39 descends, and the locking arm 31 elastically displaces with the front end portion 55 and the rear end portion 56 as fulcrums (see FIG. Figure 6 ). Since the release operation portion 43 is arranged between the front end portion 55 and the rear end portion 56 (the contact portion 51) in the front-rear direction, the release operation portion 43 can sink downward in a state where the free end portion 42 of the lock arm 31 contacts the contact surface 52 of the contact portion 51. In this way, the lock portion 41 is separated from the counterpart lock portion 82 in a state where the lock arm 31 is elastically displaced in a double-supported beam state in appearance. By pulling the housing 20 away from the counterpart housing 80 from this state, the housing 20 can be separated from the counterpart housing 80.

[0036] According to the first embodiment, during the mating process between the housing 20 and the mating housing 80, the stress acting on the lock arm 31 is dispersed to the front end portion 55 (base end portion 38 side) and the rear end portion 56 (free end portion 42 side), so that it is possible to avoid the stress being concentrated only on the base end portion 38 side. As a result, even if the connector 10 is made small, it is possible to prevent the base end portion 38 from being damaged.

[0037] In addition, although the free end portion 42 of the arm body 39 contacts the abutment portion 51, it is not integrated with the abutment portion 51, so that the stress acting on the free end portion 42 side can be suppressed, and the elastic reaction force of the locking arm 31 can be prevented from becoming too high. As a result, a good locking feeling can be obtained when the housing 20 is engaged with the counterpart housing 80. In particular, since the abutment portion 51 is protrudingly provided on the central side upper surface portion 32 of the housing body 28, the timing of the free end portion 42 of the arm body 39 contacting the abutment portion 51 and the contact resistance between the free end portion 42 and the abutment portion 51 can be easily adjusted by simply changing the protruding size of the abutment portion 51.

[0038] In addition, since the abutment portion 51 contacts the free end portion 42 from the state of elastic displacement from the arm body 39 to the central upper surface portion 32 during the mating process of the shell 20 and the other shell 80, the mating resistance of the connector 10 can be suppressed during the period before the free end portion 42 of the arm body 39 contacts the abutment portion 51.

[0039] Furthermore, since the arm body 39 includes the release operation portion 43 protruding upward at a position between the free end portion 42 and the lock portion 41 in the front-rear direction, the operation of releasing the lock arm 31 can be performed without hindrance.

[0040] [Other embodiments of the present disclosure] The above-described first embodiment disclosed this time should be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive. In the case of the first embodiment, the base end of the locking arm is connected to the central upper surface portion of the upper surface of the housing body. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the base end of the locking arm may be connected to a pair of side surface portions of the housing body that are opposed in the left-right direction between the central upper surface portion and the end upper surface portion, or may be connected to the opposing surfaces of the side wall portions. In the case of the first embodiment, the free end of the arm body contacts the contact surface of the abutment portion when the housing is fitted into the other housing. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the free end of the arm body may be separated from the contact surface of the abutment portion when the housing is fitted into the other housing. In the case of the first embodiment, the contact portion is protruding from the upper surface of the housing body. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the contact portion may be formed flat instead of protruding from the upper surface of the housing body, or may be recessed. In the case of the first embodiment, the housing can be divided into an upper housing and a lower housing. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the housing can be an integral housing that cannot be divided into an upper housing and a lower housing. The housing body can also be composed of a portion of the integral housing other than the locking arm. Description of Reference Numerals

[0041] 10…Connector 20…Housing 21...Upper side shell 22...Lower side housing 23…Chamber 23A…Cavity in the middle of left and right 23B… Chambers on both sides 24…Spear 25…Retention 26…Locking piece 27…Locking ribs 28…Housing body 29…fitting recess 31…Locking arm 32…Central upper surface 33…End side upper surface 34…Side wall 35…Covering the wall 36… Closed wall 37…Avoidance 38…base end 39…Arm body 41…Locking part 42…Free end 43…Release operation unit 44…Strike surface 45…Front 46…Rear 47…Through hole 48… Pressing surface 51…butt part 52…Contact surface 53…Through hole 55…Front end 56… rear end 60…Terminal parts 61…Box 62…Cylinder 70…Wire 80…Other shell 82…Opposite locking part 83…up the wall 84…Top 85…Other terminal parts 86…Terminal connection part 100…Circuit board

Claims

1. A connector, wherein: The connector includes a housing that can be engaged with a counterpart housing. The housing has: A locking arm capable of elastic displacement, which keeps the counterpart housing and the housing in an engaged state; as well as The housing body has a surface facing the locking arm in the direction in which the locking arm is elastically displaced during the engagement of the housing with the counterpart housing. When the front side of the housing in the mating direction with respect to the counterpart housing is defined as the front side, The locking arm has: a base end portion connected to the front end portion of the housing body; an arm body extending rearward in a cantilevered manner from the base end portion and having a free end portion at a rear end side; and a locking portion, which is provided in the middle of the front-rear direction of the arm body and is locked with the counterpart locking portion of the counterpart housing, The housing body has, on the one surface, a contact portion that contacts the free end portion of the arm body during the fitting process.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The connector is set so that, during the fitting process, the contact portion comes into contact with the free end portion from a state in which the arm body is elastically displaced toward the one surface side.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The abutting portion is protrudingly disposed on the one surface.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The arm body has a release operation portion that protrudes toward the side opposite to the one surface side at a location between the free end portion and the lock portion in the front-rear direction.

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