GB2458002A

GB2458002A - Easily detachable connector

Info

Publication number: GB2458002A
Application number: GB0900966A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenji Suzuki; Hiroshi Miyazaki
Original assignee: Yazaki Corp
Current assignee: Yazaki Corp
Priority date: 2008-03-05
Filing date: 2009-01-21
Publication date: 2009-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2029-01-21
Also published as: JP2009211985A; CN101527408B; JP5147463B2; DE102009011837A1; CN101527408A; GB0900966D0; GB2458002B

Abstract

A connector includes: a first connector housing 2; a second connector housing 3 to be attached to the first connector housing 2 ; a lock arm 4 provided on the first connector housing 2; a lock projection 5 provided on the second connector housing 3 to be locked with the lock arm 4; and an operating portion 40 provided on the lock arm 4 and operated to release a locking of the lock arm 4 with the lock projection 5. When a force is exerted on the operating portion 40 to release the locking of the lock arm 4 with the lock projection 5, a part of the force is applied in a detaching direction of the first connector housing 2 from the second connector housing 3 . Thereby, a burden of operation of detaching the two connector housings can be alleviated.

Description

CONNECTOR WITH LOCK ARM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector with a lock arm.

Background of the Invention

Fig. 10 shows a connector of a background art (refer to, for example, JP-A-2003-45567). A connector shown in Fig. 10 includes a first connector housing 101 and a second connector housing 102 attached to each other. The first connector housing 101 is provided with a lock arm 103, further, the second connector housing 102 is provided with a lock projection 104 locked by the lock arm 103.

When the first connector housing 101 is separated to detach from the second connector housing 102, an operating portion 105 of the lock arm 103 is pushed down. Thereby, a locking portion 107 provided on a side opposed to the lock arm 103 by interposing a middle fulcrum portion 106 is floated up, and an engagement of the locking portion 107 and the lock projection 104 is released. The first connector housing 101 is separated to detach from the second connector housing 102 under the state.

According to the connector disclosed in JP-A-2003-45567, a direction of pushing down the operating portion of the lock arm and a direction of separating to detach the first connector housing from the second connector housing are substantially orthogonal to each other. Therefore, an operation of separating to detach the first connector housing from the second connector housing while pushing down the operating portion constitutes a burden on an operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been carried out in view of the above-described situation. An object of the invention is to provide a connector capable of alleviating a burden of an operation of attaching and detaching two connector housings.

The above object is achieved in accordance with the below-mentioned configured connectors.

An aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector, including: a first connector housing; a second connector housing to be attached to the first connector housing; a lock arm provided on the first connector housing; a lock projection provided on the second connector housing to be locked with the lock arm; and an operating portion provided on the lock arm and operated to release a locking of the lock arm with the lock projection; wherein when a force is exerted on the operating portion to release the locking of the lock arm with the lock projection, a part of the force is applied in a detaching direction of the first connector housing from the second connector housing.

Further, the lock arm may include a base end attached on a surface of the first connector housing and a free end extended from the base end toward an attaching direction of the first connector housing to the second connector housing, the operating portion is continuous with the free end in an opposed position to the base end, and when the locking of the lock arm with the lock projection is released, the lock arm may be bent in a separating direction away from the surface of the first connector housing so that fulcrum is located at the base end.

Further, the first connector housing may include a first restricting portion to restrict an excessive bending of the lock arm in the separating direction.

Further, the first connector housing may include a pair of protecting walls along opposite sides of the lock arm, and the first restricting portion may be a connecting portion hung between the pair of the protecting walls.

Further, the first connector housing may include a second restricting portion to restrict a bending of the lock arm in a direction toward the surface of the first connector housing.

Further, the first connector housing may include a pair of protecting walls along opposite sides of the lock arm, and the second restricting portion may be a projection provided on an opposed surface of each of the protecting wal Is.

Further, the lock projection may have an inclined surface contacted with the lock arm in a locking state of the first connector housing with the second connector housing, and the inclined surface inclines toward the attaching direction of the first connector housing to the second connector housing as away from the surface of the first connector housing.

Further, the second connector housing may include a guide rib extending in an attaching direction with the first connector housing, the lock arm has a slit extending in the attaching direction so that the guide rib enters into the slit in the attaching direction when the first connector housing is attached to the second connector housing, and the lock projection is arranged close to a side of the guide rib.

Further, one of the first and second connector housings may have a male fitting portion and the other has a female fitting portion to be fitted to the male fitting portion, and the male fitting portion includes a tapered guide projection at an end, projecting toward the other of the first and second connector housings.

Further, the connector may further include a front holder which holds a terminal contained in the male fitting portion, and the front holder is temporarily fixed to a front end of the male fitting portion, and the guide projection is fitted to the temporarily-fixed front holder and guides a movement of the front holder in an attaching direction of the first and second connector housing.

According to the above configuration, a part of a force exerted on the operating portion of the lock arm in releasing the engagement of the lock arm and the lock projection is operated in a detaching direction of the first connector housing from the second connector housing. Thereby, a burden of operation of detaching the two connector housings can be alleviated.

According to the above configuration, the part of the force exerted on the operating portion of the lock arm in releasing the engagement of the lock arm and the lock projection can be operated in the detaching direction of the first connector housing from the second connector housing.

According to the above configuration, by the first restricting portion, excessively large bending of the lock arm in releasing the engagement of the lock arm and the lock projection is restricted. Thereby, destruction of the lock arm can be prevented, further, a reduction in a lock projection holding force can be prevented by preventing a plastic deformation of the lock arm.

According to the above configuration, the excessively large bending of the lock arm in releasing the engagement of the lock arm and the lock projection can be restricted. Further, by the pair of protecting walls, the lock arm can be prevented from being operated with an external force. Thereby, destruction of the lock arm can further firmly be prevented and the engagement of the lock arm and the lock projection can be prevented from being released unintentionally.

According to the above configuration, by the second restricting portion, bending of the lock arm in a direction of making the operating portion proximate to the first connector housing is restricted. Thereby, a burden of an operation of attaching the two connector housings can be alleviated by avoiding a collision of the lock arm and the second connector housing.

According to the above configuration, by the second restricting portion, the bending of the lock arm in the direction of making the operating portion proximate to the first connector housing can be restricted. Further, by the pair of protecting walls, the lock arm can be prevented from being operated with an external force. Thereby, destruction of the lock arm can further firmly be prevented and the engagement of the lock arm and the lock projection can be prevented from being released unintentionally.

According to the above configuration, the lock arm is firmly locked with the lock projection. Thereby, a burden of operation of attaching the two connector housings can be alleviated. Further, once the inclined surface of the lock projection is detached from the lock arm in releasing the engagement of the lock arm and the lock projection, the lock arm hardly returns to be an attached position to the inclined surface. Thereby, a burden of operation of detaching the two connector housings can be alleviated.

According to the above configuration, the attaching of the two connector housings can be guided by the lock arm, and it is not necessary to separately provide an engaging portion for guiding attaching of the first connector housing and the second connector housing. Further, the deformation of the lock arm is restricted by the guide rib, the lock projection is provided at the side portion of the guide rib, and therefore, the engagement of the lock arm and the lock projection can firmly be carried out.

According to the above configuration, the tapered guide projection is brought into contact with the female side fitting portion prior to the end face of the male side fitting portion, and the collision of the end face of the male side fitting portion and the female side fitting portion is avoided. Thereby, fitting of the male side fitting portion and the female side fitting portion is smoothly carried out, and the burden of the operation of attaching the two connector housings can be alleviated.

According to the above configuration, rattling of the front holder tacked to the male side fitting portion can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above object and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a connector of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first connector housing; Fig. 3 is a front view of the first connector housing; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the first connector housing; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a second connector housing; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of explaining a procedure of attaching the first connector housing to the second connector housing; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view enlarging to show a portion of Fig. 6 surrounded by a circle VII; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of explaining the procedure of attaching the first connector housing to the second connector housing; Figs. 9A, 9B and 9C illustrate sectional views of explaining a procedure of detaching the first connector housing from the second connector housing; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a connector of a background art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferable embodiment of a connector of the invention will be explained in details in reference to the drawings as follows.

Fig. I is a perspective view of an embodiment of a connector of the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first connector housing, Fig. 3 is a front view of the first connector housing, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the first connector housing, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a second connector housing, Fig. 6 is a sectional view for explaining a procedure of attaching the first connector housing to the second connector housing, Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view enlarging to show a portion of Fig. 6 surrounded by a circle VII, Fig. 8 is a sectional view for explaining the procedure of attaching the first connector housing to the second connector housing, and Figs. 9A, 9B, 9C illustrate sectional views for explaining a procedure of detaching the first connector housing from the second connector housing.

As shown by Fig. 1, a connector I of the embodiment includes a first connector housing 2 and a second connector housing 3 attached to each other, a lock arm 4 provided at the first connector housing 2, and a lock projection 5 provided at the second connector housing 3 and locked by the lock arm 4.

Further, in the following explanation, with regard to the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3, in attaching to a connector housing on a counter side, a side directed to the connector housing of the counter side is referred to as a front end side, and a side opposed thereto is referred to as a base end side.

Further, in reference to Fig. 5, the second connector housing 3 includes a terminal holding portion 11 for holding a plurality of terminals 10. The terminal 10 is inserted to the terminal holding portion 11 from a base end side of the terminal holding portion 11 and projects a front end portion thereof from an end face on a front end side of the terminal holding portion 11. Further, the second connector housing 3 includes a hood portion (female side fitting portion) 12 surrounding the front end portions of the plurality of terminals 10 projected from the end face on the front end side of the terminal holding portion 11.

As shown by Fig. I through Fig. 4, the first connector housing 2 includes a terminal inserting portion (male side fitting portion) 21 for inserting a plurality of terminals 20, and a hood portion 22 surrounding a terminal containing portion 45 by interposing a gap from an outer periphery of the terminal containing portion 45 including a plurality of terminal containing chambers 23 continuous to the terminal inserting portion 21.

The terminal containing portion 45 is formed with the plurality of terminal containing chambers 23 penetrating the terminal containing portion 45 from a base end side to a front end side. The terminals 20 are inserted from the base end side of the terminal inserting portion 21 to the terminal containing chambers 23 and are contained in the terminal containing chambers 23. The terminal containing chamber 23 is formed with an elastic locking piece 24 for locking the terminal 20.

The elastic locking piece 24 is supported by the terminal inserting portion 21 or a ceiling face of the terminal containing portion 45 at a base end portion thereof, extended to a front end side of the terminal containing portion 45 and formed with a locking portion 25 at a front end portion thereof. A gap is interposed between the locking portion 25 and the ceiling face of the terminal containing chamber 23, and the elastic locking piece 24 is made to be bent in a direction of being proximate to the ceiling face of the terminal containing chamber 23.

An upper face of the terminal 20 opposed to the ceiling face of the terminal containing chamber 23 is formed with a locked recess portion 26. The terminal 20 is inserted to the terminal containing chamber 23 while bending the elastic locking piece 24. When the terminal 20 is inserted to the locked recess portion 26 to be disposed on a lower side of the locking portion 25 of the elastic locking piece 24, the elastic locking piece 24 is recovered from an elastic deformation, and the locking portion 25 is fitted to the locked recess portion 26.

Thereby, the terminal 20 is locked by the elastic locking piece 24 and is held so as not to be drawn from the terminal containing chamber 23.

Further, the connector 1 of the embodiment includes a front holder 6 for holding the terminal 20 contained in the terminal containing chamber 23. The front holder 6 is mounted to a front end portion of the terminal containing portion and advances to between the ceiling face of the terminal containing chamber 23 and the elastic locking piece 24. After containing the terminal 20 in the terminal containing chamber 23, when the front holder 6 is mounted to the front end portion of the terminal containing portion 45, the elastic locking piece 24 is restricted from being bent in a direction of releasing an engagement of the locking portion 25 and the locked recess portion 26 of the terminal 20.

Thereby, the terminal 20 is held firmly so as not to be drawn from the terminal containing chamber 23.

An edge portion of an end face on the front end side of the terminal containing portion 45 is formed with at least one guide projection 27 projected in a direction of attaching the first connector housing 2 to the second connector housing 3. The edge portion of the end face is preferably formed with two or more of the guide projections 27 at an interval therebetween and two thereof are formed at an upper edge portion at an interval therebetween as illustrated.

Further, a front end corner portion of the guide projection 27 is chamfered and the guide projection 27 is molded in a taper shape.

As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, when the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3 are attached to each other, the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2 is contained at inside of IC) the hood portion 12 of the second connector housing 3. The hood portion 12 of the second connector housing 3 advances to between the terminal containing portion 45 and the hood portion 22 of the first connector housing 2 while containing the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2.

At this occasion, the guide projection 27 is brought into contact with the hood portion 12 of the second connector housing prior to the end face on the front end side of the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2. Thereby, a collision of the end face of the terminal containing portion 45 and the hood portion 12 is avoided. Further, by molding the guide projection 27 in the taper shape, the guide projection 27 and the terminal containing portion 45 are guided to inside of the hood portion 12. Thereby, attaching of the terminal containing portion 45 to the hood portion 12 is smoothly carried out.

Further, the front holder 6 is tacked by the front end portion of the terminal containing portion 45 and is supported by the terminal containing portion 45 movably in an attaching direction before being mounted to the front end portion of the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2.

The front holder 6 is formed with a groove 7 extended in the attaching direction and the guide projection 27 is engaged with the groove 7. Therefore, the front holder 6 is guided by the guide projection 27 in being moved in the attaching direction. Thereby, rattling of the front holder 6 tacked by the front end portion of the terminal containing portion 45 is prevented.

When the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3 are attached to each other, the lock projection 5 provided at the second connector housing 3 is locked by the lock arm 4 provided at the first connector housing 2. Thereby, the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3 are locked so as not to be detached from each other.

As shown by Fig. I through Fig. 4, the lock arm 4 is supported by the hood portion 22 of the first connector housing 2 at the base end portion.

Further, the lock arm 4 is extended as a free end by being directed to the front end side of the first connector housing 2, in other words, in a direction of being attached with the second connector housing 3.

A portion of the hood portion 22 of the first connector housing 2 disposed at a position of overlapping the lock arm 4 is notched and the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2 is exposed through the notched portion 28. Further, a gap into which the hood portion 12 of the second connector housing 3 can advance is interposed between the lock arm 4 and the exposed terminal containing portion 45.

A front end portion of the lock arm 4 is formed with an operating portion operated when an engagement with the lock projection 5 is released.

Further, the lock arm 4 is formed with a slit 41 extended from a front end to a base end side of a center portion in a width direction thereof. Further, both side edge portions of the slit 41 are respectively formed with locking portions 42.

As shown by Fig. 5, the lock projection 5 is provided at a portion of the hood portion 12 of the second connector housing 3 advancing to between the lock arm 4 and the terminal containing portion 45. Further, the portion is formed with a guide rib 13 extended in a direction of attaching the first connector housing 2 to the second connector housing 3. One pair of the lock projections 5 are provided to interpose the guide rib 13 to be contiguous to both side portions of the guide rib 13.

A front end surface of the lock projection 5 inclines toward the base end of the second connector housing from a bottom to a top so that the lock arm 4 is easily locked to the lock projection 5. And a base end surface of the lock projection 5 slightly inclines toward the base end from a bottom to a top so that the lock arm 4 does not return to an attaching position once the lock arm 4 is unlocked with the lock projection 5 when releasing the locking of the first connector housing 2 with the second connector housing 3.

When the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3 are attached to each other, the guide rib 13 of the second connector housing 3 advances in a direction of being attached with the slit 41 of the lock arm 4.

That is, attaching of the first connector housing 2 to the second connector housing 3 is guided by the lock arm 4. Hence, it is not necessary for the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3 to separately provide an engaging portion for guiding to attach the both members.

A lower edge of a front end opening portion of the slit 41 is brought into contact with the lock projection 5, and the lock arm 4 is elastically bent in a direction of being separated away from the first connector housing 2. At this occasion, an upper edge portion of the guide rib 13 is still disposed at inside of the slit 41 and restricts deformation of the lock arm 4. Thereby, for example, a deflection in a side direction of the lock arm 4 is prevented. Further, even when the lock arm 4 is prolonged, the lock arm 4 is not deflected in a transverse direction.

Further, when the locking portion 42 of the lock arm 4 rides over the lock projection 5, the lock arm 4 is recovered from the elastic deformation. In accordance therewith, the lock projection 5 is locked by the locking portion 42 of the lock arm 4. As described above, the deformation of the lock arm 4 is restricted by the guide rib 13, the lock projection 5 is provided to be contiguous to the side portion of the guide rib 13, and therefore, the engagement of the lock arm 4 and the lock projection 5 is firmly carried out.

Here, as shown by Fig. 3 and Fig. 8, the first connector housing 2 includes a second restricting portion 29 of restricting the lock arm 4 from being bent in a direction of making the operating portion 40 of the lock arm 4 proximate to the first connector housing 2.

Further, in reference to Fig. 1, the first connector housing 2 is formed with a pair of protecting walls 30 extended along both side edge portions of the notched portion 28 of the hood portion 22 and provided to interpose the lock arm 4. The second restricting portion 29 is one pair of projections respectively formed at faces of the protecting walls 30 opposed to each other.

Here, by interposing the lock arm 4 by one pair of the protecting walls 30, an external force is prevented from being operated to the lock arm 4.

Thereby, destruction of the lock arm 4 is firmly prevented and the lock arm 4 and the lock projection 5 are prevented from being released from the engagement unintentionally.

The lock arm 4 includes one pair of contact portions 43 provided to overlap the respective projections 29 in an up and down direction. When the lock arm 4 is substantially in parallel with the attaching direction, the contact portion 43 of the lock arm 4 is brought into contact with the projection 29, or disposed above the projection 29 by interposing a small gap therebetween.

When the lock arm 4 is bent in a direction of making the operating portion 40 proximate to the first connector housing 2 from a state of being substantially in parallel with the attaching direction, the contact portion 43 is brought into contact with the projection 29, and the lock arm 4 is restricted from the bending. Hence, the gap between the lock arm 4 and the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2 is ensured and collision of the front end of the lock arm 4 and the second connector housing 3 is avoided.

Thereby, a burden of an operation of attaching the first connector housing 2 to the second connector housing 3 is alleviated.

Next, an explanation will be given of a procedure of detaching the first connector housing 2 from the second connector housing 3 after the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3 are attached to each other in reference to Figs. 9A, 9B, 9C.

First, as shown by Fig. 9A, the lock projection 5 is locked by the locking portion 42 of the lock arm 4 in a state of attaching the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3 to each other. Thereby, the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3 are locked so as not to be separated to detach from each other.

Further, as shown by Fig. 9B, the engagement of the locking portion 42 of the lock arm 4 and the lock projection 5 is released by bending the lock arm 4 in the direction of separating the operating portion 40 from the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2 by operating the operating portion 40. That is, when the operating portion 40 is operated, fulcrum is located at the base end portion of the lock arm 4. Further, as shown by Fig. 9C, the first connector housing 2 is detached from the second connector housing 3 in a state of releasing the engagement of the locking portion 42 and the lock projection 5.

Here, as shown by Fig. 9B, when the engagement of the locking portion 42 of the lock arm 4 and the lock projection 5 is released, the operating portion of the lock arm 4 is pulled up in a skewed upper direction of being proximate to the direction of detaching the first connector housing 2 from the second connector housing 3. That is, a part of a force exerted on the operating portion is operated in the direction of detaching the first connector housing 2 from the second connector housing 3. Thereby, the burden of the operation of separating to detach the two connector housings is alleviated.

Further, as shown by Fig. I and Fig. 9B, the first connector housing 2 includes a first restricting portion 44 of restricting excessively large bending of the lock arm 4 in the direction of separating the operating portion 40 away from a surface of the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2.

The first restricting portion 44 is a connecting piece hung between one pair of the protecting walls 30 of the first connector housing 2 and interposes the lock arm 4 between the first restricting portion 44 and the terminal containing portion of the first connector housing 2.

When the bending of the lock arm 4 in the direction of separating the operating portion 40 away from the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2 becomes a predetermined amount, the lock arm 4 is brought into contact with the connecting piece 44. Hence, the excessively large bending of the lock arm 4 when the engagement of the lock arm 4 and the lock projection 5 is released is restricted. Thereby, destruction of the lock arm 4 is prevented, further, a plastic deformation of the lock arm 4 is prevented, and a reduction in a lock projection holding force is prevented.

As explained above, according to the connector 1 of the embodiment, a part of a force exerted on the operating portion 40 of the lock arm 4 in releasing the engagement of the lock arm 4 and the lock projection 5 is operated in the direction of detaching the first connector housing 2 from the second connector housing 3. Thereby, the burden of the operation of detaching the two connector housings can be alleviated.

Further, acc.ording to the connector 1 of the embodiment, by the first restricting portion 44, the excessive bending of the lock arm 4 in releasing the engagement of the lock arm 4 and the lock projection 5 is restricted. Thereby, destruction of the lock arm 4 can be prevented, further, the reduction in the lock projection holding force can be prevented by preventing the plastic deformation of the lock arm 4. Further, by the second restricting portion 29, the bending of the lock arm 4 in the direction of making the operating portion 40 proximate to the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2 is restricted.

Thereby, the burden of the operation of attaching the two connector housings can be alleviated by avoiding the collision of the lock arm 4 and the hood portion 12 of the second connector housing 3.

Further, according to the connector I of the embodiment, attaching of the two connector housings can be guided by the lock arm 4, and it is not necessary to separately provide the engaging portion for guiding the attaching of the first connector housing 2 and the second connector housing 3. Further, the deformation of the lock arm 4 is restricted by the guide rib 13, the lock projection 5 is provided at the side portion of the guide rib 13, and therefore, the engagement of the lock arm 4 and the lock projection 5 can firmly be carried out.

Further, according to the connector 1 of the embodiment, the tapered guide projection 27 is brought into contact with the hood portion 12 of the second connector housing 3 prior to the end face of the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2, and the collision of the end face of the terminal containing portion 45 and the hood portion 12 is avoided. Thereby, attaching of the terminal containing portion 45 and the hood portion 12 is smoothly carried out and the burden of the operation of attaching the two connector housings can be alleviated.

Further, according to the connector I of the embodiment, the movement of the front holder 6 tacked by the terminal containing portion 45 of the first connector housing 2 is guided by the guide projection 27 and rattling of the front holder 6 can be prevented.

Further, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment but can pertinently be modified, improved or the like. Otherwise, shapes, dimensions, numerical values, modes, numbers, arranging portions and the like of respective constituent elements of the above-descried embodiment are arbitrary and not limited so far as the invention can be achieved thereby.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A connector, comprising: a first connector housing; a second connector housing to be attached to the first connector housing; a lock arm provided on the first connector housing; a lock projection provided on the second connector housing to be locked with the lock arm; and an operating portion provided on the lock arm and operated to release a locking of the lock arm with the lock projection; wherein when a force is exerted on the operating portion to release the locking of the lock arm with the lock projection, a part of the force is applied in a detaching direction of the first connector housing from the second connector housing.
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the lock arm includes a base end attached on a surface of the first connector housing and a free end extended from the base end toward an attaching direction of the first connector housing to the second connector housing, wherein the operating portion is continuous with the free end in an opposed position to the base end, and wherein when the locking of the lock arm with the lock projection is released, the lock arm is bent in a separating direction away from the surface of the first connector housing so that fulcrum is located at the base end
3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the first connector housing includes a first restricting portion to restrict an excessive bending of the lock arm in the separating direction.
4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the first connector housing includes a pair of protecting walls along opposite sides of the lock arm, and wherein the first restricting portion is a connecting portion hung between the pair of the protecting walls.
5. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the first connector housing includes a second restricting portion to restrict a bending of the lock arm in a direction toward the surface of the first connector housing.
6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the first connector housing includes a pair of protecting walls along opposite sides of the lock arm, and wherein the second restricting portion is a projection provided on an opposed surface of each of the protecting walls.
7. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the lock projection has an inclined surface contacted with the lock arm in a locking state of the first connector housing with the second connector housing, and the inclined surface inclines toward the attaching direction of the first connector housing to the second connector housing as away from the surface of the first connector housing.
8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the second connector housing includes a guide rib extending in an attaching direction with the first connector housing, wherein the lock arm has a slit extending in the attaching direction so that the guide rib enters into the slit in the attaching direction when the first connector housing is attached to the second connector housing, and wherein the lock projection is arranged close to a side of the guide rib.
9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second connector housings has a male fitting portion and the other has a female fitting portion to be fitted to the male fitting portion, and wherein the male fitting portion includes a tapered guide projection at an end, projecting toward the other of the first and second connector housings.
10. The connector according to claim 9, further comprising a front holder which holds a terminal contained in the male fithng portion, wherein the front holder is temporarily fixed to a front end of the male fitting portion, and wherein the guide projection is fitted to the temporarily-fixed front holder and guides a movement of the front holder in an attaching direction of the first and second connector housing.