Patent attributes
A lock arm (12) on a female housing (1) is deformed at an intermediate stage of connecting the female housing (1) with a mating male housing (20). A lock (13) at the leading end of the lock arm (12) contacts an edge (23D) of an engaging portion (23) on the male housing (20) and then parts therefrom by canceling a rubbing state. The lock arm (12) then restores resiliently and the lock (13) engages the engaging portion (23) to lock the housings (1, 20) in a properly connected state. At least one of the lock (13) and the edge (23D) of the engaging portion (23) that rub against each other immediately before the proper connection of the two housings (1, 20) has a resistance alleviating portion (13C) with an apex locally projecting toward the other rubbed part.