ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH A LOCKING MECHANISM

摘要

An electrical connector (1) includes a housing and a lever (14) supported pivotally on a pivot (13) disposed on the housing. The lever is configured to rotate on the pivot within a range from a pre-engagement position to a final engagement position. The lever includes a recess (15) configured to accommodate a boss (16) disposed on a mating connector therein in accordance with rotational movement of the lever. The lever also includes a locking mechanism having a detent (182) to engage with an engaging portion (19) disposed on the housing at the final engagement position. Further, the housing includes a movable stopper (17) disposed on a surface thereof . The movable stopper engages with an edge portion of the lever at the pre-engagement position. When combined with the mating connector, the movable stopper primarily interferes with the boss (16) , and is displaced so as to release the engagement with the edge portion of the lever. Thus, the engagement with the edge portion is released, and thereby the lever freely rotates on the pivot, while the boss is being fitted into the recess.