Patent ID: 8827737

Claim:
A split connector, comprising: a frame having opposite front and rear ends and plurality of accommodating spaces between the ends, the accommodating spaces being open at the front end of the frame; a plurality of auxiliary housings, each of the auxiliary housings having opposite front and rear ends and opposite sides surfaces, the front end of each of the auxiliary housings being configured to be inserted into one of the accommodating spaces from the front end of the frame; locks projecting out on the side surfaces of each of the auxiliary housings, each of the locks having a forwardly facing flat fixed locking surface, a rearwardly facing flat fixed locking surface and a flat fixed sliding contact surface facing out on the respective auxiliary housing and extending from the forwardly facing flat fixed locking surface to the rearwardly facing flat fixed locking surface, each of the forwardly and rearwardly facing flat fixed locking surfaces being sloped rearward so as to project more rearward at positions farther out from the respective side surface; resiliently deformable lock arms cantilevered forward on inwardly facing surfaces of the accommodating spaces of the frame and aligned with the locks when the auxiliary housing is inserted into the respective accommodating space, each lock arm having a forwardly facing flat movable locking surface, a rearwardly facing flat movable locking surface, a flat movable sliding contact surface facing into the respective accommodating space and a lock hole rearward of the rearwardly facing flat movable locking surface and configured for engaging one of the respective locks, the forwardly facing flat movable locking surfaces being sloped to make surface contact with the forwardly facing flat fixed locking surfaces of the locks to generate resistance when the auxiliary housing is inserted into the accommodating space, the movable sliding contact surface being aligned to slide in contact with the fixed sliding contact surface as the respective auxiliary housing is being inserted into the accommodating space and the rearwardly facing flat movable locking surface on the resiliently deformable lock arms being sloped to make surface contact with the rearwardly facing flat fixed locking surfaces of the locks when the auxiliary housing is inserted fully into the accommodating space so that the auxiliary housing is locked in a retained state in the frame by the locking action of the lock arms and the locks, whereby insertion forces to overcome frictional forces between the fixed and movable sliding contact surfaces urge the respective auxiliary housing fully into the accommodating space.