Patent ID: 8029305

Claim:
A connector mounting structure for a panel and a connector, the connector including: a fixed housing to be mounted on the panel, a lock formed on the fixed housing and terminal fittings mounted in the fixed housing; a movable connector assembly including a movable housing configured for connection with the fixed housing, a resiliently deformable lock arm formed on the movable housing, a lock projection projecting from an upper surface of the lock arm, the lock projection being formed with a rear surface substantially normal to the lock arm and facing the grommet, and a sloped front surface opposite the rear surface, the lock projection being configured to engage the lock during a connecting operation, mating terminal fittings mounted in the movable housing and being configured for mating with the terminal fittings in the fixed housing and a grommet attached to the movable housing, wherein: the lock arm is configured to be deformed resiliently by the lock beginning at a first stage of a connection when the sloped front surface of the lock projection contacts the lock of the fixed and movable housings, thereby producing a first connection resistance due to a resilient restoring force of the lock arm; the terminal fittings are disposed to start engaging the mating terminal fittings beginning at a second stage of a connection of the fixed and movable housings after the beginning of the first stage, thereby producing a second connection resistance; and the grommet is configured to contact the panel beginning at a third stage of the connection of the fixed and movable housings after the beginning of the second stage, thereby producing a third connection resistance due to a resilient restoring force of the grommet.