Patent ID: 7862374

Claim:
A connector, comprising: a housing internally formed with at least one cavity capable of accommodating a terminal inserted in a rearward to forward direction, the housing having an outer wall with an inner surface facing the cavity and an outer surface facing away from the cavity, and an opening formed in the outer wall; at least one locking lance formed at the outer wall of the housing and projecting forwardly into the opening, the locking lance being resiliently deformable between an engaging position to engage the terminal in the cavity and a disengaging position outwardly from the engaging position to permit insertion and withdrawal of the terminal, a leading end surface of the locking lance being inclined to project gradually forward toward an inner side of the housing; a facing surface being defined on the outer wall of the housing substantially at the opening and facing the leading end surface of the locking lance the facing surface being inclined to project gradually toward the locking lance at more outward positions on the outer wall so that an outer and rear part of the facing surface is outward and rearward of an inner forward part of the leading end surface of the locking lance; wherein the leading end surface of the locking lance contacts the facing surface of the outer wall when the locking lance is deformed outward beyond the disengaging position for preventing excessive outward deformation of the locking lance.