Electrical connector

An electrical connector comprising:

• a plurality of connecting units coupled and formed as a result of retaining plate-shaped blades retaining an array of a plurality of terminals extending in a direction of connection with counterpart connect bodies in a housing in such a manner that a direction of coupling is the through-thickness direction of the blades, wherein
• the housing has a peripheral wall formed by two side walls facing each other in the through-thickness direction of the blades and two end walls located outside of the blade range in the plate width direction of the blades, that is, in the connector width direction;
• blade receiving portions used for blade insertion are formed in the peripheral wall;
• the blades are inserted into and retained by the blade receiving portions of the housing;
• the plurality of connecting units include end connecting units located at the opposite ends in the through-thickness direction of the blades and intermediate connecting units located between the end connecting units at the opposite ends;
• engagement grooves that engage with a portion of the counterpart connect bodies are formed in the intermediate connecting units between the side walls and end walls of the housing so as to extend in the through-thickness direction of the blades and be open toward the counterpart connect bodies, and
• no grooves open toward the above-mentioned counterpart connect bodies to an extent equal to or greater than the depth of the engagement grooves of the above-mentioned intermediate connecting units are formed in the end connecting units between the end walls and at least the outer side walls located on the outside in the through-thickness direction of the blades.