Plug connector

A plug connector for cooperation with a socket connector, comprising:

• a plug housing for accommodating terminal means,
• a cover for closing the plug housing, and
• a CPA member for locking the connectors when mated;
• the plug housing being formed with
• a body portion,
• a cylindrical plug projection and
• a pair of latch arms;
• the cylindrical plug projection having a hollow for accommodating portions of the CPA member, a pair of recesses facing the latch arms, and a pair of cross ribs;
• the latch arms, each having a lug at its end for cooperation with an appropriate groove in the socket connector;
• the CPA member comprising
• a pair of locking legs and
• a pair of spring arms, each having a free end lug and a nose which projects inwardly and is arranged in a predetermined distance from a spring arm end surface so that, when the CPA member and the plug connector are in a pre-locked position, the nose takes a short distance (d) to a support surface, and when there are loads well in excess of mating force onto the CPA member in this condition, the noses make a stop on the support, surface to keep the CPA member in the pre-locked position, whereas when the plug connector and the socket connector are in a pre-mounted position and there is a mating operation onto the plug connector and the CPA member, the free end lugs of the spring arms cooperate with inner walls of the socket connector to straddle the spring arms and keep the noses free from the support surface so as to allow the lugs getting past the respective cross ribs and to mate the plug connector with the socket connector.