Connector, a connector assembly and an assembling method

A connector, comprising:

• a housing having opposite front and rear ends, the front end of the housing being open for receiving a mating housing along connecting and separating directing directions, first and second opposed grooves extending in the housing substantially along the connecting and separating directions, the first groove having a first outer surfaces and a first guide surfaces, the second groove having a second outer surface opposed to the first outer surface and a second guide surface substantially coplanar with the first guide surface, first and second receiving portions being formed respectively in the first and second grooves and projecting towards one another from the respective first and second outer surfaces and spaced from the respective first and second guide surfaces;
• at least one spring disposed in the housing for exerting a forward biasing force;
• and
• a slider mounted in the housing for sliding movement substantially along the connecting and separating directions, the slider being biased forwardly by the spring, the slider having first and second locking projections slidably disposed respectively in the first and second grooves, each said locking projection having a guiding surface sloped for guiding a movement of the locking projection over the receiving portion when the slider is assembled to the housing, each said locking projection further having a restriction projecting beyond the guiding surface and configured for sliding movement between the receiving portion and the guide surface of the respective groove when the slider is assembled with the housing.