Watertight connector, a connector housing and a waterproof member therefor

A connector housing (20;

• 50) for a watertight connector (1;
• 2), comprising:
• a receptacle (28);
• an engaging space (34) inside the receptacle (28) and adapted to receive a mating portion (11) of a mating connector housing (10;
• 40);
• an elastic waterproof member (36) mounted in the engaging space (34) and squeezed between the two housings (10, 20;
• 40, 50) and having at least one bulging portion (38) in the engaging space (34);
• and
• at least one bulging portion holding means (35;
• 51) in the engaging space (34) for preventing the bulging portion (38) from being elastically deformed radially inwardly.

A waterproof member (36) for a watertight connector (1;

• 2), which is to be mounted in an engaging space (34) of a connector housing (20;
• 50) and to be squeezed between the connector housing (20;
• 50) and a mating connector housing (10;
• 40) of the watertight connector (1;
• 2), comprising:
• at least one bulging portion (38) to be located at the engaging space (34), the bulging portion (38) being prevented from being elastically deformed radially inwardly by interaction with at least one bulging portion holding means (35;
• 51) at the engaging space (34).

A connector housing (20;

• 50) for a watertight connector (1;
• 2), said connector housing (20;
• 50) having opposed front and rear ends, a substantially tubular receptacle wall (28) extending rearwardly from said front end and defining an engaging space (34) inwardly of the receptacle wall (28), said engaging space (34) being defined in part by a bottom wall (34A) extending inwardly from said tubular receptacle wall (28) and having at least one rearwardly extending recess (35;
• 51) adjacent said tubular receptacle wall (28);
• and a tubular elastic waterproof member (36) mounted in said engaging space (34), said tubular elastic waterproof member (36) having opposite front and rear ends, portions of said tubular elastic waterproof member (36) adjacent said front end thereof being spaced inwardly from said tubular receptacle wall (28) of said connector housing (20;
• 50), portions of said tubular elastic waterproof member (36) adjacent said rear end thereof engaging said tubular receptacle wall (28) and being fit in said recess (35;
• 51) for preventing inward deformation of said rear end of said tubular elastic waterproof member (36) away from said tubular receptacle wall (28).