Waterproof connector housing, and method and mold for producing same

A method of producing a waterproof connector for connection with a mating connector housing, said method comprising the steps of:

• a primary molding step comprising molding a connector housing, said primary step including forming a first stepped portion connecting a body of the connector housing with a hood of the connector housing, forming a second stepped portion on an inner periphery of the hood of the connector housing at a proximal end portion of the hood, and forming through holes for feeding an elastic material from an outside of the hood to a seal ring-forming portion in the hood, the seal ring-forming portion being disposed at the proximal end portion of the hood, the through holes including a transverse hole extending to a point, disposed generally centrally of a thickness of a peripheral wall of the hood, in parallel relation to an end surface of the second stepped portion and a plane of contact between the waterproof connector and the mating connector housing, and a longitudinal hole communicating with the transverse hole and extending from the transverse hole in an insertion direction of the waterproof connector so as to extend through the first stepped portion and open to an exterior of the waterproof connector;
• and
• a secondary molding step comprising feeding the elastic material in the through holes to form the elastic seal ring on an inner surface of the hood.

A mold for molding a waterproof connector housing, said mold comprising:

• a primary mold for primary molding, said primary mold comprising:
• an upper mold and a lower mold, said upper mold having a first cavity corresponding to a housing body-forming portion for forming a housing body of the connector, and a second cavity corresponding to a hood proximal end portion-forming portion for forming a proximal end portion of a hood of the connector, said lower mold having a third, annular cavity corresponding to a hood main portion-forming portion for forming a main portion of a hood of the connector, said upper mold having longitudinal hole-forming projections which project into the third cavity in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the third cavity when said upper and lower molds are mated together to form longitudinal holes, and a step portion-forming notch being formed in a corner portion of said lower mold facing said longitudinal hole-forming projections.