Watertight connector, a connector housing and a waterproof member therefor

A connector housing for a watertight connector, said connector housing having opposed front and rear ends, and a connecting direction extending between the ends, a terminal accommodating portion formed in the connector housing and having outer surfaces aligned parallel to the connecting direction, a substantially tubular receptacle wall aligned substantially parallel to the connecting direction and extending rearwardly from said front end such that an engaging space is defined inwardly of the receptacle wall and outwardly from said terminal accommodating portion, said engaging space being defined in part by an inner bottom wall aligned normal to the connecting direction and extending outwardly from the terminal accommodating portion, and an outer bottom wall aligned substantially normal to the connecting direction and extending inwardly from said tubular receptacle wall and a step wall extending between said inner and outer bottom walls and aligned substantially parallel to the connecting direction, such that a rearwardly extending recess is defined adjacent said tubular receptacle wall and extends continuously around all locations in said engaging space adjacent to an interface between said tubular receptacle wall and said outer bottom wall, said recess being of substantially rectangular cross section;

• and a tubular elastic waterproof member mounted in said engaging space, said tubular elastic waterproof member having opposite front and rear ends, portions of said tubular elastic waterproof member adjacent said front end thereof being spaced inwardly from said tubular receptacle wall of said connector housing, portions of said tubular elastic waterproof member adjacent said rear end thereof engaging said tubular receptacle wall and being fit in said recess for preventing inward deformation of said rear end of said tubular elastic waterproof member away from said tubular receptacle wall by a leading end of a mating connector.