PATENT ABSTRACT
A shielded cable connecting structure for connecting a shielded cable, the shielded cable including an electric wire portion which has a conductor and an inner sheath covering the conductor, a braided wire braided around the inner sheath, and an outer sheath covering the braided wire, the shielded cable connecting structure includes a connecting member. The connecting member includes a connecting main body, a press-fastening portion which press-fastens at least part of the shielded cable, a connecting portion which connects to the braided wire, and a spacer which connects to the braided wire. The spacer increases a contact pressure of the braided wire with the connecting portion.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a shielded cable connecting structure used for connecting a braided wire incorporated in a shielded cable. 
   There is known a related shielded cable connecting structure in which insulating sheaths of shielded cables are removed to thereby expose respective braided wires, and these braided wires are twisted, and then are press-fastened by barrels (see, for example, JP-A-8-340615 ( FIG. 1 )). 
   In the shielded cable connecting structure disclosed in JP-A-8-340615, the insulating sheaths  101  of the shielded cables  100  are removed to thereby expose the braided wires  102 , and these braided wires  102  are gathered together, and then the shielded cables are press-fastened together by barrels  103 , and the braided wires are press-fastened to a drain wire  104  by barrels  105  spaced apart from the barrels  103 , as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
   However, in the related shielded cable connecting structure disclosed in the JP-A-8-340615, the operation for gathering the exposed braided wires  102  together (that is, a so-called twisting operation) is difficult, and therefore the braided wires  102  (each composed of woven fine wires) become loose, depending on the degree of skill, so that the number of the fine wires decreases, or the capacity decreases. Thus, the efficiency of the operation is not good, and it is difficult to enhance the productivity by achieving the automated operation. 
   Generally, in order that a disturbance developing around a shielded cable will not intrude into a conductor when flowing a very small voltage signal or a very small current signal through the conductor, a grounded braided wire is provided around the conductor to cover the same so as to capture the disturbance, and the thus captured disturbance is positively flowed to a grounding circuit. Therefore, the capacity of the braided wire is determined in a condition in which the braided wire covers the conductor over the entire periphery thereof. Considering this with respect to the structure of JP-A-8-340615, the areas of non-shielded portions (where the conductor is not covered with the braided wire over the entire periphery thereof increase as a result of gathering the braided wires together, so that there is a fear that the reliability against the disturbance is not satisfactory. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide a shielded cable connecting structure in which a good operation efficiency can be achieved, and a connecting path of a braided wire can be positively secured. 
   1) According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shielded cable connecting structure for connecting a shielded cable, the shielded cable including an electric wire portion which has a conductor and an inner sheath covering the conductor, a braided wire braided around the inner sheath, and an outer sheath covering the braided wire, the shielded cable connecting structure comprising: 
   a connecting member that includes:
         a connecting main body;   a press-fastening portion which press-fastens at least part of the shielded cable;   a connecting portion which connects to the braided wire; and   a spacer which connects to the braided wire,       

   wherein the spacer increases a contact pressure of the braided wire with the connecting portion. 
   Preferably, the connecting portion is a press-contacting portion or a press-clamping portion. 
   In the invention of the above Paragraph 1), the braided wire of the shielded cable is connected to the press-contacting portion or the press-clamping portion, and the spacer connected to the braided wire is connected to the connecting member body, so that a connecting path of the braided wire is formed with a large current-carrying capacity. Therefore, the braided wire, while kept braided around the inner sheath, is electrically connected to the connecting member body without being gathered or twisted. Therefore, a good operation efficiency can be achieved, and the connecting path of the braided wire can be positively secured. 
   2) Preferably, the spacer is formed at a part of the connecting main body. 
   In the invention of the above Paragraph 2), the braided wire of the shielded cable is connected to the press-contacting portion or the press-clamping portion, and the spacer formed integrally with the connecting member body is connected to the braided wire, so that a connecting path of the braided wire is formed with a large current-carrying capacity. Therefore, the braided wire, while kept braided around the inner sheath, is electrically connected to the connecting member body without being gathered or twisted. 
   3) Preferably, the spacer is separate from the connecting main body. 
   In the invention of the above Paragraph 3), the braided wire of the shielded cable is connected to the press-contacting portion or the press-clamping portion, and the spacer separate from the connecting member body is connected to the braided wire, so that a connecting path of the braided wire is formed with a large current-carrying capacity. Therefore, the braided wire, while kept braided around the inner sheath, is electrically connected to the connecting member body without being gathered or twisted. 
   4) Preferably, the spacer is arranged between the inner sheath and the braided wire of the shielded cable. The spacer is electrically connected to the connecting portion through the braided wire. 
   In the invention of the above Paragraph 4), the spacer can be connected to the braided wire merely by inserting the spacer between the inner sheath and the braided wire, and therefore the operation for connecting the spacer to the braided wire can be carried out easily, so that the operation efficiency can be further enhanced. In this case, preferably, the spacer is so shaped as to be easily inserted between the inner sheath and the braided wire. 
   5) Preferably, the connecting member is electrically connected to the shielded cable and a grounding wire. 
   In the invention of the above Paragraph 5), when the shielded cable is to be connected to a grounding circuit, for example, another wire serving as the grounding wire is beforehand grounded, and by doing so, the shielded cable can be easily grounded via the spacer. 
   The shielded cable connecting structures of the present invention can solve problems that the operation efficiency is not good because of the need for the gathering or twisting operation and that the reliability against a disturbance is low, and therefore there can be achieved advantages that the good operation efficiency can be achieved and that the grounding path of the braided wire can be positively secured. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shielded cable connecting jig used in a first embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the present invention, showing its appearance; 
       FIG. 2  is a partly-broken, front-elevational view showing a condition in which a shielded cable is connected to the shielded cable connecting jig of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a shielded cable connecting jig used in a second embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, showing its appearance; 
       FIG. 5  is a partly-broken, front-elevational view showing a condition in which a shielded cable is connected to the shielded cable connecting jig of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shielded cable connecting jig used in a third embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, showing its appearance; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the manner of connecting a shielded cable to the shielded cable connecting jig of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a condition in which the shielded cable is connected to the connecting jig of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the manner of connecting a shielded cable to a shielded cable connecting jig used in a fourth embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing a condition in which the shielded cable is connected to the connecting jig of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the relation between a shielded cable and a press clamping-type shielded cable connecting jig used in a fifth embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a condition in which the connecting jig of  FIG. 14  is press-clamped to the shielded cable; 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 15 ; and 
       FIG. 17  is a view showing a related shielded cable connecting structure, showing its appearance. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
   First Embodiment 
   First, a first embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shielded cable connecting jig used in the first embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, showing its appearance,  FIG. 2  is a partly-broken, front-elevational view showing a condition in which a shielded cable is connected to the shielded cable connecting jig of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 2 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the shielded cable connecting jig  10 , used in the first embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, includes a connecting member body  11  having a bottom plate  12 , a pair of press-fastening portions  13  and  13  formed on and extending upwardly respectively from opposite side edges of the bottom plate  12  at one end portion of the connecting member body  11 , a pair of press-contacting portions  14  and  14  formed at a central portion of the connecting member body  11 , and a spacer  15  formed integrally at the other end of the connecting member body  11 . This connecting jig  10  is made of an ordinary terminal material, that is, electrically-conductive metal such as brass or iron which can not be easily deteriorated by heat. 
   The shielded cable  60  (see  FIG. 2 ) is inserted between the pair of press-fastening portions  13  and  13 , and then these press-fastening portions  13  and  13  are press-deformed inwardly, that is, press-fastened onto an outer periphery of an outer sheath  61  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the shielded cable  60 , so that the shielded cable  60  is held by the shielded cable connecting jig  10 . 
   A central portion of the bottom plate  12  is bent to provide a pair of closely opposed plate portions  16  and  16 , and an upwardly-open slot or opening is formed in a central portion of each plate portion  16 , and opposed side edges of this slot define a pair of opposed press-contacting blades (also designated respectively by reference numerals  14  for convenience&#39; sake) of the press-contacting portion  14 , respectively. Each press-contacting portion  14  is continuous with a first insertion guide portion  17  (defined by slanting surfaces also designated respectively by reference numerals  17  for convenience&#39; sake) formed at an upper end of the press-contacting portion  14 . Each of the plate portions  16  and  16  has a spacer support portion  18  (in the form of a concavely-curved surface) disposed centrally of a width of the press-contacting portion  14 . 
   The spacer  15  includes an arm portion  19  formed at and extending upwardly from the other end of the bottom plate  12 , and an insertion plate portion  20  formed at a distal end of the arm portion  19  and curved into a generally C-shape. An outer peripheral surface of the insertion plate portion  20  serves as a braided wire connecting portion  21 . The spacer  15  is formed into such a shape that the insertion plate portion  20  can be easily inserted between each inner sheath  62  (see  FIG. 2 ) and a braided wire  63  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the shielded cable  60 . 
   Before the spacer  15  is used, the arm portion  19  projects upwardly (in  FIG. 1 ), and the shielded cable  60  is pressed to be moved toward the insertion plate portion  20  from the upper side, so that the insertion plate portion  20  is inserted into the interior of the braided wire  63  at a generally inner peripheral portion of the outer sheath  61 , and is disposed in contiguous relation to an inner peripheral surface of the braided wire  63 . Then, the upwardly-extending arm portion  19  is bent or turned left (i.e., counterclockwise in  FIG. 1 ) at its central portion, so that the insertion plate portion  20 , together with the shielded cable  60 , is inserted into the pair of press-contacting portions  14  and  14 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the shielded cable  60  comprises two signal feeding wires  64  (each including a conductor  65  (see  FIG. 3 ) and the inner sheath  62  covering the outer periphery of the conductor  65 ), the braided wire  63  braided around the two inner sheaths  62 , and the outer sheath  61  covering the outer periphery of the braided wire  63  such that the braided wire  63  is disposed at the generally inner peripheral portion of the outer sheath  61 . The conductor  65  is made of an electrically-conductive material such for example as pure copper (Cu) or tin (Sn)-plated pure copper. 
   When the shielded cable  60  is pressed to be moved toward the shielded cable connecting jig  10  from the upper side, the insertion plate portion  20  of the spacer  15  is inserted into the interior of the braided wire  63  at the generally inner peripheral portion of the outer sheath  61 , and is disposed in contiguous relation to the inner peripheral surface of the braided wire  63 . Then, the upwardly-extending arm portion  19  is bent or turned left (i.e., counterclockwise in  FIG. 2 ) at its central portion, so that the shielded cable  60  having the insertion plate portion  20  inserted therein is pressed to be inserted into the pair of press-contacting portions  14  and  14 . As a result, the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  cut the outer sheath  61  of the shielded cable  60 , and are press-contacted with the braided wire  63  to be electrically connected thereto. 
   When the shielded cable  60  is thus pressed to be inserted into the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , the outer peripheral surface of the braided wire  63  is electrically connected to the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  with large contact areas, and also the inner peripheral surface of the braided wire  63  is electrically connected to the braided wire connecting portion  21  with a large contact area, as shown in  FIG. 3 . As a result, the braided wire  63  is electrically connected to the connecting member body  11  via the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  and the insertion plate portion  20  of the spacer  15  with a large current-carrying capacity. 
   For forming the shielded cable connecting jig  10 , an electrically-conductive metal sheet having a predetermined thickness is cut into a predetermined developed shape, and then the pair of press-fastening portions  13  and  13 , the pair of plate portions  16  and  16  and the spacer  15  are formed by bending relevant portions of the thus cut sheet relative to the bottom plate  12 . Thus, this method does not include any complicated processing step, and therefore the shielded cable connecting jig  10  can be formed using existing facilities. 
   When the shielded cable connecting jig  10  is to be used, the shielded cable  60  is pressed to be inserted into the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , and then the press-fastening portions  13  and  13  are press-fastened to the shielded cable  60  to fix this shielded cable  60 , and the shielded cable connecting jig  10  is electrically connected, for example, to a grounding terminal or a bus bar on a circuit board or a metallic grounding member such as vehicle body panel. As a result, the braided wire connecting portion  21  of the insertion plate portion  20  of the spacer  15  is electrically connected to the inner peripheral surface of the braided wire  63  with the large contact area, and also the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  are electrically connected to the outer peripheral surface of the braided wire  63  with the large contact areas. Therefore, even when a disturbance develops around the shielded cable  60 , disturbance components captured by the braided wire  63  flow through the spacer  15 , that is, flow sequentially through the insertion plate portion  20 , the arm portion  19  and the connecting member body  11 , and also flow sequentially through the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  and the connecting member body  11 . Thus, the disturbance components are positively flowed to a grounding circuit, thereby protecting the conductors  65  of the wires  64  from the disturbance. 
   As described above, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the first embodiment, when the shielded cable  60  is pressed to be inserted into the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , the braided wire  63  is connected to the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , and also the insertion plate portion  20  of the spacer  15  formed integrally with the connecting member body  11  is connected to the braided wire  63 , so that the connecting path of the braided wire  63  is formed with the large current-carrying capacity. Therefore, the braided wire  63 , while kept braided around the inner sheaths  62 , is electrically connected to the connecting member body  11  without being gathered or twisted. Therefore, the good operation efficiency can be achieved, and besides the connecting path of the braided wire can be positively secured. 
   Furthermore, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the first embodiment, merely by inserting the insertion plate portion  20  of the spacer  15  between the inner sheaths  62  and the braided wire  63 , the spacer  15  can be connected to the braided wire  63 , and therefore the operation for connecting the spacer  15  to the braided wire  63  can be effected more easily, and besides the automated operation can be carried out, so that the operation efficiency can be further enhanced. 
   Second Embodiment 
   Next, a second embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 6 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a shielded cable connecting jig used in the second embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, showing its appearance,  FIG. 5  is a partly-broken, front-elevational view showing a condition in which a shielded cable is connected to the shielded cable connecting jig of  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 5 . In the following embodiments including this second embodiment, those constituent elements identical or similar in function to those of the first embodiment will be designated by identical or like reference numerals, respectively, and detail explanation thereof will be simplified or omitted. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the shielded cable connecting jig  30 , used in the second embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, includes a spacer  31  formed integrally with a connecting member body  11 . The spacer  31  includes a tab-like insertion plate portion  32  formed at a distal end of the spacer  31 . The insertion plate portion  32  is thus formed into a tab-like shape, and therefore can be easily inserted between an inner sheath  62  and a braided wire  63  of the shielded cable  60 . An inner surface of the insertion plate portion  32  serves as a braided wire connecting portion  33 . In this case, each of spacer support portions  18  and  18  is in the form of a flat surface. The other portions are identical in construction to the corresponding portions of the first embodiment. 
   The shielded cable  60  is moved downward toward the spacer  31  of the shielded cable connecting jig  30  from the upper side, so that the insertion plate portion  32  is inserted between the inner sheath  62  and the braided wire  63  of the shielded cable  60 . When the insertion plate portion  32  is thus inserted between the inner sheath  62  and the braided wire  63  of the shielded cable  60 , the insertion plate portion  32  is electrically connected to the braided wire  63 . 
   Then, the shielded cable  60  is tilted or turned counterclockwise (in  FIG. 4 ), so that an arm portion  19  of the spacer  31  is bent at its central portion in accordance with the tilting movement of the shielded cable  60 . 
   When the tilted shielded cable  60  is pressed to be inserted into press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  cut an outer sheath  61  of the shielded cable  60 , and are press-contacted with the braided wire  63  to be electrically connected thereto, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   When the shielded cable  60  is thus pressed to be inserted into the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , an outer peripheral surface of the braided wire  63  is electrically connected to the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  with large contact areas, and also an inner peripheral surface of the braided wire  63  is electrically connected to the braided wire connecting portion  33  of the insertion plate portion  32  of the spacer  31  with a large contact area. As a result, the braided wire  63  is electrically connected to the connecting member body  11  through the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  and the insertion plate portion  32  of the spacer  31  with a large current-carrying capacity. 
   In the shielded cable connecting jig  30 , the braided wire connecting portion  33  of the insertion plate portion  32  of the spacer  31  is electrically connected to the inner peripheral surface of the braided wire  63  with the large contact area, and also the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  are electrically connected to the outer peripheral surface of the braided wire  63  with the large contact areas. Therefore, even when a disturbance develops around the shielded cable  60 , disturbance components captured by the braided wire  63  flow through the spacer  31 , that is, flow sequentially through the insertion plate portion  32 , the arm portion  19  and the connecting member body  11 , and also flow sequentially through the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  and the connecting member body  11 . Thus, the disturbance components are positively flowed to a grounding circuit, thereby protecting conductors  65  of wires  64  from the disturbance. 
   As described above, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the second embodiment, when the shielded cable  60  is pressed to be inserted into the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , the braided wire  63  is connected to the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , and also the insertion plate portion  32  of the spacer  31  formed integrally with the connecting member body  11  is connected to the braided wire  63 , so that a connecting path of the braided wire  63  is formed with a large current-carrying capacity. Therefore, the braided wire  63 , while kept braided around the inner sheaths  62 , is electrically connected to the connecting member body  11  without being gathered or twisted. Therefore, the good operation efficiency can be achieved, and besides the connecting path of the braided wire can be positively secured. 
   Furthermore, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the second embodiment, merely by inserting the insertion plate portion  32  of the spacer  31  between the inner sheath  62  and the braided wire  63 , the spacer  31  can be connected to the braided wire  63 , and therefore the operation for connecting the spacer  31  to the braided wire  63  can be effected more easily, and besides the automated operation can be carried out, so that the operation efficiency can be further enhanced. 
   Third Embodiment 
   Next, a third embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 10 .  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shielded cable connecting jig used in the third embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, showing its appearance,  FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the manner of connecting a shielded cable to the shielded cable connecting jig of  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a condition in which the shielded cable is connected to the connecting jig of  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 9 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shielded cable connecting jig  40 , used in the third embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, includes a connecting member body  11  having a bottom plate  12 , and a pair of press-fastening portions  13  and  13  formed on and extending upwardly respectively from opposite side edges of the bottom plate  12  at one end portion of the connecting member body  11 . The shielded cable connecting jig  40  further includes a pair of press-contacting portions  14  and  14  formed on and extending upwardly respectively from the opposite side edges of the bottom wall  12  at a central portion of the connecting member body  11 , a pair of conductor press-fastening portions  41  and  41  formed on and extending upwardly respectively from the opposite side edges of the bottom plate  12  at that portion of the connecting member body  11  disposed adjacent to the other end portion thereof, and a pair of grounding wire press-fastening portions  42  and  42  formed on and extending upwardly respectively from the opposite side edges of the bottom plate  12  at the other end portion of the connecting member body  11 . The shielded cable connecting jig  40  is provided with a separate spacer  43  (see  FIG. 8 ). This shielded cable connecting jig  40  is used for the shielded cable  60  containing two wires  64  and  64 , and a grounding wire (another wire)  70  (see  FIG. 8 ) is connected to this connecting jig  40 . 
   A pair of opposed side plates  44  and  44  extend upwardly respectively from the opposite side edges of the bottom plate  12 , and opposite end portions of each side plate  44  spaced from each other in the direction of the length of the bottom plate  12  are bent inwardly to form press-contacting blades (which are also designated respectively by reference numerals  14  and  14  for convenience&#39; sake), respectively, and the opposed press-contacting blades ( 14  and  14 ) of the two side plates  44  and  44  at their one end portions define one press-contacting portion  14 , while the opposed press-contacting blades ( 14 .  14 ) of the two side plates  44  and  44  at their other end portions define the other press-contacting portion  14 . 
   A conductor  71  of the grounding wire  70  is inserted between the conductor press-fastening portions  41  and  41 , and then these press-fastening portions  41  and  41  are press-fastened to the conductor  71 , thereby electrically connecting the conductor  71  to the shielded cable connecting jig  40 . 
   The grounding wire  70  is inserted between the grounding wire press-fastening portions  42  and  42 , and then these press-fastening portions  42  and  42  are press-fastened to the grounding wire  70  in surrounding relation thereto, thereby fixing the grounding wire  70  to the shielded cable connecting jig  40 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the spacer  43  is made of an ordinary terminal material, that is, electrically-conductive metal such as brass or iron which can not be easily deteriorated by heat. This spacer  43  includes a pair of upper and lower wire support surfaces  46  and  46  of a concave shape facing away from each other, and a pair of braided wire connecting portions  47  and  47  formed at opposite sides of the wire support surfaces  46  and  46 . Each of the wire support surfaces  47  and  47  has a concave shape similar to an outer shape of a braided wire  63  of the shielded cable  60 . A length L 1  of the spacer  43  is slightly larger than the distance L 2  between the pair of press-contacting portions  14  and  14  spaced from each other in the direction of the length of the bottom plate  12 . A width L 3  of the spacer  43  is slightly smaller than the distance (or gap) L 4  between the opposed press-contacting blades ( 14  and  14 ) of each press-contacting portion  14 . The spacer  43  is made of the ordinary terminal material, that is, the electrically-conductive metal such as brass or iron which can not be easily deteriorated by heat, and therefore this spacer  43  has a large current-carrying capacity and a predetermined impedance. 
   The grounding wire  70  has the conductor  71  provided within a sheath  72 , and this grounding wire  70  is electrically connected, for example, to a metallic part such as a vehicle body panel in order to form a grounding circuit for an electrical equipment or the like including a resin-made casing. 
   For assembling the connecting structure, first, the conductor  71  of the grounding wire  70  is inserted between the pair of conductor press-fastening portions  41  and  41 , and then these press-fastening portions  41  and  41  are press-fastened to the conductor  71 , thereby electrically connecting the conductor to the connecting member body  11 . Also, the sheath  72  of the grounding wire  70  is inserted between the pair of grounding wire press-fastening portions  42  and  42 , and then these press-fastening portions  42  and  42  are press-fastened to the sheath  72 , thereby fixing the grounding wire  70  to the shielded cable connecting jig  40 . 
   Then, the spacer  43  is inserted into the braided wire  63 , braided around the two wires  64  and  64 , from a cut end of the shielded cable  60 , and is disposed between the two wires  64  and  64 . At this time, the spacer  43  is inserted into a position where the spacer  43 , contacting the wires  64  and  64 , is to be pressed contacted with the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  through the braided wire  63 . 
   Then, the shielded cable  60  having the spacer  43  inserted therein is pressed to be inserted into the pair of press-contacting portions  14  and  14 . 
   When the shielded cable  60  having the spacer  43  inserted therein is thus pressed to be inserted into the pair of press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  cut an outer sheath  61  of the shielded cable  60 , and are press-contacted with the braided wire  63  to be electrically connected thereto, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Then, the press-fastening portions  13  and  13  are press-fastened to the shielded cable  60 , thereby fixing the shielded cable  60  to the shielded cable connecting jig  40 . 
   In the shielded cable connecting jig  40 , the braided wire connecting portions  47  and  47  (formed respectively at the opposite side surfaces of the spacer  43 ) of the spacer  43  inserted in the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  (that is, inserted between the opposed press-contacting blades ( 14  and  14 ) of each press-contacting portion  14 ) are electrically connected to the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  with large contact areas, with the braided wire  63  held between each braided wire connecting portion  47  and the corresponding press-contacting blades ( 14 ). Therefore, even when a disturbance develops around the shielded cable  60 , disturbance components captured by the braided wire  63  positively flow from the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  to the grounding wire  70  through the spacer  43 , thereby protecting conductors  65  and  65  of the wires  64  and  64  from the disturbance. 
   As described above, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the third embodiment, when the shielded cable  60  is pressed to be inserted into the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , the braided wire  63  is connected to the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , and also the spacer  43  separate from the connecting member body  11  is connected to the braided wire  63 , so that a connecting path of the braided wire  63  is formed with a large current-carrying capacity. Therefore, the braided wire  63 , while kept braided around the inner sheaths  62 , is electrically connected to the connecting member body  11  without being gathered or twisted. 
   Furthermore, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the third embodiment, when connecting the shielded cable  60  to the grounding circuit, the shielded cable  60  can be easily grounded via the spacer  43  by grounding the grounding wire  70 . 
   Furthermore, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the third embodiment, the braided wire  63  is gripped by the spacer  43  and the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  (that is, the braided wire  63  is held between the spacer  43  and each press-contacting blade ( 14 )), and therefore is much less liable to be affected by a heat change, and therefore the stable connected condition can be maintained for a long period of time, so that the reliability can be enhanced. 
   Furthermore, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the third embodiment, in the case where the grounding wire  70  is beforehand connected to the shielded cable connecting jig  40 , and the connecting jig  40  is delivered in this form, it is not necessary to effect a stock control of grounding wires  70  as by assigning a product number, different from those of other wire harnesses, to the grounding wires  70 , and therefore the control of the product numbers can be simplified, so that the productivity can be enhanced. 
   Fourth Embodiment 
   Next, a fourth embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11 to 13 .  FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the manner of connecting a shielded cable to a shielded cable connecting jig used in the fourth embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention,  FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing a condition in which the shielded cable is connected to the connecting jig of  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 12 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , the shielded cable connecting jig  50 , used in the fourth embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, includes a spacer  51  of a U-shape. The other portions are identical in construction to the corresponding portions of the third embodiment. 
   The spacer  51  is upwardly open, and its outer surface defines a braided wire connecting portion  52  (in the form of a convex surface) similar to a shape of the inner side of a braided wire  63  of the shielded cable  60 , and its outer surface defines a wire support surface  53 . The spacer  51  has the U-shape, and therefore is suitably used for connecting the shielded cable containing a plurality of (that is, two or more) wires  64 . 
   The spacer  51  is inserted into the interior of the braided wire  63  from a cut end of the shielded cable  60 . At this time, the spacer  51  is inserted into a position where the spacer  51 , contacting the wires  64  and  64 , is to be pressed contacted with press-contacting portions  14  and  14  through the braided wire  63 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , the wires  64  and  64  of the shielded cable  60  (having the spacer  51  inserted therein and including the braided wire  63  braided around the wires  64  and  64 ) are pressed to be inserted into the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , and press-fastening portions  13  and  13  are press-fastened to the shielded cable  60 , thereby fixing the shielded cable  60  to the shielded cable connecting jig  50 . 
   The shielded cable  60  having the spacer  43  inserted therein is pressed to be inserted into the pair of press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , so that the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  cut an outer sheath  61  of the shielded cable  60 , and are press-contacted with the braided wire  63  to be electrically connected thereto, as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
   In the shielded cable connecting jig  50 , the braided wire connecting portion  52  of the spacer  51 , inserted in the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  (that is, inserted between opposed press-contacting blades ( 14  and  14 ) of each press-contacting portion  14 ), is electrically connected at its opposite side surfaces to the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  with large contact areas, with the braided wire  63  held between the braided wire connecting portion  52  and the press-contacting blades ( 14 ). Therefore, even when a disturbance develops around the shielded cable  60 , disturbance components captured by the braided wire  63  positively flow from the press-contacting portions  14  and  14  to a grounding wire  70  through the spacer  51 , thereby protecting conductors  65  and  65  of the wires  64  and  64  from the disturbance. 
   As described above, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the fourth embodiment, when the shielded cable  60  is pressed to be inserted into the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , the braided wire  63  is connected to the press-contacting portions  14  and  14 , and also the spacer  51  separate from the connecting member body  11  is connected to the braided wire  63 , so that a connecting path of the braided wire  63  is formed with a large current-carrying capacity. Therefore, the braided wire  63 , while kept braided around the inner sheaths  62 , is electrically connected to the connecting member body  11  without being gathered or twisted. 
   Furthermore, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the fourth embodiment, when connecting the shielded cable  60  to the grounding circuit, the shielded cable  60  can be easily grounded via the spacer  43  by grounding the grounding wire  70 . 
   Fifth Embodiment 
   Next, a fifth embodiment of a shielded cable connecting structure of the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14 to 16 .  FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the relation between a shielded cable and a press clamping-type shielded cable connecting jig used in the fifth embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention,  FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a condition in which the connecting jig of  FIG. 14  is press-clamped to the shielded cable, and  FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view around the shielded cable of  FIG. 15 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 14 , the shielded cable connecting jig  80 , used in the fifth embodiment of the shielded cable connecting structure of the invention, includes a spacer  51  of a U-shape similar to the spacer  51  used in the above fourth embodiment. The shielded cable connecting jig  80  includes a connecting member body  100  having a bottom plate  102 , a pair of braided wire press-fastening portions (press-clamping portions)  103  and  13  formed on and extending upwardly respectively from opposite side edges of the bottom plate  102 , and a pair of sheath press-fastening portions  104  and  104  formed on and extending upwardly respectively from the opposite side edges of the bottom plate  102  at a central portion of the connecting member body  100 . The other portions are similar in construction to the corresponding portions of the above embodiment, and therefore will be designated respectively by identical reference numerals, and explanation thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, although the spacer  51  is separate from the connecting member body  100 , it can be formed integrally with the connecting member body  100  as in the first and second embodiments. 
   An outer sheath  61  is removed over a predetermined length from an end portion of the shielded cable  60 , and the spacer  51  is inserted into the interior of a braided wire  63  at the sheath-removed end portion of the shielded cable  60 . At this time, the spacer  51  is inserted into a position where the spacer  51 , interposed between the exposed braided wire  63  and two wires  64  and  64 , is to be press-clamped by the braided wire press-fastening portions  103  and  103 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 15 , the shielded cable  60  is press-clamped by the braided wire press-fastening portions  103  and  103 , with the braided wire  63  braided around the wires  64  and  64 , and the sheath press-fastening portions  104  and  104  are press-fastened to the outer periphery of the outer sheath  61 , thereby fixing the shielded cable  60  to the shielded cable connecting jig  80 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 16 , the braided wire press-fastening portions  103  and  103  are press-clamped to the braided wire  63  (braided around the wires  64  and  64 ) at the end portion of the shielded cable  60  (in which the spacer  51  is inserted), and therefore are electrically connected to this braided wire  63 . 
   In the shielded cable connecting jig  80 , the braided wire press-fastening portions  103  and  103  are press-clamped to the outer periphery of the braided wire  63 , with the inserted spacer  51  held between the braided wire  63  and inner sheaths  62  of the wires  64 , and therefore the braided wire press-fastening portions  103  and  130  are electrically connected to the braided wire  63  with large contact areas. Therefore, even when a disturbance develops around the shielded cable  60 , disturbance components captured by the braided wire  63  positively flow from the braided wire press-fastening portions  103  and  103  to a grounding wire  70  through the spacer  51 , thereby protecting conductors  65  and  65  of the wires  64  and  64  from the disturbance. 
   As described above, in the shielded cable connecting structure of the fifth embodiment, the spacer  51  is pressed to be inserted into the gap between the exposed braided wire  63  and the wires  64  and  64  at the sheath-removed end portion of the shielded cable  60 , and the braided wire press-fastening portions  103  and  103  are press-clamped to the outer periphery of the exposed braided wire  63 . As a result, the braided wire press-fastening portions  103  and  103  are electrically connected to the braided wire  63  with the large contact areas, so that a connecting path of the braided wire  63  is formed with a large current-carrying capacity. Therefore, the braided wire  63 , while kept braided around the inner sheaths  62 , is electrically connected to the connecting member body  100  without being gathered or twisted. 
   The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and suitable modifications, improvement and so on can be made. For example, the shape of the press-contacting portions is given merely as one example, and is not limited to any specified shape, and one press-contacting portion (including the pair of opposed press-contacting blades) may be provided, or more than two press-contacting portions may be provided in a consecutive manner. 
   Although the invention has been illustrated and described for the particular preferred embodiments, it is apparent to a person skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made on the basis of the teachings of the invention. It is apparent that such changes and modifications are within the spirit, scope, and intention of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   The present application is based on Japan Patent Application No. 2006-042734 filed on Feb. 20, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein for reference.