Abstract:
A waterproof connector includes: an inner housing being formed with a plurality of terminal housing chambers; an outer housing being fitted with the inner housing and being formed with a plurality of electric wire insertion through holes; and a spacer intervening between the inner housing and the outer housing which is formed with other electric wire insertion through holes at positions opposing to the electric wire insertion through holes of the outer housing, wherein the rubber taps are housed respectively in the rubber tap housing concave sections; wherein a thin film which blocks up the electric wire insertion through hole is formed integrally at a predetermined position. The thin film is provided so as to be capable of being broken, thereby all of the electric wire insertion through holes are interconnected so that the electric wires can be inserted through the respective electric wire insertion through holes. The rubber taps are held by the spacer so as not to slip out of the rubber tap housing concave sections, and the rubber taps seal the terminal housing chambers and the electric wires.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a multiple waterproof connector which improves waterproofness between a connector housing and plural electric wires with which terminals are connected and does not require a dummy tap. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As such a dummy tap for this type of the waterproof connector, a dummy tap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-188069, and a dummy tap shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-122331. 
     A dummy tap A for a waterproof connector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is composed of a pin  5  made of synthetic resin having a bar-shaped section  5   a  and disk-shaped step section  5   b , and a circular rubber tap  6  into which the bar-shaped section  5   a  of the pin  5  is fitted. Moreover, a plurality of terminal housing holes  2  are formed in a connector housing  1  of a waterproof connector, and a female terminal  4  which is connected with an electric wire  3  is engaged with by a lance (flexible engagement arm)  1   a  so as to be housed in each terminal housing hole  2 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the dummy tap A is fitted into a base end side of the free terminal housing hole  2  of the connector housing  1  of the waterproof connector so that water is prevented from penetrating the terminal housing hole  2  from the outside. 
     A dummy tap B for the waterproof connector shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is composed of a rubber tap  7  for sealing an electric wire which is fitted into a free terminal housing hole  2  of plural terminal housing holes  2  formed in a connector housing  1 ′ of a waterproof connector into which a female terminal is not mounted, and a rear holder  8  made of synthetic resin, which has a shaft section  8   a  whose diameter is equal to a diameter of an electric wire  3  and which is inserted into an electric wire insertion hole  7   a  of the rubber tap  7 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, when a frame-shaped lock section  8   b  of the rear holder  8  is engaged with the connector housing  1 ′, the dummy tap B is fitted into the free terminal housing hole  2  of the connector housing  1 ′ and is locked so that water is prevented from penetrating the terminal housing hole  2  from the outside. 
     The conventional connector housings  1  and  1 ′ of the water proof connector have the plural terminal housing holes  2  respectively, but some terminal housing holes  2  are not used because of an improvement or disuse of an option circuit (namely, variations of a wire harness circuit is used in common). For this reason, the rear holder  8  of the dummy tap A or dummy tap B is indispensable, and thus a number of parts is increased and the cost becomes high. 
     In addition, since the variation of application or the like of the waterproof connectors is diversified, in the case where free terminal housing holes  2  of the connector housings  1  and  1 ′ are changed to be used, parts should be replaced with another ones. 
     Furthermore, since in the case of the dummy tap A, the rubber tap  6  or the like is pressed into the terminal housing hole  2  so as to be fixed thereto, there is some fear that the dummy tap A slips out of the terminal housing hole  2  due to an influence of vibration or the like of the connector housing  1 . Moreover, in the case of the dummy tap B, since the lock section  8   b  of the rear holder  8  is exposed from the connector housing  1 ′, there is some fear that when the electric wire  3  is removed, the electric wire  3  gets caught on the lock section  8   b  and the rear holder  8  is removed. In these cases, the dummy taps A and B easily slip off and thus reliability of their waterproofness is deteriorated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been achieved with such points in view. It therefore is an object of the invention to provide a multiple waterproof connector which can obtain waterproofness of a rubber tap easily and securely without replacing parts with another ones even if a wiring path of an electric wire is changed in a connector housing, and can reduce a number of parts so as to reduce total cost. 
     A first aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector, comprising: an inner housing being formed with a plurality of terminal housing chambers, the terminal housing chambers are to be inserted with a terminal which is connected with an electric wire; an outer housing being fitted with the inner housing, the outer housing being formed with a plurality of electric wire insertion through holes to be inserted with the electric wire at one wall section opposing to the terminal housing chambers, the outer housing further being formed with rubber tap housing concave sections at positions of the inside of the one wall section facing to the former electric wire insertion through holes, the rubber tap housing concave sections being to be inserted with rubber taps which are formed with other electric wire insertion through holes; and a spacer intervening between the inner housing and the outer housing, the spacer is formed with still other electric wire insertion through holes at positions opposing to the electric wire insertion through holes of the outer housing, wherein the inner housing, the outer housing and the spacer compose a connector housing; wherein the rubber taps are housed respectively in the rubber tap housing concave sections; wherein a thin film which blocks up the electric wire insertion through hole is formed integrally with a predetermined position of the outside of at least one electric wire insertion through hole of the plural electric wire insertion through holes of the outer housing, the thin film is provided so as to be capable of being broken through; wherein when the electric wire is going to be connected with the terminals housed in the terminal housing chambers formed in the inner housing, the thin film is broken through, thereby the electric wire insertion through hole formed in the spacer, the electric wire insertion through hole formed in the rubber tap and the electric wire insertion through hole formed in the outer housing are interconnected so that the electric wires can be inserted through the respective electric wire insertion through holes; and wherein the rubber taps are held by the spacer so as not to slip out of the rubber tap housing concave sections, and the rubber taps seal the terminal housing chambers and the electric wires. 
     Since the waterproof connector according to the first aspect does not require a dummy tap, a number of parts is reduced and the cost is lowered. Moreover, since the thin film, which is formed integrally with the outside of the electric wire insertion holes of the outer housing, prevents water from penetrating from the outside, even if the electric wire insertion hole is provided on the rubber tap, the waterproofness can be obtained easily and securely. Moreover, even if the wiring paths of the electric wires in the outer housing are changed, when the thin film which blocks up the outside of the electric wire insertion holes of the outer housing is broken through to be opened, the electric wires can be inserted therethrough easily without replacing parts, and thus the application or the like of the waterproof connector is diversified. 
     A second aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector, comprising: an inner housing being formed with a plurality of terminal housing chambers, the terminal housing chambers are to be inserted with a terminal which is connected with an electric wire; an outer housing being fitted with the inner housing, the outer housing being formed with a plurality of electric wire insertion through holes to be inserted with the electric wire at one wall section opposing to the terminal housing chambers, the outer housing further being formed with rubber tap housing concave sections at positions of the inside of the one wall section facing to the former electric wire insertion through holes, the rubber tap housing concave sections being to be inserted with rubber taps which are formed with other electric wire insertion through holes; and a spacer intervening between the inner housing and the outer housing, the spacer is formed with still other electric wire insertion through holes at positions opposing to the electric wire insertion through holes of the outer housing, wherein the inner housing, the outer housing and the spacer compose a connector housing; wherein the rubber taps are housed respectively in the rubber tap housing concave sections; wherein the rubber taps are held by the spacer so as not to slip out of the rubber tap housing concave sections, and the rubber taps seal the terminal housing chambers and the electric wires; wherein one of the electric wire inserted through the electric wire insertion through hole through which the electric wire is to be inserted among the plural electric wire insertion through holes formed in the outer housing, is inserted through the electric wire insertion through hole formed in the rubber tap and the electric wire insertion through hole formed in the spacer so as to be connected with the terminal housed in the terminal housing chamber formed in the inner housing; wherein at least one of the electric wire insertion through hole through which the electric wire is not to be inserted among the plural electric wire insertion through holes formed in the spacer is provided with a pin-shaped shaft having an equivalent diameter to a diameter of the electric wire in such a manner that the shaft is projected from the electric wire insertion through hole; and wherein the shaft provided on the spacer is fitted into the electric wire insertion through hole of the rubber tap which is housed in the rubber tap housing concave section facing the electric wire insertion through hole of the spacer through which the electric wire is not to be inserted. 
     Since the waterproof connector according to the second aspect does not require a dummy tap, a number of parts is reduced and the cost is lowered. Moreover, since the electric wire insertion hole of the rubber tap where the electric wire is not wired is blocked up by the shaft of the spacer, the waterproofness of the rubber taps can be obtained easily and securely. 
     A third aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the second aspect wherein the shaft provided on the spacer is formed integrally at a position of the spacer where the electric wire insertion through hole is formed; and wherein when the electric wire is going to be inserted through the spacer, a base end of the shaft is cut so that an electric wire insertion through hole is formed in the spacer. 
     In the waterproof connector according to the third aspect, even if the wiring paths of the electric wires are changed, when the base end of the shaft of the spacer is cut, the electric wire insertion holes can be formed easily without replacing parts, and thus the application or the like of the waterproof connector is diversified. 
     A fourth aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the second aspect wherein the shaft provided on the spacer is capable of being fitted into and removed from the electric wire insertion through hole of the spacer. 
     In the waterproof connector according to the fourth aspect, the shaft which blocks up the electric wire insertion hole of the rubber tap where the electric wire is not wired is projected from the spacer easily, and even if the wiring paths of the electric wires in the connector housing are changed, the position of the shaft of the spacer can be changed easily. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
     The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional dummy tap for a waterproof connector. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a waterproof connector using the conventional dummy tap. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another conventional dummy tap for a waterproof connector. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view showing a partial section of a waterproof connector using the another conventional dummy tap. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view of a thin film portion of an outer housing to be used in the waterproof connector. 
     FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view showing a state that the thin film portion is broken through by a perforating jig or the like so that an electric wire insertion hole is formed. 
     FIG. 6C is an enlarged sectional view showing a state before an electric wire is inserted through the electric wire insertion hole. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the waterproof connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another form of a spacer to be used for the waterproof connector according to the another embodiment. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing another form of the spacer to be used for the waterproof connector according to the another embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     There will be detailed below the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like members are designated by like reference characters. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a waterproof connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6A is an enlarged sectional view of a thin film portion of an outer housing to be used for the waterproof connector, FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view showing a state that the thin film portion is broken through by a perforating jig or the like so that electric wire insertion holes are formed, and FIG. 6C is an enlarged sectional view showing a state before electric wires are inserted through the electric wire insertion holes. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, a connector housing  11  of a waterproof connector  10  is composed of an inner housing  12  made of synthetic resin which is formed integrally with a plurality of terminal housing chambers  13 , an outer housing  15  made of synthetic resin into which the inner housing  12  is fitted, and a spacer  21  made of synthetic resin which intervenes between the inner housing  12  and outer housing  15  and holds female terminals (terminals)  14  housed in respective terminal housing chambers  13  of the inner housing  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the inner housing  12  has a box section  12   a  in which upper and lower surfaces on a backward side are opened, and the terminal housing chambers  13  are formed in spaces which are formed by a center horizontal wall  12   b  and upper and lower vertical walls, not shown, which serve also as partition walls. The female terminals  14  are housed respectively in the terminal housing chambers  13 . Here, rectangular insertion holes  12   c , through which male terminals of a mating connector, not shown, are inserted, are formed in positions of a front wall of the box section  12   a  of the inner housing  12  which face the terminal housing chambers  13 . Further, a pair of pressure-welded cutting edges  14   b ,  14   b  are formed to be bent on a plate of the box section  14   a  of the female terminal  14  on the backward side. 
     The outer housing  15  is formed into a double box shape by a substantially square-drum-shaped inner wall section  15   a , a substantially square-drum-shaped outer wall section  15   b  which contains the inner wall section  15   a , and a bottom wall section (one wall section)  15   c  which connects backward portions of the inner and outer wall sections  15   a  and  15   b  so that a front side of the outer housing  15  is opened. A center of the bottom wall section  15   c  is thick, and rubber tap housing concave sections  17  with a large diameter and circular section into which waterproof rubber taps  16  are pressed are formed respectively in positions of the thick portion on the front side facing the terminal housing chambers  13 . Moreover, electric wire insertion holes  18  with a small diameter and circular section through which electric wires  30  are inserted are formed on the backward side of the thick portion so as to be interconnected with the corresponding rubber tap housing concave sections  17 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A, a thin film  15   d  having a predetermined thickness which blocks up the electric wire insertion holes  18  is formed by molding integrally with the outside of the electric wire insertion holes  18  in predetermined positions interconnected respectively with the rubber tap housing concave sections  17  of the outer housing  15 . Namely, the thin film  15   d  is formed integrally with the outside of the plural electric wire insertion holes  18  of the outer housing  15 , and only a portion of the thin film  15   d  which requires electric wire connection (wiring of the electric wires  30 ) is broken through by a perforating jig  31  so that the electric wire insertion holes  18  pierce there. In another way, in the case where an electric wire unnecessary portion (a portion which does not require wiring of the electric wires  30 ) is previously known, the thin film  15   d  may be formed integrally only with, the outside of the electric wire insertion hole  18  of the outer housing on this portion. 
     In addition, rectangular engagement holes (engagement sections)  19 , where engagement claws, not shown, on upper and lower surfaces of the box section  12   a  of the inner housing  12  are engaged/disengaged with/from are formed respectively at the centers of the upper and lower walls on the front side of the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15 . Further, V-shaped packing receiving sections  15   e  which receive a circular waterproof packing  20  made of rubber are projected respectively from inward portions of the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15 . Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the waterproof rubber tap  16  has an electric wire insertion hole  16   a  whose inner and outer peripheral surfaces have an uneven substantially cylindrical shape and through which the electric wire  30  is inserted without a gap. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the spacer  21  is formed into a box shape by a substantially square-drum-shaped body section  21   a  which is fitted into an inner side of the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15 , a substantially square-drum-shaped collar section  21   b  which is formed integrally with a front end of the body section  21   a  so as to be bent backward and which is fitted into an outer side of the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15 , and a bottom wall section (one wall section)  21   c  of the body section  21   a  so that a front side of the spacer  21  is opened. 
     The box section  12   a  of the inner housing  12  is fitted into the inner portion of the body section  21   a  of the spacer  21 . Rib-shaped projections, not shown, for preventing the terminals from slipping off, which are engaged with backward ends of the box sections  12   a  of the inner housing  12  and backward ends of the box sections  14   a  of the female terminals  14  housed respectively in the terminal housing chambers  13 , are projected integrally from the inner surfaces of the upper and lower walls of the body section  21   a  of the spacer  21 . Moreover, engagement claws (engagement sections)  22  which are engaged/disengaged with/from the engagement holes  19  of the outer housing  19  are projected integrally from the outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls of the body section  21   a  of the spacer  21 . Further, a forward end of the collar section  21   b  of the spacer  21  holds the packings  20  which are engaged with the packing receiving sections  15   e  of the inner wall sections  15   a  of the outer housing  15  when fitting of the spacer  21  into the outer housing  15  is completed. 
     In addition, electric wire insertion holes  23  are formed respectively in positions of the bottom wall section  21   c  of the spacer  21  facing the respective electric wire insertion holes  18  of the outer housing  15 . Further, the bottom wall section  21   c  of the spacer  21  holds the rubber taps  16  which are inserted respectively into the rubber tap housing concave sections  17  of the bottom wall section  15   c  of the outer housing  15  so as to be capable of preventing the rubber taps  16  from slipping off when the fitting of the spacer  21  into the outer housing  15  is completed. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the electric wires  30 , which are inserted through the electric wire insertion holes  18  of the outer housing  15 , the electric wire insertion holes  16   a  of the rubber taps  16  and the electric wire insertion holes  23  of the spacer  21 , are connected and pressure-welded between the pair of the pressure-welded cutting edges  14   b ,  14   b  of the female terminals  14  housed respectively in the terminal housing chambers  13  of the inner housing  12  so that the terminal housing chambers  13  and electric wires  30  are sealed by the rubber taps  16  and packings  20 . 
     In the case where the waterproof connector  10  of the present embodiment is assembled, at first the rubber taps  16  are inserted to be set into the rubber tap housing concave sections  17  in the bottom wall section  15   c  of the outer housing  15  composing the outer side of the connector housing  11  from a connector housing inserting direction, and the packings  20  are inserted to be set into the packing receiving sections  15   e  of the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15 . Thereafter, the body section  21   a  of the spacer  21  is fitted into the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15 , and the engagement claws  22  of the body section  21   a  of the spacer  21  are engaged respectively with the engagement holes  19  of the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15 . Since the engagement holes  19  of the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15  are engaged with the engagement claws  22  of the body section  21   a  of the spacer  21 , removal of the rubber taps  16  is prevented by the bottom wall section  15   c  of the outer housing  15 , and thus slipping off is prevented securely. Moreover, removal of the packings  20  is prevented by a slanted forward end of the collar section  21   b  of the spacer  21 , and thus waterproofness of the whole connector housing is further improved. 
     Next, the rubber taps  16  are inserted through the electric wire insertion holes  18  of the bottom wall section  15   c  of the outer housing  15  from the outside, and the electric wires  30  are inserted through the electric wire insertion holes  16   a  and  23  of the bottom wall section  21   c  of the spacer  21  from the outside. The electric wires  30  are pressure-welded to and connected with the pair of the pressure-welded cutting edges  14   b ,  14   b  of the female terminals  14  housed respectively in the terminal housing chambers  13  of the inner housing  12  composing the inside of the connector housing  11 . Next, the inner housing  12  is fitted into the body section  21   a  of the spacer  21 , and the engagement claws, not shown, of the box section  12   a  of the inner housing  12  are engaged respectively with the engagement holes  19  of the inner wall section  15   a  of the outer housing  15  so that the assembly of the waterproof connector  10  is completed. 
     At this time, because of diversification of variation of application or the like of the waterproof connector  10  and because of common use of variation of a wire harness circuit, the wiring of the electric wires  30  is not required on some portions. However, since the female terminals  14  are previously housed respectively in the terminal housing chambers  13  of the inner housing  12  and the rubber taps  16  are previously inserted respectively into the rubber tap housing concave sections  17  of the outer housing  15 , there is some fear that water penetrates the electric wire insertion holes  16   a  of the rubber tap  16  where the electric wire  30  is not wired. However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A, since the outside of the electric wire insertion holes  18  in the predetermined position of the outer housing  15  where the electric wire  30  is not required is blocked up by the thin film  15   d , the thin film  15   d  securely prevents water from penetrating from the outside, and thus even if the electric wire  30  is not wired in the electric wire insertion hole  16   a  of the rubber tap  16 , waterproofness can be obtained securely. 
     In addition, even if wiring paths of the electric wires  30  are changed in the connector housing  11  (for example, the electric wire  30  is wired in a portion where wiring of the electric wire  30  is not required), as shown in FIG. 6B, the thin film  15   d  which blocks up the outside of the electric wire insertion hole  18  of the outer housing  15  of the connector housing  11  is broken through by a point  31   a  of the perforating jig  31  so that the electric wire insertion hole  18  can be formed. As shown in FIG. 6C, the electric wire  30  can be inserted therethrough easily without replacing parts, and the diversification of the application or the like of the waterproof connector  10  can be further improved. 
     In such a manner, since the outside of the electric wire insertion hole  18  of the outer housing  15  where the electric wire is not required is blocked up by the thin film  15   d  which is formed integrally with the bottom wall section  15   c  of the outer housing  15 , a dummy tap which was used conventionally is not required, and thus a number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be lowered further. Particularly, since the conventional dummy tap is not required, the normal rubber tap  16  can be used and thus additional expense of metal mold and parts managing expenses are not necessary. From this point, the costs can be lowered. Moreover, since the spacer  21  which intervenes between the inner housing  12  and outer housing  15  holds the rubber taps  16 , the slipping of the rubber taps  16  can be prevented securely, and reliability of the waterproofness can be further improved. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a waterproof connector  10 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another form of a spacer to be used for the waterproof connector  10 ′, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing another form of the spacer. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the connector housing  11  of the waterproof connector  10 ′ is composed of the inner housing  12  made of synthetic resin with which a plurality of terminal housing chambers  13  are formed integrally, the outer housing  15  made of synthetic resin into which the inner housing  12  is fitted, and the spacer  21  made of synthetic resin which intervenes between the inner housing  12  and outer housing  15  and holds the female terminals (terminals)  14  housed respectively in the terminal housing chambers  13  of the inner housing  12 . 
     Here, a pin-shaped shaft  24  whose diameter is equivalent to the diameter of the electric wires  30  is projected integrally from a position of the bottom wall section (one wall section)  21   c  of the spacer  21  facing the electric wire insertion hole  18  of the outer housing where wiring of the electric wires  30  is not required. The shaft  24  of the spacer  21  is fitted into the electric wire insertion hole  16   a  of the rubber tap  16  through which the electric wire  30  is not inserted, namely, where the wiring of the electric wire  30  is not required. Since the other structure is similar to the structure of the waterproof connector  10  in the aforementioned embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions and the description thereof is omitted. 
     According to the waterproof connector  10 ′ having the above structure, since the electric wire insertion hole  16   a  of the rubber tap  16  where the electric wire  30  is not wired is securely blocked up by the shaft  24  of the spacer  21  which also prevents the rubber tap  16  from slipping off, the waterproofness of the rubber tap  16  can be obtained securely. As a result, the conventional dummy tap is not required, and thus a number of parts is reduced and the costs can be lowered. 
     In addition, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the shaft  24  of the spacer  21  is projected integrally from a position to be the electric wire insertion hole  23  of the bottom wall section (one wall section)  21   c  of the spacer  21  (a portion whose inner surface is recessed into a concave shape), and a base end  24   a  of the shaft  24  is cut by predetermined means, and the electric wire insertion hole  23  is formed in the bottom wall section  21   c . As a result, even if the wiring paths of the electric wires  30  are changed (for example, the electric wire  30  is wired on the portion where the wiring of the electric wire  30  is not required), the base end  24   a  of the shaft  24  of the spacer  21  is cut so that the electric wire insertion hole  23  of the spacer  21  can be formed easily without replacing parts in like a conventional manner, and thus diversification of the application or the like of the waterproof connector  10 ′ can be further improved. 
     Furthermore, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 9, when a stepped base portion  25   a  of a pin  25  made of synthetic resin, which is separately formed so as to have an equivalent diameter to the diameter of the electric wire  30 , is fitted into the electric wire insertion hole  23  of the spacer  21  where the electric wire  30  is not wired so that a portion corresponding to the shaft  24  is projected, a shaft  25  which block up the electric wire insertion hole  16   a  of the rubber tap  16  where the electric wire  30  is not wired can be projected from the spacer  21  easily. As a result, even if the wiring paths of the electric wires  30  are changed in the connector housing  11  (for example, the electric wire  30  is wired on a portion where wring of the electric wire  30  is not required), a position of the shaft  25  of the spacer  21  can be changed easily, and thus the diversification of the application or the like of the waterproof connector  10 ′ can be further improved. 
     The above embodiments described the case where the electric wire is pressure-welded to and is connected with the pressure-welded terminal, but the terminal is not limited to the pressure-welded terminal, so needless to say, the above embodiments can be applied to a case where the electric wire contact-bonds and is connected with a contact-bonding terminal. 
     The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application P10-162570 (filed Jun. 10, 1998) are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.