Patent ID: 8182286

Claim:
A water-proofing joint connector for electrically interconnecting a plurality of water-proofing electric wires each including an end provided with a terminal and a water-proofing plug provided on a rear side of the terminal, comprising: a connecting conductor which integrally has a plurality of fitting portions each formed in a shape fittable with corresponding one of the terminals, the fitting portions arranged in a direction perpendicular to a fitting direction thereof, and a joint portion interjoining the fitting portions; a housing which includes a plurality of terminal insertion portions each having a first opening which opens in a specific direction to allow corresponding one of the terminals and the water-proofing plug on the rear side of the terminal to be inserted into the terminal insertion portion through the first opening and an inner peripheral surface with a shape tightly contactable with the water-proofing plug, a cap-member insertion portion having a second opening which opens in a direction opposite to the terminal insertion portions, a conductor holding portion directly holding the connecting conductor so as to allow each of the terminals inserted through the first opening of the terminal insertion portion to a normal fit position to be fitted with corresponding one of the fitting portions along an insertion direction of the terminal, and a plurality of terminal locking portions each adapted to be elastically displaced, along with the insertion of corresponding one of the terminals into corresponding one of the terminal insertion portions, in an escape direction of escaping from the terminal along a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, and to be displaced in a return direction, when the terminal reaches the normal fit position, to lock the terminal; and a cap member formed as a member separated from the connecting conductor and the housing to have a shape insertable into the cap-member insertion portion to be attached to the housing, so as to close the second opening of the cap-member insertion portion, the cap member having a cap portion with a shape capable of closing the cap-member insertion portion, and a fit detection portion protruding from the cap portion so as to direct to the terminal locking portions through between an outer wall of the housing and the joint portion of the connecting conductor held by the conductor holding portion of the housing, the fit detection portion having a shape to come into contact with the corresponding terminal locking portion, when any one of the terminals is located short of the normal fit position to thereby elastically displace the terminal locking portion corresponding to the terminal in the escape direction in which the terminal locking portion escapes from the terminal by a given distance or more, to prevent the cap member from being attached to the cap-member insertion portion.