Ventilation member, vented housing using the same, pull-out prevention member for ventilation member and kit for forming ventilation structure

• US 6,994,621 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Nishii, Hiroyuki, Yanagi, Toshiki, Mashiko, Hiroaki, Ikeyama, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US10/437,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 95/46, 96/6, 454/254, 454/270, 454/271, 454/274, 454/275, 454/276, 454/370, 362/345, 362/547
• US Class Current: 454/270
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/30 Ventilation or drainage of lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2205/09 Machines characterised by drain passages or by venting, breathing or pressure compensating means
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/10 with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0213 Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0216 Venting plugs comprising semi-permeable membranes

Abstract

A ventilation member having: a breathable film transmitting gas passing through an opening portion of a housing in a state in which the breathable film is fixed to the opening portion; and a support including a supporting portion for supporting the breathable film and an insertion portion to be inserted into the opening portion of the housing; wherein the insertion portion has a lock portion in an insertion-start-side end portion thereof, the lock portion having a tapered forward end, while the insertion portion is divided into a plurality of parts circumferentially at least on an insertion start side thereof.

Claims

1. A ventilation member comprising:

a breathable film transmitting gas passing through an opening portion of a housing in a state in which said breathable film is fixed to said opening portion; and

a support including a supporting portion for supporting said breathable film and an insertion portion to be inserted into said opening portion of said housing;

wherein said insertion portion is divided into a plurality of parts circumferentially at least on an insertion start side thereof;

a reinforcement material bonded to said breathable film, so that said reinforcement material and said breathable film form a laminate; and

wherein an air permeability of said laminate is in a range of 0.1–

300 sec/100 cm³ and said laminate has a water resistant pressure of not less than 1.0 kPa.

2. A ventilation member according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is formed in said support, and said breathable film is fixed to said supporting portion so as to cover said through hole.

3. A ventilation member according to claim 1, said insertion portion includes a plurality of leg portions at least on the insertion start side, and at least one of said leg portions is provided with a lock portion on the insertion start side thereof.

4. A ventilation member according to claim 3, wherein said leg portions include at least one leg portion which is not provided with said lock portion.

5. A ventilation member according to claim 3, wherein said support has a ring shape, a minimum ring width of said ring shape is larger than a distance defined between a pair of said leg portions at an end of the insertion start side of said insertion portion.

6. A ventilation member according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through holes are formed in a surface of said support covered with said breathable film.

7. A ventilation member according to claim 1, wherein said support includes a seal portion on a surface of said supporting portion facing said housing.

8. A ventilation member according to claim 1, wherein said support includes a protective portion covering at least a part of said breathable film from above of said breathable film.

9. A ventilation member according to claim 1, wherein said breathable film includes a PTFE porous material.

10. A ventilation member according to claim 1, wherein said breathable film is subjected to liquid-repellent treatment.

11. A vented housing comprising a ventilation member according to claim 1, which is fixed to said opening portion of said housing.

12. A ventilation member according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcement material is bonded to at least one side of said breathable film.