IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,734,573
Granted Patent B2
US 8,734,573 · App. 13/384,125 · Granted May 27, 2014

Vent plug

Inventors: Masashi Ono (Tokyo, JP); Hiroshi Manabe (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,734,573
App. No.
13/384,125
Granted
May 27, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object is to provide a vent plug having a structure in which an air-permeable membrane is unlikely to be damaged. More specifically, a vent plug is produced, which includes: a cylindrical member 1 having a through-hole 1 a ; a support 2 connected to the cylindrical member 1 so as to be across the through-hole 1 a ; and an air-permeable membrane 3 circumferentially attached to the cylindrical member 1 , wherein the air-permeable membrane 3 is held on the support 2 and a convex portion 3 a that follows the shape of the support 2 is formed on the air-permeable membrane 3.

Claims (20)

1. A vent plug comprising: a cylindrical member having a through-hole; a support connected to the cylindrical member so as to be across the through-hole; and an air-permeable membrane having a circumferential attachment region, attached to an upper surface of the cylindrical member around the through-hole of the cylindrical member, and further having a ventilation region facing the through-hole, wherein the air-permeable member is held on the support and a convex portion of the ventilation region that contacts and follows the shape of the support is formed on the air-permeable membrane to be higher than a surrounding portion of the ventilation region.

2. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical member and the support are integrally formed together from the same material.

3. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the support has a branched structure and is connected to three or more positions of the cylindrical member.

4. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the support has a cross structure and is connected to four or more positions of the cylindrical member.

5. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the support has a mesh structure.

6. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the support has an arc shape.

7. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical member has a protrusion at a portion to which the air-permeable membrane is circumferentially attached.

8. The vent plug according to claim 7 , wherein a top of the protrusion is at a position higher than the top of the convex portion of the air-permeable membrane.

9. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the support is not completely across the through-hole and interrupted.

10. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the support has a protrusion.

11. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the air-permeable membrane is a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane.

12. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the air-permeable membrane has liquid repellency.

13. The vent plug according to claim 1 , wherein the convex portion contacts and follows the shape of the support on top and lateral surfaces thereof.

14. The vent plug according to claim 13 , said support being formed so that a width of the support increases toward the cylindrical member.

15. The vent plug of claim 14 , said support having a trapezoidal shape.

16. The vent plug of claim 1 , said cylindrical member formed from an elastomeric material and configured to have a lateral surface having a tapered shape.

17. The vent plug of claim 1 , said support being connected on the upper surface of and thereby positioned higher than the upper surface of the cylindrical member.

18. A vent plug comprising: a cylindrical member having a through-hole, an upper surface and at least one protrusion on the upper surface; a support connected to the cylindrical member so as to be across the through-hole; and an air-permeable membrane having a circumferential attachment region, attached to the upper surface and at least one protrusion of the cylindrical member around the through-hole of the cylindrical member, and further having a ventilation region facing the through-hole, wherein the air-permeable member is held on the support and a convex portion of the ventilation region that contacts and follows the shape of the support is formed on the air-permeable membrane to be higher than a surrounding portion of the ventilation region.

19. The vent plug of claim 18 , wherein a top of the at least one protrusion is at a position higher than the top of the convex portion of the air-permeable membrane.

20. The vent plug of claim 19 , wherein the convex portion contacts and follows the shape of the support on top and lateral surfaces thereof.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2012
From: ONO, MASASHI; MANABE, HIROSHI
To: W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027845/0591 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-167138 · Jul 15, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120174789A1 · Jul 12, 2012