Ventilation member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation members face issues when inserted at an angle into housing openings, leading to damage of leg portions with hooks due to excessive bending, which can result in incomplete engagement with the housing surface.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating stopper portions that restrict the bending of insertion portions within their elastically deformable range, allowing for reliable fixation even when inserted at an angle by ensuring the bend is removed after the hook passes through the opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the insertion portion is inserted into the housing opening at an angle, then the ventilation member can be installed in difficult-to-reach openings, but the leg portion with hook experiences excessive bending that may cause damage or incomplete engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stopper portion that prevents the insertion portion from bending beyond a predetermined angle during insertion. This stopper acts as a protective measure in advance, cushioning the leg portion with hook from excessive bending stress that would occur during angled insertion, thereby preventing damage and ensuring reliable engagement without compromising ease of insertion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the support structure by adding a stopper portion at a specific location and angle. This structural parameter change limits the bending angle of the insertion portion to a safe range, allowing angled insertion while preventing the excessive bending that would compromise engagement reliability
2Ease of operation
If the leg portion with hook is made more flexible to accommodate angled insertion, then ease of insertion improves, but the strength and reliability of engagement with the housing surface deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support into distinct functional portions: an insertion portion for angled insertion, a stopper portion to limit bending, and a leg portion with hook for engagement. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the insertion portion can be flexible for ease of insertion while the leg portion maintains sufficient strength for reliable engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural qualities to different portions of the support. The insertion portion is designed to be flexible to accommodate angled insertion, while the leg portion with hook is designed to maintain sufficient strength for engagement. The stopper portion locally controls the bending behavior, creating a gradient of flexibility and strength along the support structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure fixation of the ventilation member to the housing opening without damaging the leg portions, ensuring stable engagement and preventing detachment.
Implementation Method 1
the leg portion 102h that has contacted the wall surface of the opening 108 first has the largest bend among the other leg portions 102h having hooks 102c... the bend in the elastically deformable range of the insertion portion can be reliably removed after the hook has passed through the opening
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A ventilation member of the present disclosure comprises: a support having a through hole that serves as an air passage between inside and outside of a housing upon attaching the support to an opening of the housing; and an air-permeable membrane disposed on the support and closing the through hole. The support comprises: a supporting portion in which the through hole is provided and at which the air-permeable membrane is disposed, and an insertion portion extending from the supporting portion and having an end with a hook, wherein the insertion portion bends in a direction closer to a central axis of the ventilation member while the hook is passing through the opening by being inserted into the opening, and fixes the ventilation member to the opening with the hook engaging the housing after passing through the opening. The ventilation member has a stopper portion with which bending of the insertion portion in the direction is restricted within an elastically deformable range of the insertion portion during the insertion into the opening. A ventilation member of the present disclosure can be reliably fixed to an opening of a housing with the insertion portion, even when the insertion portion is inserted into the opening at an angle.