# US 11,077,669 B2 · Liquid cartridge capable of reducing leakage of liquid from liquid storage chamber > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,669 B2 - Document ID: US11077669B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/682,746 - Filed: 2019-11-13 - Published: 2020-06-11 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-27 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi; Hiroaki Takahashi; Takahiro Miyao; Fumio Nakazawa; Naoya Okazaki; Akihito Ono; Kosuke Nukui; Hiroshi Taira; Toyonori Sasaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077669B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure} - B41J 2/17503: {Ink cartridges} - B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer} - B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure} - B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer} - B41J 2/17523: {Ink connection} - B41J 2/17526: {Electrical contacts to the cartridge} - B41J 2/17536: {Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape} - B41J 2/1754: {with means attached to the cartridge, e.g. protective cap} - B41J 2/17556: {Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge} - B41J 2/19: for removing air bubbles - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid cartridge comprising: a cartridge casing formed with a storage chamber configured to store liquid therein, the cartridge casing comprising a top wall positioned higher than the storage chamber; a liquid supply portion extending in a frontward direction from the cartridge casing; a circuit board provided at the top wall; a protruding portion provided at the top wall to protrude upward therefrom, the protruding portion defining an inner space therein, the protruding portion comprising: a first wall extending in the frontward direction and a rearward direction opposite the frontward direction, the first wall having one end in the rearward direction; a second wall spaced apart from the first wall, the second wall extending in the frontward direction and the rearward direction, the second wall having one end in the rearward direction; and a third wall connecting the one end of the first wall and the one end of the second wall to each other; an air passage through which the storage chamber communicates with an atmosphere; and a valve movable from a first position preventing the storage chamber from communicating with the atmosphere to a second position allowing the storage chamber to communicate with the atmosphere through the air passage, wherein the protruding portion is positioned further in the rearward direction than the circuit board, and wherein the valve has a distal end facing upward so as to be accessible from an outside through the inner space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the valve is movable from the first position to the second position in response to receiving an external force applied from an upward direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member urging the valve upward. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The liquid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the urging member is a coil spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the third wall having a surface facing rearward, the surface serving as an engagement surface configured to be engaged with a portion of a liquid consuming device in a state where the liquid cartridge is attached to the liquid consuming device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the inner space defined in the protruding portion is open upward and frontward. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein each of the first wall and the second wall has an inclined surface inclined relative to the frontward direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The liquid cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the inclined surface is inclined downward as extending further in the frontward direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The liquid cartridge according to claim 8, wherein each of the first wall and the second wall further has a horizontal surface extending in the frontward direction, the horizontal surface having one end in the frontward direction, and wherein the inclined surface has one end in the rearward direction, the one end of the inclined surface being connected to the one end of the horizontal surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The liquid cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the horizontal surface has one end in the rearward direction connected to the third wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a plate provided at the top wall to protrude upward therefrom, wherein the plate is positioned further in the frontward direction than the circuit board. ### Claim 12 A liquid cartridge comprising: a cartridge casing formed with a storage chamber configured to store liquid therein, the cartridge casing comprising a top wall positioned higher than the storage chamber; a liquid supply portion extending in a frontward direction from the cartridge casing; a circuit board provided at the top wall; and a protruding portion provided at the top wall to protrude upward therefrom, the protruding portion defining an inner space therein, the protruding portion comprising: a first wall extending in the frontward direction and a rearward direction opposite the frontward direction, the first wall having one end in the rearward direction; a second wall spaced apart from the first wall, the second wall extending in the frontward direction and the rearward direction, the second wall having one end in the rearward direction; and a third wall connecting the one end of the first wall and the one end of the second wall to each other, wherein the protruding portion is positioned further in the rearward direction than the circuit board, and wherein each of the first wall and the second wall has an inclined surface inclined relative to the frontward direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The liquid cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the inclined surface is inclined downward as extending further in the frontward direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The liquid cartridge according to claim 13, wherein each of the first wall and the second wall further has a horizontal surface extending in the frontward direction, the horizontal surface having one end in the frontward direction, and wherein the inclined surface has one end in the rearward direction, the one end of the inclined surface being connected to the one end of the horizontal surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The liquid cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the horizontal surface has one end in the rearward direction connected to the third wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The liquid cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the third wall having a surface facing rearward, the surface serving as an engagement surface configured to be engaged with a portion of a liquid consuming device in a state where the liquid cartridge is attached to the liquid consuming device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The liquid cartridge according to claim 12, further comprising a plate provided at the top wall to protrude upward therefrom, wherein the plate is positioned further in the frontward direction than the circuit board. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The liquid cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the inner space defined in the protruding portion is open upward and frontward. ### Claim 19 A liquid cartridge comprising: a cartridge casing formed with a storage chamber configured to store liquid therein, the cartridge casing comprising a top wall positioned higher than the storage chamber; a liquid supply portion extending in a frontward direction from the cartridge casing; a circuit board provided at the top wall; a protruding portion provided at the top wall to protrude upward therefrom, the protruding portion defining an inner space therein, the protruding portion comprising: a first wall extending in the frontward direction and a rearward direction opposite the frontward direction, the first wall having one end in the rearward direction; a second wall spaced apart from the first wall, the second wall extending in the frontward direction and the rearward direction, the second wall having one end in the rearward direction; and a third wall connecting the one end of the first wall and the one end of the second wall to each other; and a plate provided at the top wall to protrude upward therefrom, wherein the protruding portion is positioned further in the rearward direction than the circuit board, and wherein the plate is positioned further in the frontward direction than the circuit board. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The liquid cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the third wall having a surface facing rearward, the surface serving as an engagement surface configured to be engaged with a portion of a liquid consuming device in a state where the liquid cartridge is attached to the liquid consuming device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The liquid cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the inner space defined in the protruding portion is open upward and frontward.