# US 11,897,267 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 11,897,267 B2 - Document ID: US11897267B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/389,419 - Filed: 2021-07-30 - Published: 2022-01-20 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - 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/US11897267B2 ## 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 cover positioned higher than the storage chamber in an upward direction; a liquid supply portion extending in a frontward direction from the cartridge casing, the frontward direction being perpendicular to the upward direction; and a protruding portion provided at the cover to protrude upward therefrom in the upward direction, the protruding portion defining an inner space therein, the protruding portion comprising: a first wall extending in the frontward direction and the upward direction, the first wall having one end in a rearward direction opposite the frontward direction; a second wall spaced apart from the first wall in a widthwise direction perpendicular to both the frontward direction and the upward direction, the second wall extending in the frontward direction and the upward 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 each of the first wall and the second wall has an inclined surface inclined relative to the frontward direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a dimension in the widthwise direction of the third wall is smaller than a dimension in the widthwise direction of the cartridge casing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface of each of the first wall and the second wall is inclined downward as extending further in the frontward direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The liquid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein each of the first wall and the second wall further has a horizontal surface extending in the frontward direction, the horizontal surface of each of the first wall and the second wall having one end in the frontward direction, and wherein the inclined surface of each of the first wall and the second wall has one end in the rearward direction, the one end of the inclined surface of each of the first wall and the second wall being connected to the one end of the horizontal surface of a corresponding one of the first wall and the second wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The liquid cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal surface of each of the first wall and the second wall has one end in the rearward direction connected to the third wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The liquid cartridge according to claim 3, further comprising a circuit board, wherein the protruding portion is positioned further in the rearward direction than the circuit board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The liquid cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the inclined surface of each of the first wall and the second wall has an upper end portion positioned higher than the circuit board in the upward direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The liquid cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the circuit board is positioned between the protruding portion and the liquid supply portion in the frontward direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the third wall has 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 10 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a top wall, and wherein the protruding portion protrudes from the top wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The liquid cartridge according to claim 10, further comprising a circuit board, wherein the protruding portion is positioned further in the rearward direction than the circuit board. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, further comprising a plate provided at the top wall to protrude upward therefrom in the upward direction, wherein the plate is positioned further in the frontward direction than the circuit board. ### Claim 13 (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 14 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cover is immovably supported by the cartridge casing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The liquid cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the liquid supply portion is positioned below the cover. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge body has an upper end portion formed with an opening open upward. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The liquid cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the cover covers the opening.