Patent ID: 9322733
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: G01L

Claim Text:
1. A port for providing a fluid passageway through a wall of a Heating, Ventilation, and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) component, comprising: a hollow stem member having a first end and a second end; a flexible head member extending laterally away from the hollow stem member, the flexible head member having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a wall that is structured to flex toward the first end of the hollow stem member and to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the wall of the HVAC component when urged against the wall of the HVAC component during installation of the port; two or more ribs extending longitudinally along the hollow stem member, the two or more ribs situated between the flexible head member and the second end of the hollow stem member, the two or more ribs extending laterally away from the hollow stem member by a height, wherein the height of at least part of the two or more ribs increases in the direction of the flexible head member; and one or more flexible latch members extending longitudinally along the hollow stem member, the one or more flexible latch members situated between the flexible head member and the second end of the hollow stem member, each of the one or more flexible latch members having a first end that is secured to the hollow stem member and a second end that is generally free such that the second end of each of the one or more flexible latch members has a relaxed position and is configured to flex inward toward the hollow stem member from the relaxed position, and wherein the flexible head member is configured to be spaced from the second end of the one or more flexible latch members even when the one or more flexible latch members are in the relaxed position, each of the flexible latch members further having a plurality of teeth, each tooth of the plurality of teeth extending in a direction laterally away from the hollow stem member by a tooth height, wherein the tooth height of the plurality of teeth increases in the direction of the flexible head member.