Abstract:
A waterproof and breathable plug is provided. A protection net is assembled with one side or two sides of a waterproof and breathable membrane, to prevent insects from contacting and damaging the waterproof and breathable membrane. A collet is further assembled with the waterproof and breathable membrane, to prevent the waterproof and breathable membrane from moving, contracting and being deformed. The collet is also easily to be assembled in a breathable bolt. The waterproof and breathable plug is adjustable to regulate the breathing rate, fitting different electrical boxes or different weather conditions. Therefore, the problems of the prior art that the conventional waterproof and breathable membrane is easily bit by insects, the waterproof and breathable membrane has a constant-sized opening that cannot regulate the air amount, and the waterproof and breathable membrane is likely deformed due to the bad weather and high humidity and temperature are thus overcome.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/871,027 filed Aug. 30, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to waterproof and breathable plugs for waterproof boxes, and, more particularly, to a waterproof and breathable plug having a waterproof and breathable membrane that is not bitable by insects. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A waterproof box, especially an electrical box, has a variety of electronic components mounted therein. In general, the electrical box has a box body made of metal. When water molecules enter the box body or hot and cold air exchange in the box body, the electronic components may get rusted. In order to expel the water molecules, an electrical box is generally provided with a through hole and a waterproof and breathable plug mounted in the through hole. 
         [0006]    A waterproof and breathable plug has to have great enough air ventilation amount and waterproof capability, in order to be effectively used in bad weather, such as stormy weather or hurricane. However, the electrical box, and the through hole as well, has a constant size, and the waterproof capability is thus limited. 
         [0007]    Therefore, how to provide a novel waterproof and breathable plug is becoming one of the most popular issues in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In order to solve the problems of the prior art that the conventional waterproof and breathable membrane is easily bit by insects, the waterproof and breathable membrane has a constant-sized opening that cannot regulate the air amount, and the waterproof and breathable membrane is likely deformed due to the bad weather and high humidity and temperature, the present invention provides a waterproof and breathable plug having a waterproof and breathable membrane that is mounted in an air passage of the waterproof and breathable plug, for allowing air to flow therethrough but prohibiting the water molecules from entering the electrical box. The present invention also provides a waterproof and breathable plug having a protection net assembled in a plurality of arched blocks to prop against one or two sides of the waterproof and breathable membrane and prevent insects from biting and damaging the waterproof and breathable membrane. Further, the waterproof and breathable plug has free openings with adjustable sizes. Therefore, the air ventilation rate of the electrical box may be increased by adjusting the size of the free openings. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, a collet or a box body is further provided. The collet is fixed to the waterproof and breathable membrane securely to prevent the waterproof and breathable membrane from deformation. The collet may be also assembled in the box body, and then assembled, together with the box body, in the waterproof and breathable plug. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a waterproof and breathable plug, comprising: a plug body comprising a mounting base, a tubular screw rod and a plurality of arched blocks, wherein the mounting base has an air vent disposed in a central region thereof, the tubular screw rod is formed on one side of the mounting base and communicating with the air vent, each of the arched blocks has an outer thread disposed on an outer wall thereof, the arched blocks surround the air vent on the other side of the mounting base, and the arched blocks have gaps therebetween defining free openings; a waterproof and breathable membrane assembled in the arched blocks; a cover member comprising a cap nut, the cap nut having a recessed chamber formed on an inner side thereof, the recessed chamber having a threaded inner wall disposed on a periphery thereof; and an air valve assembled in the recessed chamber of the cover member and spaced from the threaded inner wall at an interval, the outer threads of the arched blocks of the plug body being screwed into the interval and screwed with the threaded inner wall, the air valve penetrating inner sides of the arched blocks. 
         [0011]    Compared with the conventional waterproof and breathable plug, the waterproof and breathable plug of the present invention has the protection net assembled in the arched blocks and propping against one or two sides of the waterproof and breathable membrane, to prevent insects from contacting or damaging the waterproof and breathable membrane. The waterproof and breathable plug of the present invention further has free openings with adjustable sizes. Therefore, the air ventilation rate of the electrical box may be increased by adjusting the size of the free openings. 
         [0012]    The present invention further provides a collet or a box body is further provided. The collet is fixed to the waterproof and breathable membrane securely to prevent the waterproof and breathable membrane from deformation. The collet may be also assembled in the box body, and then assembled, together with the box body, in the waterproof and breathable plug. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of a waterproof and breathable plug of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of a cover member of the waterproof and breathable plug of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the waterproof and breathable plug of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a waterproof and breathable plug of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the waterproof and breathable plug of  FIG. 3  having a different air through hole; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a collet of the waterproof and breathable plug of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the collet of  FIG. 5A  that is assembled; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof and breathable plug of  FIG. 3  or  FIG. 4  that is assembled; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of a box body of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the box body of  FIG. 7A  assembled with a collet and a waterproof and breathable membrane; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7C  is an exploded view of the assembly of  FIG. 7B ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7D  is a cross-sectional view of a cover member assembled with an air valve of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an assembly of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9A  is an exploded view of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9B  is cross-sectional view of another embodiment of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10A  is an exploded view of the collet of  FIG. 9A  or  FIG. 9B ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10B  is an exploded view of another embodiment of  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 12A  is a cross-sectional view of a box body and an air valve of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12B  is a cross-sectional view of the box body and the air valve of  FIG. 12A  assembled with a collet; 
           [0034]      FIG. 12C  is an exploded view of  FIG. 12B ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12D  is a cross-sectional view of a cover member of an embodiment according to the present invention; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    The following illustrative embodiments are provided to illustrate the disclosure of the present invention, and these and other advantages and effects can be apparently understood by those in the art after reading the disclosure of this specification. The present invention can also be performed or applied by other different embodiments. The details of the specification may be on the basis of different points and applications, and numerous modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , a waterproof and breathable plug of an embodiment according to the present invention is provided. 
         [0039]    The waterproof and breathable plug comprises a plug body  2 , at least a waterproof and breathable membrane (cloth)  3 , and a cover member  5 . In an embodiment, the plug body  2  comprises a mounting base  21 , a tubular screw rod  23 , and a plurality of arched blocks  25 . The mounting base  21  has an air vent  211  in a central region thereof. The tubular screw rod  23  is formed at one side of the mounting base  21  and communicates with the air vent  211 . The arched blocks  25  have outer threads  253  formed on a portion of outer walls  251  thereof. The arched blocks  25  are installed on the other side of the mounting base  21  and equiangularly surround the air vent  211 . A plurality of openings  255  are respectively defined between adjacent arched blocks  25 . The waterproof and breathable membrane (cloth)  3  is attached to the air vent  211  and surrounded by the arched blocks  25 , for allowing air to flow therethrough but prohibiting the water molecules from entering an electrical box plugged with the waterproof and breathable plug. The cover member  5  comprises a cap nut  53 . In an embodiment, the cap nut  53  has a recessed chamber  55  formed on an inner side thereof, and the recessed chamber  55  has a threaded inner wall  57  formed on a periphery thereof. 
         [0040]    An air valve  51  is assembled in the recessed chamber  55  of the cover member  5 . The air valve  51  comprises a plurality of valve pieces  513  (referring to  FIG. 12 ) perpendicularly assembled in the recessed chamber  55  of the cover member  5  and spaced from the threaded inner wall  57  at an interval  59 . The outer threads  253  of the arched blocks  25  of the plug body  2  are inserted into the interval  59  and screwed with the threaded inner wall  57 . The cover member  5  also covers a portion of the free openings  255  of the plug body  2 , with another portion of the free openings  255  being exposed, for air to pass therethrough. The air valve  51  penetrates an inner side of the arched blocks  25 . 
         [0041]    In an embodiment the air valve  51  comprises a plurality of valve pieces  513  perpendicularly mounted inside the recessed chamber  55 . The air valve  51  has free ends propping against elements inside the arched blocks  25 . 
         [0042]    Moreover, the embodiment is further assembled with a first protection net  9 . The first protection net  9  is assembled in the arched blocks  25  to prop against one side of the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . The air valve  51  props against the first protection net  9 . The first protection net  9  in turn props against one side of the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . The first protection net  9  prevents insects from contacting, biting and damaging the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . The first protection net  9  further prevents the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  from contraction and deformation or movement. In other words, the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  can be easily, smoothly mounted in the air passage of the waterproof and breathable plug, and will not be deformed after absorbing moisture, even if the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  is very thin. 
         [0043]    In an embodiment, the plug  2  has four arched blocks  25 , and the cover member  5  has four air valves  51 . 
         [0044]    Therefore, the first protection net  9  is assembled in the arched blocks  25  to prop against one side of the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . When insects invade the present invention via the free openings  255 , the first protection net  9  is disposed before and covers the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  such that the insects can not contact and damage the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . The cover member  5  may be finely tuned to move leftward or rightward, to rotate the air valve  51  to cover and adjust the size of the free openings  255  and thus the amount of the air passage. When the present invention is used with an electronic box (not shown), the electronic box may adjust the size of the free end opening with the waterproof and breathable plug of the present invention, in order to change the size of the air passage and the breathing rate. 
         [0045]    In an embodiment, the air valve  51  is an arc-shaped sliding blade in cooperation with the arched blocks  25  of the plug body  2 . Therefore, the arc-shaped air valve  51  may smoothly, tightly adjust and cover the free openings  255 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 A,  5 B and  6 , another embodiment according to the present invention is shown. In the embodiment, the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  is further assembled with a collet  22 , in which a receiving space for an element to be received therein is formed. The collet  22  comprises a collet opening  221 , a plurality of first air through holes  223  and a collet cap  225 . The collet opening  221  is formed on one side of the collet  22 , and the first air through holes  223  are formed on the other side of the collet  22 . The collet cap  225  has a plurality of second air through holes  2251  disposed in a central region thereof. The waterproof and breathable membrane  3  is assembled in the collet  22 . The collet cap  225  is assembled with the collet opening  221 . The collet  22  is assembled on the air vent  211  in the arched blocks  25 . The first protection net  9  is disposed adjacent to an outer side of the collet  22 , or is disposed in the collet  22 , to prop against one side of the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 , to prevent insects from contacting and damaging the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the first protection net  9  is disposed on the outer side of the collet  22 , such that the threaded inner wall  57  of the cover member  5  is screwed with the outer threads  253  of the arched blocks  25 . The free end of the air valve  51  props against the first protection net  9 , and the first protection net  9 , in turn, props against one side of the collet  22 . 
         [0047]    In an embodiment, the first air through holes  223  or the second air through holes  2251  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) are small in size for acting as air passages. Therefore, the collet  22  has more area left to clamp the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  therebetween to form a sandwich structure. Accordingly, the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  is unlikely to move. Referring to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the air through holes is shown. In the another embodiment, the collet  22  has only one big first air through hole  223  and the callop cap  25  also has only one big second air through hole  2251 , and the collet  22  thus clamps the periphery of the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 , to form the sandwich structure. Accordingly, the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  is unlikely to move. 
         [0048]    Since the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  is assembled in the collet  22 , the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  may be easily, quickly assembled, together with the collet  22 , into the arched blocks  25  of the waterproof and breathable plug with bare hands. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  7 C,  7 D and  8 , yet another embodiment is shown. In the yet another embodiment, the collet  22  is further assembled with a box body  24 . In an embodiment, the box body  24  is made of metal or soft material, such as rubber and plastic soft material. The box body  24  comprises an opening  241 , a third air through hole  243 , and a box cover  245 . The opening  241  is formed on one side of the box body  24 . The third air through hole  243  is formed on the other side of the box body  24 . The box cover  245  has a fourth air through hole  2451  in a central region thereof. The collet  22  is assembled in the box body  24 . The box cover  245  is further assembled in the opening  241 . The air valve  51  of the embodiment is lower, in order to be assembled with the box body  24  that has a certain depth, to prop against and fix the box body  24  in the arched blocks  25  (referring to  FIGS. 7D and 8 ). As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first protection net  9  is disposed outside of the box body  24 , and the free end of the air valve  51  props against the first protection net  9  and the first protection net  9  in turn props against one side of the box body  24 , to prevent insects from contacting and damaging the box body  24 , the collet  22  and the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , an embodiment of the present invention assembled with an electrical box is shown. Air flows via the free openings  255 , the first protection net  9 , the fourth air through hole  245 , the first air through hole  223 , the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 , the second air through hole  2251 , the third air through hole  243  and the air vent  211  and communicates air in the electrical box. Accordingly, the collet  22  and the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  therein is prevented by the box body  24  from deformation and sliding, so as to achieve perfect engagement and waterproof effects. 
         [0051]    Refer to  FIGS. 3 ,  5 A and  5 B. The collet opening  221  is further surrounded by an inner flange  2211 . The collet cap  225  has an outer flange  2252  formed on one side rim thereof. The outer flange  2252  hooks in the inner flange  2211 , such that the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  may be quickly assemble in or detached from the collet  22 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B and  11 , an embodiment is shown. In the embodiment, six arched blocks  25  are shown, and the collet  22  is further assembled with a second protection net  90  that is disposed between the waterproof and breathable  3  in the collet  22  and the collet cap  225 , while the first protection net  9  is disposed between the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  and the collet  22 . When the tubular screw rod  23  of the waterproof and breathable plug passes through and is assembled with an electrical box (not shown), insects that stay in the electrical box may crawl from the electrical box via the tubular screw rod  23  into the waterproof and breathable plug. The second protection net  90 , at one side, and the first protection net  9 , at the other side, prevent the insects from damaging the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . 
         [0053]    In an embodiment, a first air through hole cushion  3  is assembled between the first protection net  9  and the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 , and a second air through hole cushion  40  is assembled between the second protection net  90  and the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . The first air through hole cushion  4  and the second air through hole cushion  40  may clamp the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  and allow air to flow therethrough. The second protection net  90  and the first protection net  9  may clamp the first air through hole cushion  4  and the second air through hole cushion  40 , respectively, to prevent insects from damaging the waterproof and breathable membrane  3 . 
         [0054]    In an embodiment, the collet cap  225  has an outer flange  2231  on one side rim thereof, and a plurality of bumps  2233  on the other side rim thereof corresponding to the outer flange  2231 . The collet opening  221  of the collet  22  is surrounded by an inner flange  2211 , free openings  255  are defined gaps between the arched blocks  25  to form a plurality of hooking functions. The outer flange  2231  of the collet cap  225  is hooked to the inner flange  2211  of the collet opening  221  (referring to  FIG. 11 ). The air valve  51  passes through and is installed on inner sides of the arched blocks  25 . The free openings  255  that provide the hooking functions hook the bumps  2233 . 
         [0055]    The collet  22  has a plurality of pins  2235  on one side thereof adjacent the bumps  2233 . In an embodiment, the collet  22  is installed in the arched blocks  25  in a different manner from the above embodiments. The air valve  51  assembled with the cover member  5  passes through and is installed on inner sides of the arched blocks  25 , and the free end of the air valve  51  props against the pins  2235 . 
         [0056]    When an electrical box that is assembled with the waterproof and breathable plug according to the present invention is applied to a vibration machine, the pins  2235  may prop against the free end of the air valve  51  on the inner side of the cover member  5  to damp the rotation and vibration of the cover member  5 , preventing the cover member and the first protection net  9 , the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  and the collet  22  that are propped by the cover member  5  from being loosed. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B,  12 C,  12 D and  13 , another embodiment is shown. In the embodiment, the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  is installed in the collet  22 , and the collet  22  is further assembled with a box body  24 . In an embodiment, the box body  24  is made of metal or soft material, such as rubber and plastic soft material. The box body  24  comprises an opening  241  formed on one side thereof, and a third air through hole  243  formed on the other side thereof. The collet  22  is assembled in the box body  24 . 
         [0058]    The air valve  51  comprises a body  511  and a plurality of valve pieces  513  equiangularly spaced around the body  511 . The body  511  has a fourth air through hole  512 . In the embodiment, the body  511  also acts as a box cover. The air valve  51  is assembled with the opening  241  of the box body  24 , the valve pieces  513  of the air valve  51  have free ends propping against the collet  22  and restricting the collet  22  from sliding. The box body  245  may be assembled in and detached from the arched blocks  25  conveniently. The cover member  5  is screwed with the outer threads  253  of the arched blocks  25 . The air valve  51  is assembled in the recessed chamber  55  of the cover member  5 . The body  511  is propped by the recessed chamber  55  of the cover member  5 . The first protection net  9  is assembled in the arched blocks  25  to prop against one side of the box body  245 , in order to prevent insects from entering the boxy body  245  and the collet  22  to damage the waterproof and breathable membrane  3  therein. The free ends of the valve pieces  513  of the air valve  51  prop against the collet  22  and restrict collet  22  from sliding. 
         [0059]    In the above embodiments, the first protection net  9  and the second protection net  90  are made of metal, plastic or fiber. 
         [0060]    In the above embodiments, an O-ring  7  is mounted onto the tubular screw rod  23 , the tubular screw rod  23  is mounted onto a fixing through hole of the electrical box, and a force cap nut  6  is further mounted onto the tubular screw rod  23  of the electrical box. 
         [0061]    The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only illustrated to disclose the features and functions of the present invention and not restrictive of the scope of the present invention. It should be understood to those in the art that all modifications and variations according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure of the present invention should fall within the scope of the appended claims.