Patent ID: 7635180

Claim:
An ink cartridge, comprising: a cartridge case enclosing an ink chamber; a path extending from the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink cartridge; a valve member provided in the path, the valve member having a first state in which communication between the ink chamber and the exterior of the ink cartridge along the path is permitted and a second state in which communication between the ink chamber and the exterior of the ink cartridge along the path is prevented; and a first urging member provided on an ink chamber-side of the valve member in the path, the first urging member being capable of urging the valve member along the path toward the exterior of the cartridge and comprising an ink chamber-side portion, an exterior-side portion and an intermediate portion provided between the ink chamber-side portion and the exterior-side portion, the ink chamber-side portion and the exterior-side portion each having greater structural strength than the intermediate portion; wherein: the first urging member is formed of a resin or rubber material having elasticity; and when the valve member is in the first state, the first urging member is compressed in a direction of the path.