Venting member

Abstract

A venting member includes a fastener and a gas-permeable member positioned at least partially within the fastener to allow movement of a gas through the fastener, but prevent movement of liquids.

1 . A venting member, comprising: 
 a fastener; and    a gas-permeable member positioned at least partially within the fastener to allow movement of a gas through the fastener.    
   
   
       2 . The venting member of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is at least one of a screw and a bolt.  
   
   
       3 . The venting member of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the fastener includes an aperture formed therethrough substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the aperture receiving the gas-permeable member.  
   
   
       4 . The venting member of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener has an aperture, and wherein the gas-permeable member is positioned at least partially within the aperture.  
   
   
       5 . The venting member of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener has an aperture, and wherein the gas-permeable member is press-fit within the aperture.  
   
   
       6 . The venting member of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener has an aperture with opposite ends, and wherein opposite ends of the gas-permeable member are exposed to the respective opposite ends of the aperture.  
   
   
       7 . The venting member of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen at least partially positioned in the fastener.  
   
   
       8 . The venting member of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-permeable member is configured as a cylinder.  
   
   
       9 . The venting member of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-permeable member is configured to block movement of liquids through the fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The venting member of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener has an aperture, and wherein at least one portion of the aperture has a reduced diameter to retain the gas-permeable member therein.  
   
   
       11 . A vented assembly comprising: 
 a venting member including 
 a fastener, and  
 a gas-permeable member positioned at least partially within the fastener to allow movement of a gas through the fastener; and  
   at least one wall defining in part an enclosure, the fastener coupling to the at least one wall to fluidly connect a space inside the enclosure and a space outside the enclosure.    
   
   
       12 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the fastener includes an aperture formed therethrough substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       13 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener has an aperture, and wherein the gas-permeable member is positioned at least partially within the aperture.  
   
   
       14 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener has an aperture with opposite ends, and wherein opposite ends of the gas-permeable member are exposed to the respective opposite ends of the aperture.  
   
   
       15 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a screen at least partially positioned in the fastener.  
   
   
       16 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the gas-permeable member is configured as a cylinder.  
   
   
       17 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the gas-permeable member is configured to block movement of liquids through the fastener.  
   
   
       18 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener has an aperture, and wherein at least one portion of the aperture has a reduced diameter to retain the gas-permeable member therein.  
   
   
       19 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a seal preloaded against the at least one wall by the fastener, the seal fluidly sealing the space inside the enclosure from the space outside the enclosure.  
   
   
       20 . The vented assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one wall includes a threaded aperture therethrough, and wherein the fastener is at least one of a screw and a bolt threadably engageable with the threaded aperture.  
   
   
       21 . The vented assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising a thread-locking device coupled to at least one of the fastener and the threaded aperture, wherein the thread-locking device fluidly seals the space inside the enclosure from the space outside the enclosure when the fastener is threadably engaged with the threaded aperture.  
   
   
       22 . A venting member comprising: 
 a fastener including a body portion and a head portion, the body portion defining a longitudinal axis;    an aperture formed through the body portion and the head portion; and    a gas-permeable member positioned at least partially within the aperture to allow gas to pass through the fastener via the aperture.    
   
   
       23 . The venting member of  claim 22 , wherein the fastener is at least one of a screw and a bolt.  
   
   
       24 . The venting member of  claim 22 , further comprising a screen at least partially positioned in the fastener near the head portion of the fastener.  
   
   
       25 . The venting member of  claim 22 , wherein the gas-permeable member is configured as a cylinder.  
   
   
       26 . The venting member of  claim 22 , wherein the gas-permeable member is configured to block movement of liquids through the fastener via the aperture.  
   
   
       27 . The venting member of  claim 22 , wherein at least one portion of the aperture has a reduced diameter to retain the gas-permeable member therein.