Joining member having ventilation function and joining structure using same

Abstract

A joining member ( 1 ) includes an air-permeable membrane ( 11 ), a first adhesive layer ( 21 ) provided on a side of a first principal surface ( 11 a ) of the air-permeable membrane ( 11 ), a second adhesive layer ( 22 ) provided on a side of a second principal surface ( 11 b ) of the air-permeable membrane ( 11 ), an opening ( 21 h ) formed in the first adhesive layer ( 21 ), and a vent groove ( 1 d ) formed through the second adhesive layer ( 22 ) or between the second adhesive layer ( 22 ) and the air-permeable membrane ( 11 ). The vent groove ( 1 d ) includes a first portion (D 1 ) extending from an outer peripheral edge of the joining member ( 1 ) to a region corresponding to the opening ( 21 h ) and a second portion (D 2 ) to which the second principal surface ( 11 b ) of the air-permeable membrane ( 11 ) is exposed in the region corresponding to the opening ( 21 h ). The vent groove ( 1 d ) provides an air passage ( 1 v ) between a housing ( 31 ) and a support body ( 32 ) to communicate an inside of the housing ( 31 ) and an outside of the housing ( 31 ) when the housing ( 31 ) is fixed to the support body ( 32 ) using the joining member ( 1 ).

1 . A sheet-like joining member having a ventilation function and used to fix a housing having a vent hole to a support body, the joining member comprising:
 an air-permeable membrane having a first principal surface and a second principal surface;   a first adhesive layer provided on a side of the first principal surface of the air-permeable membrane, the first adhesive layer being adapted to be brought into contact with the housing around the vent hole;   an opening formed in the first adhesive layer so that the first principal surface of the air-permeable membrane faces the vent hole of the housing when the first adhesive layer comes into contact with the housing;   a second adhesive layer provided on a side of the second principal surface of the air-permeable membrane, the second adhesive layer being adapted to be brought into contact with the support body; and   a vent groove formed through the second adhesive layer or between the second adhesive layer and the air-permeable membrane so as to provide an air passage between the housing and the support body to communicate an inside of the housing and an outside of the housing when the housing is fixed to the support body using the joining member, the vent groove including a first portion extending from an outer peripheral edge of the joining member to a region corresponding to the opening and a second portion to which the second principal surface of the air-permeable membrane is exposed in the region corresponding to the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The joining member according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spacer provided between the second adhesive layer and the air-permeable membrane; and   a third adhesive layer provided between the spacer and the air-permeable membrane,   wherein the vent groove is formed at least through the spacer so that the vent groove has a depth equal to or greater than a thickness of the spacer.   
     
     
         3 . The joining member according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the vent groove is formed through the second adhesive layer, the spacer, and the third adhesive layer so that the vent groove has a depth equal to a total thickness of the second adhesive layer, the spacer, and the third adhesive layer, and   the vent groove has a bottom formed of the second principal surface of the air-permeable membrane.   
     
     
         4 . The joining member according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the vent groove is formed through the second adhesive layer so that the vent groove has a depth equal to a thickness of the second adhesive layer, and   the vent groove has a bottom formed of the second principal surface of the air-permeable membrane.   
     
     
         5 . The joining member according to  claim 1 , wherein the air-permeable membrane comprises a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The joining member according to  claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are each formed of a double-sided adhesive tape. 
     
     
         7 . A joining structure comprising:
 a support body;   a housing having a vent hole and fixed to the support body; and   a sheet-like joining member disposed between the support body and the housing so as to fix the housing to the support body,   wherein the joining member comprises:
 an air-permeable membrane having a first principal surface and a second principal surface; 
 a first adhesive layer provided on a side of the first principal surface of the air-permeable membrane, the first adhesive layer being in contact with the housing around the vent hole; 
 an opening formed in the first adhesive layer so that the first principal surface of the air-permeable membrane faces the vent hole of the housing; 
 a second adhesive layer provided on a side of the second principal surface of the air-permeable membrane, the second adhesive layer being in contact with the support body; and 
 a vent groove formed through the second adhesive layer or between the second adhesive layer and the air-permeable membrane so as to provide an air passage between the housing and the support body to communicate an inside of the housing and an outside of the housing, the vent groove including a first portion extending from an outer peripheral edge of the joining member to a region corresponding to the opening and a second portion to which the second principal surface of the air-permeable membrane is exposed in the region corresponding to the opening. 
   
     
     
         8 . The joining structure according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the support body is a solar cell panel, and   the housing is a terminal box of a solar cell.