Electronically-releasable suction cup assembly secured to an appliance

An electronically-releasable suction cup assembly to releasably secure an object to a surface, the suction cup assembly comprising:

• a suction cup secured to the object, the suction cup having a cavity and being configured to be releasably secured to the surface;
• an actuator configured to selectively inject fluid into the cavity of the suction cup to release the suction cup from the surface;
• an electronic circuit coupled to the actuator, the electronic circuit being configured to control the actuator;
• a remote control wirelessly connected to the electronic circuit to enable remote control of the actuator;
• and
• wherein the electronic circuit includes a switch configured to cause the actuator to inject fluid into the cavity, and
• wherein the switch on the electronic circuit is activated through a security authentication mechanism in the remote control device.

A method of releasably securing an object to a surface, the method comprising:

• securing a suction cup of an electronically-releasable suction cup assembly to the object, the suction cup having a cavity and being configured to be releasably secured to the surface;
• and
• selectively injecting fluid with an actuator coupled to the suction cup, the actuator being configured to selectively inject fluid into the cavity of the suction cup to release the suction cup from the surface;
• controlling the actuator with a remote control wirelessly connected to the actuator;
• and
• wirelessly communicating control information to the actuator with a wireless communication module integrated with an electronic circuit coupled to the actuator, the electronic circuit being configured to control the actuator to inject fluid into the cavity of the suction cup to release the suction cup from the surface, the actuator being configured to open and close an injection port in fluid communication with the cavity.