High vacuum fastener

A vacuum device for securement against a flat surface and capable of maintaining a vacuum against the surface by means of an external vacuum source comprising:

• a block having a smooth first surface for contact against the flat surface, said smooth surface having a closed peripheral groove;
• sealing means disposed in said closed peripheral groove defining a vacuum retaining area with the flat surface;
• and
• valve means disposed in said block and having an inlet accessible on a second block surface and communicative to said vacuum retaining area, said valve means including a valve plug disposed within said block, an inlet port disposed in said valve plug for receiving an elongated valve pin, nozzle means secured within said block and communicative to the vacuum-retaining area formed between said first block surface and the flat surface, a valve seat seal surrounding said nozzle means and communicative with said vacuum-retaining area, and means responsive to the insertion of a valve pin in said inlet port for opening said valve seat seal to permit said vacuum-retaining area to be evacuated, and also responsive to the removal of a valve pin from said inlet for closing said valve seat seal to permit maintenance of the vacuum created in said vacuum-retaining area.