US 5,087,005 AGranted

Twist-cam suction cup assembly

OwnerRichard S. Holoff, J. David Rigginsinventors

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Abstract

A suction cup assembly is provided for securing a utilization device to a surface. The suction cup assembly includes a suction cup and a core member. The core member has a generally cylindrical outer surface, and is secured to the suction cup. The assembly also has a cone member which has an outer periphery generally co-extensive with the outer portion of the suction cup, and which has a generally cylindrical inner opening closely enclosing the cylindrical outer surface of the core member. The cone member and the core member constitute a pair of mating members. The assembly further includes a cam member for axially shifting the core member outward relative to the cone member by pulling the center of the suction cup away from a surface to which the suction cup may be adhered. The cam member has generally cylindrical camming surfaces, and is mounted onto and closely engages either the core member or a camming flange on the cone member, depending on the embodiment.

A twist cam suction cup assembly comprising:

a suction cup which has a central attachment portion;
a core member secured to said suction cup, said core member having a generally cylindrical outer surface and an upper cylindrical portion and a lower cylindrical portion delimiting a lower chamber;
a cone member having an outer periphery generally co-extensive with the outer portion of said suction cup, said cone member having a generally cylindrical inner opening closely enclosing the cylindrical outer surface of said core member;
said cone member and said core member constituting a pair of mating members;
a utilization device having a bearing surface and being mounted on one of said two mating members;
a cam member having generally cylindrical camming surfaces, said camming surfaces comprising a generally cylindrically contoured camming edge for bearing against the bearing surface of the utilization device;
said cam member being mounted onto and closely engaging the upper cylindrical portion of the core member;
anti-rotation means, comprising a mating combination of ribs and keyway slots on the cone member and core member, respectively, for preventing relative rotation of said two mating members while permitting relative axial movement thereof, to prevent undesired rotation of said utilization device and said suction cup;
securing means for connecting the suction cup to the utilization device;
said core member having an internal wall perpendicular to the outer surface, said internal wall delimiting the lower chamber and said lower chamber being provided for entrapping the attachment portion of the suction cup when the securing means is inserted into the attachment portion;
said cam member and its associated camming surfaces serving to axially shift the core member outward with respect to said cone member to increase the suction of the suction cup by pulling the center thereof away from a surface to which the suction cup may be adhered, to shift the assembly to a tightened position as the cam member is rotated;
and
snap-lock means, comprising a groove on the utilization device and mating tabs on the camming surfaces of the cam member, for releasably locking the cam member into the tightened position.

10 more elements

Facts

Application

07/654,276Filed 12 Feb 1991

Granted

11 Feb 1992

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B65G 49/061
For fragile sheets, e.g. glass: lifting, gripping, or carrying means, for one or more sheets forming independent means of transport, e.g. suction…
A47G 23/0225
For one glass or cup: attachable to a plate, table, or the like
A47K 1/09
Accessories for toilet tables, e.g. glass plates, supports therefor: holders for drinking glasses, tooth brushes, hair brushes, or the like
B25B 11/007
Vacuum work holders: portable, e.g. handheld

Abstract

Claims19