US 6,375,143 B1Granted

Releasable suction cup

OwnerCatherine R. Burnsinventor

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Abstract

A releasable suction cup is formed with a tab formed integral with its rim, and with a release filament attached to the tab. On assembly of the suction cup with a panel to be mounted to a smooth surface by the suction cup, the release filament is threaded through a hole in the panel so that an end of the release filament is accessible adjacent the panel surface that is opposite from the suction cup. When the panel is mounted with the suction cup to the smooth surface, the suction cup can be released by pulling on the accessible end of the release filament. A second embodiment of the invention consists of a double-sided suction cup wherein each cup member has a tab with a release filament attached to its tab and threaded through a hole in the panel to be mounted to a smooth surface. With one side of the double-sided suction cup attached to the smooth surface, the release filament connected to that suction cup side remains accessible through the panel to be pulled to release the suction cup.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A releasable double-sided suction cup for supporting a panel to an attachment surface, comprising:

a) a first cup member having a cavity with a substantially planar rim and being formed of a substantially soft, resilient material;
b) a second cup member having a cavity with a substantially planar rim and being formed of a substantially soft, resilient material;
c) a connector for connecting the first cup member to the second cup member such that the cavity of the first cup member and the cavity of the second cup member are oriented opposite to one another, the connector positioned through a connecting hole in the panel such that the first cup member resides on one side and the second cup member resides on the other side of the panel;
d) a first tab connected to the rim of the first cup member and extending radially outwardly of the cavity thereof;
e) a first release filament attached at a first end thereof to the first tab, with the second end thereof positioned through a release hole in the panel such that the second end of the release filament resides on the opposite side of the panel from the first cup member;
f) a second tab connected to the rim of the second cup member and extending radially outwardly of the cavity thereof, and
g) a second release filament attached at a first end thereof to the second tab, with the second end thereof positioned through the release hole in the panel such that the second end of the release filament resides on the opposite side of the panel from the second cup member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.