Suction-mountable display device having a periphery and a bend adjacent the periphery

A deformable device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface comprising:

• a body including:
• an outer surface;
• a periphery extending around the body surrounding the outer surface;
• and
• an inner surface opposite said outer surface, said inner surface having a concave portion opposite said outer surface when the body is undeformed, said concave portion having a center and including a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on said mounting surface during use, the suction portion having a central region including said center of the concave portion, the inner surface including a boundary defining the suction portion and an additional portion between the suction portion and the periphery;
• wherein the body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between said suction portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface;
• wherein tangents of the inner surface extend at corresponding angles with respect to the mounting surface when the inner surface is positioned adjacent the mounting surface and each angle of said angles varies from each other angle of said angles by about 85° or less when the body is in the undeformed shape;
• wherein the inner surface includes:
• a first region adjacent the central region having a first tangent of said tangents;
• a second region between the first region and the boundary having a second tangent of said tangents;
• a third region adjacent the boundary having a third tangent of said tangents;
• and
• a fourth region between the boundary and the periphery having a fourth tangent of said tangents;
• wherein, when the body is in its undeformed shape and said inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface:
• the first tangent is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• the second tangent extends at a second angle with respect to the mounting surface;
• the third tangent extends at a third angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the second angle;
• and
• the fourth tangent extends at a fourth angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the third angle;
• and
• wherein the body is configured so that when the body is in the actuated shape and mounted on the mounting surface:
• the first tangent is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• an angle at which the second tangent extends with respect to the mounting surface is less than the angle at which the tangent of the second region extends with respect to the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape and the inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface;
• and
• the third tangent of said third region is generally parallel to the mounting surface.

A deformable device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface comprising:

• a body including:
• an outer surface;
• a periphery extending around the body surrounding the outer surface;
• and
• an inner surface opposite said outer surface, said inner surface having a concave portion opposite said outer surface when the body is undeformed, said concave portion having a center and including a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on said mounting surface during use, the suction portion having a central region including said center of the concave portion, the inner surface including a boundary defining the suction portion and an additional portion between the suction portion and the periphery;
• wherein the body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between said suction portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface;
• wherein the inner surface includes:
• a first region adjacent the central region having a first tangent;
• a second region between the first region and the boundary having a second tangent;
• a third region adjacent the boundary having a third tangent;
• and
• a fourth region between the boundary and the periphery having a fourth tangent;
• a fifth region between the fourth region and the periphery having a fifth tangent;
• and
• a sixth region between the fifth region and the periphery having a sixth tangent;
• wherein, when the body is in its undeformed shape and said inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface:
• the first tangent is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• the second tangent extends at a second angle with respect to the mounting surface;
• the third tangent extends at a third angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the second angle;
• and
• the fourth tangent extends at a fourth angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the third angle;
• the fifth tangent extends at an angle with respect to the mounting surface that is greater than the fourth angle;
• the sixth tangent extends at an angle with respect to the mounting surface that is greater than the fifth angle;
• and
• wherein the body further comprises a pad in the sixth region contacting said mounting surface when the device is mounted on the mounting surface.

A deformable device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface comprising:

• a body including:
• an outer surface;
• a periphery extending around the body surrounding the outer surface;
• and
• an inner surface opposite said outer surface, said inner surface having a concave portion opposite said outer surface when the body is undeformed, said concave portion having a center and including a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on said mounting surface during use, the suction portion having a central region including said center of the concave portion, the inner surface including a boundary defining the suction portion and an additional portion between the suction portion and the periphery;
• wherein a thickness measured between the inner surface and the outer surface tapers from a maximum thickness adjacent the center of the concave portion to a minimum thickness at the periphery;
• wherein the body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between said suction portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby seeming the body to the mounting surface;
• wherein the inner surface includes:
• a first inner region adjacent the central region having a first inner tangent;
• a second inner region between the first inner region and the boundary having a second inner tangent;
• a third inner region adjacent the boundary having a third inner tangent;
• and
• a fourth inner region between the boundary and the periphery having a fourth inner tangent;
• wherein, when the body is in its undeformed shape and said inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface:
• the first inner tangent is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• the second inner tangent extends at a second inner angle with respect to the mounting surface;
• the third inner tangent extends at a third inner angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the second inner angle;
• and
• the fourth inner tangent extends at a fourth inner angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the third inner angle;
• and
• wherein the outer surface includes:
• a first outer region opposite the first inner region, the first outer region having a first outer tangent being substantially parallel to the first inner tangent;
• a second outer region opposite the second inner region, the second outer region having a second outer tangent being substantially parallel to the second inner tangent;
• a third outer region opposite the third inner region, the third outer region having a third outer tangent being substantially parallel to the third inner tangent;
• and
• a fourth outer region opposite the fourth inner region, the fourth outer region having a fourth outer tangent being substantially parallel to the fourth inner tangent.

A deformable device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface comprising a body including:

• an outer surface;
• a periphery extending around the body surrounding the outer surface;
• and
• an inner surface opposite said outer surface, said inner surface having a concave portion opposite said outer surface when the body is undeformed, said concave portion including a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on said mounting surface during use, said inner surface including a boundary defining said suction portion and an additional portion between said boundary of said suction portion and said periphery of the body;
• wherein said inner surface includes an inner-surface bend adjacent said boundary at which the inner surface curves away from the mounting surface when the inner surface of the body is positioned on the mounting surface;
• wherein said outer surface includes an outer-surface bend corresponding to and opposite the inner-surface bend;
• and
• wherein the body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between said suction portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface;
• and
• wherein the body is configured to have one or more characteristics selected from a group of characteristics consisting of:
• a mass of the additional portion is at least about 7% of a mass of the body;
• and
• a distance between said boundary and said periphery is at least about 6% of a maximum length of the body;
• wherein the body is configured so that when the body is in the undeformed shape a first tangent of the inner surface within the inner-surface bend is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• and
• wherein the body is configured so that when the body is in the actuated shape and mounted on the mounting surface said first tangent of the inner surface of the body is generally parallel to the mounting surface.

A deformable device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface comprising:

• a body including:
• an outer surface;
• a periphery extending around the body surrounding the outer surface;
• and
• an inner surface opposite said outer surface, said inner surface having a concave portion opposite said outer surface when the body is undeformed, said concave portion having a center and including a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on said mounting surface during use, the suction portion having a central region including said center of the concave portion, the inner surface including a boundary defining the suction portion and an additional portion between the suction portion and the periphery;
• wherein the body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between said suction portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface;
• wherein the inner surface includes:
• a first region adjacent the central region having a first tangent of said tangents;
• a second region between the first region and the boundary having a second tangent of said tangents;
• a third region adjacent the boundary having a third tangent of said tangents;
• and
• a fourth region between the boundary and the periphery having a fourth tangent of said tangents;
• wherein, when the body is in its undeformed shape and said inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface:
• the first tangent is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• the second tangent extends at a second angle with respect to the mounting surface;
• the third tangent extends at a third angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the second angle;
• and
• the fourth tangent extends at a fourth angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the third angle;
• and
• wherein the body is configured so that substantially all of the inner surface between the boundary and the periphery contacts the mounting surface when the body is in the actuated shape and secured to the mounting surface.

A deformable device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface comprising:

• a body including:
• an outer surface;
• a periphery extending around the body surrounding the outer surface;
• and
• an inner surface opposite said outer surface, said inner surface having a concave portion opposite said outer surface when the body is undeformed, said concave portion having a center and including a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on said mounting surface during use, the suction portion having a central region including said center of the concave portion, the inner surface including a boundary defining the suction portion and an additional portion between the suction portion and the periphery;
• wherein a thickness measured between the inner surface and the outer surface tapers from a maximum thickness adjacent the center of the concave portion within the suction portion to a minimum thickness at the periphery;
• wherein the body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between said suction portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface;
• wherein the inner surface includes:
• a first region adjacent the central region having a first tangent of said tangents;
• a second region between the first region and the boundary having a second tangent of said tangents;
• a third region adjacent the boundary having a third tangent of said tangents;
• and
• a fourth region between the boundary and the periphery having a fourth tangent of said tangents;
• and
• wherein, when the body is in its undeformed shape and said inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface:
• the first tangent is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• the second tangent extends at a second angle with respect to the mounting surface;
• the third tangent extends at a third angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the second angle;
• and
• the fourth tangent extends at a fourth angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the third angle.

A deformable device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface comprising:

• a body including:
• an outer surface;
• a periphery extending around the body surrounding the outer surface;
• and
• an inner surface opposite said outer surface, said inner surface having a concave portion opposite said outer surface when the body is undeformed, said concave portion having a center and including a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on said mounting surface during use, the suction portion having a central region including said center of the concave portion, the inner surface including a boundary defining the suction portion and an additional portion between the suction portion and the periphery;
• wherein the body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between said suction portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface;
• wherein the inner surface includes:
• a first region adjacent the central region having a first tangent;
• a second region between the first region and the boundary having a second tangent;
• a third region adjacent the boundary having a third tangent;
• and
• a fourth region between the boundary and the periphery having a fourth tangent;
• a fifth region between the fourth region and the periphery having a fifth tangent;
• and
• a sixth region between the fifth region and the periphery having a sixth tangent;
• and
• wherein, when the body is in its undeformed shape and said inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface:
• the first tangent is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• the second tangent extends at a second angle with respect to the mounting surface;
• the third tangent extends at a third angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the second angle;
• and
• the fourth tangent extends at a fourth angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the third angle;
• the fifth tangent extends at an angle with respect to the mounting surface that is greater than the fourth angle;
• and
• the sixth tangent extends at an angle with respect to the mounting surface that is greater than the fifth angle.

A deformable device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface comprising:

• a body including:
• an outer surface;
• a periphery extending around the body surrounding the outer surface;
• and
• an inner surface opposite said outer surface, said inner surface having a concave portion opposite said outer surface when the body is undeformed, said concave portion having a center and including a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on said mounting surface during use, the suction portion having a central region including said center of the concave portion, the inner surface including a boundary defining the suction portion and an additional portion between the suction portion and the periphery;
• wherein the body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between said suction portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface;
• wherein the inner surface includes:
• a first region adjacent the central region having a first tangent of said tangents;
• a second region between the first region and the boundary having a second tangent of said tangents;
• a third region adjacent the boundary having a third tangent of said tangents;
• and
• a fourth region between the boundary and the periphery having a fourth tangent of said tangents;
• wherein, when the body is in its undeformed shape and said inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface:
• the first tangent is generally parallel to the mounting surface;
• the second tangent extends at a second angle with respect to the mounting surface;
• the third tangent extends at a third angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the second angle;
• and
• the fourth tangent extends at a fourth angle with respect to the mounting surface that is less than the third angle;
• wherein, when the body is undeformed and the inner surface is positioned adjacent the mounting surface, the outer surface includes:
• a first outer region opposite the first inner region, the first outer region having a first outer tangent being substantially parallel to the first inner tangent;
• a second outer region opposite the second inner region, the second outer region having a second outer tangent being substantially parallel to the second inner tangent;
• a third outer region opposite the third inner region, the third outer region having a third outer tangent being substantially parallel to the third inner tangent;
• and
• a fourth outer region opposite the fourth inner region, the fourth outer region having a fourth outer tangent being substantially parallel to the fourth inner tangent;
• wherein the body is configured so that substantially all of the inner surface between the boundary and the periphery contacts the mounting surface when the body is in the actuated shape and secured to the mounting surface.