# US 9,750,358 B2 · Suction base unit and receptacle

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- Number: US 9,750,358 B2
- Document ID: US9750358B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/433,822
- Filed: 2013-10-07
- Published: 2015-08-20
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-10
- Assignees: Little People Manufacturing Ltd.
- Applicants: Little People Manufacturing Ltd
- Inventors: Robin Drummond Jagger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750358B2

## CPC

- A47G 19/10: Devices for securing plates to the table
- A01K 5/0135: {with means for preventing or catching spillage}
- A01K 7/005: {Drinking bowls with anti-splash or anti-spilling features}
- A47G 29/093: Devices for securing receptacles to tables, or the like
- F16B 47/006: {the suction cups being activated by the rotation of a cranked lever arm}
- F16B 47/00: Suction cups for attaching purposes; Equivalent means using adhesives {(devices using adhesives, suction or magnetism for hanging or supporting pictures or the like A47G1/17; vacuum work holders B25B11/005; anchoring of ships using suction B63B21/27; suction cups for handling glass B65G49/061; load-engaging elements for cranes using suction means B66C1/02)}
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

A food receptacle (12), such as a child's food bowl, which can be secured to a flat surface by a suction base unit (10) is described. The suction base unit (10) is of low-profile and is adapted to be attached to a flat surface by a vacuum formed between a suction pad (14) in the suction base unit (10) and the flat surface. The food bowl (12) has a base (16) with a rim (18) adapted to rest on the flat surface to support the bowl (12) on the surface. The base (16) has a recess (20) adapted to receive the suction base unit (10) therein. Because the suction base unit (10) is of low profile it can be wholly contained within the base (16) of the bowl. A securing mechanism (22) is provided for releasably securing the suction base unit (10) within the base (16) of the food receptacle (12). In use, when the suction base unit (10) is attached to a flat surface and the receptacle (12) is secured thereto the rim (18) of the receptacle base (16) presses against the flat surface and supports the receptacle thereon.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A low-profile suction base unit for securing an object to a flat surface, the suction base unit comprising:
a suction pad adapted to attach the suction base unit to a flat surface by a vacuum formed between the suction pad and the flat surface;
a central core component provided in connection with the suction pad and adapted to form the vacuum between the suction pad and the flat surface when it is lifted from the surface;
a base plate having a central opening through which part of the central core component extends; and,
a lifting mechanism operatively connected to the central core component and adapted to move the central core component between a released position and a lifted position, the lifting mechanism comprising a handle which is pivotally connected to the central core component by a pivot pin, the handle being movable between first and third positions corresponding to the released position and the lifted position of the central core component respectively, and wherein the handle is generally planar and is in the shape of a half-annulus, having first and second pivot portions provided at each end of the half-annulus, and wherein the pivot pin is received in and extends between the first and second pivot portions, the first and second pivot portions engaging with an upper surface of the base plate when the handle is moved between the first and third positions,
wherein, in use, when the suction base unit is pressed against a flat surface and the lifting mechanism is operated to move the core component from the released to the lifted position the base unit is securely attached to the flat surface by the vacuum formed between the suction pad and the flat surface;
the pivot pin is received in first and second channels which are provided on an upper surface of the base plate on either side of the central opening wherein, in use, the channels enable the pivot pin to engage with both the handle and the core component and prevent lateral movement of the base plate (and hence the object);
the handle is movable through substantially 180°, so that it lies substantially parallel to the base plate in both the first and third positions;
the handle lies substantially at 90° to the base plate when it is in a second position;
a pivot axis of the pivot pin which passes through the first and second pivot portions, is offset from a central plane of the handle, so that when the handle is moved from the first through to the third position the pivot pin is lifted away from the upper surface of the base plate;
the base plate further comprises a locking lever which is adapted to engage with a part of a base of the object, such as a food receptacle, to releasably lock the suction base unit within the base of the object; and
the locking lever extends radially outwards from the base plate and is sufficiently resilient to be able to flex between a locked position and a released position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A suction base unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the suction pad is substantially circular in shape and the base plate is also of generally circular shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A suction base unit as defined in claim 2, wherein the base plate is formed with first and second substantially straight edge portions, the first and second straight edge portions being provided on opposite sides of the base plate and being substantially parallel to each other.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A suction base unit as defined in claim 3, wherein the first and second straight edge portions are adapted to engage with corresponding first and second flat surfaces provided in a base of the food receptacle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A suction base unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the object is a food receptacle for children.