Patent ID: 6425565
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: F16B

Abstract:
An apparatus for holding an object, the apparatus comprising:(a) a suction cup comprising a vacuum line, an interior region and a flexible contact flange, the vacuum line operative to reduce pressure in the interior region of the suction cup; (b) a rigid frame located in a vicinity of the suction cup; and (c) a flexible sheet, attached to the frame at locations outward from a rim of the contact flange, the sheet extending across the suction cup and having at least one aperture which communicates with the interior region of the suction cup the sheet operative to provide a barrier which prevents direct physical contact between the flexible contact flange and an object, but which permits a suction force resulting from the reduced pressure in the interior region of the suction cup to act on a surface of an object via the aperture, thereby allowing the object to be held without scratching, marring or damaging the surface of the object.