Patent ID: 7631912
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: B66C,F16J

Abstract:
1. A lifting device for use in transferring an article, comprising: a) an external housing including a passage, an inner surface, an inner wall and a distal end, the passage extending through the external housing for connection to a negative pressure supply source that applies a vacuum attachment force, the inner surface and inner wall defining a vacuum compartment in fluid communication with the passage; and b) an internal housing including an outer surface, the internal housing connected with the external housing within the vacuum compartment to form a groove circuit therebetween, the groove circuit defined by the inner wall of the external housing and the outer surface of the internal housing, and wherein at least one of the inner wall of the external housing or the outer surface of the internal housing includes a retaining member that extends into the groove circuit to retain an elastomeric gasket secured within the formed groove circuit, wherein the groove circuit positions a contact surface of the inserted elastomeric gasket, which makes contact with an article to be transferred under the vacuum attachment force, to protrude axially beyond the distal end of the external housing.