Patent ID: 6095581
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A vacuum lifting device to facilitate the lifting and repositioning of an article having an external surface, said device comprising:(a) a base member having an aperture, a top surface and a bottom surface; said bottom surface being provided with a continuous sealing joint projecting downwardly from the bottom surface and defining an enclosed area, which includes said aperture, on the bottom surface of the base member;(b) vacuum generating means driven by actuating means and having a suction opening, said vacuum generating means and suction opening being provided directly on the top surface of the base member and said suction opening being sized and shaped so as to cover the whole aperture of the base member; and(c) a vacuum breaking valve which when opened is able to permit a massive amount of outside air to move into said vacuum chamber;said base member is sized and shaped so that its bottom surface can be positioned on top of a portion of the external surface of the article to be lifted and so that the sealing joint contacts a portion of the external surface of the article so that said sealing joint, said enclosed are and said external surface of the article define a vacuum chamber.