Suction lifting tool and sealing flange for a suction lifting tool

A suction lifting tool for fastening an article on a surface of an object, the suction lifting tool having a bowed suction housing which is closed off towards one side by a suction disk, wherein a cavity is formed between the suction housing and the suction disk, and having a tension lever for reducing a spacing between the suction housing and the suction disk to generate a suction effect, wherein a ring-shaped sealing flange is securable on the suction disk, having an inside groove on the sealing flange into which the suction disk is insertable by way of its outside edge, and which has an elastic sealing face for abutment against the surface of the object in order to enable fastening to strongly bowed surfaces in this manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a suction lifting tool for fastening an article on a surface of an object, said suction lifting tool having a bowed suction housing which is closed off towards one side by means of a suction disk, wherein a cavity is formed between the suction housing and the suction disk, and having a tension lever for reducing a spacing between the suction housing and the suction disk to generate a suction effect.

These types of suction lifting tools have been known for a long time and are used in order to fasten articles by means of suction effect, as a rule, on a smooth, level surface of an object. Such suction lifting tools are used, in particular, in the handling of panes of glass.

If the glass has to be removed from vehicle windscreens in the event of a defect, suction lifting tools are used in part in this case also.

Insofar as the surface of the object on which the suction lifting tool is to be fastened is smooth and even, a sufficient suction effect can be obtained without any problem. In the event of bowed surfaces, however, it is frequently no longer possible to obtain a sufficient holding force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this it is a first object of the invention is to disclose an improved suction lifting tool, by way of which secure fastening both on even surfaces and on non-even surfaces, such as, for instance, bowed surfaces, can be ensured.

It is a second object of the invention to disclose an improved suction lifting tool which is reliable and sturdy.

It is a third object of the invention to disclose an improved suction lifting tool which allows for a very reliable clamping on uneven surfaces.

It is a fourth object of the invention to disclose an improved suction lifting tool which is particularly suited for use on curved automobile windshields.

Where possible in this respect, it should be possible to use a conventionally available suction lifting tool which can be correspondingly retrofitted.

According to one aspect of the invention, these and other objects are achieved by a suction lifting tool for fastening an article on a surface of an object, said suction lifting tool comprising:

a bowed suction housing having one open end formed by an annular rim;

a pin extending axially through said suction housing and carrying a suction disk at one end for closing off said open end of said suction disk, a cavity being formed between said suction housing and said suction disk;

a tension lever arranged outside said suction housing and having a pivot connection to said pin at a second end thereof outside said suction housing, said suction lever allowing to axially move said pin for reducing a spacing of said cavity between said suction housing and said suction disk to generate a suction effect.

a ring-shaped sealing flange being secured on said suction disk in a sealing manner between said annular rim of said suction housing and said suction disk, said sealing flange comprising an inside groove for securing said suction disk at an outer rim thereof, said sealing flange further comprising an outer elastic sealing face for abutment against a surface of an object to which said suction lifting tool is to be attached. said object is achieved in the case of a suction lifting tool according to the aforementioned type by a ring-shaped sealing flange which is securable on the suction disk of the suction lifting tool, having an inside groove on the sealing flange into which the suction disk is insertable by way of its outside edge, and which has an elastic sealing face for abutment against the surface of the object.

The object of the invention is achieved in this manner.

According to the invention, a suction lifting tool according to the prior art can be combined with a ring-shaped sealing flange in order to achieve more secure fastening even on bowed surfaces or surfaces which are uneven in another manner.

In this case, the suction lifting tool can be used both in its initial state without the sealing flange, insofar as only fastening on even surfaces is necessary, and with a sealing flange fitted thereon in order to enable fastening on surfaces which are not sufficiently even.

The suction lifting tool with the sealing flange is larger and heavier than without the sealing flange and is also less steady than without the sealing flange. For this reason, use is sensible both with the sealing flange, for instance when a large degree of flexibility is required, for instance in the case of bowed disks. On the other hand, use is also sensible without a sealing flange when, for instance, a lower weight, a higher lever of stability or a smaller suction face is required, such as, for example, can be the case when removing the glass from small side panes in the case of passenger vehicles.

The sealing flange has a ring-shaped inside groove for fastening on an outside edge of a suction disk of a suction lifting tool such that the outside edge is received in a sealing manner in the inside groove, and has an elastic, outwardly protruding sealing face for abutment against a surface of an object.

According to a further development of the invention, the sealing flange can be inserted in a sealing manner between an edge of the suction housing and the suction disk.

In an expedient manner in this respect, the sealing flange has an inside groove which is U-shaped in cross section and is matched to the cross section of the outside edge of the suction disk.

In a further preferred development of the invention, the sealing flange has a sealing face which protrudes outwards in relation to the outside edge of the suction disk.

In order to enable sufficient flexibility, the sealing flange preferably consists of rubber or a rubber-elastic plastics material.

It is obvious that the features of the invention mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can not only be used in the combination provided in each case but also in other combinations or standing alone without departing from the framework of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A perspective representation of a sealing flange according to the invention is shown inFIG. 1and is designated overall by the reference numeral10. The sealing flange10is ring-shaped and has a sealing portion12with a ring-shaped, even surface16, to which a fastening portion14with a smaller outside diameter connects, a ring-shaped inside groove18being provided in said fastening portion.

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of a conventional suction lifting tool20which can be used in conjunction with the sealing flange10according toFIG. 1.

The suction lifting tool20has a suction housing22of an elastic material which is bowed convexly outwards and is closed off at its front side by means of an elastic suction disk24. A tension lever26, which is pivotable about a pivot axis28, as a result of which a cavity40(FIG. 4), which is enclosed between the suction disk24and the suction housing22, is able to be reduced in order to obtain a suction effect, is located on the rear side of the suction housing22. The suction lifting tool20can consequently be fastened on a smooth, even surface. As a result of the relatively small suction disk24, fastening is still also possible, for instance, on fairly small side panes of passenger vehicles.

If, however, fastening is to be effected on surfaces which are not sufficiently even, the sealing flange10according toFIG. 4is placed in such a manner on the outside edge34of the suction disk24that the suction disk24is held completely inside the U-shaped inside groove18of the sealing flange10. In this case, a ring web44, facing the suction housing22, on the fastening portion14of the sealing flange10is enclosed in a sealing manner between an edge42of the suction housing22and the suction disk24such that the cavity40inside the suction lifting tool20′ is closed off between the suction housing22, the sealing flange10and the suction disk24.

On its side facing away from the suction housing22, the sealing flange10has a ring-shaped, even sealing face16which serves for abutment against the surface38of an object36.

In the case shown, the object36can be a bowed disk, for instance, on which the suction lifting tool20′ is to be fastened.

It can be seen inFIG. 4that the suction disk24is coupled to the tension lever26on the rear side of the suction lifting tool20′ by means of a pin30in order to displace the suction disk24towards the suction housing22against the action of a spring32when the tension lever26is pivoted about the pivot axis28into a locking position such that the cavity40is reduced in order to bring about a suction effect.

Should the suction lifting tool20′ be used without the sealing flange10fitted thereon, the sealing flange10, which consists of a sufficiently elastic material, can be pulled outwards from the outside edge34of the suction disk24. The configuration of the suction lifting tool20according toFIG. 2, which is known in principle in the prior art and is suitable for fastening on even surfaces, is then produced.

The sealing flange10preferably consists of rubber or a rubber elastic plastics material of sufficient elasticity.

Should the sealing flange10be used in combination with the suction lifting tool20according toFIG. 2, the sealing flange10by way of its inside groove18is placed in position on the outside edge34of the suction disk24and the outside ring web44on the fastening portion14of the sealing flange10is inserted under the edge42of the suction housing22such that the position according toFIG. 4is produced.

As the suction lifting tool20′ according toFIG. 3or4is enlarged by the sealing flange10additionally fitted thereon, said modified suction lifting tool20′ is no longer able to be used in all cases of application, for instance when particularly small side panes on passenger vehicles have to be removed. For this reason it is sensible to develop the sealing flange10as a removable element such that it is possible to use the suction lifting tool20or20′ with and without the sealing flange10.