Abstract:
A suction cup attachment device adapted to provide a high stiffness mounting support. The suction cup is restrained around its rim and pulled via a piston attached to its center. The piston is pulled through a cylinder and pressure is provided against a support surface close to the exterior of the cylinder.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a suction cup, and more specifically to rigid suction cup device with high stiffness. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Suction cups are used to mount objects to smooth surfaces. The cup itself may be made of rubber, or a rubberized plastic. The cup may have its external rim area pressed against the mounting surface while the cup center is pulled upwards. The external rim area may then form an airtight seal and a reduced pressure area within the cup results in a sealed mount upon the smooth surface. 
         [0005]    A drawback with prior designs relates to a lack of stiffness of the mounting unit, such that the supported device may have some wobble, or be subject to shaking, for example. Another drawback to prior designs is that the method of creating the seal, such as by rotation of an element of the device, does not involve an interface to the user which is able to be fully grasped from any direction. 
         [0006]    What is called for is a suction cup design which incorporates aspects adapted to provide significant stiffness to the mounted system. What is also called for is a suction cup design which allows for full and easy gripping of the portion of the device which sets the suction of the device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A suction cup attachment device adapted to provide a high stiffness mounting support. The suction cup is restrained around its rim and pulled via a piston attached to its center. The piston is pulled through a cylinder and pressure is provided against a support surface close to the exterior of the cylinder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIGS. 1A-E  are views of a suction cup device according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a suction cup device according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a suction cup device according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a suction cup device according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a suction cup device according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6A-D  are views of a cup housing according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 7A-B  are views of an inner engagement ring according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an outer engagement ring according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an engagement grip ring according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a cup piston according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 11A-B  are views of a suction cup according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 12A-B  are views of a device top piece according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]      FIGS. 1A through 1E  illustrate views of a suction cup device  100  according to embodiments of the present invention. The suction cup device  100  is adapted to support an item, which may be residing on the top mounting surface  126 , and may also be fastened to the threaded insert  125 . The suction cup device  100  is adapted to removably fasten to a smooth surface. The outer surface  112  of the suction cup provides a seal to the smooth surface as the center of the suction cup is withdrawn upward, as described below. The grip ring  110  provides an axially symmetric gripping surface for the user to grip, and to twist, to fastent he suction cup device to the surface. The grip ring  110  is not at the full radial distance of the outer portion of the suction cup, but is instead at a lesser radius, gripping surface which is perpendicular to the mounting surface, again allowing for better gripping by the user. Also, the axially symmetric grip ring  110  allows the user to approach the suction cup device  100  from any angular position along the exterior of the grip ring  110 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are orthogonal cross-sectional views of the suction cup device  100  as seen in  FIGS. 1A-E .  FIGS. 2 and 3  are orthogonal exploded views of the suction cup device  100  according to some embodiments of the present invention. As seen in these figures, the suction cup device  100  is constructed such that the mounting to a surface is stiff. The device top piece  111  is rigidly mounted to the cup housing  107 . The cup housing  107  and the top piece  111  are keyed to each other to prevent rotation, and to enhance the stiffness of their connection. The top and sides of the outside of the central cylinder of the cup housing  107  fit snugly within mating surface of the bottom side of the device top piece  111 . As seen in  FIGS. 6A-D  and  11 A-B, a bottom surface  121  of the cup housing  107  is adapted to contact an inner surface  119  of the suction cup  101 . The suction cup portion exterior and under the inner surface  119  of the suction cup  101 , along surface  112  of the exterior bottom of the suction cup  101 , becomes the interface and contact point of the suction cup device  100  to the smooth mounting surface. The lower exterior ring  120  of the cup housing  107 , along with the bottom surface  121 , fit into the recess  119  along the back of the suction cup  101  such that good and firm gripping between the housing and the suction cup occurs as the suction cup is fastened to a surface. 
         [0022]    The top surface  126  of the top piece  111 , along with the threaded insert  125 , provide the other interface and contact point of the suction cup device. These rigid the single piece cup housing  107 , along with the snugly overlaid top piece  111 , provide a rigid continuity of structural support not seen in other devices. This rigidity provides for better adherence of the suction cup to a mounting plane, as there is less opportunity for irregular pressure around the circumference of the cup housing. Also, this rigidity allows for better function, and wobble and other disturbance is greatly reduced with this rigid structure configuration. 
         [0023]    Another aspect of the rigid nature of the suction cup device  100  regards the sliding fit of the shaft  118  of the cup piston  103  into the mating cylinder  117  of the cup housing  107 . The cup piston  103  is molded into the suction cup  101  and then inserted into the mating cylinder  117  of the cup housing  107 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , the shaft  118  also has a pin hole  104  adapted to receive a pin  114 . The pin  114  is pushed on from below to withdraw the central portion  113  of the suction cup  101 . The pin is slid upwards in a vertical slot  116  within the cylinder of the cup housing  107 . The vertical slot  116  provides clearance for the raising up of the pin  114 , and the central portion  113  of the suction cup  101  to which it is coupled, while providing the least interference with the stiffness of the system. The combination of the vertical slot, and the central piston snugly sliding within a mating cylinder of the housing, allow for a stiffness of the mounting base not seen with any prior types of design. 
         [0024]    The creation of the suction in the suction cup, which creates the attachment of the suction cup device  100  to the surface to which it is be affixed, is achieved by the rotation of the grip ring  110  by the user. The grip ring  110  engaged around the exterior of a set of pieces which will raise the pin  114 . The grip ring  110  is affixed around the exterior of the outer engagement ring  109 . The outer engagement ring  109  is attached to the inner engagement ring  108 , and may be attached with fasteners. The inner engagement ring  108  has sloped surfaces  122  such that as the inner engagement ring  108  is rotated, the sloped surfaces  122  put axial pressure on the pin  114  such that the suction cup is activated. Once released, the cup may be further loosened by pulling on the release tab  102 . 
         [0025]    The grip ring  110 , the outer engagement ring  109 , and the inner engagement ring  109  are adapted to move as a unit. The inner engagement ring  108  may have guides  123  adapted to fit into guide holes  124  in the outer engagement ring  109 . The upper surface  115  of the cup housing  107  provides a forcing surface for the bottom of the engagement ring assemble to push on, as it raises the ping  114 . Thus the device top piece  111 , the main cup housing  107 , and the suction cup  101  all are rigidly linked to provide a very rigid suction cup attachment. The piston  103  is snugly within the cylinder of the housing  107 , providing another level of stiffness. The slot  116  is vertical and thus reduces the bending stiffness of the cylinder by the least amount possible. 
         [0026]    As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general invention.