Patent ID: 7607622

Claim:
A compact axially-driven suction cup device, comprising: a housing comprising a recess formed in a first surface, a drive surface external to and aligned with the recess, an aperture communicating between the housing drive surface and the recess; a suction cup; an axial drive member comprising a drive shaft coupled to a central portion of the suction cup and being sized to pass through the aperture in the housing, and a spiral installation drive surface, wherein the spiral installation drive surface of the axial drive member further comprises a pair of substantially diametrically opposed spiral installation drive surfaces each being extended at least partially about the drive shaft; and a rotational drive member comprising a cooperating rotational drive surface structured to cooperate with the housing drive surface, an aperture communicating with the cooperating rotational drive surface and being sized to slidingly engage the drive shaft, and a plurality of fixed installation drive surfaces each being fixed crosswise to the drive shaft and being structured to interact with at least one of the spiral installation drive surfaces of the axial drive member.