GB2285834A - Suction device - Google Patents
Suction device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2285834A GB2285834A GB9501053A GB9501053A GB2285834A GB 2285834 A GB2285834 A GB 2285834A GB 9501053 A GB9501053 A GB 9501053A GB 9501053 A GB9501053 A GB 9501053A GB 2285834 A GB2285834 A GB 2285834A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- lever arm
- suction device
- chassis
- suction
- stops
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B47/00—Suction cups for attaching purposes; Equivalent means using adhesives
- F16B47/006—Suction cups for attaching purposes; Equivalent means using adhesives the suction cups being activated by the rotation of a cranked lever arm
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
- B25G1/00—Handle constructions
- B25G1/005—Handle constructions for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque
- B25G1/007—Handle constructions for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque of crank type
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F21/00—Mobile visual advertising
- G09F21/04—Mobile visual advertising by land vehicles
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F7/00—Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols; Panels or boards
- G09F7/02—Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols
- G09F7/12—Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by self-adhesion, moisture, suction, slow-drying adhesive or the like
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F7/00—Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols; Panels or boards
- G09F7/18—Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F7/00—Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols; Panels or boards
- G09F7/02—Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols
- G09F7/12—Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by self-adhesion, moisture, suction, slow-drying adhesive or the like
- G09F2007/122—Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by self-adhesion, moisture, suction, slow-drying adhesive or the like by suction
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F7/00—Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols; Panels or boards
- G09F7/18—Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure
- G09F2007/1852—Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure for fastening magnetically or by suction or the like
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Marketing (AREA)
- Hooks, Suction Cups, And Attachment By Adhesive Means (AREA)
Abstract
A suction device for use in mounting articles to a flat surface, comprises a lever arm 18 which is mounted for rotation in a chassis 10 for selectively raising or lowering the central region of a suction pad 12 to create or destroy a vacuum between the suction pad and the flat surface. One projecting end of the lever arm 18 is formed, for example with a transverse aperture 25, for engagement by a separate key for turning the lever arm. The opposite end of the lever arm comprises a cranked portion 22 to co-operate with a pair of end stops, but is too short to be used to turn the lever arm manually. <IMAGE>
Description
SUCTION DEVICE
This invention relates to a suction device for use in mounting articles to a surface.
Suction devices have been proposed in the past for mounting articles to a surface. For example, referring to
Figure 1 of the drawings, one such suction device comprises a chassis member 1 having a generally inverted cup shape, and a suction pad 2 which extends across the open base of the chassis member 1. A lever arm 3 extends through and spans the chassis member 1, is mounted for rotation and projects from opposite sides of the chassis member. One end of the lever arm 3 comprises a cranked portion 4 which may be used to manually rotate the lever arm 3. In use, the suction device is placed on a flat surface and the lever arm 3 rotated: a vacuum is created between the suction pad 2 and the flat surface and the suction device becomes affixed to the flat surface.
In order to release the device, the cranked portion 4 of the lever arm 3 is used to manually rotate the lever arm 3 in the opposite direction, thus destroying the vacuum and releasing the device.
The fix/release action of the device described above is an effective method of fixing an object to a flat surface.
However, such devices are often stolen, vandalised or accidentally released due to the ease with which the vacuumaction may be de-actuated.
I have now devised an arrangement which seeks to overcome the problems outlined above.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a suction device for attaching to a surface, said suction device comprising a chassis, a suction pad retained relative thereto, and a lever arm mounted for rotation on the chassis such that a central region of said suction pad may be selectively raised and lowered thereby respectively creating and destroying a vacuum between said suction pad and a flat surface, said lever arm having one end projecting from said chassis and adapted for engagement by a key for turning said lever arm.
Preferably said end of the lever arm is formed with a transverse aperture for engagement of the lever arm with a key.
This end of the lever may alternatively be formed with a splined, hexagonal, or square cross-section, for engagement by a complementary-shaped key.
Preferably the opposite end of the lever arm comprises a cranked portion which co-operates with a pair of stops on the chassis such that the lever arm is prevented from being rotated by more than substantially 180 . The cranked portion can be kept relatively short so that it is very difficult to turn by hand: preferably the cranked portion does not extend past the stops, and preferably the cranked portion and its stops are enclosed within a housing.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a prior art suction device for use in mounting articles to a flat surface;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a suction device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a lever arm used in a suction device in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the suction pad and lever arm used in a suction device in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a schematic side view to show the operation of a suction device in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a suction device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a cover for use in the suction of Figure 6; and
FIGURE 8 is a side view of a key and lever arm used in a suction device in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, a suction device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a moulded chassis member 10 having a generally inverted cup shape, and a suction pad 12 which is provided across the open base of the chassis member 10. In practice, the top of the chassis member comprises means for mounting one or more articles to it, so that the suction device acts to mount those articles to a flat surface to which the device attaches by creating a vacuum between its suction pad 12 and that surface. A flange 14 is formed around the upper surface of the chassis member 10, a small portion of the flange being formed as a generally straight edge 15. The ends of the straight-edged portion 15 are extended downwards at rightangles and hooked stops 16 are formed at the lower ends thereof.
A lever arm 18, which extends through and spans the chassis member 10, is mounted for rotation and projects from apertures 20 formed on opposite sides of the chassis member.
One end of the lever arm is formed with a transverse aperture 25, as shown in Figures 3 to 5. The opposite end of the lever arm 18 comprises a short cranked portion 22, the suction device being assembled such that the lever arm 18 is prevented from rotating by more than about 180 by the hooked stops 16 which provide end stops for the cranked portion 2 of the lever arm 18. The length of the cranked portion 2 is such that it rests on, but does not extend beyond the sides of, the hooked stops 16.
Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, the lever arm 18 comprises a rod of generally circular cross-section having the short cranked portion 22 formed at one end thereof. The lever arm 18 is formed with a curved section 23 at a generally central position. Mounting members 26 having apertures 24 are mounted at the centre of the suction pad (not shown), and the lever arm 18 is mounted for rotation within the chassis member by inserting it through the apertures 24 in the mounting members 26, such that the curved section 23 of the lever arm 18 is at a generally central position between the two mounting members 26. The lever arm is retained to the chassis by a spring washer 19 at its apertured end (Figure 5).
Referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the suction pad 12 has a peripheral groove 28 formed therein, in which the open base of the chassis member 10 is retained when the suction device is assembled. The lever arm 18 is inserted through apertures 20 and 24 (see Figures 2 and 3), thus coupling the chassis member 10 and the suction pad 12 together.
The inside of the chassis member 10 is formed with retaining means 30 for engaging with the mounting members 26, as shown in Figure 5. In use, the suction device is placed on a flat surface. A key (not shown) is inserted into the aperture 25 at the end of the lever arm 18 and the lever arm 18 is thereby rotated by 1800 until the cranked portion 22 comes to rest on the opposite hooked stop 16 (see Figure 2). This action results in the curved section 23 of the lever arm 18 engaging the tops of the apertures 24 of the mounting members 26 and raising them, thus raising the central portion 32 of the suction pad 12 relative to its periphery and creating a vacuum in the resulting space between the flat surface and the suction pad 12. The suction device remains affixed to the flat surface until the lever arm 18 is rotated back to its original position, thereby destroying the vacuum and releasing the device.
Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, there is shown a suction device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, which is similar in most respects to that described above. However, in this case, a moulded cover 34 is provided in order to enclose the end of the chassis member 10 through which the cranked portion 22 of the lever arm 18 projects.
Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, the cover 34 comprises a generally rectangular moulding which is adapted to fit against the straight edged portion 15 of the flange 14, and cover the hooked stops 16. A support member 36 is provided within the cover moulding, the ends of which are adapted to rest on the hooked stops 16 of the suction device, thereby increasing the strength of the structure. Apertures 38 may also be provided in the lower edge of the cover 34 such that they may be used to clip the cover 34 over the lower portions of the hooked stops 16, thus providing added security.
The actuating means for the lever arm in either of the embodiments disclosed above may take many forms. For example, referring to Figure 8 of the drawings and as described with reference to Figure 2 - 5 of the drawings, a key 40 adapted to fit into an aperture 25 formed in the free end of the lever arm 18 may be provided. The end 42 of the key 40 is inserted into the aperture 25 and turned such that the lever arm 18 is rotated accordingly. Alternatively, the end of the lever arm 18 may be adapted to co-operate with any other type of key, for example, the end of the lever arm may be of a splined, hexagonal or square cross-section.
It will be appreciated that the cranked portion of the lever arm is too short to use for turning the lever arm by hand. Instead, an appropriate key is required for engaging the free end of the lever arm to turn the lever arm easily. These measures minimise the risk of the suction device being tampered with an removed by unauthorised persons.
Claims (7)
1) A suction device for attaching to a surface, said device comprising a chassis, a suction pad retained relative thereto, and a lever arm mounted for rotation on the chassis such that a central region of said suction pad may be selectively raised and lowered thereby respectively creating and destroying a vacuum between said suction pad and a flat surface, said lever arm having one end projecting from said chassis and adapted for engagement by a key for turning said lever arm.
2) A suction device as claimed in claim 1, in which said projecting end of the lever arm is formed with a transverse aperture.
3) A suction device as claimed in claim 1, in which said projecting end of the lever arm is formed with a non-circular cross-section for engagement by a complementary-shaped key.
4) A suction device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the opposite end of said lever arm comprises a cranked portion which co-operates with a pair of stops formed on said chassis to limit the angle of rotation of said lever arm in opposite directions.
5) A suction device as claimed in claim 4, in which said cranked portion is relatively short so that it does extend past its respective stops.
6) A suction device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, including a housing which encloses said cranked end of the lever arm and said stops.
7) A suction device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9401173A GB9401173D0 (en) | 1994-01-21 | 1994-01-21 | Suction pad chassis with security device for locking into position |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9501053D0 GB9501053D0 (en) | 1995-03-08 |
| GB2285834A true GB2285834A (en) | 1995-07-26 |
| GB2285834B GB2285834B (en) | 1996-07-31 |
Family
ID=10749153
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9401173A Pending GB9401173D0 (en) | 1994-01-21 | 1994-01-21 | Suction pad chassis with security device for locking into position |
| GB9501053A Expired - Fee Related GB2285834B (en) | 1994-01-21 | 1995-01-19 | Suction device |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9401173A Pending GB9401173D0 (en) | 1994-01-21 | 1994-01-21 | Suction pad chassis with security device for locking into position |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB9401173D0 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2404414A (en) * | 2003-07-30 | 2005-02-02 | John Michael Canning | Window protector |
-
1994
- 1994-01-21 GB GB9401173A patent/GB9401173D0/en active Pending
-
1995
- 1995-01-19 GB GB9501053A patent/GB2285834B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2404414A (en) * | 2003-07-30 | 2005-02-02 | John Michael Canning | Window protector |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2285834B (en) | 1996-07-31 |
| GB9401173D0 (en) | 1994-03-16 |
| GB9501053D0 (en) | 1995-03-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19990119 |