Vacuum Patents (Class 248/363)
  • Patent number: 8348216
    Abstract: A device for attachment to both porous and non-porous wall surfaces includes a suction cup having an elastomeric core and an elastomeric outer layer that is substantially softer than the inner layer. The outer layer includes material that fills pores within a porous surface against which the suction cup is held. The inner layer prevents tearing of the suction cup and causes a partial vacuum to be formed as the suction cup attempts to return to its original shape following depression against a wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Zoya, Inc.
    Inventor: Zoya Hajianpour
  • Patent number: 8328444
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for presenting a substrate/print media having favorable surface conditions and optimum spatial orientation for printing purposes. The apparatus/method includes a mechanism for maintaining the substrate/print media in a substantially orthogonal spatial orientation relative to the direction of ink deposition, and a pressurization device for developing a pressure differential across a face surface of the substrate/print media such that positive pressure is applied to a surface opposing the face surface. The pressurization device provides a cushion of air to support the substrate/print media during ink deposition. The apparatus/method may further include a system for transporting the substrate/print media beneath or across a print head assembly for in-line printing on a mailpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl T. Rathbun, Larry F. Eisner, Ralph A. Rapillo
  • Patent number: 8302920
    Abstract: A dual vacuum mount type support device includes a support arm, two vacuum mount assemblies pivotally connected to the two distal ends of the support arm for securing to the flat surface of a support wall and the flat surface of an object to be supported on the support wall, and two pivot locks for locking the vacuum mount assemblies to the support arm in the respective adjusted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Wen-Feng Tsai
  • Patent number: 8292253
    Abstract: A device for supporting bathroom accessories and the like, comprising a suction cup element including a suction part and a holding part adapted to hold a bathroom accessory and the like, and a mounting element including an engaging formation formed to engage and retain the suction part of the suction element and member adapted to attach to a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Eli Zhadanov
  • Patent number: 8267367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum pad device used in a vacuum transport system. The pad device includes a housing, a pad unit connected to the housing through a ball joint such that the pad unit is rotatable, and a piston arranged in the housing and controlling the rotation of the pad unit. The pad unit is bonded to an object at a desirable rotation angle, and controlled such that the rotation angle is fixed by the movement of a piston operating via compressed air. Consequently, the object can be transported in an accurate and safe manner. Preferably, the vacuum pad device of the present invention further includes a vacuum pump arranged in the housing unit the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Pneumatic System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-Young Cho
  • Publication number: 20120193500
    Abstract: A suction cup assembly has a housing with an actuator in the housing. A flexible cup is coupled with the housing. The actuator movement causes the flexible cup to move between at least two positions. In a first position, the flexible cup moves into an increased volume position. In a second position, the flexible cup moves into at least a neutral volume position. In the increased volume position, the flexible cup seals with a surface. In the neutral volume position, the flexible cup releases from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. Kniss, Maurice Perlman, James Geary, Orlando Trujillo, Gary R. Michels, Jeffrey J. Mruzik
  • Patent number: 8231089
    Abstract: A plate holder can include: a skirt having a top member and one or more side walls forming a cavity therebetween when the one or more side walls are resting on a substrate with the top member oriented away from the substrate; a base coupled with the skirt and located within the cavity, the base having one or more top suction device receptacles and one or more bottom suction device receptacles; one or more top suction devices coupled with the one or more top suction device receptacles such that the top suction device is oriented away from the substrate; and one or more bottom suction devices coupled with the one or more top suction device receptacles such that the bottom suction device is oriented toward the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Lil Diner, LLC
    Inventor: Jesse Russell Mills
  • Publication number: 20120175484
    Abstract: A dual-layer suction cup includes an outer body, an adhesive soft inner body and an elastic unit. The outer body is made of a hard material. The adhesive soft inner body can be attached to a smooth airtight surface and a rough airtight surface, providing an adhesion effect. The elastic unit will provide elasticity in an opposite direction after being pressed, such that the chamber in the suction cup is in a vacuum state to enhance the adhesion effect. The adhesive soft inner body and the elastic unit of the present invention greatly enhance the adhesion effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Yang Hao, Ming Da Huang
  • Publication number: 20120175485
    Abstract: Suction Apparatus is provided including a body portion having at least a first suction surface for attachment to a suitable surface in use via suction. An aperture or channel is defined in said at least first suction surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventor: Mark Buckley
  • Publication number: 20120132776
    Abstract: A suction device includes a suction cup, an operating member, a sealing member, an elastic member, and a stopping member. A gas hole is defined in the suction cup. A through hole is defined in the operating member, communicating with the gas hole. The suction cup is fixed to an end of the operating member. The sealing member includes a sealing portion to seal the gas hole, and a connection post connected to the sealing portion. A cross-sectional area of the connection post is smaller than that of the gas hole or the through hole. An end of the connection post extends through the gas hole and the through hole, and protrudes out from the operating member. The elastic member is sleeved on the connection post. The stopping member is fixed to the connection post. Opposite ends of the elastic member resist the operating member and the stopping member, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: PENG KUANG
  • Patent number: 8177548
    Abstract: Device for mounting a forced-air burner 2 to a combustion chamber housing 4, having an attaching section to attach the device to a combustion chamber housing 4 demarcating a combustion chamber or to a unit 5 located on a combustion chamber housing 4 and a seating section to absorb forces and/or moments caused by a forced-air burner 2 located on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Elco Burners GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Kretschmer, Enrico Seemann, Torsten Lohse, Klaus Beckmann, Hendrik Kretzschmar
  • Publication number: 20120104217
    Abstract: A cup body of a suction cup includes a flattenable curved disc portion made of a first elastic material, and an elastic cup portion made of a second elastic material and having the disc portion embedded therein. The first elastic material is stiffer than the second elastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: FREE-FREE INDUSTRIAL CORP.
    Inventor: Sheng-Yu LIU
  • Publication number: 20120097821
    Abstract: A device for attachment to both porous and non-porous wall surfaces includes a suction cup of a first type having an elastomeric core and an elastomeric outer layer that is substantially softer than the inner layer. The outer layer includes material that fills pores within a porous surface against which the suction cup is held. The inner layer prevents tearing of the suction cup and causes a partial vacuum to be formed as the suction cup attempts to return to its original shape following depression against a wall surface. Alternately, the device may include a suction cup having a number of concentric ridges held against porous surface, with the suction cup being formed of a single elastomeric material or of elastomeric materials including a softer elastomeric outer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Zoya Hajianpour
  • Publication number: 20120097820
    Abstract: A device for attachment to both porous and non-porous wall surfaces includes a suction cup having an elastomeric core and an elastomeric outer layer that is substantially softer than the inner layer. The outer layer includes material that fills pores within a porous surface against which the suction cup is held. The inner layer prevents tearing of the suction cup and causes a partial vacuum to be formed as the suction cup attempts to return to its original shape following depression against a wall surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Zoya Hajianpour
  • Publication number: 20120085879
    Abstract: A dual-layer sucking disc includes a sucking body capable of adhering to a smooth surface. The sucking body has an annular closing surface which is a plane and disposed around the periphery of the sucking body. The sucking body has a concave bottom to form a sucking chamber. An inner soft layer is provided in the sucking chamber of the sucking body, which is capable of adhering to a rough surface. The inner soft layer is attached to the sucking chamber except the annular closing surface. The present invention can adhere to a smooth airtight surface with the annular closing surface or a rough airtight surface with the inner soft layer. The present invention is simply in configuration and can be manufactured with ease and used widely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Yang Hao
  • Patent number: 8123868
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning, drying, coating, baking etching and deposition of surfaces on glass substrate as it transitions thru and between small gaps between hydro-static porous media bearings. Due to the non-contact nature of the device extremely high pressures can be induced upon the work piece through various fluids without damage to the substrate, allowing the system to utilize the viscous nature of fluids to accomplish the desired cleaning, drying, coating, etching or baking. The process also allows for simultaneous and immediately sequential ordering of processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: New Way Machine Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Devitt
  • Publication number: 20120025053
    Abstract: A suction cup for a tool driven by vacuum is presented, the suction cup in a first or upper end arranged to be brought into fluid flow communication with a vacuum source and in its opposite end arranged to be brought tightly into contact with the surface of an object to be handled. The suction cup is in its lower end arranged to be coupled to a sealing ring having a sealing surface arranged between an outer periphery and a through-opening defined by an inner periphery, and the sealing ring in the region of its inner periphery having a lip arranged to engage with the suction cup, to which purpose the suction cup in its lower end has a circumferentially running groove) in which the peripheral region and the lip of the sealing ring is insertable under form fitting engagement and in a radially overlapping relation between the groove and the lip in the region (r) of engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: XEREX AB
    Inventor: Peter Tell
  • Patent number: 8096537
    Abstract: Remotely engageable and releasable suction cups include a pliable body and an active material in operative communication with the pliable body and configured to create and/or eliminate a partial vacuum through the activation of stiffness or geometry changes in the active material. Suitable active materials include shape memory materials such as shape memory alloys, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, and shape memory polymers (SMP). A second class of active materials include materials that exhibit a change in at least one attribute when subjected to an applied field but revert back to their original state upon removal of the applied field. Active materials in this category include piezoelectric materials, electroactive polymers (EAP), magnetorheological polymers, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Robin Stevenson, Nilesh D. Mankame
  • Publication number: 20110297804
    Abstract: A suction apparatus is provided, including a suction disc unit, a shell base unit, a push obstruct unit and a flip unit. The top surface of the suction disc unit includes an upward extending traction element, with vertical surfaces forming a first teeth surface and a second teeth surface. The shell base unit is located on top of suction disc unit 2. The push obstruct unit and the flip unit are located inside shell base unit, where the flip unit is meshed with the first teeth surface and the push obstruct unit is meshed with the second teeth surface. When flip unit is flipped downwards, central area of suction disc unit is dragged up so that suction disc unit can attach to a surface via suction force. When flip element is flipped upwards, the obstructing condition of push obstruct unit is released so that suction disc unit restores to normal position. The present invention provides easy operation for suction apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Eagle Fan
  • Patent number: 8066238
    Abstract: Provided is a suction cup including a cover, a shell, a suction mouth and an operating mechanism. The cover forms an opening. The shell is fixedly mounted on the cover. The suction mouth is fixedly mounted below the cover. The operating mechanism is pivotally mounted to the shell and includes a pivot body. The pivot body disposes a hand lever. An axle sleeve is fixedly mounted to the pivot body and disposes a pulling portion. The axle sleeve passes through a through hole of the suction mouth, and the pulling portion is against an upper inner surface of the through hole. By rotating the hand lever, the operating mechanism can upwardly pull the handle to raise the center of the suction mouth for rarefying air and making the suction cup be stably fixed on a plane. The suction cup has a simple structure and is convenient to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Da-yong Kuo
  • Publication number: 20110226923
    Abstract: A vacuum suction base includes a base, a fixing mechanism secured on the base, an adjusting cam, and an adjusting bolt. The base includes a suction piece and a column extending upwardly from the centre of the suction piece. The fixing mechanism includes a column housing resisting an edge of the suction piece, and a sleeve connected to the column and defining a through hole. The adjusting cam is rotatably installed in the through hole and partially extends out from the through hole. One end of the adjusting bolt is fixed in the adjusting cam and the other end is engaged in the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: ZE-BO LIN, JIAN-HUI DAI, SHOU-JI LIU, TE-SHENG JAN, YU-TAO CHEN, CHUN-CHE YEN
  • Publication number: 20110226922
    Abstract: A suction cup device includes a suction cup, an adhesive polymer gel layer mounted to a suction surface of the suction cup and a case. A suction surface of the polymer gel layer includes a region on an outer peripheral side and a region on an inner peripheral side placed in a position deeper than an extending surface of the region on the outer peripheral side. The case includes, on an inner surface thereof, a rib formed into an annular shape concentric with the suction cup. The rib faces the region on the outer peripheral side of the polymer gel layer from the back surface of the suction cup. When the suction cup mounted with the polymer gel layer is in the suction state, the rib presses and abuts against the back surface of the suction cup by the negative pressure, and presses the region on the outer peripheral side of the polymer gel layer via the suction cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi ISHIZAKI, Yoshitsugu NONAKA, Keiichiro OOISHI
  • Publication number: 20110210225
    Abstract: A suction device includes a suction cup, a vertical bar connected with the suction cup, a first support cap having an opening that the vertical bar can be placed through and a first pair of gaps in the rim of the first support cap, a sleeve connected with the first support cap for containing the vertical bar, a linkage unit combined with the sleeve and the vertical bar, for controlling the vertical bar to move in the sleeve to pull the suction cup, to enable the suction functionality, and a second support cap between the suction cup and the first support cap, combined with the first support cap through relative rotation and having a second pair of gaps in the rim of the second support cap. The suction device can firmly attach to a curved surface when the second pair of gaps is under the first pair of gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Shih-Hong Chen, Jen-Yung Chang
  • Patent number: 7997554
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a device that effectively mounts and secures objects to nonplanar surfaces, and in particular effectively mounts and secures objects in a quick and efficient manner to complex contours of different automotive vehicle dashboard and other interior vehicle surfaces having differing coverings of differing textures. By example and without limitation, this novel adaptive mounting device includes a substantially flexible container forming a vacuum chamber containing and substantially filled with a substantially granular substance. A mounting structure having a frame supporting a presentation structure is joined to the bladder with at least a coupler or other presentation structure external of the bladder. A substantially air impermeable seal is formed between the bladder and a portion of the frame, and at least a partial vacuum is formed within the bladder. The disclosure also describes a method for manufacturing the device described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Publication number: 20110192665
    Abstract: A Bernoulli-type non-contact adhesion pad comprises a pad area which includes an outer section of the pad area and an inner section of the pad area which is undercut relative to the outer section, at least one aperture in the inner section of the pad area for introducing a pressurised fluid flow from the aperture in use between the pad area and a surface for non-contact adhesion of the pad to the surface, an element extending from the aperture beyond the periphery of the aperture, but not the outer section of the pad area, so that the flow of fluid from the aperture is between and around the element and the periphery of the aperture, the element including an edge around the element at or beyond the aperture. A wall climbing robot using the Bernoulli-type non-contact adhesion pads is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: XiaoQi Chen
  • Publication number: 20110168856
    Abstract: A suction cup device includes a cup forming unit cooperating with a flat surface to create a volume-variable space, a liftable rod secured to a central portion of the cup forming unit, a bracing shell member having a force-transmitting surrounding wall in engagement with a peripheral portion of the cup forming unit, and a twistable cap member having a surrounding bottom wall in abutting against a circumferential abutment region of the bracing shell member and threadedly engaged with the liftable rod such that a manually twisted movement of the twistable cap member can result in axial movement of the rod so as to pull the central portion away from the flat surface to produce a reduced pressure in the volume-variable space and a biasing force to thereby ensuring fluid-tight engagement of the cup forming unit with the flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Tsung-Tzong TU, Tsung-An TU
  • Patent number: 7975996
    Abstract: Provided is a scan stage for a semiconductor wafer pollutant measurement apparatus, which includes: a stage main body which comprises: a circular fixed housing; an adsorption plate which is rotatably installed in the inside of the fixed housing, at the center of which an adsorption path is formed, at the bottom of which a vacuum port is connected, and which is rotated by an external rotating force; and a step motor which is placed at the bottom of the fixed housing and connected with the adsorption plate; a base plate that is supported by pillars to form a lower space between the fixed housing of the stage main body and the base plate; a cylinder at the bottom of which a cylinder load is connected so that the base plate moves up and down; and support jigs that hold up a wafer in the outer side of the stage main body, in which three support jigs are disposed in proximity with the outer circumference of the stage main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Techno Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ho Jin Kim, Hyoung Bae Kim
  • Patent number: 7975972
    Abstract: An attachment device for attaching an article to a wall surface includes a bracket with an outwardly extending plate having a hole through which an elongated portion of the article can be placed and an attachment plate, perpendicular to the outwardly extending plate, having at least one hole through which the bracket may be attached directly to the wall by a screw. The attachment device additionally includes a housing having a suction cup for attachment to the wall, a coupling for removably receiving the bracket, and an actuator for causing the suction cup to engage and release the wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Zoya Hajianpour
  • Patent number: 7967263
    Abstract: A fixing device is provided. The fixing device is fixed to a surface, comprising a sucker, a rack, a gear, a transforming unit and a limiting unit. The rack is connected to the sucker. The gear is engaged to the rack. The transforming unit is connected to the gear. The transforming unit rotates the gear to move the rack between a first position and a second position. The rack pushes the sucker to apply a suction force to the surface when the rack is in the first position, and the suction force of the sucker is released when the rack is in the second position. The limiting unit is connected to the rack to restrict the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Keng Ping Wang, Chin Chang Meng, Chih-Ching Chen
  • Patent number: 7913963
    Abstract: A device stand includes a suction base and a load-supporting module mounted on the suction base. The suction base includes a suction piece, a fixing structure, a face cam, pins, and a fixing cap. The fixing structure, configured for fitting over the suction piece, includes a shaft housing and a sleeve extending upwardly from the shaft housing. The sleeve defines axial running slots. The face cam fit over the sleeve of the fixing structure. One end of each of the pins engages with the face of the face cam, the other end of each of the pins passes through the axial running slots of the sleeve and connects with the shaft of the suction piece. The fixing cap is mounted on an upper end of the sleeve. The stand can be fixed to/taken off from a flat surface easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gang Cheng, Meng-Hua He, Chun-Che Yen, Yu-Tao Chen, Te-Sheng Jan
  • Patent number: 7913962
    Abstract: Herein disclosed a suction cup including: a suction cup body having at least one surface having a gel, the surface being a suction surface; and an elastically deformable spring element provided in or on the suction cup body, having a concave shape so as to make the suction surface have a concave shape, and energizing a central part of the suction surface away from a surface to be sucked in the condition where the suction surface is in suction contact with the surface to be sucked, wherein the spring element is formed from a material having a modulus of elasticity higher than those of natural rubber and synthetic rubbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Takahashi, Makoto Kawabata
  • Patent number: 7887018
    Abstract: A novel adaptive mounting device that effectively mounts and secures objects to nonplanar surfaces, and in particular effectively mounts and secures objects in a quick and efficient manner to complex contours of different automotive vehicle dashboard and other interior vehicle surfaces having differing coverings of differing textures. By example and without limitation, this novel adaptive mounting device includes a substantially flexible container forming a vacuum chamber containing and substantially filled with a substantially granular substance. A mounting structure having a frame supporting a presentation structure is joined to the bladder with at least a coupler or other presentation structure external of the bladder. A substantially air impermeable seal is formed between the bladder and a portion of the frame, and at least a partial vacuum is formed within the bladder. A method for manufacturing the novel adaptive mounting device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Patent number: 7878467
    Abstract: A suction cup structure is disclosed. The suction cup structure can be attached firmly on a surface of an object. The suction cup structure comprises a suction cup and a gel, wherein the gel has a first surface and a second surface; the first surface is connected to the suction cup, and the second surface is attached to the surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Wistron Neweb Corp.
    Inventors: Shih-Hong Chen, Jen-Yung Chang
  • Publication number: 20110005667
    Abstract: A vacuum release device is provided for temporarily immobilizing objects, the device comprising: a substrate; a plurality of vacuum release subunits which can be operated independent of each other, each vacuum release subunit comprising an adhesive layer over a surface of the substrate; and a spacing material positioned between the substrate and the adhesive layer so as to form a chamber within which a vacuum may be formed, application of the vacuum causing the adhesive layer to recess toward the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: DELPHON INDUSTRIES LLC
    Inventors: Claudia Leigh Allison, Darby Allen Davis, Philip John Haseltine
  • Patent number: 7850133
    Abstract: A novel suction cup mounting apparatus having a novel compact axial suction cup installation and release mechanism and method for assembling such a suction cup apparatus. The suction cup device includes a suction cup portion of a plunger assembly fit within a concave drive base and coupled thereto by a rigid drive pin. An optional rotational drive member or “handle” structured to operate on an external surface of the drive base may be provided for manipulating the drive pin relative to the suction cup and drive base. The suction cup device is intended to secure some device—a “utilization device”—to a surface. Therefore, according to another aspect of the suction cup device, a utilization mounting surface is projected above the drive base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Patent number: 7837162
    Abstract: A suction cup has a cup portion and a head attached to the cup portion. A solar cell is positioned within the head or the cup portion. The solar cell can be placed in a cavity in the head or cup portion or may be molded or formed into the suction cup. The contacts of the solar cell may be positioned so that an object can be hung on the suction cup and be powered by the solar cell. One can also provide a sensor and transmitter or alarm in or on the suction cup and connected to the solar cell such that when the suction cup is moved an alarm will sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Adams Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: William E. Adams
  • Publication number: 20100270452
    Abstract: A sucking and holding apparatus configured to suck and hold an object to be held by a negative pressure generating at a center portion of a swirling flow of gas generated in a swirling flow generating chamber and the gas flowing out from an end of the swirling flow generating chamber sideward, includes: a sucking and holding terminal having the swirling flow generating chamber and a sucking and holding surface having an opened suction blow-out port of the swirling flow generating chamber; an urging unit configured to apply an urging force in the direction substantially parallel to the sucking and holding surface to the object to be held located at a position which allows the same to be sucked and held by the sucking and holding terminal; and a locking unit configured to lock the object to be held against the urging force applied by the urging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Saburo HOSHINO, Kenichi HARADA, Tomonori MORIYA
  • Patent number: 7810772
    Abstract: A column suction-holding head capable of inserting columns into all the holes of a mounting jig collectively at once. The body of the column suction-holding head has elongate holes at the same positions as those of electrodes installed on a ceramic substrate of a ceramic column grid array, and suction holes are provided at the bottoms of the elongate holes. The column suction-holding head is superimposed on an alignment jig having columns aligned therein, and suction is applied from the suction holes. Consequently, the columns in the alignment jig are sucked into the elongate holes of the column suction-holding head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Sato, Shinichi Nomoto
  • Patent number: 7798195
    Abstract: A wafer W is supported on the rear surface side thereof by a ring frame R by means of a dicing tape T, and a protection tape H is stuck on the front surface side the wafer W. A suction unit 12 includes a table 16 having a suction face 15 in the upper face. The suction face 15 sucks the dicing tape T to hold the wafer W through performing a predetermined suction. At least in a partial area along the periphery of the suction face 15, a groove 24 is formed. By sucking through the suction face 15, the inside of the groove 24 becomes negative pressure and the dicing tape T is sunk therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kobayashi, Masaki Tsujimoto, Takahisa Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 7798775
    Abstract: A flange for supporting arcuate components comprising at least one arcuate rail, each arcuate rail having an inner radius, a first taper location, a first taper region, a second taper location, a second taper region, wherein the thickness of at least a portion of the first taper region is tapered and wherein the thickness of at least a portion of the second taper region is tapered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raafat A. Kammel, Humphrey W. Chow, Michael Peter Kulyk
  • Publication number: 20100181458
    Abstract: A suction cup combination having a base enveloped by an enveloping member made of elastomer, the enveloping member is shaped to have a peripheral extension and forms a suction cup together with a plate or a plurality of plates; when in use, a vacuum state is formed between the suction cup and a plane being adsorbed, thus the structure and the process of assembling of the suction cup combination can be simplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventor: Woody Liu
  • Patent number: 7743700
    Abstract: A roller press includes a housing to which upper and lower rollers are coupled. A crank handle is coupled to at least one of the upper and lower rollers. Rotation of the crank handle causes rotation of the rollers. Two doors that provide die support surfaces are coupled to the housing and are moveable between a closed position and an open position. A suction member is coupled to the bottom of the housing. The suction member is actuated by movement of the doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Provo Craft and Novelry, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerry Ayala, Michael Horito, Tyler Allan
  • Publication number: 20100155550
    Abstract: A portable device accessory is used to hold, grip or manipulate a portable device such as and not limited to mobile phones, MP3 players, portable entertainment/computing devices, and/or gaming devices. The accessory possesses two suctions cups connected by a neck and having an aperture for receiving a jack on earphone. Certain embodiments of the accessory will have tabs, ridges, groove and/or a space to receive earphones. The accessory permits a jack of earphones to be threaded through an aperture and the cord of the earphones to be wrapped around the accessory. The suction cups may be inverted to conceal the cord wrapped around a neck of the accessory and tabs may be used to hold inverted suction cups together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: John Weiss-Vons
  • Publication number: 20100140437
    Abstract: A suction cup comprising: a convex surface; a concave surface located on an opposite side of the convex surface; a perimeter located on an outer edge of the concave surface; a concentrated pressure band located on the concave surface when the suction cup is in use; and at least one annular band of soft, resilient and sticky material located on the concave surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: John Orban
  • Patent number: 7690609
    Abstract: A suction cup having an adsorption surface is provided wherein the suction cup has a disk-like main suction cup unit composed of an elastically-deformable material and has an attachment surface. The attachment surface has a gel layer composed of a gel, bonded thereto so as to cover the attachment surface. The adsorption surface is formed by the surface of the gel layer, and the gel layer are composed of a center portion composing the center of the adsorption surface, and a circumferential portion composing the outer circumference of the adsorption surface. The outer circumferential portion has the thickness larger than the thickness of the center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Akai, Makoto Kawabata
  • Patent number: 7665706
    Abstract: A suction-adhered device includes a main body, suction cup units, and suction power detection units. The main body is provided with chambers. Each of the suction cup units includes a suction cup received in the chamber, and a safety lever projected from the upper side of the main body and movably connected to the suction cup with an elastic element mounted between them. Each of the suction power detection units includes a probe received in a long hole near the chamber to partially project from the long hole, and an indicating member visible via a window formed on a top of the main body above the long hole. When the suction cup is loosened from a mounting surface, the indicating member is turned by an elastic element to show a warning indicating zone thereof, so that a user may be timely warned to re-mount the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventors: Li-Sheng Chien, Ho Chien-Chang
  • Patent number: 7661638
    Abstract: A suction cup structure includes a suction cup, a lifting rod, a holder base, a slide bolt, a radial arm and an axial-bolt. The lifting rod is vertically connected to the suction cup, and has a through hole with horizontal penetration. The sleeve of the holder base has a rotation axis hole with horizontal penetration and a slide notch. The lifting rod is disposed in a sleeve of the holder base. The suction cup is under a disk body of the holder base. The slide bolt passes through a first hole of the button arm, the slide notch and the through hole. The axial-bolt also passes through the rotation axis hole and a second hole of the button arm. By pressing a button end of the button arm, an activation piece of the button arm rotates based on the axial-bolt to pull the slide bolt. The slide bolt then slides toward the upper portion from the lower portion of the first hole, and slides into the slide notch simultaneously to lift the lifting rod. The suction cup is therefore lifted to generate the suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Mitac International Corp.
    Inventor: Lin-Chien Yu
  • Patent number: 7658354
    Abstract: A suction device includes a sucking member having a connecting body connected integrally to a flexible disc body that is disposed under an upright sleeve, a connecting member disposed in the sleeve and connected to the connecting body, an operating member connected to a pivot rod extending through the sleeve, and a cam body accommodated in a cam-accommodating space in the connecting member and pivotable together with the pivot rod. The operating member is operable so as to pivot the pivot rod and the cam body such that an assembly of the connecting member and the connecting body is pulled upwardly by the cam body, thereby forming a vacant space between a central portion of the disc body and a supporting surface to which a peripheral portion of the disc body is attached sealingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chen-Hsing Wang
  • Patent number: 7648109
    Abstract: A sucker includes a fixing seat, a sucker body, a control handle and a control valve. The sucker body has a first side provided with a recess and a second side provided with a connecting hole connected to the recess. The control valve includes a valve stem movably mounted on the fixing seat and movable to stop the recess. Thus, the valve stem can be pulled outwardly to detach from the recess of the sucker body so as to connect the connecting hole and the recess of the sucker body and to connect the connecting hole of the sucker body to the ambient air so as to break the vacuum state of the sucker body so that the sucker body can be removed from a surface easily and quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Lung-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 7635111
    Abstract: A suction cup device, includes: a suction cup; a center shaft; an attaching base; a rock lever; a coil spring; and a cam mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Hara, Takayuki Akai