Suction Cup Device.pdf

The US007975971B2 patent describes a suction cup device that effectively conforms to soft surfaces and complex curves, such as those found on a car dashboard. The device includes a housing with a recess and a low durometer suction cup with a resiliently deformable central portion. The housing has a flexible portion adjacent to the surface and an inflexible portion for mounting. The suction cup is drawn into the recess using a drive shaft and means for operating against the inflexible portion of the housing. The device is made of a thermoplastic polyester elastomer and can be reused. Key features include:

A housing with a recess and an opening in the first surface
A flexible portion of the housing adjacent to the first surface
An inflexible portion of the housing for mounting
A low durometer suction cup with a resiliently deformable central portion
Means for drawing the central portion of the suction cup into the recess
A suction cup drive shaft coupled to the central portion of the suction cup
* A thermoplastic polyester elastomer material for the housing.

The device overcomes limitations of prior art suction cups, which are generally unable to form an air-tight seal on soft or complex surfaces. The present device provides a reliable and reusable solution for mounting objects to such surfaces.