CN1259627A - Suction Mounting Device - Google Patents

Abstract

A suction attachment device (100) comprises a cover (200) having a circular rim (230) on its rear side, a suction member (300) having a central portion (320) and comprising an annular rim portion (310) positioned coaxially with and immediately behind the rim (230), a pull member (400) engaging the central portion (320) of the suction member (300), and a screw member (500) passing through the cover (200). The screw member (500) is screw-engaged with the pulling member (400) so as to be tightened to pull the central portion (320) of the suction member (300) toward the cover while the rim portion (310) is held by the rim (200) of the cover, thereby completing the suction action on an outer surface initially pressing the entire mounting device against it.

Description

Suction Mounting Device

The present invention relates to a suction mounting device for mounting an object on a surface, and to food equipment incorporating such a suction mounting device.

According to the present invention there is provided a suction mounting device comprising a cover having a circular rim on its rear side; a suction member having a central portion and comprising a an annular edge portion behind the rim; a pull member engaged with the central portion of the suction member; and a threaded member passing through the cover and threadedly engaged with the pull member for tightening to pull the center of the suction member toward the cover part, while said edge part is held by said rim of said cover, thereby accomplishing a suction action on an outer surface against which initially the whole mounting device is pressed.

Preferably said cover has a generally cylindrical side wall to provide said rim.

Preferably said pulling member comprises a disc-shaped portion and a central portion extending from said disc-shaped portion, said central portion passing through said suction member so that said disc-shaped portion is connected to said suction member from behind. engage.

Said threaded member is preferably threadedly engaged with a central portion of said pulling member.

A fixed nut member is preferably provided at said central portion of said pulling member for threaded engagement with said threaded member.

The suction member is preferably substantially flat and circular.

In a preferred form, the suction member is generally flat and circular and is formed with a rear recess for receiving said disc-shaped portion of the pull member.

Preferably said cover has an inner boss for slidably receiving said central portion of said pull member.

In a preferred embodiment said cover is formed with external retaining means for retaining an object on said surface.

In another preferred embodiment, said cover is formed as part of an object for self-mounting on said surface.

The invention also provides a food appliance incorporating said suction mounting means, wherein the suction mounting means forms the base of the appliance.

The food appliance preferably includes a handle as part of the appliance and used to operate the appliance.

The handle is releasable and engageable with the threaded member for also operating the suction mounting device.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a suction mounting device according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the installation device shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the installation device shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a suction mounting device for use as a base for a manual food cutter with a handle according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the suction mounting device and the handle shown in FIG. 4 .

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first suction mounting device 100 embodying the present invention comprising a generally flat cylindrical plastic cover 200, a circular rubber suction plate 300, A plastic pull plate 400, and a screw 500 coaxially hold the three parts 200, 300 and 400 together in that order. The cover 200 has a circular front wall 210 formed with a concave central hole 240 and a cylindrical side wall 220 extending around the front wall 210 and having a circular rim 230. The suction plate 300 has a flat annular edge portion 310 and a circular central portion 320 having a central hole 330 and protruding from the edge portion 310 to form a shallow groove 340 . The pull plate 400 has a body 410 that is completely received within the bottom groove 340 .

Cover 200 includes an inner cylindrical boss 250 extending coaxially from front wall 210, said boss 250 having a pair of diametrically opposed slots 260 on its inner side. Pull plate 400 includes a central cylindrical boss 420 upstanding from body 410, said boss 420 having a pair of diametrically opposed ribs 430 on its outer side. A nut 440 screwed into the screw is fixed in the boss 420 . The outer cross-sections of the boss 420 and the rib 430 are somewhat smaller than the inner cross-sections of the boss 250 and the groove 260 so as to coaxially slidably engage with each other.

When assembling, the pull plate 400 is placed immediately below the suction plate 300 , its main body 410 is installed in the bottom groove 340 and its boss 420 passes through the central hole 300 of the suction plate 300 upwards. The cover 200 is then coaxially placed on the suction plate 300 so that its boss 250 and slot 260 slidably receive the boss 420 of the pull plate 400 and the free ends of the ribs 430 . Finally, the three parts 200 , 300 and 400 are held together by the screws 500 by passing the screws 500 through the central hole 240 and threadingly engaging the nuts 440 . The diameter of the cover 200 is smaller than the diameter of the suction plate 300 so that the rim 230 of the cover is always in abutment against the outside of the edge portion 310 of the suction plate.

In use, the suction mounting device 100 is firmly pressed against a smooth outer surface, such as a mirror or tile surface, and then the screw 500 is tightened with a hex screwdriver. During the entire operation, the outside of the edge portion 310 of the suction plate 300 is always pressed against this surface by the rim 230 of the cover 200 .

Tightening the screw 500 moves the pull plate 400 axially towards the cover 200, thus pulling the suction plate away from the surface except for the outside of the edge portion 310 held immobile by the rim 230 of the cover. As a result, the suction plate 300 is stretched to perform the suction action, thereby firmly installing the entire mounting device 100 on the surface.

The suction mounting device 100 is used to hold various objects on a surface. Suitable holding means can be provided on the cover 200 for this purpose, such as hooks 270 for hanging clothes, or anchors for hanging a small wall frame. As another example, the mounting device may be used at each end of multiple main column sections to create a glass shelf. Other examples include use as the base of a sconce and the back of a soap holder, or at the ends of a towel bar or roll holder in paper towels.

Referring now again to 4 and 5 of the drawings, a second suction mount 100A for use as a base for the manual food cutter 10 is shown. Cutter 10 has a cylindrical body 12 including a cover 14 , a top handle 16 on cover 14 , and an internal cutting mechanism 18 . At the bottom, the body 12 has a central recess 30 and a rim 32 provided with a bayonet connection. The cutting mechanism 18 includes a pair of cutters 20, a lower shaft 22 supporting the cutters 20 within the body 12, an externally splined upper shaft 24 upstanding from the cover 14, and a 74 to the lower shaft 22 to increase the rotational speed of the gearbox 26 . The handle 16 has a downwardly opening internally splined bore 28 which is releasably connected to an upper shaft 24 so that the handle can be used to manually rotate the cutter 20 at the high speed required for cutting food.

The general structure of the suction mount 100A is similar to the structure of the first device 100, as shown in Figure 5 with the same reference numerals designating the same parts, but with the letter "A" appended. The big difference lies in the configuration of the pull plate boss 420A and the use of a threaded member 500A which is equivalent to and replaces the aforementioned screw 500 . The boss 420A is internally threaded, so the aforementioned nut 440 does not need to be used. Threaded member 500A is in the form of a shaft 510A having an externally splined upper end 520A, an externally threaded lower end 530A, and a circular flange 540A mid-length. The lower end 530A engages the boss 420A through the recessed hole 240A, the flange 540A is retained in the hole 240A, and the upper end 520A protrudes upward. As a further distinction, the cover 200A of the suction mount 100A has an extended perimeter 280A to match the dimensions of the main body 12, said perimeter 280A having an upstanding rim 290A provided with a bayonet connection.

In operation, the suction mount 100A is mounted on a table or similar surface by tightening the screw 500A with the handle 16 . For this purpose, the handle 16 is connected to the upper end 520A of the threaded member 500A through the hole 28 therein. After the base 100A has been secured in place, the handle 16 is removed to lower the main body 12 onto the base 100A. The main body 12 is ultimately secured in place by rotating the main body 12 relative to the base 100A to engage the bayonet connection between the respective edges 32 and 290A. For use, the handle 16 is reattached to the upper shaft 24 of the cutting mechanism 18 to facilitate the cutting of the food product.

Food cutter 10 is just one type of food appliance according to the invention. Other types of equipment include food peelers, graters, blenders, slicers, grinders, mixers and dividers.

The present invention is given by way of example only, and various other modifications and/or changes may be made to the described embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

1. A suction mounting device comprising a cover with a circular rim on its rear side; a suction member having a central portion and comprising an annular ring positioned coaxially with said rim and immediately behind said rim an edge portion; a pull member engaged with the central portion of the suction member; and a threaded member passing through the cover and threadedly engaged with the pull member so as to be tightened to pull the central portion of the suction member toward the cover while the Said edge portion is retained by said edge of said cover, thereby effectuating a suction action on an outer surface which initially presses the entire mounting device against it. 2. A suction mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover has a generally cylindrical side wall to provide said rim. 3. A suction mounting device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said pulling member comprises a disc-shaped portion and a central portion upstanding from said disc-shaped portion, said central portion passing through said suction member, so that the disc portion engages the suction member from behind. 4. The suction mounting device of claim 3, wherein the threaded member is threadedly engaged with a central portion of the pulling member. 5. The suction mounting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a fixed nut member is provided at said central portion of said pulling member for threaded engagement with said screw member. 6. A suction mounting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the suction member is substantially flat and circular. 7. A suction mounting device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the suction member is generally flat and circular and is formed with a rear recess for receiving said disc-shaped portion of the pull member. 8. A suction mounting device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said cover has an inner boss for slidably receiving said central portion of said pull member. 9. A suction mounting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover is formed with external retaining means for retaining an object on said surface. 10. A suction mounting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cover is formed as part of an object for self-mounting on the surface. 11. A suction mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. 12. Food appliance incorporating a suction mounting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the suction mounting device forms the base of the appliance. 13. Foodstuffs apparatus as claimed in claim 12, including a handle as part of the apparatus and for operating the apparatus. 14. Foodstuffs equipment as claimed in claim 13, wherein said handle is releasable and engageable with said threaded member for also operating the suction mounting means.

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