Magnetic Suction Cup Assembly to Prevent Slip and Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction cups lose suction power over time, detach due to weight, and suffer from assembly issues where the plastic cup slips relative to the screw, leading to frequent detachment.
Innovation Solution
A suction cup structure with a housing, connector, and bracket, incorporating a magnet and a screw component with threaded shaft and head portion, where the head portion has filled passages forming ribs, ensuring secure assembly and adhesion to metal objects through magnetic force and vacuum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional suction cup with screw assembly is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the suction cup loses suction power over time and detaches due to weight
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the suction cup system into multiple functional components: a housing with bracket for structural support, a separate magnet component for adhesion enhancement, a suction cup assembly for vacuum generation, and a screw component with ribs for secure fastening. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function, improving overall reliability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple materials with different properties: the housing and bracket provide structural rigidity, the magnet material enables magnetic adhesion force, the suction cup material creates vacuum seal, and the ribbed screw component prevents rotation. This composite material approach allows the system to simultaneously achieve structural strength, magnetic holding force, vacuum sealing, and anti-rotation properties
2Strength
If the plastic cup is secured with a screw, then the assembly is simple, but the plastic cup slips relative to the screw when locking force exceeds combined force
Solution Approach 1:
The screw component is pre-formed with multiple ribs during manufacturing. These ribs are designed to engage with corresponding features in the housing before the final tightening operation. When the screw is inserted and tightened, the ribs immediately provide mechanical interlocking that prevents slippage, eliminating the need for complex anti-rotation features or multi-step assembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The screw component features localized rib structures at specific positions where rotational force is applied. These ribs concentrate the anti-rotation function at the critical interface between the screw and housing, while the rest of the screw maintains a simple cylindrical shape for easy insertion and tightening. This localized feature addition maintains ease of operation while significantly improving connection strength
3Force
If a magnet is added to adhere to metal objects, then adhesion strength improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet is integrated within the housing structure, sharing the same spatial envelope and mounting features. The housing serves dual functions as both the structural container for the suction mechanism and the mounting platform for the magnet. This merging eliminates the need for separate magnet mounting hardware and reduces the number of discrete components, thereby improving adhesion force without proportionally increasing device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents spinning and detachment, maintains strong adhesion, and supports weight-bearing capacity, enhancing stability and durability.
Implementation Method 1
Through the magnetic force of the magnet combined with the vacuum status generated between the suction recess of the suction cup and the adherent object, it can firmly adhere to the object and prevent detachment.
Implementation Method 2
Through the magnetic force of the magnet combined with the vacuum status generated between the suction recess of the suction cup and the adherent object, it can firmly adhere to the object and prevent detachment.
Data Source
AI summary
A suction cup structure includes a housing including a connector and a bracket. A tube is connected to the connector. The bracket includes an accommodation recess. A magnet is located within the accommodation recess and a gasket is at a center of the magnet. A suction cup assembly includes a screw component and a suction cup. The screw component includes a head portion which is securely connected to a protrusion on a top of the suction cup. The head portion includes passages in which material of the protrusion of the suction cup is filled during production. The threaded shaft of the screw component extends through the gasket and is threadedly connected to a screw hole located within the accommodation recess of the housing.