Plunger-Vented Suction Anchor for Quick Release and Secure Hold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction apparatus with anchor members, such as suction cups and suction seal stabilizers, face challenges in efficient attachment and detachment due to design complexities, inadvertent dislodgement, and inability to vent without complete separation from the vent port, leading to inadequate quick-release mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A valve-actuated suction apparatus featuring a non-porous resilient anchor member with a flexible base seal and a plunger valve that selectively seals and unseals a vent port, allowing for controlled pressure differential management and quick-release functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical stopper is used to manually actuate vent port engagement, then suction can be maintained or broken, but the design becomes complex and the stopper may be inadvertently dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vent port control function from a complex mechanical stopper system and implements it through a simple plunger valve mechanism. The plunger valve is directly actuated by the user without requiring separate engagement/disengagement steps, thereby eliminating the complexity and inadvertent dislodgement issues associated with traditional stoppers while maintaining reliable suction control.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a stopper that must be manually engaged to maintain suction and then manually disengaged to vent, the plunger valve inverts this logic by defaulting to a vented state and allowing suction to be established automatically when the plunger is pressed against the surface. The user simply needs to release the plunger to vent, rather than actively engaging a stopper mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the base seal member is highly flexible with little or no concavity, then self-sealing occurs without pushing force, but elastic rebound forces become weak and insufficient to overcome gravitational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by designing the base seal member with pre-formed concavity that automatically generates sufficient rebound force upon release. This pre-configured geometry ensures that when the stabilizer is placed on a surface, the concave shape provides the necessary elastic recovery to overcome gravitational forces and maintain suction, eliminating the need for additional pushing force while preserving self-sealing capability.
3Productivity
If existing stoppers are completely separated from the vent port to vent, then suction is broken, but the mechanism cannot vent unless fully disengaged
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger valve implements dynamic control of the vent port, allowing continuous adjustment between sealed and vented states. Rather than requiring complete separation to vent, the plunger can be positioned at various depths to provide partial or full venting as needed. This dynamic mechanism enables quick-release capability while maintaining ease of operation through simple linear motion.
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
Enables secure attachment and rapid detachment from surfaces with improved reliability and ease of use, reducing the risk of inadvertent dislodgement and enhancing the ability to manage pressure differentials for efficient suction force management.
Implementation Method 1
A pressure differential is generated in which the pressure within the volumetric cavity is lower than the ambient air pressure outside the cavity, thereby resulting in a partial vacuum
Implementation Method 2
the air pressure in the volumetric cavity to proportionally decrease in accordance with Boyle's Law
Implementation Method 3
the base seal member has a natural tendency to return to its initial dome shape. As this rebounding occurs, the volumetric cavity that lies inside the peripheral rim begins to enlarge
Implementation Method 4
The plunger valve stem includes one or more protruding transverse flanges that sealably engage a sidewall of the vent port when the plunger valve is in the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A valve-actuated suction apparatus includes an anchor member made of a non-porous resilient material and having a flexible base seal member and an anchor member stem. The base seal member is arranged to seal against a reference surface. The anchor member stem includes a vent port extending therethrough. A plunger valve is operable to selectively seal and unseal the vent port. The plunger valve includes a plunger valve head and a plunger valve stem. The plunger valve stem is slidably disposed in the vent port and slidable between a closed position of the plunger valve wherein the vent port is sealed and an open position of the plunger valve wherein the vent port is unsealed. The plunger valve stem includes one or more protruding transverse flanges that sealably engage a sidewall of the vent port when the plunger valve is in the closed position.