Suction Cup Pin-Lift Structure for Stable Vacuum Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction cups suffer from excessive softness and gaps that allow air to enter, leading to reduced suction force and instability, causing them to fall and potentially damage hung objects.
Innovation Solution
A suction cup design featuring a suction cup member, press ring, first housing, and insertion pin, where the insertion pin slidably engages with a cut-out slot to drive the suction cup member upward, forming a vacuum space and preventing air entry, thus maintaining suction and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If elastic material is used for suction cup, then flexibility and sealing are improved, but elastic fatigue occurs over time causing gaps and air penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup is divided into multiple components: a rigid housing structure, a press ring, and an insertion pin mechanism. This segmentation allows the elastic material to be used only for sealing purposes without bearing structural loads, thereby preventing elastic fatigue while maintaining sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion pin acts as an intermediary element that maintains the vacuum space by preventing the suction cup member from collapsing inward. This mediator structure supports the elastic sealing material, reducing stress on it and preventing fatigue-induced gaps.
2Stability of the object's composition
If suction cup is made softer for better sealing, then attachment to surface is improved, but structural strength decreases causing collapse and air entry
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup structure is segmented into a rigid housing that provides structural strength and a separate elastic sealing component that provides sealing contact. This allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup employs composite construction combining rigid material for the housing and press ring with elastic material for the sealing portion. This composite structure achieves both structural rigidity and effective sealing contact.
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
The design secures the suction cup effectively on surfaces, preventing elastic fatigue and ensuring stable attachment, even with long-term use, and allows for hanging objects without risk of falling.
Implementation Method 1
The insertion pin includes an end portion formed with an inclination, and the insertion pin partially engages with a top portion of the first housing. In addition, the insertion pin uses the end portion with the inclination to slidably engage with the first cut-out slot to cause the first protrusion to move upward
Implementation Method 2
the suction surface to form a vacuum space at a lower portion thereof
Implementation Method 3
utilizes atmospheric pressure to be attached onto an object surface
Data Source
AI summary
A suction cup comprises a suction cup member, a press ring, a first housing and an insertion pin. The suction cup member includes an assembly surface and a suction surface. The assembly surface includes a first protrusion having a first cut-out slot formed thereon. The press ring is pressed onto an upper outer edge of the suction cup member. The first housing is pressed onto the press ring and includes a second protrusion for mounting onto the first protrusion. One side of the second protrusion includes a first through hole corresponding to the first cut-out slot to expose the first cut-out slot. The insertion pin partially engages with the first housing and slidably engages with the first through hole and the first cut-out slot to move in the first cut-out slot and to drive the suction cup member to move upward while forming a vacuum space underneath thereof simultaneously.