Device for securing objects

• US 6,596,374 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3849953 Canada Inc.
• Original Assignee: 3849953 Canada Inc.
• Inventors: Adjeleian, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Watkins, III, William P.
• Application Number:
  US09/536,835
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 428/131, 428/99, 206/490, 248/346.11, 248/362, 248/205.5, 248/205.6, 248/205.7, 248/205.8, 220/737
• US Class Current: 428/131
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/103 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 47/00 Suction cups for attaching purposes; Equivalent means using adhesives devices using adhesives, suction or magnetism for hanging or supporting pictures or the like A47G1/17; vacuum work holders B25B11/005; anchoring of ships using suction B63B21/27; suction cups for handling glass B65G49/061; load-engaging elements for cranes using suction means B66C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture

Abstract

This invention provides a device for removably securing a wide variety of objects to different surfaces utilizing a partial vacuum. The device includes flexible material comprising one or more opening(s), wherein each opening is capable of forming a continuous seal with a portion of an object and the remaining material is capable of forming a continuous seal with a surface. The size of the opening and the size of the material can vary within the constraints that adequate material remains surrounding the opening to enable a continuous seal to be formed with a surface when an object is inserted into the opening. The device is used by inserting an object into an opening, thereby forming a continuous seal between the object and the opening and pressing the device against a surface, displacing air to create a partial vacuum in a manner that causes a continuous seal to form between the flexible material and the attachment surface, thereby removably securing the object to the surface.

Claims

1. A device for removably securing objects comprising:

(a) a flexible material having a top and a bottom,

(b) one or more opening(s) through said material and extending from the top to the bottom, each of said openings having a cross section, each cross section being substantially uniform from the top to the bottom, whereby said opening is capable of forming a continuous seal with a portion of an object, said flexible material is able to form a continuous seal with a surface capable of forming a partial vacuum, and said opening is positioned within the boundaries of said material whereby sufficient material remains surrounding said opening to enable a continuous seal to be formed with said surface when;

(1) an object is inserted into said opening forming a seal between the object and the opening; and

(2) said device is pressed against said surface in a manner that causes a continuous seal to form between the flexible material and said surface, in a manner that displaces air to create a partial vacuum, thereby removably securing said object to said surface.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the said material has the ability to stretch.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the said material is selected from the group consisting of:

neoprene;

rubber;

silicone;

plastic;

wax;

cellulose;

or acrylic.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said material is coated with a substance selected from the group comprising:

neoprene;

rubber;

silicone;

plastic;

wax;

cellulose; and

acrylic.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the shape of said device is representative of an image selected from the group comprising:

geometric shapes;

the shapes of numbers;

the shapes of letters;

the shapes of punctuation symbols;

the shapes of scientific symbols;

cultural shapes;

religious shapes;

political shapes;

sports shapes;

biological shapes;

musical shapes;

mechanical shapes;

geographical shapes;

engineering shapes;

typographical shapes;

iconic shapes;

phonetic shapes, and mathematical shapes.

6. A device as in claim 1 wherein the shape of said opening is representative of an image selected from the group comprising:

geometric shapes;

the shapes of numbers;

the shapes of letters;

the shapes of punctuation symbols;

the shapes of scientific symbols;

cultural shapes;

religious shapes;

political shapes;

sports shapes;

biological shapes;

musical shapes;

mechanical shapes;

geographical shapes;

engineering shapes;

typographical shapes;

iconic shapes;

phonetic shapes; and

mathematical shapes.

7. A device as in claim 1 wherein the area of said material ranges from 1 cm² to 100 m².

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein the opening in said material can correspond to objects with a perimeter ranging from 0.1 cm to 10 m.

9. A device as in claim 1 wherein the thickness of said material ranges from 1 μ

m to 15 cm.

10. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device is anchored to one or more flashlights and a surface.

11. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device is anchored to one or more cans and a surface.

12. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device is anchored to one or more bottles and a surface.

13. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device is anchored to one or more plastic containers and a surface.

14. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device is anchored to one or more mugs and a surface.

15. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device is anchored to one or more cups and a surface.

16. A kit for anchoring one or more objects to a surface comprising a device of claim 1, and optionally including:

(a) objects to be anchored;

(b) instructions for use.

17. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device is attached to one or more sleeves.

18. A device as in claim 17 wherein the one or more sleeves are insulating sleeves.

19. A device as in claim 17, wherein the device is permanently attached to said one or more sleeves.

20. A device as in claim 19 wherein the one or more sleeves are insulating sleeves.

21. A device as in claim 17, wherein the device is detachable from said one or more sleeves.

22. A device as in claim 21 wherein the one or more sleeves are insulating sleeves.

23. A method of anchoring one or more objects to a surface comprising inserting an object into an opening of a device according to claim 1, thereby anchoring the one or more objects to the surface.