U.S. patent application number 11/904546 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-24 for suction base for an apparatus support device.
Invention is credited to Harald Richter.
Application Number | 20080017766 11/904546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37636641 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080017766 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richter; Harald |
January 24, 2008 |
Suction base for an apparatus support device
Abstract
In a suction base for the support of an apparatus, comprising a
housing consisting of a hard plastic material and having an opening
surrounded by a housing support edge and a suction membrane of PVC
disposed in the housing so as to extend across the housing opening
and being movable between a release position and an operating
position in which the suction membrane is pulled into the housing
and a vacuum is generated between the membrane and a support
surface such that the support base is firmly pressed into contact
with the support surface via the circumferential edge area of the
membrane, a separating element is disposed between the housing and
the suction membrane to prevent sticking of -the membrane to the
housing edge upon exposure of the suction base to heat and the
release of plasticizer from the suction membrane.
Inventors: |
Richter; Harald;
(Engelsbrand, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLAUS J. BACH & ASSOCIATES;PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
4407 TWIN OAKS DRIVE
MURRYSVILLE
PA
15668
US
|
Family ID: |
37636641 |
Appl. No.: |
11/904546 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11351630 |
Feb 10, 2006 |
7293750 |
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11904546 |
Sep 27, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/205.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 47/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/205.8 |
International
Class: |
F16B 47/00 20060101
F16B047/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 5, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 047 809.3 |
Claims
1. A suction base for the support of an apparatus comprising a
housing (1) of a hard plastic material, said housing having an
opening surrounded by a circumferential housing support edge (7), a
suction membrane (2) of a plasticizer-containing PVC extending
across the housing opening adjacent said support edge (7), an
operating mechanism (3, 4) for moving the suction membrane (2)
between a release position and an operating position in which a
vacuum is generated between the suction membrane (2) and a support
surface to which the suction base is to be attached, whereby the
housing support edge is pressed onto said suction membrane (2),
along the circumferential edge (7) of the housing (1), and a
separating element (8) disposed between the suction membrane (2)
and the housing (1) at least in the area of said support edge, said
separating element (8) consisting of a material which does not
stick to the suction membrane of PVC upon the release of
plasticizer therefrom during heat exposure of the suction membrane
(2).
2. A suction base according to claim 1, wherein the separating
element (8) extends from the support edge (7) inwardly at least
over part of the interior wall of the housing (1) and serves as a
heat radiation reflector.
3. A suction base according to claim 1, wherein the separating
element (8) is attached to the interior housing wall by one of
cementing, pressing, clipping and a deformation at the housing edge
(7).
4. A suction base according to claim 1, wherein the separating
element consists of polyamide.
5. A suction base according to claim 1, wherein the separating
element (8) consists of a fabric.
6. A suction base for the support of an apparatus comprising a
housing (1) of a hard plastic material, said housing having an
opening surrounded by a circumferential housing support edge (7), a
suction membrane (2) of a plasticizer-containing PVC extending
across the housing opening adjacent said support edge (7), an
operating mechanism (3, 4) for moving the suction membrane between
a release position and an operating position in which a vacuum is
generated between the suction membrane (2) and a support surface to
which the suction base is to be attached, whereby the housing
support edge is pressed onto said suction membrane (2) along the
circumferential edge (7) of the housing (1), and a separating
element (8) disposed between the suction membrane (2) and the
housing (1) at least in the area of said support edge, said
separating element (8) consisting of a material, which does not
stick to the suction membrane of PVC upon the release of
plasticizer therefrom during heat exposure of the suction membrane
(2) the separating element (8) extending from the support edge (7)
inwardly at least over part of the interior wall of the housing (1)
and having a surface area facing the housing wall which has a
profile structure for reducing the contact area between the
separating element (8) and the interior wall of the housing
(1).
7. A suction base according to claim 6, wherein the profile
structure is in the form of radial grooves or ribs.
8. A suction base according to claim 6, wherein the separating
element (8) is attached to the interior housing wall by one of
cementing pressing, clipping, and deformation at the housing edge
(7).
Description
[0001] This is a divisional application of pending U.S. application
Ser. No. 11/351630 filed 10 Feb. 2006 and claiming the priority of
German application 10 2005 047 809.3 filed 05 Sep. 2005
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a suction base for an apparatus
support device as used for example in motor vehicles for supporting
minicomputers (so-called PDA's), mobile navigation apparatus,
mobile telephones and similar devices on smooth surfaces such as
the windshield of the motor vehicle. The windshields provide a
perfectly smooth surface suitable for the attachment of a suction
base for supporting a particular apparatus in the field of view of
a driver.
[0003] The attachment of such a suction base to the windshield
however also results in a heavy exposure of the suction base to
solar radiation. The suction base generally consists of a housing
of rigid plastic material and a suction membrane of a soft plastic
which forms the bottom or connecting end of the suction base. The
suction membrane is provided at its center with the shaft of an
operating mechanism by which the suction membrane is movable, by
means of an operating lever between a release position and a
suction position.
[0004] The suction membrane generally consists of PVC, which
includes a plasticizer. However, at high temperatures, that is,
particularly when exposed to solar radiation, some of the
plasticizer is released from the PVC material of the suction
membrane. As a result--among other negative effects--the suction
membrane adheres to the housing edge, particularly at temperatures
above 60.degree.. This detrimentally affects the movability of the
suction membrane and the functioning of the suction base and
renders the suction base useless over a period of time.
[0005] It is the object of the present invention. to eliminate this
problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In a suction base for the support of an apparatus,
comprising a housing consisting of a hard plastic material and
having an opening surrounded by a housing support edge and a
suction membrane of PVC disposed in the housing so as to extend
across the housing opening and being movable between a release
position and an operating position in which the suction membrane is
pulled into the housing and a vacuum is generated between the
membrane and a support surface such that the support base is firmly
pressed into contact with the support surface via the
circumferential edge area of the membrane, a separating element is
disposed between the housing and the suction membrane to prevent
sticking of the membrane to the housing edge upon exposure of the
suction base to heat and the release of plasticizer from the
suction membrane.
[0007] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the separating
element forms a lining of the interior housing wall of the support
base and is in the form of a heat radiation reflecting element in
order to mitigate the heating effects of the solar radiation.
[0008] Below the invention will be described on the basis of the
accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The sole FIGURE shows schematically in a cross-sectional
view a suction base according to the invention
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] The suction base is shown schematically in the drawing in
its operating position, that is, in the suction position in which
the membrane is pulled into the housing 1. The housing 1 consists
of a hard plastic material. In the housing 1, a suction membrane 2
of PVC is supported. An operating mechanism for the membrane 2
comprises a shaft 3 which is connected at one end to the center
area of the membrane 2 and, with its other end, is pivotally
connected, via a joint 41 to an operating lever 4 which is provided
with an eccenter cam 5 supported on the housing 1. The housing 1 is
provided, or integrally formed, with a connecting element 6 which,
in the embodiment shown, is a tubular element 6 for the connection
of the suction base to an other component such as a flexible
support tube, generally called a goose neck. A spring 9 extends
around the shaft 3 between the membrane 2 and the housing 1 for
biasing the membrane 2 into its release position. However, the
spring 9 may also be disposed within the tubular element 6 and act
on the upper end of the shaft 3 within the tubular element 6.
[0011] Between the lower edge 7 of the housing 1 and the suction
membrane 2, there is a separating element 8 which is fixed to the
housing. The separating element 8 covers at least the
circumferential edge area 7 of the housing 1, which edge area is
supported on the upper side of the suction membrane 2 when a vacuum
is generated in the housing in the operating position of the
suction membrane 2. However, the separating element 8 may also
cover the inner surface of the housing 1 and extend inwardly from
the circumferential edge area 7 at least over part of, or over the
whole, interior surface of the housing 1, as in the embodiment
shown.
[0012] The separation element 8 may consist of a heat radiation
reflecting metal, particularly aluminum. It may be in the form of a
thin metal sheet or a metal foil and may be connected to the
housing wall by cementing, mechanically for example by flanging at
the circumference or compressing the edge at certain
circumferential areas or in any other way. The surface area of the
metallic separating element which cooperates with the suction
membrane may furthermore be profiled, for example provided with nub
impressions or preferably groove impressions comprising radially
extending grooves or ribs, whereby the actual contact area between
the (heat conducting) metal and the housing wall is reduced. A
metallic separation element 8 does not need to be in the form of a
separate element, but it may also be formed on the interior wall of
the housing by vapor deposition.
[0013] Alternatively, the separation element may be in the form of
a thin annular disc limited to the area of the housing edge and
this annular disc may consist of polyamide, since polyamide does
not stick to PVC. Such a polyamide ring can be shoe-like snapped
onto the housing edge or it may be pressed onto the housing edge.
To provide a whole housing of polyamide however would not be
desirable since the polyamide is not attractive in its appearance
and furthermore cannot be cemented together with any other plastic
material which causes assembly problems.
[0014] It is quite apparent that the separating element can be
provided in other forms and shapes, for example, in the form of an
intermediate textile layer. Other suitable materials could be
determined by suitable testing. It is only important that a
sticking of the PVC material of the suction membrane to the housing
wall by the release of the plasticizer as a result of heat exposure
is prevented.
* * * * *