SUCTION CUP POST SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING HARDWARE ARTICLES

Abstract

A suction cup post support apparatus including a support post with upper and lower portions forming a generally hollow post structure. The lower portion of the support post includes a space for positioning a suction cup disc with a cam lever post disposed atop its dome shaped top. The cam lever post is removably inserted through a hole in a cam lever support platform integrally formed in the lower portion of the support post, and a cam lever is pivotally connected to the cam lever post to secure the suction cup support post to the suction disc and to provide means to pull a suction in the suction disc.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the assembled suction cup post support for mounting hardware articles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structural and operational elements comprising the inventive apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view showing the suction cup and suction actuating lever assembly;

FIG. 4 shows a first exemplary article of hardware suited for mounting on the post portion of the inventive apparatus; and

FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary article of hardware that may be mounted on the post portion of the inventive apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved suction cup post support for mounting hardware articles, generally denominated 100 herein.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the suction cup post support of the present invention, showing that it comprises three principal elements: a support post 110, a suction disc 120, and a cam lever 130. The support post includes an upper cylindrical portion 140 and a lower truncated conical portion 150 which terminates at its lower end 160 in a circumferential side 170 which is generally normal to any flat surface on which the apparatus is mounted. The lower conical portion includes a dome-shaped opening 180 in its underside 190 providing a space in which the suction cup disc 120 (or suction disc) is disposed. The upper cylindrical portion 140 and the lower truncated conical portion 150 are each at least partially open and combine to form a hollow interior 200. A dome integrally formed in the lower conical portion has angled sides 210 capped by a stage 220 having a planar upper platform 230, and an opening 240 through which a cam lever post 250 may be inserted. The cam lever post is welded to, or otherwise integral with, the upper surface 260 of the suction disc.

The cam lever post 250 includes a through hole 270 which is aligned with spaced apart through holes 280 in corresponding spaced apart cam lever arms 290, such that when the cam lever post is inserted through opening 240, a pivot pin 300 may be inserted through the aligned holes to secure the suction disc in the dome-shaped space of the lower truncated conical portion 150 of the support post 110. The cam surfaces 310 are contoured so that when cam lever 130 is actuated and moved downwardly into a locked position (FIG. 1), the cam lever post 250 is pulled upwardly, thus pull the deformable portion 320 of suction disc 120 upwardly to create an attachment suction, all in a manner well known in the art.

When so installed on a surface, the support post provides a structure on which articles of hardware may be removably mounted. Examples of such articles are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As will be appreciated, the soap dish 400 (FIG. 4) and the soap dispenser 500 (FIG. 5), each include lower portions or bottoms 410, 510 with an opening (not shown) having an interior side with a dimension or diameter tightly conforming to the size and shape of the circumferential side 170 of the lower truncated conical portion 150. Thus, the article is simply mounted on the secured support post and tightly disposed over the circumferential side so that the bottom edge 420, 520, of the respective articles is essentially flush with the surface on this the apparatus is removably installed. Accordingly, when mounted on the inventive support post, the article and support post combination appears substantially as shown, with the support post entirely covered and out of sight. Thus, the mechanical elements of the apparatus do not detract from the aesthetic or ornamental elements of the article of hardware. Furthermore, because the fit of the article of hardware is essentially a friction fit, the article may be easily removed simply by pulling it upwardly and off the post. This facilitates easy cleaning of the hardware article, and provides ready access to the cam lever so that the suction cup may be deactivated and the support post removed from the surface on which it is mounted. The surface can then be cleaned and the space employed for other uses, or the support post and hardware article may be returned to the surface with easy repositioning as desired.

As will be readily appreciated, numerous kinds of hardware articles could be adapted for installation over the support post of the present invention, and the suction cup apparatus for securing the support post could be installed on any of a number of suitable surfaces in a wide variety of places, indoors and outdoors, including tables, benches, counter tops, portable barbeque grills, food cart counters, and the like. Thus the inventive apparatus provides means for taking and securing articles in places where it would be unusual, but nonetheless desirable, to have such an article. For instance, it would be desirable to mount a soap dispenser on a picnic table at a picnic site so that diners could clean up after a messy meal. The apparatus of the present invention provides an elegant solution to meet such a need.

Furthermore, many articles are more easily used when secured to a surface, and surfaces are more easily cleaned when impediments are removed from the surface. Accordingly, the present invention includes the advantage of being selectively removable from any surface on which it is installed. In decorating and equipping a kitchen, for instance, this provides considerable flexibility in providing such things as soap dispensers, soap dishes, lotion dispensers, paper cup dispensers, condiment dispensers, and the like.

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like. As an example of an obvious modification, one contemplated in the present disclosure, the support post configuration or shape could be any of a number of suitable shapes other than cylindrical and thus adapted for an article having a complementarity shaped opening, hole, or recess. Posts could easily a cross sectional shape of square, rectangular, oval, triangular, polygonal of virtually any kind, and so forth. As such variations are virtually unlimited, they are not illustrated other than by way of mention in this textual description. However, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A suction cup post support apparatus, comprising: a support post having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion having an underside with an opening and a lower end which terminates in a circumferential side, wherein said upper portion and said lower portion are at least partially open and combine to form a hollow interior in said support post;cam lever support structure disposed in said lower portion and having an opening;a suction cup disc disposed in the opening in said underside of said lower portion of said support post, said suction disc having a cam lever post disposed on its upper surface and removably inserted through the opening in said cam lever support structure; anda cam lever pivotally connected to said cam lever post with a pivot pin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper portion of said support post is generally cylindrical.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said support post is generally a truncated cone and said opening in said lower portion is dome-shaped.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cam lever support structure includes a cam lever support platform having a hole substantially in its center through which said cam lever post may be removably inserted.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cam lever support structure is integrally formed in said lower portion of said support post and includes angled sides capped by a stage having a planar upper platform with an opening through which said cam lever post may be removably inserted.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said circumferential side of said lower portion is generally normal to any flat surface on which said apparatus is mounted.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cam lever includes a through hole, and said cam lever post includes a through hole aligned with spaced apart through holes in spaced-apart and said cam lever includes cam lever arms having through holes, such that when said cam lever post is inserted through the opening in said cam lever support structure, said pivot pin may be removably inserted through the aligned holes to secure said suction cup disc.

8. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said lower portion is a truncated cone and the opening in said lower portion of said support post is a dome-shaped space.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cam lever includes cam surfaces contoured so that when said cam lever is actuated and moved downwardly into a locked position, said cam lever post is pulled upwardly and pulls said suction cup disc upwardly to create an attachment suction.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lower portion includes angled sides that terminate in said circumferential side of said lower portion and wherein said circumferential side is generally normal to any flat surface on which said apparatus is mounted, such that an article of hardware having a cylindrical opening may be placed over said support post to create a friction fit with said circumferential side.

11. An article of hardware and suction cup support assembly, comprising: a support post having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion having an underside with an opening and a lower end which terminates in a circumferential side, wherein said upper portion and said lower portion are at least partially open and combine to form a hollow interior in said support post;cam lever support structure disposed in said lower portion and having an opening;a suction cup disc disposed in the opening in said underside of said lower portion of said support post, said suction disc having a cam lever post disposed on its upper surface and removably inserted through the opening in said cam lever support structure;a cam lever pivotally connected to said cam lever post with a pivot pin; anda hardware article mounted over said support post.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said lower portion includes angled sides that terminate in said circumferential side of said lower portion and wherein said circumferential side is generally normal to any flat surface on which said apparatus is mounted, and wherein said article of kitchen hardware includes a bottom and a mounting hole bored into said bottom, said mounting hole having an interior circumferential dimension substantially the same as the outer circumference of said circumferential side, such that when said article of kitchen hardware is placed over said support post a friction fit is established with said circumferential side, and said bottom of said hardware article is generally approximated to the surface on which said support post is attached.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said hardware article is selected from the group consisting of soap dish, paper cup dispenser, lotion dispenser, towel rack, and paper towel holder.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said support post is substantially cylindrical in shape.