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This is a record of a document published elsewhere, first published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as US-6143391-A, on 7 November 2000. OpenTechnical did not first disclose it. The identifier, hashes and timestamps below record what this library served and when, not when the material became public. View the original.

OT-2026-000003126

One-piece, dual-material suction cup

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Lifting, Positioning & Manipulation › Vacuum Lifting
Inventors
BARNES KEVIN J, FLESHER ROBERT W, MONTELEONE MICHAEL D
Assignee
APOGEE DESIGNS LTD
Original source
US-6143391-A, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 7 November 2000
Document SHA-256
4278a3e17779c410c13bbeaf62375600c07c94bac5b4d55152b9298a6c948872

A one-piece, dual-material suction cup includes an inner face having a concave shape when the cup is inactive (that is, unattached to a surface) and an outer portion having a convex shape when the cup is inactive. The inner and outer portions are formed from different elastic materials. The characteristics of the outer material are selected to exhibit relatively high memory, elasticity and recovery to provide a biasing force on the inner face of the cup to increase the vacuum and enhance attachment. The characteristics of the inner material are selected to exhibit conformity, compliance and softness as compared to the outer material. Such characteristics enhance mating and sealing with a surface to which the cup is to be attached. The inner and outer portions are permanently bonded together to form the one-piece suction cup.

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Abstract

A one-piece, dual-material suction cup includes an inner face having a concave shape when the cup is inactive (that is, unattached to a surface) and an outer portion having a convex shape when the cup is inactive. The inner and outer portions are formed from different elastic materials. The characteristics of the outer material are selected to exhibit relatively high memory, elasticity and recovery to provide a biasing force on the inner face of the cup to increase the vacuum and enhance attachment. The characteristics of the inner material are selected to exhibit conformity, compliance and softness as compared to the outer material. Such characteristics enhance mating and sealing with a surface to which the cup is to be attached. The inner and outer portions are permanently bonded together to form the one-piece suction cup.

1. Drawings

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Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000003126, “One-piece, dual-material suction cup,” published September 15, 2026 at 19:34:05 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000003126.

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Terms

This record reproduces a document published elsewhere and is provided for reference and study. Rights in the original remain with its owner. See the publication policy.