US 12,422,093 B2
Quick-release anchoring apparatus with stem-mounted air valve
Israel Harry Zimmerman, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by Israel Harry Zimmerman, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/542,656.
Application 18/542,656 is a continuation of application No. 17/809,454, filed on Jun. 28, 2022, granted, now 11,846,389.
Application 17/809,454 is a continuation of application No. 17/137,710, filed on Dec. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,415,266, issued on Aug. 16, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0191835 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16B 47/00 (2006.01); F16M 13/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16M 13/022 (2013.01) [F16B 47/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A quick-release anchoring apparatus, comprising:
an anchor member comprising a non-porous resilient material;
the anchor member comprising a flexible base seal member having a seal member first side, a seal member second side, and a seal member peripheral edge defining an outer periphery of the seal member first side and the seal member second side;
the seal member second side being configured to engage an external surface and form a substantially airtight seal therewith that defines a controlled pressure zone, the controlled pressure zone comprising a region located between the seal member second side and the external surface;
the anchor member further comprising a central anchor member stem having a stem base end disposed on the seal member first side and a stem free end;
a first auxiliary component comprising a rigid or semi-rigid material and being fixedly mounted to the anchor member;
a vent port extending through the anchor member;
the vent port having a first end disposed on the seal member second side in fluid communication with the controlled pressure zone and a second end disposed on the stem free end in fluid communication with an area of ambient pressure;
the vent port second end being centered within an annular stem landing zone on the stem free end that maintains a substantially uniform shape at a substantially fixed location relative to the first auxiliary component during normal use of the anchoring apparatus;
the stem landing zone and the vent port second end defining a resilient valve seat;
a second auxiliary component comprising a rigid or semi-rigid material, the second auxiliary component being slidably mounted to the first auxiliary component and movable between a first position and a second position;
the second auxiliary component defining a rigid or semi-rigid valve that sealably engages the valve seat according to the position of the second auxiliary component to selectively open and close the vent port;
the valve being configured to sealably engage the valve seat by virtue of the valve and the valve seat having a construction wherein:
(1) the valve is positionable to engage the stem landing zone in surrounding concentric relationship with the vent port second end; or
(2) the valve is positionable to insert into the vent port second end until it engages the vent port at an intermediate location;
the first position of the second auxiliary component comprising a vent port closure position wherein the valve sealably engages the valve seat to prevent the passage of air through the vent port, such that the controlled pressure zone is rendered airtight and the base seal member will resist movement of the anchoring apparatus away from the external surface when the base seal member is flexed in a manner that increases the volume of the controlled pressure zone and decreases the air pressure therein; and
the second position of the second auxiliary component comprising a vent port open position wherein the valve moves out of sealable engagement with the valve seat to allow the passage of air through the vent port, such that the controlled pressure zone is vented to the area of ambient pressure and the base seal member will not resist movement of the anchoring apparatus away from the external surface.