| CPC A47G 23/0216 (2013.01) [A47G 19/2255 (2013.01); F16B 47/00 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A quick-release anchoring apparatus with acceleration damping, comprising:
an anchor member comprising a non-porous resilient material;
the anchor member comprising a flexible base seal member having a seal member upper side, a seal member lower side, and a seal member peripheral edge defining an outer periphery of the seal member upper side and the seal member lower side;
the seal member lower side being configured to engage an external reference 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 lower side and the reference surface;
a vent port extending through the anchor member having a lower end in fluid communication with the controlled pressure zone and an upper end in fluid communication with an area of ambient pressure;
a first auxiliary component carrying the anchor member;
a second auxiliary component that is movable relative to the first auxiliary component between a first position and a second position, the second auxiliary component and the first auxiliary component being discrete components formed independently of each other;
the first position of the second auxiliary component comprising a vent port closure position wherein the second auxiliary component is arranged to cause blocking of the vent port and prevent the passage of air therethrough, such that the controlled pressure zone is rendered airtight and the base seal member will resist movement of the anchoring apparatus away from the reference 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;
the second position of the second auxiliary component comprising a vent port open position wherein the second auxiliary component is arranged to cause unblocking of the vent port and allow the passage of air therethrough, 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 reference surface;
one or more flexible members that resiliently deform to generate resistance as the second auxiliary component moves in a venting direction away from the vent port closure position toward the vent port open position, and return to their initial form when the second auxiliary component returns to the vent port closure position;
the one or more flexible members being connected between the anchor member and the second auxiliary component, with the anchor member providing a vertically stable reference end thereof;
the one or more flexible members being non-reliant on pressure within the controlled pressure zone for generating the resistance;
whereby the resistance generated by deforming the one or more flexible members resists accelerations of the second auxiliary component away from the vent port closure position so as to prevent unwanted venting of the controlled pressure zone due to forces of a first magnitude acting on the anchoring apparatus in the venting direction; and
whereby the resistance generated by deforming the one or more flexible members is insufficient to prevent movement of the second auxiliary component away from the vent port closure position during normal use of the anchoring apparatus in which a controlled force of a second magnitude in excess of the first magnitude is applied to the anchoring apparatus, so as to facilitate intentional venting of the controlled pressure zone and removal of the anchoring apparatus from the reference surface by a user.
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