Suction cup assembly including a quick release venturi

Abstract

A suction cup removably attached to a housing lifts and moves an object. A venturi removably attached to the housing provides a vacuum effect to secure the suction cup to the object. The venturi includes a pair of opposing ears. When the venturi is inserted into a venturi hole of the housing, the ears compress a pin. When the venturi is rotated to an attached position, the ears do not contact the pin, and a spring biases the pin outwardly to secure the venturi to the housing. The pin is coupled to a button on the housing that can be slid to move the pin inwardly to allow rotation and removal of venturi.

1 . A venturi apparatus comprising:
 a housing including a venturi cavity;   a venturi removably attachable to said housing and securable in an attached position in said venturi cavity with a quick connect attachment, wherein said venturi creates a vacuum, and said venturi has said attached position and a non-attached position; and   a resilient biased pin that retains said venturi in said attached position and resists movement of said venturi from said attached position.   
   
   
       2 . The venturi apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further including an object, wherein a suction cup is positioned on said object, and said venturi withdraws air from a cavity of said suction cup to secure said object to said suction cup. 
   
   
       3 . The venturi as recited in  claim 2  further including an air hole to provide air to said cavity of said suction cup to release said suction cup from said object. 
   
   
       4 . The venturi as recited in  claim 3  further including an exhaust hole, wherein said venturi and said air hole are in fluid communication with said exhaust hole. 
   
   
       5 . The venturi apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said venturi is inside said housing. 
   
   
       6 . The venturi apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further including a seal between said venturi and said housing. 
   
   
       7 . The venturi apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said venturi includes a passage having a tapered portion, and said vacuum is created as air passes through said tapered portion. 
   
   
       8 . A venturi apparatus comprising:
 a housing including a cavity, an opening, a flange, and a gap defined between said flange and said housing; and   a venturi removably attached to said housing and received in said cavity, said venturi creating a vacuum, wherein said venturi includes an ear received in said opening of said housing when said venturi is in a non-attached position, wherein said venturi has an attached position and said non-attached position, and a resilient biased pin retains said venturi in said attached position.   
   
   
       9 . A venturi apparatus comprising:
 a housing including a cavity;   a venturi removably attachable to said housing and securable in an attached position in said cavity with a quick connect attachment, wherein said venturi creates a vacuum; and   a biased locking member that resists movement of said venturi from said attached position, wherein said biased locking member comprises an elongated locking pin and a spring, said elongated locking pin moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position.   
   
   
       10 . A venturi apparatus comprising:
 a housing including a cavity;   a venturi removably attachable to said housing and securable in an attached position in said cavity with a quick connect attachment, wherein said venturi creates a vacuum; and   a biased locking member that resists movement of said venturi from said attached position, wherein said biased locking member comprises an elongated locking pin and a spring, wherein said biased locking member comprises an elongated locking pin and a spring, said elongated locking pin being moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; and   a button coupled with said elongated locking pin, wherein said button is actuatable to move said elongated locking pin from said locked position to said unlocked position.