US3330537A - Attachment for portable sander - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1967 R. E. WASON 3,330,537

ATTACHMENT FOR PORTABLE SANDER Filed May 27, 1966 Raymond E. Wason By 5, flaw-m7? figazzz United States Patent 3,330,537 ATTACHMENT FOR PORTABLE SANDER Raymond E. Wason, 1532 Parsifal NE., Albuquerque, N. Mex. 87112 Filed May 27, 1966, Ser. No. 553,382 6 Claims. (Cl. 259-72) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An attachment for holding a cylindrical container on the vibrating shoe of a portable power sander, causing mixing of the container contents. A pan-like structure fits the bottom of the shoe, i removably attachable thereto, and supports parallel wedge-shaped members which engage elements of the container while a flexible strap holds the container thereagainst.

My invention relates generally to power tool attachments and more particularly to an attachment for a portable sander for converting the sander to a device for mixing paint or other materials.

Most paint shakers now available are specialized and somewhat costly tools, designed mainly for paint retailing operations which the high volume of paint mixing justifies their expense. The average homeowner mixes paint only occasionally and usually cannot justify the expense and storage space required for a special paint shaking machine. Hence, it would be desirable to utilize some other more common homeowners tool for those scattered times when mixing of old or settled paint i required.

My invention employs the vibrating and oscillating action of the familiar portable power sander to mix paint. In general, it comprises a simple adapter member for securing the attachment to the sandpaper-holding shoe of the sander, and cooperating means for securing a container of paint to the adapter member. When it is desired to use the attachment, the operator secures the adapter member to the sander by means provided, and secures a container of paint to the underside of the adapter member by other means provided. When the sander is activated, the vibrating action of the shoe is imparted to the container, thereby vigorously mixing the contents.

A more detailed understanding of the construction and operation of my invention may be gained from the following specification and claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of my invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

The drawing shows my invention attached to a conventional portable sander 10 which includes a shoe 11 for holding sandpaper. Such sanders usually have two modes of operation: the shoe can vibrate either longitudinally or in an orbital fashion. Both modes work effectively with my attachment. The vibrating shoes are designed to accept either quarter or half sheets of sandpaper; hence, their dimensions are standardized.

My attachment include an adapter member 12 which includes vertical end walls 13, side walls 14, and bottom 15 arranged to snugly receive shoe 11. On one end wall, 13 is a lip 16 which engages the top of one end of shoe 11 to hold that end in place. The other end is held in place by a removable clamp 17 consisting of a metal block having a slot 18 for slidably engaging end wall 13 and having threaded means 19 for securing it there.

The undersurface of bottom 15 is provided with two longitudinal members 20 of generally triangular or wedgeshaped cross-section which includes working surfaces 21 for engaging the cylindrical surface of a container 22 firmly along spaced-apart longitudinal lines. In the embodiment shown, surfaces 21 have been rubberized to provide additional traction against the container and to accommodate irregularities such as the end closure beads of the container.

The container 22 is removably secured to the adapter member 12 by a metal strap 23 which attached to the adapter member by insertion through transverse slot 24 in members 20. Means 25 on one of the straps free ends serve to-tighten strap 23. In the embodiment shown, strap 23 is a conventional hose clamp of the type which employs a screwdriver-actuated worm gear to engage spaced slots in the strap for tightening. Any suitably rugged strap or clamp will serve the purpose.

To utilize my attachment, the operator inserts one end of shoe 11 into the adapter member 12, engaging the shoe under lip 16. He next lowers the other end of the shoe to rest on bottom 15 and attaches clamp 17. With the attachment thus secured to the sander he may then turn the sander and attachment over, secure a container of paint or other material with the strap 23, and activate the sanders motor. The vibrating sander may be handheld or placed in a vise with equal effectiveness. After mixing, the attachment may be quickly and easily removed by the reverse of the above procedure.

Although I have described my invention with reference to specific detail, I understand that this is only by way of example and that numerous changes may be incorporated in it without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim a my invention:

1. An attachment for a portable sander of the type having a vibrating shoe, comprising;

a pan-like structure having parallel end walls, parallel side walls, and a rectangular bottom with members secured to the underside of said bottom adapted to engage a cylindrical surface along spaced-apart longitudinal lines;

a lip at the upper edge of one part of said end walls adapted to slidably receive an end of said shoe thereunder, and a clamp attached to the opposite end wall adapted to engage the other end of said shoe thereunder when said shoe is at rest on the bottom of said adapter member;

and flexible means connected to said pan-like structure and adapted to removably secure a cylindrical container thereto.

2. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said members secured to the underside of said bottom comprise;

two parallel wedge-shaped members each secured longitudinally to said bottom and having corresponding surfaces thereof in abutment with said bottom.

3. The attachment of claim 2 wherein is further provided;

rubberized layers on facing surfaces of said wedgeshaped members.

4. The attachment of claim 3 wherein said flexible means for securing a cylindrical container to said adapter member comprises;

a flexible strap including therewith means for tightening said strap around said container, said strap being secured to said adapter member by insertion through transverse slots provided in said wedge-shaped members.

5. The attachment of claim 4 wherein said strap comprises;

a metal strap having transverse slots and having on one of its ends a screwdriver-actuated wormgear adapted to engage successive slots as said wormgear is turned.

6. The attachment of claim 5 wherein said clamp comprises;

a block having a slot provided therein adapted to slidably receive said end wall and having threaded means perpendicular to said slot, said threaded means having an end thereof adapted to forcibly engage said end wall when said block is in place thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT W. JENKINS, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ATTACHMENT FOR A PORTABLE SANDER OF THE TYPE HAVING A VIBRATING SHOE, COMPRISING; A PAN-LIKE STRUCTURE HAVING PARALLEL END WALLS, PARALLEL SIDE WALLS, AND A RECTANGULAR BOTTOM WITH MEMBERS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID BOTTOM ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A CYLINDRICAL SURFACE ALONG SPACED-APART LONGITUDINAL LINES; A LIP AT THE UPPER EDGE OF ONE PART OF SAID END WALLS ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE AN END OF SAID SHOE THEREUNDER, AND A CLAMP ATTACHED TO THE OPPOSITE END WALL ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE OTHER END OF SAID SHOE THEREUNDER WHEN SAID SHOE IS AT REST ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID ADAPTER MEMBER; AND FLEXIBLE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PAN-LIKE STRUCTURE AND ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY SECURE A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER THERETO.

Images