WO2004065063A2

WO2004065063A2 - Rotary sanding tool

Info

Publication number: WO2004065063A2
Application number: PCT/US2004/001182
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter S. Conetta; Michael Sabia
Original assignee: Conetta Peter S; Michael Sabia
Priority date: 2003-01-16
Filing date: 2004-01-16
Publication date: 2004-08-05
Also published as: WO2004065063A8; WO2004065063A3

Abstract

An improved rotary sanding tool (10) is provided. The rotary sanding tool includes a top disc (20), a bottom disc (30) coupled to the top disc, a shaft (40) and a plurality of blade assemblies (60). Each of the blade assemblies includes an annular engagement portion (62) and a plurality of finger portions (64). The plurality of blade assemblies are positioned between the top disc and the bottom disc such that the finger portions of each of blade assembly extends outwardly from peripheries of the top and the bottom discs. In one embodiment, each of the blade assemblies has a curved shape formed in a direction of rotation (110) of the rotary tool. Preferably, the curvature of the blade assemblies is of about a 3.50 inch (8.89 cm) radius.

Description

ROTARY SANDING TOOL

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/440,581, entitled "ROTARY SANDING TOOL" that was filed on January 16, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a rotary tool for sanding material from a surface of a work piece.

2. DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART [0003] Professionals, do-it-yourself workers and others have long used rotary sanding tools to remove paint and other unwanted material from wood, metal, acrylic, concrete and other surfaces of houses, office buildings, other structures and fixtures therein. Rotary sanding tools have also been employed to remove unwanted material from surfaces such as, for example, removing tar and or rust from a vehicle, barnacles from the hull or propeller of a boat and the like.

[0004] It is known to manufacture rotary sanding tools having components that strike the surface of a work piece from which material is to be removed. For example, components may include brushes or bristles fabricated from steel or other hardened materials. One perceived disadvantage in using such hardened components is that as the component strikes a surface of a work piece the component may damage the surface of the work piece. Such damage is undesirable and typically results in additional repair work.

[0005] Accordingly, the inventors have realized that it would be desirable to produce a rotary sanding tool that reduces damage to a surface of a work piece as material is removed from the surface. The inventors have determined that a need exists for a sanding tool having components that flex or bend to substantially minimize damage to the work piece.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0006] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved rotary sanding device that removes material from a surface of a work piece without substantial damaging the surface.

[0007] Further objects of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The above and other objects are achieved by a rotary sanding tool having a top disc, a bottom disc coupled to the top disc, a shaft and a plurality of blade assemblies. Each of said blade assemblies includes an annular engagement portion and a plurality of finger portions. The plurality of blade assemblies are positioned between the top disc and the bottom disc such that the finger portions of each of blade assembly extends outwardly from peripheries of the top and the bottom discs.

[0009] In one embodiment, each of the blade assemblies has a curved shape formed in a direction of rotation of the rotary tool. Preferably, the curvature of the blade assemblies is of about a three and one half (3.50) inch radius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] The features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood when the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments given below is considered in conjunction with the figures provided, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top, plan view of an improved rotary sanding tool constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of the rotary sanding tool of FIG. 1; FIG. 3A is a top, plan view of a blade assembly constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the blade assembly of FIG. 3 A;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are top, plan views of top and bottom discs of the rotary sanding tool constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a shaft of the rotary sanding tool constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] In these figures, like structures are assigned like reference numerals, but may not be referenced in the description for all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a rotary sanding tool, shown generally at 10, configured and operating in accordance with the present invention for the removal of material from a surface of a work piece. As used herein, the term "sanding" indicates any action of removing material from a surface of a work piece such as, for example, by cutting, grinding, filing, smoothing, polishing, shaping, deburring, trimming and the like.

[0013] The rotary sanding tool 10 includes a top plate or disc 20, a bottom disc 30 and a shaft 40. The top disc 20 and bottom disc 30 are coupled to the shaft 40 about a central axis of rotation 50. The shaft 40 is suitably sized such that the rotary sanding tool 10 may be affixed to, for example, a variable speed hand drill as is known in the art.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of blade assemblies 60 are disposed between the top disc 20 and the bottom disc 40. In one embodiment, the blade assemblies 60 are fixedly secured between the top disc 20 and bottom disc 30 by a plurality of first pins 70. h accordance with the present invention and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 A, the plurality of blade assemblies 60 each include an annular engagement portion 62 and a plurality of finger portions 64 extending radially from the engagement portion 62. The annular engagement portion 62 is suitable sized to receive an outside diameter of the first pins 70 and to allow the blade assemblies 60 to freely rotate about the first pins 70. A plurality of second pins 80 are coupled to the top disc 20 and bottom disc 30. The second pins 80 are positioned to confine the rotation of the blade assemblies 60 within a plurality of predefined areas. FIG. 1 illustrates one such area generally at 100.

[0015] -n one embodiment, a blade assembly 60 is formed from a sheet of flexible steel such as, for example, 1050 spring steel having dimensions of, for example, about 0.030 inch (0.076 cm) in thickness, about 1.25 inches (3.175 cm) in width and about 3.625 inches (9.207 cm) in length. The spring steel sheet is slotted to form the aforementioned plurality of finger portions 64. For example, slots 66 of about 0.030 inch (0.076 cm) are milled between adjacent ones of the finger portions 64. As shown in FIG. 3A, in this embodiment each of the blade assemblies 60 has five finger portions 64.

[0016] In accordance with the present invention, each of the plurality of blade assemblies 60 has a curved shape formed in the direction of rotation, shown generally in FIG. 1 at 110 and being in the counter clockwise direction, h one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3B, the curvature of the blade assemblies 60 is of about a 3.50 inch (8.89 cm) radius.

[0017] It should be appreciated that the material (e.g., flexible steel such as 1050 spring steel) and the curved shape (e.g., about 3.50 inch (8.89 cm) radius) of the blade assemblies 60 cooperate such that the blade assemblies 60 do not substantially damage a surface of a work piece as the sanding tool 10 is placed in close proximity to the surface such that the finger portions 64 strike the surface as they rotation about the axis of rotation 50.

[0018] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate one embodiment of the top disc 20 and the bottom disc

30. FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the shaft 40.

[0019] Although not depicted in the attached figures, it should be that it is within the scope of the present invention to affix a cover or catching mechanism about the rotary sanding tool 10. The cover includes an attachment to accommodate a portable vacuum system to effectively capture sanding residue (e.g., paint chips, dust, etc.) as the rotary sanding tool 10 removes the material from a surface of a work piece. The integrated rotary sanding tool and portable vacuum system substantially eliminates airborne toxins (e.g., lead and dust from the removed material) typically released during sanding operations.

[0020] While the inventive rotary sanding tool 10 has been described and illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications, as will be evident to those skilled in this art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0021] For example, while the rotary sanding tool has been described as a two-piece construct (e.g., the top disc 20 and the bottom disc 30), the present invention contemplates a one-piece, unitary construction wherein the blade assemblies 60 are integrally formed about a single plate or disc.

[0022] The invention is thus not to be limited to the precise details of methodology or construction set forth above as such variations and modification are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A rotary sanding tool ( 10), comprising: a top disc (20); a bottom disc (30) coupled to said top disc coaxially about a central axis of rotation (50); a shaft (40) coupled to said central axis of rotation and extending outwardly therefrom; and a plurality of blade assemblies (60), each of said blade assemblies having an annular engagement portion (62) and a plurality of finger portions (64); wherein said plurality of blade assemblies are disposed between said top disc and said bottom disc such that said plurality of finger portions of each of said blade assemblies extends outwardly from peripheries of said top and said bottom discs.

2. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of blade assemblies are comprised of a flexible steel.

3. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of blade assemblies are comprised of 1050 spring steel.

4. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of blade assemblies have a curved shape extending radially from said annular engagement portion.

5. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of blade assemblies are formed at a radius of curvature of about 3.5 inches.

6. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said radius of curvature is formed in a direction of rotation (110) of the rotary sanding tool.

7. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top disc and said bottom disc are coupled by means of a first plurality of pins (70).

8. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 6 wherein said annular engagement portions are adapted to receive said first plurality of pins.

9. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 1 including a second plurality of pins (80) coupled to said top disc and said bottom disc, wherein said second plurality of pins confine a rotation of said plurality of blade assemblies within a plurality of predefined areas.

10. The rotary sanding tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shaft is sized such that said rotary sanding tool may be affixed to a variable speed hand drill.