Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02499243 2005-03-03
Attorney Docket No. 0275U-000877/CPA
ORBITAL SANDER WITH VERTICAL HANDLE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application serial no.
10/819,248,
filed April 6, 2004. This application is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to sanders and, more particularly, to
random
orbital sanders having multiple gripping members, including a spaced vertical
handle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Orbital sanders generally include a vertically orientated housing
having a handle
at an axial end of the housing. Thus, the handle is positioned above the
orbital sanding
element so that a workman applies force directly onto the orbital sanding
element.
These handles have various types of designs in order to accommodate the
workman's
hand. Also, orbital sanders exist which include handles which extend from the
housing
substantially perpendicular to the orbital sander housing. These types of
handles are in
a horizontal orientation. Thus, during use, for a significant period of time,
vibration can
cause the user's hand to become fatigue. Accordingly, it is desirable to have
an orbital
sander which enables the user various gripping orientations to overcome the
shortcoming of the prior art.
]0004] The present invention provides the art with a orbital sander that
provides
multiple gripping positions. The orbital sander provides the user with a
gripping surface
spaced from the housing and substantially parallel to the housing. Also, the
present
invention provides the user with a gripping portion which surrounds the
housing to
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Attorney Docket No. 0275U-000877/CPA
provide a 360 degree handle for various orientations of the orbital sander.
Also, the
present invention provides the user with a palm grip having a gel portion to
reduce
vibration in the tool. The present invention also enables the user to utilize
both hands at
various positions on the sander during operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, an orbital sander
comprises a
housing with an overall axial orientation. A motor is positioned within the
housing. An
output is coupled with the motor to drive the orbital sanding element. A power
source is
coupled with the motor. An activation member is coupled with the motor and the
power
source. The activation member energizes and de-energizes the motor which, in
turn,
randomly rotates the output and sanding element. A handle having an overall
vertical
orientation is spaced from the housing. The housing ordinarily has a
cylindrical portion
and a truncated conical portion adjacent the cylindrical portion. A gripping
member is
positioned at the intersection of the cylindrical portion and a truncated
conical portion.
The gripping member surrounds a portion of the housing. The gripping member
that
surrounds the housing is formed from an elastomeric material providing comfort
and feel
for the user. Also, a gripping member maybe positioned on an end of the
housing
opposing the output. This gripping member may include a gel portion.
[0006] According to a second aspect of the invention, an orbital sander
comprises a housing that has an overall axial orientation with two ends. A
motor is
positioned within the housing. An output, coupled with the motor, is
positioned at one of
the ends of the housing to drive a sanding element. A power source is coupled
with the
motor. An activation member is coupled with the motor and the power source to
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Attorney Docket No. 02750-000877/CPA
energize and de-energize the motor which, in turn, drives the output and the
sanding
element. A gripping member surrounds the housing. The gripping member is
positioned between the ends of the housing. The gripping member is elastomeric
to
provide comfort and feel. The gripping member is continuous 360 degrees around
the
housing. The gripping member has an annular portion and an extending tail
portion.
The gripping member is positioned on a truncated conical portion of the
housing.
[0007] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an orbital sander
comprises
a housing having an axial orientation with a pair of ends. A motor is
positioned within
the housing. An output, coupled with the motor, is positioned at one of the
end to drive
a sanding element. A power source is coupled with the motor. An activation
member is
coupled with the motor and the power source to energize and de-energize the
motor
which, in turn, drives the output and the sanding element. A plurality of
gripping
members are coupled with the housing. At least one gripping member is spaced
from
and positioned substantially parallel to the housing. The one gripping member
is a
handle. The others of the gripping members are on the housing. One of the
gripping
members surrounds a portion of the housing. One of the gripping members is
positioned on the end of the housing opposing the output.
[0008] From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantages of
the
present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed
description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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Attorney D~uket No. 0275U-000877/CPA
[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an orbital sander in accordance with
the
present invention;
[0011] Figure 2a-2e are side perspective views of Figure 1 with hands shown in
phantom for gripping the sander;
[0012] Figure 3a is a side view of the present orbital sander showing its
dimensions in
millimeters;
[0013] Figure 3b is a bottom view of the present orbital sander showing its
dimensions
in millimeters;
[0014] Figure 4a is a side view of a second embodiment of the orbital sander
having a
rectangular sanding element, with dimensions shown in millimeters; and
[0015] Figure 4b is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the orbital
sander, with
dimensions shown in millimeters.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The following description of the preferred embodiments) is merely
exemplary in
nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or
uses.
[0017] The following description of the preferred embodiments) is merely
exemplary in
nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or
uses.
[0018] Turning to the figures, an orbital sander is illustrated and designated
with the
reference numeral 10. The orbital sander includes a housing 12, a motor 14
positioned
within the hcusing, an output 16 driven by the motor 14, and a platen or
carrier 18 that
is coupled to the output and oscillatingly driven. A sanding element (not
shown) is
attached to the carrier 18. It should be understood that a polishing or other
similar
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element, other than a sanding element, may be attached to carrier 18 and still
be within
the scope of the invention.
[0019) A dust collection system 20 is coupled with the housing 12. Also, a
plurality of
gripping members 22, 24, and 26 are coupled with the housing. An AC power cord
28
is coupled with the housing to provide power to the motor 14. An activation
member 30
is coupled with the housing to energize and de-energize the motor 14, in turn,
the output
16 which, in turn, rotates the carrier 18.
[0020] The housing 12 defines a central axis 13 and is normally used in a
vertical
orientation. The housing 12 includes a cylindrical portion 32 and a truncated
conical
portion 34 positioned on axis 13. The truncated conical portion 34 at its erid
includes a
skirt 36. The skirt 36 provides durability and protects the work surface while
sanding.
[0021 ] A housing gripping member 22 is positioned at the intersection of the
cylindrical
portion 32 and the truncated conical portion 34. The housing gripping member
22
includes an annular portion comprising a gripping surface 40 and a tail
surface 42. The
gripping surface 40 surrounds the housing providing a 360 degree grip on the
housing.
The gripping surface 40 is positioned at the other end of the truncated
conical portion 34
wherein it intersects the cylindrical portion 32. The tail surface 42 extends
from the
gripping surface 40 towards the skirt 36. The housing gripping member 22 is an
elastomeric member and may be over molded onto the housing 12. The elastomeric
member provides a comfortable grip as well as increased feel to the user.
[0022] The other end of the housing 12 includes an upper gripping member 24.
The
extending end of the cylindrical portion 32 has a teardrop shaped head 44 with
the
upper gripping member 24 positioned on top of the head 44. The upper gripping
CA 02499243 2005-03-03
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member 24 has a teardrop shape and is formed from a gel material that forms an
upper
gripping surface. Thus, the gel provides a top surface to absorb vibration of
the sander
to increase the duration of use by the user without fatigue.
[0023] Vertical axis 13 is located substantially centrally relative to the
sander housing
12 throughout its entire extent. That is, axis 13 is centrally located with
respect to all of
upper gripping member 24, cylindrical portion 32 and conical portion 34.
Further, as
evident with reference to Figs. 3a and 3c, upper gripping member 24 defines an
outer
perimeter such that a downward projection of the outer perimeter defines a
volume in
which the housing 12 is substantially disposed within throughout its entire
extent. In
other words, the middle and lower parts of housing 12 do not extend outwardly
of upper
gripping member 24 for any substantial extent.
[0024] A handle gripping member 26 is spaced from the housing 12. The handle
gripping member 26 runs substantially parallel to the housing 12, and has a
vertical
orientation enabling the user to grip handle gripping member 26 to provide a
different
orientation for the user's hands. The gripping orientations are illustrated in
Figures 2a-
2e. Also, the user may use two hands when gripping the handle gripping member
26
with another one of the gripping members 22 or 24.
[0025) The handle gripping member 26 is ordinarily formed with the housing 12
to
provide a clamshell type of housing member. The handle gripping member 26
includes
gripping surface 46 and 48 on each of its sides. The gripping surfaces 46 and
48 are
similar to gripping surface 40, and made of an elastomeric material to provide
comfort
and feel to the user.
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[0026) An open space is formed between gripping surfaces 46, 48 and housing 12
to
allow for gripping of the gripping surfaces, with the user's hand oriented in
a
substantially vertical orientation, as explained below.
[0027) During operation, a user may grip the orbital sander at gripping member
22, 24
or 26. This allows the user to vary his hand positions to reduce fatigue
during
prolonged operation. Also, the user may use a plurality of the gripping
members at one
time. The user may use grips 22 and 26, 24 and 26, or 22 and 24 at one time to
add
increased control to the sander during operation.
[0028) Although as discussed above, the sander may be gripped with two hands
utilizing various combinations of grips 22, 24 and 26, the preferred overall
configurations
and weight allow for the sander to be operated by the user with one hand by
solely
gripping upper grip 24. As shown in Fig. 2a, in this sole gripping position,
the user's
hand may extend substantially over the entire extent of the sander housing 12.
In such
a configuration, the user's palm rests substantially in a horizontal plane.
One
advantage provided by this invention is that in addition to allowing for such
overhanded
gripping at the top of the sander, the user also can grip the sander with his
second hand
gripping spaced handle 26. in particular, as shown in Fig. 2b, the user grips
gripping
surfaces 46 and 48 of handle 26 such that the palm of the second hand is
disposed
substantially vertically and therefore perpendicular to the palm of the first
hand, to
provide increased control during operation.
[0029) With reference to Fig. 3a, preferred dimensions in millimeters for the
sander are
shown. In a preferred embodiment, the weight of the orbital sander may be
approximately 3.5 pounds. As shown, the handle 26 need not be disposed
precisely
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Attorney Docket No. 0275U-000877/CPA
perpendicular to the gripping surface of upper grip 24, that is, it need not
be disposed
precisely vertical. For example, in one preferred embodiment handle 26 and
thus
gripping surfaces 46 and 48 may be disposed substantially vertically at
103.46° to the
horizontal gripping surface of upper grip 24, and thus at an angle of
13.46° to the
vertical axis of housing 12. Prefereably, this angle may be varied within a
range of 5°.
[0030] Figures 4a and 4b show a second embodiment of the invention, where the
carrier 18, and consequently the sanding element (not shown), is rectangular
shaped.
The orbital sander shown in Figures 4a and 4b is a 1/a sheet sander, with the
approximate dimension of the sander shown in millimeters.
[0031] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,
thus,
variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to
be within the
scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure
from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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