Flex plate attachment for use with belt sanders

Abstract

A flex plate attachment is used on a variety of different belt sanders for abrading on or into contoured areas. The flex plate attachment will include a light duty scale for use on light duty belt sanders, and a heavy duty scale for use on commercial and industrial belt sanders. The flex plate works in conjunction with the function of the existing belt tensioning device within the belt sander and being attached onto the required mounts which allows the flex plate to function accordingly within the existing work area of the belt sander.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to being an attachment for power belt sanders. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flexible attachment that will attach within the work area of a belt sander enabling a capability of abrading onto contoured surfaces.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] Belt sanders have been used for abrading or sanding many different types of surfaces. Most belt sanders are designed for sanding flat or straight surfaces and can do so with little difficulty. What is difficult with these belt sanders is sanding or abrading non-flat surfaces. Even the capability of hand held belt sanders have difficulty and limitations in sanding these non-flat surfaces.

[0003] Other belt sanders are designed to sand or abrade a set or specific non-flat surface. This makes these belt sanders more costly and less affordable as well as being limited to the specific surface which they were designed for.

[0004] Some of todays contour abrading is still being cone by means of time consuming ABC tiresome efforts of physically sanding by hand. This is still being done for several reasons which include, the cost is too great for some people to go out and buy a power sander with contouring capability. Most contour sanders are limited to abrading only certain contours and are not designed to abrade a variety of contours and still abrade flat surfaces also.

[0005] Some of todays hand belt sanders incorporate a wear pad that may consist of being a bendable thin sheet of steel attached on one end to the main body and located over the work area of the belt sander. The sanding loop or belt is then placed onto the belt sander accordingly, leaving the wear pad between the two work areas.

[0006] Though the wear pad may be made of a thin and bendable material, similar to the present invention, the wear pad. is limited to a flat surface and does not offer any kind of function which can allow conforming to curved surfaces.

[0007] Most of todays bench top or pedestal type belt sanders will incorporate a work plate. This type of belt sander consists of having three rollers in which to allow, and control, the abrading loop or belt to travel on. One of these three rollers will be driven and the other two rollers remain idle or free spinning. Normally the weak area of these belt sanders is in between the two idle rollers. The work plate is secured and located within this work area. The abrading loop or belt will travel in front of the work plate. The work plate is used as a support on the back side of the abrading belt while abrading the workpiece on the front side of the abrading belt. The work plate is rigid and does not take any form other than that of being rigid.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,992; 2000, discloses a sander with the capability of sanding a bullnose concave surface by using sheets of abrasive materials, clamped in accordance with a flexible pad. Though capable of abrading a concave workpiece, it is limited to only that concave surface.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,423; 1998, discloses a back-up pad provided for supporting an abrasive article curing abrading. Though capable of abrading some contours, this method is limited to abrading only slight contours.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,519; 1997, Discloses a contour sander designed for sanding the details and curves of automobile body panels. Though conformable to the curves of automobile body panels, the sander is limited to manual use and not for use on a power sander,

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,187; 1997, discloses a flexible device for holding abrasive materials, which can be adjusted to a variety of shapes. Though capable of conforming to a variety of curved shapes, the device has to be manually adjusted to each shape separately.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,858; 1976, discloses a flexible hand held abrading tool, which can easily conform to curves and contours. Though being made of a thin flexible material similar to the present invention and able to easily conform to curves, it is limited as to being a manually operated hand held tool and not used on power sanders.

[0013] What is needed is a safe, easy to use and affordable means of adapting todays power belt sanders, both light duty and heavy duty, to be more versatile and able to abrade a variety of contoured surfaces and still maintain the already existing capability of abrading a flat surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention features a flexible support shelf, or flexible work plate, which relates to being a flex plate,

[0015] The present invention is designed to be an add on attachment for belt sanders.

[0016] The flex plate attachment will flex to the shape of a workpiece which is to be abraded and will support the abrading belt so as to follow that same shape. This will allow the belt sander to abrade onto any contoured surface which the flex plate is able to flex to the shape of.

[0017] The invented flex plate attachment will be safe, easy to use and affordable for consumers. The invented flex plate will attach onto a variety of both light duty and heavy duty belt sanders which will make them more versatile for abrading either flat or contour surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The concept and function of the present: invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, described accordingly with the drawings wherein.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a front view of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the present invention while in a working concave position;

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the present invention while in a working convex position;

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the present invention while in a working flat position;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OP INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1 front view and FIG. 2 side view, according to the present invention; include a flexible, bendable region which forms a work area 1 that is flexible. The flexible work area 1 extends between a lower support area 2 and a tipper support area 2. The support areas 2 conformably connects said flexible work area 1 and attaching frames 3. The attaching frames 3 will attach securely onto & variety of different counts by means of either snapping 4 onto or by pinning 5 onto.

[0025] Occasionally, it may require that attaching frames 3 be securely attached to said variety of mounts 8 by snapping 4 at both ends or by pinning 5 at both ends. Occasionally still, it may require attaching frames 3 be securely attached to said variety of mounts 8 by snapping 4 on one end and by pinning 5 on the opposite end. The frames 3 will be constructed so as to have two attaching snap areas 4 or two attaching pin areas 5 on each end which will extend out beyond support areas 2 and will leave an open area 6 between said attaching area 4 or 5. The open area 6 will have sufficient area to incorporate a variety of mounts and leave appropriate clearance in which the present invention will maneuver. Each of frames 3 will be attached to each side of said variety of mounts.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows work area 1 is being held into place by support areas 2 which conforms to attaching frames 3. Attaching frames 3 is securely attached to mount 8 by means of pinning 5 on one end and snapping 4 on the opposite end. Attaching frames 3 extends over the two sides of the mount 8. Pin area 5 incorporates a pin which goes freely through one side of attaching frame 3 and extends by press fit through the mount 8 and then goes freely through the other side of attaching frame 3. Snap area 4 snaps securely onto a pin press fitted into mount 8 in the same fashion as the pinned area 5. Open area 6 has enough area to incorporate mounts 8 and still have room for allowing clearance for maneuverability of the flex plate.

[0027] The opposite and of mounts 8 is not shown due to the fact, detailed design will vary as does the various designs of the variety of belt sanders. Said opposite ends of mounts 8 is secured in accordance, but not limited to, so as to have freedom to move fay pivoting. This will allow the tension from the belt sanders existing tension unit to relate with the spring force of the work area 1.

[0028] When rotating belt 7 stops rotating, the work area 1 will return to only slightly concave but remains in belt contact. When the belt is rotated it will drag across work area 1, and pull work area 1 into forming a more concaved and flexible shape in which the hard to reach convex area of workpiece 9 is easily abraded.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows details 1 thru 8 will remain the same as illustrated in FIG. 3 with the exception that the force created from the crag of the rotating bolt 7 does not comply due to the shape of the work area 1 is now convexly away from the rotating belt.

[0030] To place work area 1 in either position, is done so by means of physically placing work area 1 in the desired position while the belt is not rotating.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows work area 1 is placed in convex position. Rotating belt 7 makes contact with workpiece 10. As the pressure is being applied, mounts 8 automatically adjust to workpiece 10 and the belt sander tensioning unit automatically keeps proper tension on rotating belt 7. As the workpiece 10 pushes the rotating belt 7 against work area 1. The rotating belt 7 is forced to conform to the shape of, and abrade workpiece 10.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows details 1 thru 8 remains the same as illustrated in FIG. 3. Work area 1 is placed in concave position, the rotating belt 7 pulls the work area 1 into a working concave position. After rotating belt 7 makes contact with workpiece 11, more pressure is applied which forces work area 1 to conform to the shape of workpiece 11 and therefore forces the rotating belt 7 to conform and abrade likewise.

[0033] It may require in some applications, that the pivotal mounts described in detail No.8 may be able to pivot freely or be locked in a desired position. This will require incorporating a position locking mechanism.

[0034] Due to the fact that there is such a large variety of belt senders, with so many different operations, the flex plate may be required to be attached onto mounts other than pivotal. It may require, for example, the flex plate to be attached onto a slide mount, or an upper slice mount and a lower slide mount. It may also be required that some mounts incorporate rollers. The present invention is a flex plate attachment, to be used with a variety of belt sanders by means of attaching onto a variety of mounts. It will require that mounts be designed accordingly as to the design of each different belt sander.

[0035] A material used to make a light duty flex plate would be, but would not be limited to, a polycarbonate. This material has the characteristics needed to obtain the required flex and strength yet still be able to build up a spring load as it bends and forms. This flex plate will be attached to and used on light duty belt sanders. Also, this flex plate will have no sharp edges nor will it wear into sharp edges that nay cause harm to individuals, both young and old, who may be exposed to the flex plate when purchase by the everyday homeowner.

[0036] A material used to make a heavy duty flex plate would be, but would not be limited to, a spring steel. This material will wear longer and can be used at higher speeds and temperatures than the light duty flex plate.

[0037] The heavy duty flex plate attachment will be used with industrial duty belt sanders. The individuals exposed to industrial duty belt sanders will be more trained and experienced as opposed to the individuals exposed to the light duty flex plate attached on a light duty belt sander.

[0038] The measured lengths and sizes of the present invention will vary, it will depend on the size and design of the belt sander that it's to be used with. The flex plate will normally be attached in the already existing work area of the belt sander and therefore will conform to that size.

[0039] Wear pads may be an option so as to assist in controlling the wearing out of a flex plate. Also the wear pads can help control the amount of force or drag created by the rotating and abrading belt.

[0040] A material used to make suitable wear pads would be, but would not be limited to, teflon sheets or film adhered directly onto the flex plates.

[0041] Some applications may require that the flex plate be coated with a wear resistant material, such as teflon, instead of using wear pads.

Claims

1. A flex plate attachment, to be attached to and used with a belt sander to abrade a contoured surface of a workpiece, said flex plate comprising:

A flexible work area, for when appropiate pressure is applied, will then conform to the shape of the workpiece in which to abrade and therefore forces the abrading belt of the belt sander to abrade to the shape of, and against, the workpiece as it travels between the flex plate and the workpiece.

2. The flex plate attachment of claim 1 wherein said flex plate will be used with light duty belt sanders.

3. The flax plate attachment of claim 2 wherein said flex plate would be made out of a polycarbonate.

4. The flex plate attachment of claim 2 wherein said flex plate will attach onto mounts designed accordingly as to the requirements of each different belt sander.

5. The flex plate attachment of claim 2 wherein said flex plate will have a lower end and an upper end in which to attach onto mounts by means of snapping.

6. The flex plate attachment of claim 2 wherein said flex plate will have a lower end and an upper end in which to attach onto mounts by means of pinning.

7. The flex plate attachment of claim 2 wherein said flex plate will have a lower end and an upper end that when attached onto mounts, will have enough open area for allowing clearance for the maneuverability of the flex plate.

8. The flex plate attachment of claim 2 wherein said material of the flex plate is not limited to a polycarbonate.

9. The flex plate attachment of claim 1 wherein said flex plate will be used with industrial duty belt sanders.

10. The flex elate attachment of claim 9 wherein said flex plate would be made of a spring steel.

11. The flex plate attachment of claim 9 wherein said flex plate will have a lower end and an upper end in which to attach onto mounts by means of snapping.

12. The flex plate attachment of claim 9 wherein said flex plate will have a lower end and an upper end in which to attach onto mounts by means of pinning.

13. The flex plate attachment of claim 3 wherein said flex plate will attach onto mounts designed accordingly as to the design of each different belt saucer.

14. The flex plate attachment of claim 9 wherein said flex plate material is not limited to a spring steel.

15. The flex plate attachment of claim 9 wherein said flex plate may be used with wear pads.

16. The flex plate attachment of claim 9 wherein said flex plate may be coated with a wear resistant coating.

17. The flex plate attachment of claim 9 wherein said flex plate may attach onto mounts which may incorporate a position locking mechanism.

18. The flex plate attachment of claim 1 wherein said flex plate will be an add on attachment for belt sanders.