QUICK ALIGNMENT ORBITAL SANDER DISC APPLICATOR
A device for applying a sander disc to an orbital sander includes a member having alignment projections or an alignment wall for releasably holding at least one sander disc having a surface with hook or loop type fasteners such that the surface having the hook or loop type fasteners faces away from said member. The device is cooperatively engagable with the orbital sander to align the sander disc with a corresponding hook or loop type fastener surface of the orbital sander and fasten it thereto.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an applicator device for applying a sander disc to an orbital sander.
2. Background of the Art
Various types of orbital sanders are known in the art. For example, various types of orbital sanders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,319,888; 6,979,254; 7,052,383; 7,222,679; and 7,270,591.
Orbital sanders typically include a housing containing a motor for driving a rotating member to which a replaceable sander disc is removably attached. In some sanders a vacuum system is included for removing and collecting sanding debris. In some such sanders the sander discs and the rotating member include holes through which the vacuum can draw the debris. Attachment of the sand disc to the rotating member of the orbital sander can be done by hook and loop type fastener material such as that available under the name VELCRO®. For example, the rotating member can include a surface layer of the hook type fasteners and the sander disc can include a loop type fastener surface, or vice versa.
Typically, the sander discs are manually applied to the rotating member. It can be appreciated that manual application requires some time and effort to align the holes of the sander disc with those of the rotating member while the sander disc is being attached. Attachment of the sander disc with a hook and loop type fastener system occurs on contact. Therefore, if the alignment is not precise the sander disc must be pulled off and reapplied.
Some sander discs do not have holes which need alignment. Nevertheless, the sander disc still needs to have its periphery aligned with the periphery of the rotating member.
What is needed is a device and method for the rapid and easy attachment of a sander disc to an orbital sander.
SUMMARYA device for applying a sander disc to an orbital sander is provided herein. The device comprises a member having alignment means for releasably holding at least one sander disc having a surface with hook or loop type fasteners such that the surface having the hook or loop type fasteners faces away from said member. The alignment means is cooperatively engagable with the orbital sander to align the sander disc with a corresponding hook or loop type fastener surface of the orbital sander and fasten it thereto.
Also provided herein is a method for using the device, which advantageously applies the sander disc to the orbital sander quickly and with precise alignment.
Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:
It will also be understood that any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges within that range.
Referring now to
Sander disc 110 includes a generally cylindrical body having a circular periphery 111, a plurality of apertures 112, an upper abrasive surface 113, and an opposite attachment surface 114 having hook or loop type fasteners adapted for engagement with the hook or loop type fasteners of the engagement surface 105 of the rotating member 102. The apertures 112 are configured and dimensioned to align with the suction channels 103 of the rotating member 102 when the sander disc 110 is properly mounted to the rotating member 102. Moreover, the sander disc 110 is sized such that the circular periphery 111 is adapted to align with the circular periphery 107 of the rotating member when mounted thereto. Sander disc 110 does not possess apertures to align with suction channels 104. Rather, by covering suction channels 104 the suction helps to maintain the sander disc in a proper position during operation of the orbital sander.
In a preferred embodiment the projections 230 include a generally cylindrical portion 232 and a tapered end portion 234. The length D-2 of the projections is chosen to accommodate the thickness and number of sander discs which are mounted to the application device 200 as described below. Typically the dimension D-2 can range from ½ inch to about ⅝ inch, although dimensions outside of this range can be used when appropriate. The projections are configured dimensioned and positioned so as to engage both the suction channels 103 of the orbital sander rotating member 102 and the apertures 112 of the sander disc 110. In an embodiment of the invention the projections 230 are arranged in a circular pattern having a diameter D-3 as shown in
Referring now to
In use, the applicator device 200 is then moved into engagement with the rotating member 102 of the orbital sander such that the projections 230 at least partially enter the corresponding suction channels 103, and pressed with sufficient force to contact the hook or loop fastener surface 114 of the sander disc with the hook or loop fastener surface 105 of the rotating member 102. The hook and loop fasteners thereby engage and the sander disc 110 then becomes securely, but removably, mounted to the rotating member 102 of the orbital sander. The tapered portions 234 of the projections facilitate orientation and engagement of the projections 230 with the apertures 112 and suction channels 103. Once the sander disc 110 is securely attached, the applicator device is then withdrawn. If only a single sander disc 110 was mounted to the applicator device 200 another one can then be mounted. If a plurality of sander discs have been mounted to the applicator device, the applicator device can then be used to sequentially attach the sander discs one by one to other orbital sanders. The handle 220 serves as holding means for supporting the applicator device. In use, the handle 220 is manually grasped by the user of the applicator, and the applicator is manually moved to engage the orbital sander.
The applicator device saves time and effort. Proper and precise alignment is insured by the projections which act as an alignment means.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
It can be appreciated that shapes other than circular or quadrangular can be used for the applicator device. For example, body 340 or 440 can be oval, triangular, or other polygonal shape. Various types of commercially available sander discs and sanders can be used in conjunction with the invention described herein. The invention saves time and effort. The sander discs align themselves when mounted to the applicator device, and are mounted to the orbital sander with precise alignment in one easy manual movement.
While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A device for applying a sander disc to an orbital sander, wherein said sander disc includes an abrasive surface and an opposite attachment surface having hook or loop type fasteners and the orbital sander has an engagement surface having corresponding hook or loop type fasteners for engaging and holding the hook or loop type fasteners of the sander disc, the device comprising:
- a) a body having alignment means for releasably holding at least one sander disc such that the attachment surface having the hook or loop type fasteners faces away from said body, wherein said alignment means is cooperatively engagable with the orbital sander to align the sander disc with the orbital sander hook or loop engagement surface; and
- b) holding means fixedly attached to the body for supporting the body.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the body has a disc contact surface for contacting the sander disc.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the holding means is a handle.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the body is fabricated from metal, wood or plastic.
5. The device of claim 3 wherein the alignment means comprises at least one projection extending from said disc contact surface of the body.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the at least one projection is cylindrical.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the at least one projection has a tapered end portion.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the at least one projection is sized and dimensioned to engage at least one aperture in the sander disc and at least one aperture in the orbital sander engagement surface having hook or loop type fasteners.
9. The device of claim 8 having a plurality of projections disposed in a patterned arrangement.
10. The device of claim 2 wherein the alignment means comprises a wall extending circumferentially around the periphery of the body and defining an interior space sized and dimensioned to contain a plurality of sander discs, and the holding means comprises a stationary substrate to which the body is fixed.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the wall is cylindrical.
12. The device of claim 10 wherein the wall is quadrangular.
13. The device of claim 10 wherein the substrate to which the body is fixedly attached is a surface elevated above ground level.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the surface comprises the top of a table, workbench, or stand.
15. A method for aligning and applying a sander disc to an orbital sander, wherein the sander disc includes an abrasive surface and an opposite attachment surface having hook or loop type fasteners and the orbital sander has an engagement surface with corresponding hook or loop type fasteners to which the sander disc is to be mounted, said method including:
- a) providing a body having alignment means for releasably holding at least one sander disc such that the attachment surface having the hook or loop type fasteners faces away from said body, wherein said alignment means is cooperatively engagable with the orbital sander to align the sander disc with the orbital sander engagement surface, wherein the body comprises a disc contact surface;
- b) mounting at least one sander disc to the body such that the abrasive surface of the sander disc faces towards the disc contact surface; and
- c) aligning and engaging the alignment means with the orbital sander to contact the attachment surface of the sander disc with the engagement surface of the orbital sander with force sufficient to fasten said attachment surface to the engagement surface.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the sander disc includes at least one aperture and the orbital sander engagement surface includes at least one vacuum channel, and wherein the alignment means comprises at least one projection extending from said disc contact surface of the body, said at least one projection being sized and dimensioned to be accommodated by both said aperture of the sander disc and the vacuum channel of the orbital sander,
- wherein said step of mounting the at least one sander disc to the member comprises disposing the at least one projection through the aperture of the sander disc, and
- said aligning and engaging step comprises disposing the at least one projection through the vacuum channel so as to align the aperture of the sander disc with the vacuum channel.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of mounting the at least one sander disc comprises mounting a plurality of sander discs.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the alignment means comprises a wall extending circumferentially around the periphery of the body and defining an interior space sized and dimensioned to contain a plurality of sander discs, and said interior space being sized and dimensioned to receive the engagement surface of the orbital sander; and
- said step of mounting the at least one sander disc to the body comprises positioning the at least one sander disc within the interior space such that the abrasive surface faces toward the body and the attachment surface faces away from the body, and
- said aligning and engaging step comprises positioning the engagement surface of the orbital sander within the interior space of the device and in contact with the attachment surface of the sander disc.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of mounting the at least one sander disc comprises mounting a plurality of sander discs.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 30, 2009
Publication Date: Feb 3, 2011
Inventor: Bryon Bierman (Primos, PA)
Application Number: 12/512,196
International Classification: B24B 19/00 (20060101); B24B 1/00 (20060101);