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US 5,545,080 AGranted
Motorized sander having a sanding head mounted by a pivotal joint
AssigneePorter-Cable Corporation
InventorsEarl R. Clowers, Steve H. Plume, John C. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motorized sander having a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand is provided. A flexible drive shaft is operatively coupled to the drive motor and extends along the length of the tubular wand. A sanding head is mounted by a pivotal joint to a proximal end of the tubular wand. The sanding head includes a sanding pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft. The pivotal joint has a first and a second flexible joint. The first joint is configured to pivot about a first axis which is different from a second axis about which the second joint pivots.
Claims40
A motorized sander comprising:
- (a) a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand;
- (b) a flexible drive shaft operatively coupled to the drive motor and extending along the length of the tubular wand;
- and
- (c) a sanding head mounted by a pivotal joint to a proximal end of the tubular wand, the sanding head including a sanding pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft, the pivotal joint comprising a first and a second flexible joint, the first joint being configured to pivot about a first axis which is different from a second axis about which the second joint pivots.
1 more element
A motorized sander comprising:
- (a) a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand;
- (b) a flexible drive shaft operatively coupled to the drive motor and extending along the length of the tubular wand;
- and
- (c) a sanding head mounted by a pivotal joint to a proximal end of the tubular wand, the sanding head including a sanding pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft, a shroud surrounding a peripheral edge of the sanding pad, and a casing operatively coupled between the shroud and the proximal end of the tubular wand such that the flexible drive shaft extends therethrough, the casing defining an interior wall spaced apart from the flexible drive shaft to allow the flexible drive shaft to bend such that kinking of the flexible drive shaft is prevented.
1 more element
A motorized sander comprising:
- (a) a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand;
- (b) a flexible drive shaft operatively coupled to the drive motor and extending along the length of the tubular wand within the tubular wand;
- and
- (c) a sanding head mounted by a pivotal joint to a proximal end of the tubular wand, the sanding head including a sanding pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft, a shroud surrounding a peripheral edge of the sanding pad, and a ball joint operatively coupled between a casing covering the flexible drive shaft and the proximal end of the tubular wand such that the flexible drive shaft passes therethrough, the ball joint cooperating with the casing to permit movement of the casing about an axis of pivotal movement while minimizing changing length requirements for the flexible drive shaft resulting from bending of the casing.
1 more element
A motorized sander comprising:
- (a) a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand;
- (b) a flexible drive shaft operatively coupled to the drive motor and extending along the length of the tubular wand within the tubular wand;
- and
- (c) a sanding head mounted by a pivotal joint to a proximal end of the tubular wand, the sanding head including a sanding pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft, a shroud surrounding a peripheral edge of the sanding pad, and a recessed region defined by a surface of the shroud surrounding a vacuum hole proximate the sanding pad, the recessed region being formed such that the sanding pad is prevented from sealing the vacuum hole when force is applied to a planar surface of the sanding pad toward the shroud.
1 more element
A motorized sander comprising:
- (a) a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand;
- (b) a flexible drive shaft operatively coupled to the drive motor and extending along the length of the tubular wand;
- (c) a sanding head operatively coupled to a proximal end of the tubular wand, the sanding head including a sanding pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft;
- and
- (d) pivotal joint means for mounting the sanding head to the proximal end of the tubular wand through first and second flexible means for pivoting about different axes, the first flexible means being configured to pivot about a first axis which is different from a second axis about which the second flexible means pivots.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.