Adaptive dust shield device

An adaptive dust shield for rotary grinders having a bearing housing with a groove therein, said adaptive dust shield comprising:

• (a) a cover having a top, a downward extending skirt from said top, and a defined diameter for said skirt wherein said cover is adapted to encircle and cover a grinding disk attached to the rotary grinder;
• (b) a ledge on said top of said cover with a plurality of upstanding flexible fingers in multiples of four on top of and around said ledge, said upstanding flexible fingers having a Height-H, and inside diameter of Width-A, and forming a broken circle around said ledge wherein said Width-A is substantially less than said defined diameter, said plurality of upstanding flexible fingers having a Width-W2 and being separated apart from each other defining a space between each one of said plurality of upstanding flexible fingers wherein said space has a Width-W1, with each said space between each one of said plurality of upstanding flexible fingers is formed partially through said top and extending upwardly such that each said space is generally “L”-shaped;
• and
• (c) securing means for securing said upstanding flexible fingers and onto the bearing housing of the grinder.

A method of attaching a dust shield having a cover with a top and a plurality of upstanding fingers on said top to a rotary grinder having a bearing housing with a surface area and a groove on said bearing housing comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining a stretchable fitting ring having an outside circumferential face, an inside circumferential face, a height as to cover a substantial portion of said surface area and being of a substantial thickness, and placing said stretchable fitting ring onto said bearing housing such that said inside circumferential face is in contact with said bearing housing;
• (b) placing said plurality of upstanding fingers around the outside circumferential face of said stretchable fitting ring;
• and
• (c) placing a securing fastener around said plurality of upstanding fingers, either before or after placing said plurality of upstanding fingers around the outside circumferential face of said stretchable fitting ring, and tightening said securing fastener around said plurality of upstanding fingers and compressing said plurality of upstanding fingers onto said stretchable fitting ring and compressing said stretchable fitting ring onto said bearing housing.