U.S. patent application number 09/753393 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for flex plate attachment for use with belt sanders.
Invention is credited to Andrews, William L., Deware, William R..
Application Number | 20020086627 09/753393 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25030438 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020086627 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Andrews, William L. ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
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.
Inventors: |
Andrews, William L.;
(Rochester, NH) ; Deware, William R.; (Belmont,
NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM L. ANDREWS
P.O. Box 1695
ROCHESTER
NH
03866-1695
US
|
Family ID: |
25030438 |
Appl. No.: |
09/753393 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
451/355 ;
451/495 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24B 21/04 20130101;
B24B 21/18 20130101; B24B 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/355 ;
451/495 |
International
Class: |
B24B 021/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
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.
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.
* * * * *