U.S. patent application number 11/030051 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for device for sanding buffing or grinding elongate objects.
Invention is credited to Michael G. Nevakshonoff.
Application Number | 20060150992 11/030051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36652011 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060150992 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nevakshonoff; Michael G. |
July 13, 2006 |
Device for sanding buffing or grinding elongate objects
Abstract
A device for sanding, buffing or grinding elongate objects
includes a housing having a collar at one end and a rotatable
sanding/buffing head rotatably mounted in the collar. The collar
defines a cavity. A driveshaft is mounted to a motor in the housing
for rotation of the driveshaft about an axis of rotation of the
head upon actuation of the motor. A distal end of the driveshaft
extends into the cavity in the collar. The sanding/buffing head may
be cup-shaped and removably mounted or mountable into the collar on
to the distal end of the driveshaft. The driveshaft rotates the cup
within, and relative to, the collar upon the actuation of the
motor. An abrasive is mounted to the annular inner surface of the
cavity in the collar. The second end of the housing, opposite the
first end, provides a handle for manual grasping and lifting by a
user.
Inventors: |
Nevakshonoff; Michael G.;
(Castlegar, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONY C. EDWARDS
SUITE 200 - 270 HIGHWAY 33 WEST
KELOWNA
BC
V1X 1X7
CA
|
Family ID: |
36652011 |
Appl. No.: |
11/030051 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/73.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24B 23/02 20130101;
A45D 29/14 20130101; A45D 29/05 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/073.6 |
International
Class: |
A45D 29/05 20060101
A45D029/05 |
Claims
1. A device for sanding, buffing or grinding elongate objects, the
device comprising: a housing having opposite first and second ends,
said first end of said housing including a collar defining a cavity
a motor mounted in said housing a driveshaft mounted to said motor
for rotation of said driveshaft about an axis of rotation upon
actuation of said motor, a distal end of said driveshaft and said
axis of rotation extending into said cavity, a cup mounted into
said collar and onto said distal end of said driveshaft for
rotation of said cup within, and relative to, said collar upon said
actuation of said motor, wherein said cup has an annular inner
surface and an abrasive for sanding, buffing or grinding is mounted
to said inner surface, and wherein said cup has an inner rear
surface contiguous to said annular inner surface, and wherein said
inner rear surface is substantially continuously planar across all
of said inner rear surface and said driveshaft does not protrude
into said cup, so that a finger-tip receiving space in said cur) is
unobstructed, and wherein said second end of said housing provides
a handle for manual grasping and lifting by one hand of a user of
said housing by said user using only the one hand of the user.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein a rim of said collar defines an
opening into said cavity and a rim of said cup defines an opening
into said cup, and wherein said rim of said collar is substantially
flush with said rim of said cup.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said cup is cylindrical and
wherein said axis of rotation is coaxial with an axis of symmetry
of said cup so that a radial distance between said axis of rotation
and said abrasive is substantially a constant about said axis of
rotation.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said cavity of said collar is
cylindrical, and said cup is nested snugly within said collar.
5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a demountable coupling
between said cup and said distal end of said driveshaft for manual
demounting and remounting of said cup respectively from and to said
driveshaft.
6. The device of claim 5 further comprising at least one
replacement cup for replacing said cup, wherein each cup of said at
least one replacement cup has an abrasive having a different grit
size so as to provide a plurality of said cups thereby providing a
range of said grit sizes.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein said grit sizes include a grinding
grit size and buffing grit size.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein said radial distance corresponds
generally to a radius of curvature of a fingernail.
9. The device of claim 4 wherein said inner rear surface has said
abrasive mounted thereto.
10. The device of claim 3 further comprising a switch for selective
actuation of said motor, wherein said switch has an on-position for
actuation of said motor and wherein said switch, when in said
on-position does not need to be manually maintained in said
on-position ill order that said motor, once actuated, remains
actuated, whereby said switch may be biased manually only once to
engage said on-position and thereafter left with said motor running
until manually biased into an off-position thereby disengaging and
deactivating said motor.
11. The device of claim 3 further comprising a battery mounted in
said housing in electrical cooperation with said motor.
12. The device of claim 3 wherein said cup is lined around said
annular inner surface with a resilient liner and said abrasive is
mounted to an innermost surface of said liner so as to sandwich
said resilient liner between said cup and said abrasive.
13. A device for buffering elongate objects comprising: a housing
having opposite first and second ends, said first end of said
housing including a collar defining a cavity a motor mountable in
said housing a driveshaft mountable to said motor for rotation of
said driveshaft about an axis of rotation upon actuation of said
motor, a distal end of said driveshaft and said axis of rotation
extending into said cavity, a cup mountable into said collar and
onto said distal end of said driveshaft for rotation of said cup
within, and relative to, said collar upon said actuation of said
motor, wherein said cup has an annular inner surface and an
abrasive for sanding, buffering or grinding is mountable to said
inner surface, and wherein said cup has an inner rear surface
contiguous to said annular inner surface, and wherein said inner
rear surface is substantially continuously planar across all of
said inner rear surface and said driveshaft does not protrude into
said cup so that a finger-tip receiving space in said cup is
unobstructed, and wherein said second end of said housing provides
a handle including a handgrip adapted for manual grasping and
lifting by one hand of a user of said housing by said user using
only the one hand of the user.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein a rim of said collar defines an
opening into said cylindrical cavity and a rim of said cup defines
an opening into said cup, and wherein said rim of said collar is
substantially flush with said rim of said cup.
15. The device of claim 13 wherein said cup is cylindrical and
wherein said axis of rotation is coaxial with an axis of symmetry
of said cup so that a radial distance between said axis of rotation
and said abrasive is substantially a constant about said axis of
rotation.
16. The device of claim 15 wherein said cavity of said collar is
cylindrical, and said cup is nested snugly within said collar.
17. The device of claim 16 further comprising a demountable
coupling between said cup and said distal end of said driveshaft
for manual demounting and remounting of said cup respectively from
and to said driveshaft.
18. The device of claim 17 further comprising at least one
replacement cup for replacing said cup, wherein each cup of said at
least one replacement cup bas an abrasive having a different grit
size so as to provide a plurality of said cups thereby providing a
range of said grit sizes.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein said grit sizes include a
grinding grit size and buffing grit size.
20. The device of claim 19 wherein said radial distance corresponds
generally to a radius of curvature of a fingernail.
21. The device of claim 16 said inner rear surface has said
abrasive mountable thereto.
22. The device of claim 15 further comprising a switch for
selective actuation of said motor, wherein said switch has an
on-position for actuation of said motor and wherein said switch,
when in said on-position does not need to be manually maintained in
said on-position in order that said motor, once actuated, remains
actuated, whereby said switch may be biased manually only once to
engage said on-position and thereafter left with said motor running
until manually biased into an off-position thereby dis-engaging and
deactivating said motor.
23. The device of claim 15 further comprising a battery mountable
in said housing in electrical cooperation with said motor.
24. The device of claim 15 wherein said cup is lined around said
annular inner surface with a resilient liner and said abrasive is
mountable to an innermost surface of said liner so as to sandwich
said resilient liner between said cup and said abrasive.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of devices for sanding,
buffing or grinding generally, and in particular to an improved
device for sanding, buffing or grinding elongate objects such as
fingernails.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Buffing, sanding and grinding devices are well known in the
prior art. For example, it is known in the prior art to provide
table-mounted grinding, sanding and buffing equipment wherein an
abrasive mounted on a surface, such as on sandpaper, is
rotationally translated on a disk or endless belt so as to abrade
the surface of an object held against the abrasive.
[0003] In the particular instance of sanding and buffing
fingernails, applicant is aware of the following patents: U.S. Pat.
No. 2,424,509 which issued to Singer on Jul. 22, 1947 for a Rotary
Finger Scrubbing Machine, U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,693 which issued to
Johnson on Jul. 26, 1955 for a Finger-nail Polish Remover, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,255,826 which issued to Boyd on Mar. 17, 1981 for a Nail
Polish Remover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,232 which issued to Yasuda on
Oct. 23, 1984 for a Nail Polisher, U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,606 which
issued to Kolesky on Jan. 31, 1989 for a Digit Nail Cleaning
Device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,441 which issued to Goldstein on Apr.
16, 1991 for an Electric Nail Polish Remover, U.S. Pat. No.
5,185,900 which issued to Warner et al. on Feb. 16, 1993 for an
Apparatus for Removing Coatings from Fingernails, U.S. Pat. No.
5,339,477 which issued to Warner et al. on Aug. 23, 1994 for an
Apparatus for Removing Coatings from Fingernails.
[0004] As may be seen, it is known in the prior art to provide
table mounted devices similar to conventional grinding and sanding
machines wherein an abrasive on a surface such as on sandpaper is
rotated such that, when a fingernail is held against the rotating
sandpaper, the surface of the fingernail is either abraded or
polished depending on the coarseness, the so-called "grit", of the
abrasive surface.
[0005] What is neither taught nor suggested, and which it is an
object of the present invention to provide, is a portable, hand
held sanding, buffing or grinding motorized apparatus which, when a
user holds the apparatus in the user's hand, may be held
sufficiently steadily so that a digit of the other hand or an
object held in the other hand of the user may be inserted into a
concavity or opening in a sanding, buffing or grinding cup mounted
in cooperation with a selectively operable motor mounted in the
apparatus housing. In applicant's opinion, the apparatus not only
may be used for sanding, buffing or grinding, but may also provide
for hardening of finger or toe nails and for the removal of ridges
from same and the attendant advantages flowing therefrom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In summary, the present invention may be characterized in
one aspect as a device for sanding, buffing or grinding elongate
objects, the device comprising a housing having a collar at one end
and a rotatable sanding/buffing head rotatably mounted in the
collar. The collar may be characterized as formed or mounted at a
first end of the housing. The collar defines a cavity. A motor is
mounted in the housing. A driveshaft is mounted to the motor for
rotation of the driveshaft about an axis of rotation of the head
upon actuation of the motor. A distal end of the driveshaft extends
into the cavity in the collar. The sanding/buffing head may be
cup-shaped and removably mounted or mountable into the collar on to
the distal end of the driveshaft. The head is alternatively
referred to herein as a cup. The driveshaft rotates the cup within,
and relative to, the collar upon the actuation of the motor. The
cup has an annular inner surface. An abrasive is mounted to the
annular inner surface. The second end of the housing, opposite the
first end, provides a handle for manual grasping and lifting by a
user.
[0007] In one embodiment, wherein a rim of the collar defines an
opening into the collar cavity and a rim of the cup defines an
opening into the cup, the rim of the collar is substantially flush
with the rim of the cup.
[0008] Advantageously, the cup is cylindrical and the axis of
rotation is coaxial with an axis of symmetry of the cup so that a
radial distance between the axis of rotation and the abrasive is
substantially a constant about the axis of rotation. The cup may
have an inner rear surface contiguous to the annular inner surface.
The abrasive may also be mounted to the inner rear surface. Further
advantageously, the cavity of the collar is cylindrical, and the
cup nests or is nested snugly within the collar.
[0009] In one embodiment a demountable coupling is provided between
the cup and the distal end of the driveshaft for manual demounting
and remounting of the cup respectively from and to the driveshaft.
In that embodiment at least one replacement cup may be provided for
replacing the cup mounted in the collar. In such a set of
replacement or replaceable cups, each cup has an abrasive having a
different grit size so as to provide, by the plurality of cups, a
range of the grit sizes or range of coarseness of the abrasive
mounted in the collar. Thus in one embodiment adapted for use with
fingernails, the grit sizes include a grin ding grit size and
buffing grit size, and radial distance or curvature of the head
corresponds generally to a radius of curvature of a fingernail. In
an alternative embodiment the cup may be lined around the annular
inner surface of the cup with a resilient liner. The abrasive may
be mounted to an innermost surface of the liner so as to sandwich
the resilient liner between the cup and the abrasive.
[0010] A switch may be provided for selective actuation of the
motor. The switch has an on-position for actuation of the motor. In
one embodiment the on-position does not need to be manually
maintained in the on-position in order that the motor, once
actuated, remains actuated. The switch may be biased manually only
once to engage the on-position and thereafter left with the motor
running until manually biased into an off-position thereby
dis-engaging and deactivating the motor. A battery may be mounted
in the housing in electrical cooperation with the motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is, in perspective view, one embodiment of the
sanding, buffing or grinding device according to the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is, in side elevation view, the device of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3a is a sectional view along line 3a-3a in FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 3b is a view of FIG. 3a with the cup-shaped rotating
head removed from the driveshaft.
[0015] FIG. 4 is, in perspective view, the device of FIG. 1 with
the non-rotating collar cut away and shown in dotted outline.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the cup-shaped head
of FIG. 3a.
[0017] FIG. 6 is the view of FIG. 5 showing an alternative
embodiment of a buffing/polishing head illustrating the use of a
soft buffing liner for nail maintenance.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a further alternative flat
drum head.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0019] As seen in the accompanying figures wherein corresponding
reference numerals denote corresponding parts in each view, one
embodiment of the sanding, buffing or grinding device according to
the present invention includes a handle 10 containing an electric
motor 12 selectively operable by a switch 14 so as to rotate a
driveshaft 16 mounted to the motor so as to extend longitudinally
from the handle along longitudinal axis A. Longitudinal axis A is
the axis of rotation of the driveshaft as the driveshaft rotates in
direction B relative to the handle. The motor may be battery
powered or for example may be powered by way of an electrical
connection to a direct current electric outlet within an
automobile, or may be plugged into for example a residential
alternating current electrical supply. In the illustrated
embodiment, the motor is powered by a pair of batteries 18 which
may include rechargeable batteries or conventional disposable
batteries.
[0020] Advantageously, the switch, which may be toggled between
electrically connecting the motor to the battery so as to operate
the motor, and electrically disconnecting the motor from the
battery so as to stop the motor's operation, includes a switch
setting which allows the user to toggle the switch into the "on"
position so as to engage the motor allowing the user to remove
pressure from the switch while leaving the switch in the
on-position, rather than having to hold pressure onto the on switch
for it to remain in the on-position. Thus in operation, a user may
simply toggle the switch into the on-position and the motor will
then turn the driveshaft until the user applies pressure to the
switch so as to toggle it to the "off" position, but in the
meantime the user does not have to remain in contact with the
switch. In an alternative embodiment, a timer, rotation counter or
the like and a processor (not shown) is provided within the housing
so that the direction of rotation of the driveshaft is
automatically reversed at preset intervals, for example every ten
revolutions, while the motor is activated.
[0021] In the preferred embodiment, the driveshaft extends into a
cylindrical cavity 19a formed by a rigid tube or sleeve or collar
(collectively referred to herein as a collar 19) extending rigidly
from one end of the handle. In the embodiment illustrated, the
cylindrical cavity 19a is coaxial with the axis of rotation A of
the driveshaft so that the driveshaft is centered along the long
axis of collar 19.
[0022] Replaceable cup-shaped sanding, buffing or grinding heads 20
may be inserted by the user into collar 19 so as to engage a stub
shaft 20c extending from the closed rearward end 20a of the head
into releasable locking engagement with the female end 16a of the
driveshaft so as to substantially fully concentrically nest the
head 20 completely within the collar 19 when the stub shaft is
mated with the female end of the driveshaft. Thus, when so mated,
the rim 20b of the open end of the head 20 is, in the illustrated
embodiment, flush with the rim 19b of the open end of the collar
19. An abrasive 22 mounted on a substrate surface, such as that
provided by sandpaper or by buffing paper (such as conventional
wet-or-dry buffing paper sold commercially) is mounted into the
head so as to line the interior surface of the head. For example,
the abrasive 22 may be provided by gluing or otherwise fastening
sandpaper 22a or the like around the interior cylindrical inner
surface of head 20 and also on the inner surface of the closed end
20a of the head.
[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the abrasive 22 may be mounted
onto a resilient backing 24 or onto resilient fasteners such as
double-sided thin foam tape or sheet. Thus an object such as a
fingernail 26a pressed in direction C against the abrasive surface
may resiliently deform the abrasive surface by resiliently
compressing the resilient layer sandwiched between the abrasive
surface and the inner surface of the head. Abrasive 22 thus abrades
or buffs fingernail 26 as head 20 rotates in direction B about the
axis of rotation A'.
[0024] Thus for example if a user wishes to use the device
according to the present invention to buff his or her fingernails,
a sanding or buffing head is selected which a fine rather than
coarse abrasive surface, for example 600 grit, and that head is
mounted onto the driveshaft by sliding the head into the collar
until the openings of the head and collar are flush. The stub shaft
is thereby fully mated into the female end of the driveshaft. The
user, with the hand grasping the handle, toggles the switch to the
on position causing the head to rotate in direction B within the
collar. A finger 26 from the other hand of the user may then be
inserted into the cavity defined by the collar and the fingernail
26a pressed against abrasive 22 as the abrasive surface is rotating
in direction B about axis of rotation A. The handle may then be
manipulated or the fingernail moved so as to cause relative
displacement between the fingernail and the rotating head so as to
bring the rotating abrasive surface into contact with all of the
fingernail surface requiring buffing or abrading.
[0025] In a useful embodiment useful for buffing fingernails, the
head may have an inside diameter of approximately one inches (2.2
centimetres) so that the curvature of the inside of the collar and
head conforms somewhat to the curvature of an average
fingernail.
[0026] In an alternative embodiment, as seen in FIG. 6, the inside
of the cup may be lined with a buffing polishing liner such as, for
example, the chamois or lambs wool liner 30 illustrated. This may
be employed for weekly maintenance of the nail. In one embodiment
not intended to be limiting, line 30 is mounted within head 20 so
as to leave an abrasive band adjacent the opening into head 20, for
example an abrasive band which extends one quarter inch into the
head.
[0027] In a further alternative embodiment, a flat rigid disc 32 is
mounted across the open end of head 20'. Abrasive 22 is mounted to
the exterior face of the disc to provide a flat rotating abrasive
surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation A' of head 20'. Such
a head may be used for the front edges of fingernails, for removing
excess skin from the balls of the feet, etc. Disc 32 has a diameter
wider than the diameter of head 20' to provide an overlap 34
protruding beyond head 20. The overlap provides for ease of
grasping of the disc so as to ease removal of head 20' from within
the collar when it is desired to change to a different head.
[0028] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light
of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are
possible in the practice of this invention without departing from
the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *