BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing Figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art rotary abrasive tool designed being gripped by one hand;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the abrasive tool of the present invention being gripped by one hand;
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the abrasive tool of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view showing how the wrist-forearm support is supported by the exhaust—intake duct;
FIG. 4A is a bottom perspective view similar to that of FIG. 4 showing an electrical power connection replacing the compressed air power connection;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the abrasive tool of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the abrasive tool of the present invention showing the switch rotated away from the top surface;
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the wrist-forearm support of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a top view of the wrist-forearm support;
FIG. 9 is side view of support showing the underpinning support member as possessing a slanted shape; and,
FIG. 10 is a rear view of the support showing beveled or rounded edges on the body of the support.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention.
While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Adverting to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art rotary abrasive tool 10 (“tool 10”) designed to be held by one hand gripped being by one hand. Housing 11 includes top surface 11a (in faded outline) which is gripped by hand H. Hand H holds down valve actuator 12 to press down piston 13 to apply power to tool 10. Air intake 16a and exhaust 16 are seen extending from housing 11 under hand H. Pad 14 holds abrasive material 15 to be applied to the article to be treated. One example of abrasive material 15 may be sandpaper. Prominent in this view is angle a formed between the wrist portion W and air intake 16a depicting the lack of support for wrist W and forearm F which can lead to injuries and chronic debilitating conditions such as carpel tunnel syndrome.
FIG. 2 is a side view of abrasive tool 20 (“tool 20”) of the present invention being gripped by a user's hand. In the embodiment shown, tool 20 is a rotary abrasive tool, however, persons of skill in the art will recognize that the present invention may be adapted to be used with similar hand tools. Tool 20 includes a power source connection such as a compressed air connection or an electrical power source connection. Housing 21 includes top surface 21a (in faded outline) which is overlain by hand H. Hand H presses down valve actuator switch 22 (“switch 22”) forcing down piston 23 to apply power to tool 20. Switches similar in structure and attachment to tool 20 may be used for electrically powered tools 20 although switches for both pneumatically and electrically powered tools may be placed in other positions on tool 20. Duct 27 extends from housing 21. In the embodiment shown in which tool 20 is pneumatically powered, duct 27 terminates in both exhaust duct 26 and air intake 26a. Alternatively, duct 27 may be configured as two separate ducts that extend from housing 21 and terminate separately in air intake port 26a and exhaust duct 26. In either case, if required, a dust collector bag (not shown) may be attached to exhaust duct 26. In an alternate embodiment, air intake port 26a may be replaced on tool 20 by an electric power cord as seen in FIG. 4A and also preferably may include an exhaust duct.
Wrist-forearm support 30 (“support 30”) is attached to the top of duct 27 and extends out toward and preferably over duct 27 and exhaust duct 26 and air intake 26a. In FIG. 2, wrist W and forearm F are seen resting on body 31 of support 30. Although body 31 can take any suitable shape, in a preferred embodiment, body 31 is substantially flat to comfortably support wrist W and/or forearm F. Support member 32 extends from the bottom surface of body 31 to duct 27 to provide support for body 31 when it holds wrist W and/or forearm F. In an alternate embodiment, support member 32 may contact housing 21. In another alternate embodiment, support member 32 may comprise two or more support members 22 extending to either housing 21 or duct 27.
Forks 33 extend from body 31. Each of forks 33 defines a pin orifice 34 with each of pin orifices 34 directly opposite the other pin orifice 34. As will be discussed below, orifices 34 are positioned to receive a pin designed to pivotally hold switch 22. By pivotally hold is meant that switch 22 is held in place by support 20 in such a manner as to enable switch 22 to pivot or rotate both toward and away from surface 21a. Pad 24 holds abrasive material 25 to be applied to the article to be treated.
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the assembly of tool 20 and support 30. Seen within top surface 21a is recess 21b which receives switch 22 when it is depressed toward top surface 21a to provide power to tool 20. Also seen is a partial view of bridge 35 which extends transversely between the ends of the two forks 33. Forks 33, body 31 and bridge 35 together define orifice 37 which receives switch 22. In the embodiment shown, switch 22 includes one or more receivers 28 which are placed in alignment with pin orifices 34 to enable a pin to extend through receiver(s) 28 to both of pin orifices 24 thereby holding switch 22 in pivotal attachment to duct 27. Persons of skill in the art will recognize that other methods may be used to hold switch 22 on duct 27. For example, duct 27 may be configured to include structures equivalent to receivers 28 to retain a connecting pin. In an alternate embodiment, switch 22 may be attached directly to housing 21.
FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of tool 20 portraying how support 30 is supported by duct 27. Support member 32 extends from the bottom of body 31 toward tool 20 terminating on bridge 29 of duct 27 to provide underpinning to support 30 when a user's wrist and/or forearm is resting on it. Also seen is pad 24 and abrasive material 25.
FIG. 5 is a top view of tool 20. More clearly seen in this view is receiver 28 within receiving orifice 37. Switch 22 may be molded to include receiver(s) 28 to form a component in which receiver(s) 28 are integral with switch 22. Also seen is pin 39 extending between pin orifices 34 on each of forks 33. FIG. 6 is a side view of tool 20 showing switch 22 rotated away from top surface recess 21b.
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of support 30 detached from tool 20. Clearly seen is bridge 35 extending between forks 33. Also seen are pin orifices 34 opposite each other and receiving orifice 37 defined by forks 33, bridge 35, and the edge of body 31. Also seen is support member 32 extending from the bottom of body 31. FIG. 7 depicts support 30 as an integral article meaning it is formed into one solid structure. Such a structure can be injection molded or otherwise formed using methods well known to those skilled in the art. An integral structure removes weaknesses in joints or gaps created if various structures of support 30 are joined together as separate pieces. Preferably, support 30 is fabricated from an elastomer material, such as ALCRYN®. FIG. 8 is a top view of support 30.
FIG. 9 is side view of support 30 clearly showing support member 32 as possessing a slanted shape. As described above, this shape enables support member 32 to extend to duct 27, housing 21, or another structure on tool 20 to provide under pinning to body 31, while enabling body 31 to extend beyond exhaust 26 and/or air intake 26a on duct 27. In alternate embodiments, the slanted structure of support member 32 enables body 31 to extend over a dust collector bag (not shown) attached to duct 27 of tool 20 allowing more of the length of forearm F to rest on support 30. Persons of skill in the art will recognize that a curve or arched configuration to support member 32 will similarly enable the extension of body 31 and that more than one support member 32 may be present. In another embodiment, support 30 may be about 70 mm in length.
FIG. 10 is a rear view of support 30 showing a preferred embodiment in which body 31 possesses beveled or rounded lateral edges 31a and beveled or rounded rear edge 31b. The rounded shape to edges 31a and 31b reduces any discomfort caused by sharper corners on the body 31 of support 30.
Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which changes would not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.
Patent Application
20080045127
