Cordless orbital wax applicator/buffer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is generally directed to portable polishing machines and systems and, more particularly, is directed to a cordless orbital polisher which is useful for removing oxides and old wax from painted surfaces, such as automobiles, and the wax buffing of such surfaces.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In general, these are two types of polishing machines, or buffers, in popular use—the rotating buffer and the orbital buffer. As the names imply, the rotating buffer utilizes a buffing pad coaxially driven by a motor while the orbital buffer utilizes a buffing pad driven in an elliptical pattern. Orbital buffers are preferred to rotary buffers because they do not leave undesirable arcuate-type marks on the buffed surface, as do rotary buffers.

[0005] Electrical appliances, especially wax applicator/buffers, present a problem due to the electric cord that powers them. First of all the cord, or the cord plus extension cord, has to reach from the electrical outlet to the location of the job. In performing the buffing, especially on a large and variously shaped item such as a vehicle, the cord often gets in the way of the job and can ruin the buffing job if the cord rubs over the buffed surface, especially if the cord has been in the dirt or mud.

[0006] The prior art does not provide for a cordless orbital wax applicator/buffer with a self-contained battery for ease of use in buffing.

[0007] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,587, issued Sep. 18, 2001 to McCracken, provides a power waxer that includes structure for electrically connecting a power cord thereto while minimizing instances of accidental disconnection therebetween. The structure being located so as to substantially remove the power cord as an impediment to the operation and ability to exert proper control over the waxer during operation thereof. Also, there is provided structure for controlling torque output of a motor of a power waxer to selectively change the torque output for different stages of the waxing process.

[0008] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,594, issued May 10, 1994 to Thompson, shows a new and improved buffing appliance that comprises a housing, a buffing wheel supported for rotation on the housing, an impeller inside the housing for causing rotation of the buffing wheel, a fluid source coupled to the housing for driving the impeller, a delivery conduit for supplying a surface treating substance (e.g., polishing wax) to the buffing wheel coaxially through the impeller, and separate controls on the housing for controlling rotation of the impeller and delivery of the surface treating compound through the delivery conduit. In an alternative embodiment, the surface treating compound is stored in a liquid form in a canister mounted directly on the housing and including a self-contained pressurizing device for effecting delivery of the compound through the delivery conduit.

[0009] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,246, issued Jun. 19, 1979 to Meadows, claims a hand-held, portable, cordless scrubber that incorporates counter-rotating, scrubbing brushes detachably mounted on counter-rotating, concentric shafts. The scrubber housing is designed to prevent the entry of moisture and provides a pocket with a detachable cover for receiving a battery pack which can be recharged by direct plugging into an ordinary AC household receptacle. Both finger-actuated, handle-mounted switch and brush pressure actuated switch arrangements are provided. Snap on pads, and the like, may also be employed.

[0010] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,102, issued Jun. 13, 1995 to Madison, describes a portable hand held cleaning device that is adapted to receive various cleaning implements, such as bristle brushes, abrasive wheels, chisels, and the like, into a tool engaging member. The tool engaging member is preferably operable by a rechargeable battery to selectively rotate and/or reciprocate at varying speeds. The rechargeable battery is included in a housing. The tool engaging member is preferably displaceable to improve the efficiency of the cleaning device in hard to reach areas. The housing may further include plumbing and a pump for delivering fluid from a cleansing fluid container to a discharge proximate the cleaning tool engaging member.

[0011] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,634, issued Sep. 9, 1997 to McCracken, discloses a power tool that includes a housing that has a first longitudinal axis extending therein. An output shaft is mounted in the housing along the longitudinal axis operably connected to the working element. A motor in the housing is provided for driving the output shaft. A transmission system has cooperating portions which are movable between a first state wherein the cooperating portions are disengaged from each other allowing the output shaft to reciprocate, and a second state wherein the cooperating portions are engaged with each other causing the output shaft to rotate. A wobble driver is mounted to the output shaft with the wobble driver having a first mode wherein the wobble driver is in driving relation to the output shaft and is capable of reciprocating with the output shaft along the first longitudinal axis, and a second mode when the wobble driver is in non-driving relation to the output shaft. An actuator cooperates with the wobble driver and one of the transmission system cooperating portions. The actuator is selectively movable between a first position wherein the transmission cooperating portions are in their first disengaged state and the wobble driver is in its first driving mode relative to the output shaft with the wobble driver reciprocating with the output shaft along the first longitudinal axis to reciprocate the working element, and a second position wherein the transmission system cooperating portions are in their engaged state and the wobble driver is in its second non-driving mode relative to the output shaft with the output shaft rotating to rotate the working element.

[0012] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,625, issued Dec. 30, 1997 to Siman, indicates a multipurpose motorized cordless scrub cleaning machine that is intended to reduce the effort in scrub cleaning jobs around the house or the work places for general cleaning by the usage of rotating pads or brushes. Water and detergent are conveniently supplied into the pads to clean dishes and perform scrub rinsing, too. It could also perform polishing and sanding jobs depending on the setting used in each function, and it could also carry an egg beater accessory.

[0013] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,955, issued Jul. 21, 1998 to Hendricks, puts forth a motorized multiple brush assembly including a handle having a top circular face, a bottom circular face, and a periphery formed therebetween, wherein the handle has a rotating rod concentrically situated along the length thereof with ends protruding therefrom. Further provided is a plurality of attachments adapted to be releasably coupled to the rotating rod. The attachments include a saw attachment with a disk-shaped rigid saw concentrically coupled thereto, a first brush attachment with a brush having a triangular configuration concentrically coupled thereto, a second brush attachment with the brush having a generally cylindrical configuration concentrically coupled thereto, and a third brush attachment with the brush having a disc shaped configuration concentrically coupled thereto. Finally, a control system is situated within the handle and powered by a battery. In use, the control system is adapted to actuate the rotating rod of the handle in a first direction upon the depression of an actuator button positioned on the handle.

[0014] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,588, issued Feb. 6, 1979 to Sandt, concerns a portable rechargeable battery operated handheld cleaning device that is adapted to receive various cleaning implements, such as wire brushes, abrasive wheels, and the like into one of the dual internally housed transverse cleaning implement receiving tongues. Each tongue, used singly at the option of the user, has a reciprocating motion limited to one hundred eighty degrees. Terminals are provided for recharging the batteries included in the waterproof fully immersible housing. A charging device, operating from household voltage, provides the requisite battery charging current when the handheld cleaning device is connected to it. The charging device is energized by the household current only when the handheld cleaning device is inserted into it, so as to close a charging enabling switch internally mounted within the charging device.

[0015] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,481, issued Jun. 22, 1982 to Slayman, illustrates a battery operated, rotary powered washing and polishing wand that has an elongated rigid tubular shaft and a coaxial flexible drive shaft which permits the incorporation of a bend in the shaft and the swiveling of a disc mounted at the bent end of said shaft. Fluid can be supplied through the interior of said shaft to the disc for discharge therefrom along with aspirated additives such as soap.

[0016] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,447, issued Apr. 23, 2002 to Armbruster, is for a hand manipulated cordless rechargeable powered washing system that is powered by an electric motor and a rechargeable battery. The washing system includes an apparatus that is lightweight, self-contained and submersible. The motor is high speed and has dual planetary reduction gears set to reduce the output to a low rpm high torque drive. The DC motor is powered by a rechargeable stick battery on the housing or on a handle attached to the housing. Interchangeable brushes can be used with different bristle arrangements. The handle is an elongated wand type handle having a U-shaped yoke at one end pivotally connected to the motor housing and includes a lock mechanism engaging a portion of the motor housing to lock the motor housing in rigid predetermined angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the wand type handle to enable a non-concentric, non-perpendicular bristle brush to be rigidly associated in a desired angular relation to the handle.

[0017] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,542, issued May 9, 2000 to Lo, provides a portable electric cleaning device for cleaning various household items. The cleaning device comprises a housing, a motor, a cleaning module, and a battery set. The housing has a handle and a chassis. The motor is installed in the chassis of the housing and comprises a rotating axle. The cleaning module has a cleaning head for cleaning various home appliance and home environment, and a connecting end installed on the rotating axle. The battery set is installed in the housing for driving the motor so as to rotate the cleaning module.

[0018] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,002, issued Jan. 29, 2002 to Wang, shows an improved structure of a wax-polishing machine, which mainly comprises a fixed disk mounted on the front end of the body portion of the polishing machine. The disk surface of the fixed disk is mounted with a bearing, of which the inner edge is in contact with the outer surface of an inner driven gear; between the inner driven gear and the transmission shaft of the polishing machine, there are an idle gear and a driving gear mounted therein. The outer edge surface of the inner driven gear is in close contact with an outer rotation disk; the center of the outer rotation disk has a cylindrical hole for receiving a post body of the inner rotation disk, and then the post body can be screwed on the outer end of the transmission shaft; the inner surface of the inner rotation disk and the outer surface of the outer rotation disk are glued with Velcro pads respectively so as to facilitate sponge pieces with Velcro pads to be fastened together; when the transmission shaft of the polishing machine is actuated, the driving gear will drive the idle gear and the inner driven gear to transfer power to the inner and outer rotation disks, which will drive the polishing sponge pieces to turn in different direction so as to remove the wax coated on a car body and to polish the same simultaneously.

[0019] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,597,971, issued May 27, 1952 to Burnham, claims a rotary buffing and polishing machine. This invention provides a novel and improved polishing cloth support head that has improved means of lockably securing a polishing or buffing cloth.

[0020] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D260,847, issued Sep. 22, 1981 to Biederman, describes the ornamental design for a pneumatic orbital polisher.

[0021] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D286,706, issued Nov. 18, 1986 to McCloskey, discloses the ornamental design for a cordless shoe polisher.

[0022] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D313,094, issued Dec. 18, 1990 to Itaya, indicates the ornamental design for an automobile cleaning and waxing tool.

[0023] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D380,069, issued Jun. 17, 1997 to McCracken, puts forth the ornamental design for a detailing polisher.

[0024] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D417,789, issued Dec. 21, 1999 to Murphy, concerns the ornamental design for a hand held scrubbing device.

[0025] What is needed is a cordless orbital wax applicator/buffer with a built-in rechargeable battery pack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0026] An object of the present invention is to provide a cordless wax applicator/buffer especially useful for applications away from buildings and large jobs such as buffing a vehicle where the cord might not always reach, even with an extension cord.

[0027] Another object of the present invention is to provide an orbital, eccentrically moving buffer that does not leave undesirable arcuate-type marks on the buffed surface as do rotary buffers.

[0028] One more object of the present invention is to provide a cordless orbital wax applicator/buffer with a built-in rechargeable battery pack.

[0029] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a cordless orbital wax applicator/buffer that is far easier to use, because it eliminates the problem of having the cord in the way and also eliminates the problem of the cord messing up the polishing job, especially if the cord has been in the dirt or mud.

[0030] A further object of the present invention is to provide a cordless orbital wax applicator/buffer with a rim means that extends outwardly from the casing for gripping the cordless wax applicator/buffer to operate it, thereby allowing the user to grip the wax applicator/buffer from any angle.

[0031] In brief, a cordless wax applicator/buffer that comprises an electric orbital buffer, which has a rotatable, eccentrically moving head for applying wax to and buffing external surfaces and a casing that houses an electric motor for turning the rotatable head. The cordless wax applicator/buffer also comprises a battery compartment on the top of the casing for housing for a rechargeable battery source of power. A rim means extends outwardly from the casing for gripping the cordless wax applicator/buffer to operate it and comprises a rounded finger engaging outer edge and a recessed palm receiving inner portion. The cordless wax applicator/buffer further comprises a plug receptacle for receiving a plug means connectable to an electric power source for recharging the rechargeable battery.

[0032] An advantage of the present invention is in being able to work away from a plug in power source.

[0033] Another advantage of the present invention is not tripping over electrical power cords.

[0034] An additional advantage of the present invention is in not having to manage electrical power cords.

[0035] One more advantage of the present invention is in being rechargeable.

[0036] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it does not leave arcuate-type marks.

[0037] Still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a 360-degree gripping surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

[0039]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cordless wax applicator/buffer of the present invention showing the battery housing at the top;

[0040]
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cordless wax applicator/buffer of FIG. 1 showing the battery housing at the top

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0041] In FIGS. 1 and 2, a cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 is provided that comprises an orbital electric wax applicator/buffer 20 that has a rotatable, eccentrically moving head 27 for applying a layer of wax 30 onto external surfaces and buffing the external surfaces and a casing 28 housing an electric motor (not shown) for turning the rotatable head 27. The cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 also comprises a battery compartment 21 on the casing 28 for housing and a battery source of power, which is connected by an electricity conducting means to the electric motor for powering the electric motor (not shown). The battery source of power comprises at least one rechargeable battery (not shown). The casing 28 further comprises a removable cover 22 (as shown in FIG. 1) over an opening in the casing 28 for accessing the at least one rechargeable battery. The cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 further comprises a plug receptacle 23 (as shown in FIG. 1) for receiving a plug means connectable to an electric power source for recharging the at least one rechargeable battery.

[0042] The cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 also comprises a rim means 24 extending outwardly from the casing 28 for gripping the cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 to operate it. The rim means 24 comprises a rounded finger engaging outer edge 25 and a recessed palm receiving inner portion 26 for bearing down on the wax applicator/buffer.

[0043] In practice, a user would charge the orbital cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 by opening the removable cover 22 on the battery compartment 21 and placing at least one rechargeable battery (not shown) into the battery compartment 21, then hooking the cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 to a power source by means of the plug receptacle 23. When charging is completed the user would unplug the cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 by removing the power source means from the plug receptacle 23. The user would then put a layer of wax 30 on the head 27 and grasp the rim means 24, which extends outwardly from the casing 28 for gripping. Good hand placement would be obtained by placing the fingers on the rounded finger engaging outer edge 25 and placing the palm of the hand on the recessed palm receiving inner portion 26. The user would then activate the cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 by turning on the power switch. The rotatable moving head 27 moves in an eccentrically orbital fashion applying the wax and buffing the waxed surface, upon activation the cordless wax applicator/buffer 20. When the performance level of the cordless wax applicator/buffer 20 drops, the user would need to recharge the device 20 again.

[0044] It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Cordless orbital wax applicator/buffer

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