Patent Application
20220032422
The present invention is directed toward an extender for connecting a buffing pad with a power tool (e.g., power buffer), and more particularly, to an extender having a sleeve that can be gripped by a user (e.g., the user's hands) to support, direct, and/or control the buffing pad during operation of the power tool.
Buffing refers to the application of a chemical or compound to a surface using a buffing pad. In the automotive detailing industry, for example, buffing is used to repair, refinish or polish the exterior surfaces of automobiles. Buffing can be done by hand, however, professionals and consumers alike prefer to use buffing pads with power buffers. A power buffer can be pneumatic, in which the power is supplied by an air compressor, or motorized, in which the power is supplied by an electric motor. A motorized power buffer is a hand-held tool having a buffing pad attached to a spindle that extends from the electric motor. The motor spins the buffing pad and thus results in faster performance, while reducing fatigue on the operator. It also allows the operator to get optimum finishing effects as compared to buffing by hand.
There are two types of motorized power buffers, including high-speed rotary buffers and dual-action or random orbital buffers. The main difference between the two relates to the direction of the rotation of the buffing pad assembly, which in turn produces different results. High-speed buffers provide a circular motion, spinning at very high continuous revolutions per minute (RPMs) and can have either one or two buffing pads attached to the motor. For example, a dual-head buffer is a high-speed rotary buffer having two buffing pads attached to the motor, adjacent to each other. Dual-action or random-orbital buffers turn in a combined circular and orbital motion, at varying speeds. The continuous revolutions of either type of buffer causes friction on contact with the surface producing heat, that when combined with a compound alters the surface of the automobile. Power buffers are used for various purposes, including repairing damages to surfaces or for different finishing effects. The buffing pads are usually circular, are made in varying sizes, and are made of various materials, such as natural wool, synthetic fibers, a blend of wool and synthetic fibers or open or closed cell synthetic foam.
Because the power buffer spins the buffing pad at a high rotational rate, the type of motion, whether it be circular, orbital or both, is integral to the desired polishing and/or waxing effect. Consequently, effective performance of the power buffer relates to the interaction between the compound, the buffing pad and the power buffer, and more particularly the connection between the buffing pad assembly and the power buffer, which directly effects the rotation. If any one of these fail, the results will be less than desirable. An uneven application of the compound can cause unsightly swirls on the surface that can only be removed by a polisher and not by hand, if at all. Certain compounds and pads, e.g., wool pads, are inherently designed to cut into the paint to repair damages. An uneven application or a faulty assembly can cause the wool pad to chip away at the surface and cause more damage. Thus, a proper connection between the buffing pad and the power buffer is critical to achieving desired results.
There are four known ways to affix the buffing pad to the spindle of the power buffer. A first way is to affix the buffing pad to a backing plate using a bolt. The backing plate has a round, non-threaded center hole that is sized to slide over the spindle. The buffing pad also has a center hole that is aligned with the center hole of the backing plate when the buffing pad is placed on the backing plate, with the threaded end of the spindle extending though both center holes. A metal nut is used to engage the threaded end of the spindle and affix the buffing pad and backing plate to the spindle. High-speed buffers typically have a lock button for the spindle shaft that prevents the spindle from rotating. Hence, with the spindle shaft locked, it is relatively easy to manually tighten the nut to affix the buffing pad and backing plate to the spindle, as well as to manually loosen the nut to remove the buffing pad and backing plate from the spindle.
A second attachment method is to affix the buffing pad to the backing plate uses a hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) fastener. The backing plate is provided with a threaded metal socket molded into the back surface and hook material attached to the front surface. The threaded metal socket enables the backing plate to be screwed directly onto the threaded end of the spindle shaft. The buffing pad has loop material attached to its back surface, enabling the buffing pad to be affixed to the backing plate by simply pressing the buffing pad and the backing plate together. The hook and loop attachment facilitates ease of attachment to and removal of the buffing pad from the backing plate.
A third type of attachment method includes an adapter having a socket with female threads at one end and male threads at the other end. The female threads enables the adapter to be threaded onto the spindle. The male threads attach to a plastic plate that is typically sandwiched between two buffing pads bonded back-to-back. The plate includes a central socket having threads that engage the male end of the adapter. The adapter remains attached to the spindle, and the buffing pad is attached to the adapter by screwing the entire buffing pad assembly onto the male end of the adapter. When the buffing pad surface becomes spent, the entire pad assembly is unscrewed and either flipped over or replaced entirely.
A fourth attachment method includes an adapter or connector that provides a quick release mechanism. Such a quick release mechanism is advantageous in that it allows the pad to be easily detached from the power buffer and flipped over (or replaced) without requiring any special tools. This saves time and enables the operator to continue working with minimal interruption. The commercially known type of quick release mechanism connects the buffing pad assembly to the power buffer using a cylindrical shaped metal connector. One end of the connector has a threaded bore that engages the spindle of the power buffer. The other end has a hexagonal shaped head that engages a correspondingly shaped socket formed at the center of the central plate. The head further includes a plurality of protruding balls that snap into a recess formed in the socket to thereby provide a firm connection between the power buffer and buffing pad. The connector includes a release mechanism that causes the protruding balls to retract in order to facilitate removal of the buffing pad from the connector head.
Regardless of how the buffing pad is connected to the power buffer, in order to reach a certain surface or provide a greater field of vision, it may be necessary to extend the buffing pad from the power buffer. This is traditionally accomplished using an extender, which come in varying lengths (e.g., 1 inch, 2 inch, 4 inch, etc.), where a first end is connected to the buffing pad and a second end is connected to the power buffer. The type of extender used may depend on certain factors, including the length of extension needed, the type of connection on the buffing pad, and the type of connection on the power buffer. There are drawbacks, however, to using an extender. For example, the relatively long distance between the buffer and the pad can be disorienting for the operator that is already accustomed to a certain shorter distance. This tends to further exacerbate operator fatigue and results in an uneven application to the automotive surface.
Thus, in order to address these drawbacks, it would be beneficial if the user could use their free hand (i.e., the hand that is not being used to operate the power buffer) to guide the extender, and therefore the buffing pad, during operation of the power buffer. In other words, a need exists for an extender that includes both a rotating portion that transfers rotational power from the power buffer to the buffing pad and a non-rotating portion that can be grabbed by the user's hand, thereby allowing the user to support, position, and/or control the buffing pad during operation of the power buffer.
The present invention provides an extender that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks in the prior art. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the extender includes a rotating portion that allows rotational power to be transferred from a power tool to a buffing pad, and a non-rotating portion that can be held by a user to support, direct, and/or control the buffing pad during operation of the power tool.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the extender includes a shaft (e.g., a metal shaft, etc.), a sleeve (e.g., a plastic sleeve, etc.), and at least one retainer (e.g., C-clip, etc.). The purpose of the retainers is to fix the sleeve (longitudinally) onto the shaft so that it does not interfere with rotational operation of the buffing pad and/or power tool. The shaft preferably includes a first end and a second end, where the first end includes a plurality of threads (e.g., male, female) configured to mate with a power tool and the second end includes a plurality of threads (e.g., male, female) configured to mate with a buffing pad. It should be appreciated that other embodiments are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the first end may have a quick-release connector and be configured to mate with a buffing pad (or other surface preparation device), and the second end may be configured to mate with a power tool (or other rotational device).
In one embodiment of the present invention, the shaft portion includes a first portion near (or adjacent) the first end, a second portion near (or adjacent) the second end, and a third portion located therebetween, where the third portion is where the sleeve will ultimately reside (at least in a preferred embodiment). This portion is preferably circular (at least substantially) and is bound by the two retainers. In one embodiment, the shaft includes two grooves (or recesses) that are configured to receive corresponding retainers (e.g., C-clips). This would allow a first retainer to mated with (e.g., snapped over) a corresponding groove on the shaft. The sleeve can then be slid over the first or third portion of the sleeve (depending on which end is open), and onto the second portion, where the sleeve will reside. The other retainer can then be attached, resulting in a fully assembled extender.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the shaft further comprises opposing flat surfaces (e.g., surfaces that are parallel to one another) that can be gripped (e.g., with a wrench) when mating the extender with (or removing it from) the power tool or buffing pad. For example, while a user may be able (e.g., with their hands) to begin threading the extender onto male/female threads of the buffing pad and male/female threads of the power tool, a wrench may be need to complete the threading (e.g., to ensure snug, secure connections). In one embodiment, the flat surfaces are on the second portion of the shaft. In other embodiment, the flat surfaces are on the first or third portions of the shaft.
As discussed above, the outer surface of the sleeve is configured to be gripped by the user's hand. Thus, it is preferred that its circumference is greater than the circumference of the retainers. This is because the retainers (along with the shaft) may rotate when the power tool is operated, whereas the sleeve should not (at least when it is secured by the user). Thus, to prevent the user's hand from contacting (or being injured by) the retainers, their outer circumferences (or diameters) should preferably be less than the outer circumference (or diameter) of the sleeve. The outer surface of the sleeve should also be designed so that it can easily be gripped by the user. For example, the outer surface may be non-circular, or include a plurality of flat surfaces, making it easier for the user to grip and prevent rotation of the sleeve.
In alternate embodiments, the shaft could be machined at a first end (or a second end) to include a portion that has a greater circumference (or diameter) than the second portion of the shaft, thereby creating a lip (or shoulder) that can function as a retainer for the sleeve. This would allow the sleeve to be slid over the open end of the shaft and onto the second portion until it comes into contacts with the lip/shoulder. A retainer (e.g., C-clip) could then be attached to the shaft (at the open end), thereby securing the sleeve between the retainer (e.g., C-clip) and the lip/shoulder.
A more complete understanding of an extender for a buffing pad assembly will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.
The present invention provides an extender that includes a rotating portion, allowing for rotational power to be transferred from a power tool to a buffing pad, and a non-rotating portion that can be held by a user to support, direct, and/or control the buffing pad during operation of the power tool. This invention addresses problems found in traditional extenders, which include, but are not limited to, operator fatigue and uneven application of a buffing compound. In the detailed description that follows, like element numerals are used to describe like elements shown in one or more of the figures.
As discussed above, it would be advantageous to have an extender that displaces the buffing pad from the power buffer (e.g., by a predetermined length) while overcoming drawbacks associated with traditional extenders. With that being said, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to such use (e.g., with power buffers and buffing pads), and may also (or alternatively) be used with other types of rotational power tools and all single-sided and dual-sided buffing, polishing and abrasive (e.g., metal, stone, ceramic, fiber, sand, nylon, polypropylene, etc.) pads, including brush pad assemblies, generally known to those skilled in the art.
Those skilled in the art will understand that buffing pads are usually circular in shape and can be made of varying materials depending upon the needs of the operator and the finishing effect desired. The invention will work equally with all types of buffing pads, including those made of fibers, such as natural wool, synthetic fibers, a blend of the two, and with open or closed cell foam. It will also work with other types of pads, include nylon brush pads and other buffing, polishing, and/or abrasive (e.g., metal, stone, ceramic, fiber (woven and non-woven), sand, nylon, polypropylene, etc.) pads generally known to those skilled in the art. While embodiments of the present invention are described below in terms of a power tool and a single-sided buffing pad, it is only being described as such for the sake of brevity.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment of the present invention, the shaft further comprises opposing flat surfaces (e.g., surfaces that are parallel to one another) that can be gripped (e.g., with a wrench) when mating the extender with (or removing it from) the power tool or buffing pad. For example, while a user may be able (e.g., with their hands) to begin threading the extender onto male/female threads of the buffing pad and male/female threads of the power tool, a wrench may be need to complete the threading (e.g., to ensure snug, secure connections). In one embodiment, the flat surfaces 700 are on the second portion (B) of the shaft 100 (see
For example, as shown in
If, however, the flat surfaces 700 are required to secure the extender to both the buffing pad and the power tool, or it is desirous to fully assemble the extender before it is connected to either the buffing pad or power tool, the flat surfaces could be located on the first or third portions (A, C) (see
As discussed above, the outer surface of the sleeve 110 is configured to be gripped by the user's hand. Thus, as shown in
As shown in
It should be appreciated that the outer surface of the sleeve is not limited to the shape depicted in
As discussed above, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. For example, as shown in
By way of another example, as discussed above, other known connection methods may be used to connect the extender to the buffing pad and/or power tool. For example, one end of the shaft may include a quick release connector 1800, like the one shown in
When the sleeve 1806 is in a forward (e.g., biased) position (see
In alternate embodiments, the sleeve may include a handle (or the like) for controlling the pad and/or preventing the sleeve from rotating along with the buffing pad. By way of example, this can be seen in
And to prevent the handle 1902 from rotating during use (e.g., when not being gripped or controlled by the user), the handle may further include a extender 1904 that will come into contact with the power tool 20 (or portion thereof), to prevent the handle 1902 from spinning (out of control, potentially damaging (or injuring) the vehicle, user, etc.). The prevention is accomplished by configuring the handle to come into contact with the power tool 20 (or portion thereof) during use. As shown in
It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in
Having thus described a preferred embodiment of an extender for a buffing pad assembly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is further defined by the following claims.
