Patent Application
20060217044
The present invention relates to a device for edging stone materials which is adapted for attachment to a rotary stone polishing tool.
There are a number of tools for cutting, shaping, and polishing stone, granite, marble, and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as “stone”). One such tool is an edger which generally comprises a rotary shaft adapted for combination to various bits. Edgers are primarily used to shape, finish, and profile the edges of slab stone articles, such as counter tops, using differently shaped bits. The process of edging a piece of rough stone is similar to sanding a rough piece of wood in that smoothing and shaping the edge of the stone requires a number of different bits used in succession beginning with a coarse bit and ending with a smooth bit.
There are several different kinds and sizes of stone edgers that have been used in the art. One such edger is for shaping the edge of a stone countertop. This edger comprises a housing having an internal electric motor with a bit extending below the surface of the housing. In use, the housing rests on the level counter surface while the motor spins the bit and the user guides the bit along the edge of the counter surface smoothing and shaping the edge of the stone counter. The problem with this type of edger is that the internal motor makes it heavy and difficult to transport and maneuver over the counter surface. Further, the weight of the edger's motor causes friction between the lower surface of the housing and the stone countertop as the device moves across the countertop. The friction can cause scratches in the stone's surface. Another problem with this type of edger is that it is relatively expensive to purchase and maintain because of the many moving parts that comprise the gears and internal motor.
Another device known in the art that can be used as an edger is called a stone polisher. Stone polishers are known in the art as an essential tool for stone workmen. A stone polisher is a small hand tool comprising a rotating shaft able to combine with various bits for etching, polishing, and cutting slab materials such as stone. Stone polishers can be powered pneumatically, electrically, or by any other suitable means. The problem with using a stone polisher as an edger is that stone polishers do not have housings or other guides for aligning and squaring them with the stone. This makes it difficult to form consistent cuts and profiles in stone edges because the angle of the stone polisher relative to the stone's edge is hard to keep consistent. This can lead to more time spent by the stone workman, which means more expense to finish the stone product.
Therefore, there is a need for a stone edging device that is light weight, easy to use, easy to align with the stone surface, inexpensive, and provides precise edging on stone substrates.
The present invention is an edging device that comprises a plate which is adapted for attachment to a standard stone polisher. The plate has a top side and a bottom side. The stone polisher is combined with the plate so that the rotating shaft of the polisher extends downward beyond the plane of the plate bottom side. The plate top side has a handle to aid the user in guiding the device over the stone surface and an inlet port adapted for combining the device to a water or air source. The inlet port is in communication with a plurality of holes on the plate bottom side. The holes are adapted to eject the water or air onto the stone surface. The ejected water or air helps to reduce scratches on the stone that may be caused by the plate.
The device has several features which help to align the polisher with the stone's edge. First, the plate maintains the bit of the polisher at a consistent and proper angle relative to the stone because the majority of the plate's surface area rests level with respect to the stone's surface. Second, the plate serves to align the elevation of the bit relative to the stone's edge because the polisher and plate are always combined at the same relative height. Third, the plate bottom side comprises stoppers which serve to ensure the rotating bit of the polisher cuts into the stone at a consistent and desired depth.
In use, after the stone polisher is combined with the plate, and after a bit is combined with the shaft of the stone polisher, the device is moved along the edge of a stone surface causing the polisher's rotating bit to contact the edge of the stone surface. The device of the present invention provides a light weight, easy to use edging tool that is relatively inexpensive since most stone workmen already own a stone polisher.
The present invention is an edger attachment device for combination with a standard stone polisher 18. As seen in
As seen in
As shown in
In addition to the flange 25 described above, the device of the present invention has several features for aligning the bit 20 of the polisher 18 with the stone's edge 50. First, the plate 10 squares the polisher 18 to the stone's edge 50 because a sufficient surface area of the plate 10 contacts the stone surface 22 so that the plate 10 is level with respect to the surface of the stone 22. The polisher 18 is inserted into opening 12 as described above so that the polisher's shaft 30 extends downward at a generally ninety degree angle relative to the plane of the plate 10, thereby making the polisher's shaft 30 square with respect to the stone's edge 50.
In addition,
In the preferred embodiment, the shafts are bolts which can be hand tightened by fasteners 36 extending from the slots 35 on the plate top portion 10a. The fasteners 36 can be wing nuts, “L” shaped bolts, or any other suitable fastening means. In addition to preventing the user from cutting too deeply into the stone 22, the stoppers 34 also comprise a bearing or rotatable ring 37 which is adapted to rotate. The bearings or ring 37 rotates against the stone surface 22 as the user moves the device along the stone's edge 50 to provide a smooth motion for the device at a consistent stone cutting depth.
As shown in
Also in communication with the water inlet port 16 is a nozzle 40 as shown in
In an alternate embodiment, water can be received directly into the stone polisher 18 and expelled through the bit 20, as shown in
As shown in
In use, the present invention is first combined with a standard stone polisher 18 by securing the stone polisher 18 to the collar 13 of the plate 10. A bit 20 is attached to the shaft 30 of the stone polisher 18 and the plate 10 is placed on a stone surface 22 which squares the bit 20 with the stone's edge 50. The stone polisher 18 is actuated causing the bit 20 to rotate. The user guides the plate 10 along the stone's edge 50 using the handle 14. The stoppers 34 allow the bit 20 to grind and/or polish the stone 22 at a consistent depth with the while rotating as the user moves the plate 10 to allow the plate 10 to move smoothly along the stone's edge 50. Water or air may be introduced through port 16 and expelled onto the stone surface 22 through holes 32, and/or expelled onto the rotating bit 20 through nozzle 40. The user can change bits 20 and achieve a consistent cut using the second bit as long as the user uses the same bit adapter 42.
Having thus described the invention in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the preferred embodiments described herein with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims.
