This invention relates generally to surface preparation and finishing products, including surface care media, that are used with rotary or oscillating surface preparation and finishing tools. More particularly, this invention relates to a mounting system and apparatus for quickly connecting the backing plate and its associated surface care media to a rotary or oscillating surface care tool and for quickly disconnecting the plate and media from the surface care tool when such is desired or required. It also particularly relates to a unique backing plate configuration that allows the backing plate to be utilized with the mounting system of the present invention and, alternatively, with the threaded spindle of a conventional surface care tool.
The present inventors are aware of prior art that provides a wide variety of rotary or oscillating surface preparation and finishing tools, which can be collectively referred to as “surface care tools,” as well as related attachments, including “surface care media,” for such tools. Indeed, rotary or oscillating surface preparation and finishing tools are well known in the art. Such surface care tools include, among others, rotary, dual action, oscillating, random orbital or other motion-controlled tools or hand fixtures. A wide variety of attachments for use with such tools also exists and such attachments are similarly known in the art. The available attachments may be attached to and detached from a drive spindle by use of a variety of attachment means. The most typical attachment means is to provide a mechanism for securing the backing plate of a surface preparation or finishing media, such as a buffing pad, directly to the threaded spindle of the rotary or oscillating surface preparation or finishing tool. In the environment where surface preparation or finishing tools of this nature are typically used, however, it is desirable to provide means whereby the backing plate of the surface preparation or finishing media is also quickly and easily removed from the surface care tool. However, mounting of the backing plate in the aforementioned fashion typically is not quick or easy. That is, doing so most frequently requires screwing the attachment on and off by hand, with significant pressure being required to remove the attachment the longer the attachment has been used.
Accordingly, alternative designs of a “quick release” configuration have also included a backing plate that uses Velcro®-type hook and loop surface technology whereby the surface care media (via loops, for example) is attached to the backing plate (via hooks, for example) and the backing plate is, in turn, attached to the spindle of the rotary or oscillating surface preparation or finishing tool. In this type of application, the media itself is provided with a separate backing surface in order to provide sufficient structural support for the loops that are used to connect the media to the backing plate. In addition to increasing the number of different materials that are required to be used with this type of configuration, as well as increasing its complexity, this type of attachment configuration also frequently suffers from precise centering of the surface preparation or finishing media relative to the backing plate. This, in turn, directly results in “wobbling” of the surface preparation or finishing media that is attached to the backing plate during use. That is, there is a problem with the “concentricity” of the media relative to the backing plate. The obvious intended purpose of this type of configuration is to allow the user to minimize handling of the surface preparation or finishing media. However, misalignment and the presence of wobble in the media will often require to user to detach and then re-attach the surface preparation or finishing media several times before this “wobble” is minimized or eliminated. Even a minimal amount of wobble can compromise the quality and consistency of the surface finishing result. Increased wobble can also increase operator fatigue and create the potential for long-term user injury from repeated wobbling vibrations. Furthermore, it is also known to these inventors that the more the media and backing plate is rotated, the more difficult it is to detach the media from the backing plate, as more force or pressure is required to effect this detachment.
In the view of these inventors, there is a clear need to provide an improved system and apparatus that comprises a backing plate with attached surface preparation or finishing media which allows the user to quickly and easily remove the backing plate and its attached media from the surface care tool. By permanently attaching the surface care media to the backing plate, the inadequacies of the hook and loop attachment system are eliminated and this construction would improve the durability of the media. This is true especially around chemicals that are used with the media and in view of washings that are intended to extend the useful life of the surface care media.
There is a need to provide such a system and apparatus while also orientating the backing plate and its associated surface care media in such a way that the spindle of the surface care tool is precisely centered relative to the backing plate and the surface care media that is attached to it. In this fashion, the consistency of the surface preparation and finishing result is enhanced by means of balanced concentricity of the media, which would eliminate wobble, and improve the quality and consistency of the surface finish. What is also needed is such a system and apparatus that utilizes a minimal number of elements and a minimal number of steps to use, thereby making the system and apparatus one that is easy and simple to use, as well as one that minimizes handling of the surface care media and thereby reduces the time to change worn pads or to transition to a different type of pad that would be needed for the next phase of a surface care project. This type of a system and apparatus would also minimize cross-contamination of pads with surface particulate from other previously-used pads or media.
What is also needed is such a system and apparatus that results in securely attaching the backing plate and its associated surface care media to the surface care tool such that the backing plate will not inadvertently detach from the surface care tool under normal use conditions. What is also needed is such a system and apparatus that is versatile such that it also allows the user to alternatively utilize the backing plate with the threaded spindle of a conventional surface care tool when such is desired or required by the user.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a new and useful system and apparatus that allows the user to quickly and easily remove the backing plate and its attached surface care media from a surface care tool. It is another object of this invention to provide such a system and apparatus that allows for presentation of the backing plate relative to the surface care tool in such a way that the tool spindle is precisely centered relative to the backing plate and its associated surface care media. It is another object of this invention to provide such a system that utilizes a minimal number of elements and requires a minimal number of steps to use, thereby making the system easy and simple to use and minimizing the need to handle the media and the surface preparation or finishing particulate that may be accumulated on the media. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a system that securely attaches the backing plate and its associated surface preparation or finishing media to the rotary or oscillating tool such that the backing plate will not inadvertently detach from the tool under normal use conditions. It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a system that allows the user to alternatively utilize the backing plate of the system with the threaded spindle of a conventional rotary or oscillating tool when such is desired or required.
The system of the present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a quick mount adapter and backing plate that can be used with a surface care tool of conventional manufacture, the tool including a drive spindle. The surface preparation or finishing media, or simply “the surface care media,” is attached directly to the backing plate in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The quick mount adapter is configured with an inner sleeve member and an outer sleeve member, the sleeve members being axially movable and spring-biased in relation to one another. A plurality of keeper balls is disposed between the sleeve members to selectively engage and disengage a circumferential groove that is disposed within a hub of the backing plate. Alternatively, a plurality of detents would be defined within the hub, each detent being configured to capture a ball within it. The backing plate is thereby attachable to the quick mount adapter, the quick mount adapter being attachable to the threaded portion of a drive spindle, and to the threaded portion of the drive spindle itself.
The foregoing and other features of the system and apparatus of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals represent like structure and elements throughout,
In this detailed description, it is to be understood that the system and apparatus of the present invention could be used with virtually any rotary, dual action, oscillating, random orbital or other motion-controlled tools or hand fixtures other than that illustrated in
The quick mount adapter, generally identified 10, would be threadably attachable to the threaded portion 4 of the drive spindle 2 of the surface care tool. As illustrated in this
Here again, it is to be understood that the buffing pad assembly 51 shown and discussed here can include, without limitation, any type of “surface care media” that would be used in the surface care industries. It is also to be understood that the system and apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a “buffing pad,” which is referenced and discussed here for purposes of illustrating enablement of the present invention only.
Referring now to
Referring briefly to
The purpose of the hexagonal shaping of the aperture 28 and opening 29 of the inner sleeve 21 will be apparent later in this detailed description. It should also be mentioned here that the present invention is not limited to the hexagonal shape of the aperture 28 and opening 29, or their cooperating parts. Any geometric and non-cylindrical shape could be used within the scope of the present invention. Additionally, a cylindrical shape could be used with a minor adaptation to the backing plate 41 and to the outer sleeve 11, as will be apparent later in this detailed description.
Disposed within the inner sleeve 21 at the point of transition between the ramped portion 25 and the lower aperture 28 are several openings 26. Each of the openings 26 is radially-disposed within the inner sleeve 21 and is functionally adapted to receive a round ball 34 within it. However, that part of the opening 26 that is at the ramped portion 25 and lower aperture 28 is of a diameter that is smaller than that of the ball 34. This configuration allows a portion of the ball 34 to protrude from the opening 26 but not to pass through it. See, for example,
As alluded to previously, the assembly 10 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes a cylindrically-shaped outer sleeve 11. Referring again to
As shown in
Referring once again to
The foregoing would be particularly true where, for example, the hub 42 was a cylindrically-shaped structure (not shown) having a plurality of detents (also not shown) defined within the hub, the detents being used to capture the balls 34 that would be held between the similarly-configured cylindrically-shaped lower aperture 29 of the inner sleeve 21 and the outer sleeve 11. It is to be understood that where the hub 42 and the functionally cooperating inner sleeve 21 and outer sleeve 11 are hexagonally-shaped or other geometrically-shaped, the hub is maintained in axial position by the balls engaging the groove 44 or the detents defined within the backing plate hub 42. The hexagonally-shaped hub 42, or other geometrically-shaped configuration, prevents rotation about the axis A during use of the assembly 10 of the present invention. In the situation where the hub 42 and the functionally-cooperating inner sleeve 21 and outer sleeve 11 are cylindrically-shaped structures, the capturing of the balls 34 within the detents operates to prevent axial movement of the assembly 10 away from the tool 1 but also prevents rotation about the axis A as well. In short, a cylindrical design employees the balls 34 to serve a dual function to both drive the radial motion of the backing plate 41 as well as retain the backing plate 41 while it is engaged with the quick release adapter 10.
It is also to be understood that the disk portion 47 of the backing plate 41 would have attached to it a surface care media of some sort, such as a buffing pad or the like. As alluded to earlier, the exact type of surface care media is not, however, a limitation of the present invention.
It should also be noted that the inner and outer sleeves 21, 11, respectively, of the adapter 10, as well as the backing plate 41, are made of a plastic material in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The ring 32, spring 33 and balls 34, however, are made of a metal material in the preferred embodiment.
It should be noted that the figures also illustrate how the quick mount adapter 10 interfaces with an externally threaded male drive spindle of a typical rotary care tool. Externally threaded drive spindles or adapters either to the backing plate 41 or the quick release adapter 10 would provide the ability to be compatible with other internally threaded drive spindles that are commonly found on oscillating or dual-action or orbital surface care tools. These externally threaded spindles could be molded into the backing plate 41 and quick release adapter 10 as options to the internally threaded design detailed in the attached figures or by using male/female threaded adapters which can be inserted into the components as illustrated.
In application, the user would most likely hold the surface care tool 1 in one hand and the quick mount adapter 10 in the other hand. With the threaded portion 4 of the drive spindle 2 of the surface care tool 1 aligned with the threaded aperture 23 of the inner sleeve 21, the user would rotate the quick mount adapter 10 so as to thread the quick mount adapter 10 onto the drive spindle 2. The user would then pull back on the quick mount adapter 10, drawing it towards the surface care tool 1, by holding on to the pull flange 16 that is circumferentially-defined about the outer sleeve 11. See
With the inner sleeve 21 in a position such that the balls 34 can now engage grooved aperture 44 of the backing plate 41, the user would then allow the outer sleeve 11 to move away from the spindle 2, the outer sleeve 11 being urged in that direction by force exerted on it by means of the captured spring 33, the captured spring 33 having been previously compressed. See
In order to remove the backing plate 41 and its attached surface care media 51 from the quick mount adapter 10, the same action mentioned above would be used. That is, the user would pull the quick mount adapter 10 towards the spindle 2 of the surface care tool 1, thereby releasing the balls 34 from the backing plate groove 44 and allowing the backing plate 41 and media 51 to be withdrawn from the inner sleeve aperture 28. It should be noted here that the user can accomplish this removal without any need to physically handle the backing plate 41 and its attached surface care media. Following a surface preparation step, the media may be contaminated with surface particulate and, as the user moves on to the next surface preparation or finishing step, it is beneficial to the quality of the end product that media not be cross-contaminated through handling by the user. In accordance with the present invention, this is avoided.
In an alternative application, the quick mount adapter 10 could be omitted entirely because the threaded portion 4 of the drive spindle 2 of the surface care tool 1 can be inserted directly into the threaded aperture 45 of the backing plate 41. See
In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a new and useful system and apparatus that allows the user to quickly and easily remove the backing plate and its associated surface care media from a surface care tool; that provides such a system and apparatus whereby a minimal number of elements and a minimal number of steps are required to use the system and apparatus, thereby making the system and apparatus easy and simple to use; that provides such a system and apparatus whereby the backing plate is securely attached to the backing plate to the surface care tool such that the backing plate will not inadvertently detach from the tool under use conditions; and that provides such a system and apparatus whereby the user can utilize the backing plate of the system and apparatus with the threaded spindle of a conventional surface care tool and without the quick mount adapter when such is desired or required.
This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/910,888 filed Apr. 10, 2007.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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