SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SURFACES

Abstract

Systems and apparatus are provided for polishing and grinding glass, stone, or other hard surfaces safely and cleanly. The apparatus presented comprises a mounting plate to be mounted to a rotary grinder, a cowl which may be easily attached to and removed from the mounting plate, and which comprises components to enable safe polishing and grinding of hard surfaces by capturing particulates produced by the grinding. A user may use the apparatus to clean and/or polish hard surfaces without creating a difficult-to-clean and dusty work environment, offering benefits to cleanliness, efficiency of work, and health and safety. The present invention solves problems with the currently available systems and apparatuses for polishing and grinding glass, stone, or other hard surfaces.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to providing systems and apparatus for cleaning surfaces, and more particularly, to systems and apparatus for polishing and grinding glass, stone, or other hard surfaces safely and cleanly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hard surfaces, in particular glass, such as plate glass and other glass used in windows, doors, and displays, or stone surfaces, often need to be cleaned and polished. Such cleaning can require grinding and polishing, such as to remove and clean scratches and minor damage, such as chips or nicks. Grinding glass or stone to polish it produces large quantities of fine particulates of silica, or glass, dust, stone dust, or other particulates. Such glass or stone dust makes a mess, is difficult to contain and clean, and can be hazardous to the health of humans and other animals. Polishing and grinding glass or stone is especially hazardous to the health and safety of workers who do the work of grinding and polishing the glass or stone to clean it. Prior art devices exist, such as rotary grinders which may be equipped with a cowl, or hood, to attempt to catch and contain glass or stone dust produced from the grinding. Shortcomings of prior art devices that attach with a simple c-clamp include a poor seal between the grinder and the cowl, and the fact that attaching and removing the cowl is slow and inconvenient. Working in the construction trades, speed and convenience are crucial to adoption and use of tools: if it isn't fast and convenient, workers are unlikely to use a tool or accessory. The prior art is not fast and convenient.

The prior art also does not function well at containing the glass or stone dust, and making it simple and feasible to keep the worksite clean and the workers protected from the hazards posed by the glass or stone dust. Likewise, by not containing the glass or stone dust produced from grinding, the prior art doesn't protect the health and safety of anyone in the vicinity of the work: passersby, customers, or anyone. Lastly, the prior art pose shortcomings because they're not effective at grinding and polishing the glass or stone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets all these needs, by disclosing systems and apparatus that allow efficient grinding and polishing of hard surfaces, including but not limited to glass or stone. The present invention further addresses the problem of other grinders and attempts at cowls, by presenting cowl apparatus that may be quickly and easily attached to and removed from a grinder.

The present invention addresses the problems of the prior art, which do not present apparatus for containing glass or stone dust produced by grinding and polishing of glass or stone, and which allow for simple cleanup.

In one aspect, the present disclosure teaches an apparatus for cleaning hard surfaces, as disclosed above.

In another aspect, the present disclosure teaches an apparatus for containing particulates while grinding a hard surface, as described above.

These aspects of the present invention, and others disclosed in the Detailed Description of the Drawings, represent improvements on the current art. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description of the Drawings. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In embodiments of the subject invention, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” are defined as at least close to (and can include) a given value or state, as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” refer to ranges within 10%, preferably within 5%, more preferably within 1%, and most preferably within 0.1% of the given value or state being specified. Where ranges are provided, the foregoing applies to both the start and end of the range of values given.

In embodiments of the subject invention, the term “relatively” is defined as a comparison of a property, or the proportion of a property between two components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of various aspects, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, the drawings show exemplary aspects; but the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same components or steps of the device throughout the different figures. In the following detailed description, various aspects of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a top perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a top perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1C shows a bottom elevation view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1D shows a top perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1E shows a side perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a side and bottom perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows a side and top perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a side and bottom perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a side and bottom perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, with a surface on which the apparatus may be used.

FIG. 6 shows a side perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a side elevation view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a side and bottom perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded top plan view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an exploded side perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a bottom plan view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a top perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a top and side perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a top and side perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a bottom plan rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a bottom perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows a perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows a cross-section perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows a cross-section perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 23 shows a cross-section perspective rendering of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 24A shows a top perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 24B shows a bottom perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 24C shows a top perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 25 shows a top perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 26 shows a side perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The presently disclosed invention is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. But, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the claimed invention might also be configured in other ways, to include different steps or elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step” or similar terms may be used herein to connote different aspects of methods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. But, the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Structures and techniques that would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail, in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the systems and apparatus of the present invention.

The present invention comprises an apparatus 100 for containing the particulates produced when grinding and polishing glass, stone, concrete, or other smooth or rough surfaces. The materials from which the following components may be made comprise plastics, metals including but not limited to stainless steel or other steel alloys, and other materials now known or later invented.

With reference to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, FIG. 1E, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG. 23, FIG. 24A, FIG. 24B, FIG. 24C, FIG. 25, and FIG. 26, the apparatus 100 of the present invention comprises a threaded mounting plate 110. The threaded mounting plate 110 may be reversibly attached to and detached from a grinder 310. Advantageously, the threaded mounting plate 110 may be bolted or screwed onto and off of the grinder 310 by means of one or more mounting bolts 118, though other types of connectors known in the art or now known or later invented may be used, the one or more mounting bolts 118 being passed through one or more mounting plate holes 119. Being bolted on provides a secure attachment, and which provides a good seal of air and particulates, such that particulates do not travel or escape between the threaded mounting plate 110 and the grinder 310. The threaded mounting plate 110 may comprise a plate protrusion 112, being approximately cylindrical, which extends away from the grinder 310, and wherein the plate protrusion 112 may comprise a plate threading 114 on some or all of an exterior portion and/or an interior portion of the plate protrusion 112. The plate protrusion 112 and the plate threading 114 may have a plate-threaded diameter 116. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the foregoing mounting plate and protrusion may not be threaded. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plate protrusion 112 may comprise an approximately cylindrical portion inset into the threaded mounting plate 110, rather than protruding out from the threaded mounting plate 110, comprising the plate-threaded diameter 116 and comprising the plate threading 114 on the inner surface of the plate protrusion 112. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the threaded mounting plate 110 may further comprise a plate notch 111 to accommodate a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet being a component of the grinder 310. The plate notch 111 may be sized, shaped, and disposed in the threaded mounting plate 110 such that the fluid inlet may be utilized as is known in the art.

The apparatus 100 comprises a cowl 120. Advantageously, the cowl 120 may be threaded or screwed onto and off of the threaded mounting plate 110. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the cowl 120 may comprise a threaded cowl mount 122, which threaded cowl mount 122 extends from the cowl 120 to be engaged with the threaded mounting plate 110. The threaded cowl mount 122 may comprise a mount threading 124 on some or all of an exterior portion and/or an interior portion of the threaded cowl mount 122, as will be suited to engage with the plate threading 114 of the plate protrusion 112. The threaded cowl mount 122 may have a cowl-mount diameter 126. The mount threading 124 is sized and pitched to engage with the plate threading 114, and the cowl-mount diameter 126 is sized to engage with the plate-threaded diameter 116. Being threaded on provides a simple and quick attachment and detachment, which is also secure, and which provides a good seal of air and particulates, such that particulates do not travel or escape between the threaded mounting plate 110 and the cowl 120. Where a cowl 120 is threaded, the cowl 120 can be reversibly exchanged for a different cowl, with any number of the one or more cowls being referred to herein as a first cowl 120a, a second cowl 120b, a third cowl 120c, and so on for any number of cowls. The cowls may have a range of sizes, shapes, profiles, depths, or other characteristics, as will be clear in the present disclosure. The ability of a user, being a person using the apparatus 100, to quickly and easily use different cowls, is that the user can use a range of sizes of disk 312 for grinding easily and quickly, using the grinder 310 without having to change the grinder which the user is using. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the foregoing mount and related components described herein may not be threaded.

The cowl 120 may have a vacuum port 136, to allow a vacuum 320, specifically a hose attached to a vacuum or other suction device, to be attached to the vacuum port 136. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the vacuum port 136 may be reversibly detachable from the cowl 120, and reversibly attachable to the cowl 120. The vacuum port 136 may be mounted to the cowl 120 at a vacuum port hole 138, and the vacuum port 136 may be attached with a pressure mount, a friction mount, one or more clips, or other means now known or later invented, as is known in the art. By making the vacuum port 136 easily removeable, the cowl 120 may be threaded on and off of the grinder 310, specifically on and off of the threaded mounting plate 110, without the vacuum port 136 hitting the grinder 310 and interfering with the attachment and removal of the cowl 120. By operating the vacuum 320 at the same time as the grinder 310, the apparatus 100 allows the user to safely collect the particulate dust produced by grinding and polishing a surface 302, whether the surface 302 is glass, plastic, stone, concrete, metal, or other material.

The cowl 120 may be double-walled, such that the cowl 120 comprises an outer wall 128 and an inner wall 132. The outer wall 128 and the inner wall 132 are substantially circular and substantially concentric. Advantageously, the inner wall 132 is slightly smaller than the outer wall 128 such that the inner wall 132 is disposed in an interior space 130 of the cowl 120, being a volume defined by the outer wall 128. The outer wall 128 and the inner wall 132 thus have a circumferential space 134 between them, wherein the circumferential space 134 is disposed around the cowl 120, towards the outer perimeter thereof. The outer wall 128 comprises a vacuum port hole 138, being an opening in the outer wall 128, wherein the vacuum port 136 interfaces with the vacuum port hole 138, to allow the vacuum 320 and a hose or other attachment of the vacuum 320 to be reversibly attached to and removed from the vacuum port 136.

With reference to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, FIG. 1E, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG. 23, FIG. 24A, FIG. 24B, FIG. 24C, FIG. 25, and FIG. 26, in aspects of the apparatus 100 wherein a vacuum 320 is used to vacuum and clean debris, all debris, specifically without limitation including all dust and particulates, also referred to as waste materials, may be pulled away from the surface 302 through the circumferential space 134 and then through the vacuum port 136. In aspect of the apparatus 100 wherein a fluid is used to help contain the particulates and other debris, the fluid may be removed by the vacuum 320 through the circumferential space 134 and the vacuum port 136, along with the particulates, and the fluid is part of the waste materials.

With reference to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, FIG. 1E, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG. 23, FIG. 24A, FIG. 24B, FIG. 24C, FIG. 25, and FIG. 26, in some aspects of the present disclosure, the apparatus 100 comprises a circular flange 140. The circular flange 140 is disposed in the circumferential space 134 between the outer wall 128 and the inner wall 132. The circular flange 140 comprises, advantageously, one or more flange elastic members 144. The circular flange 140 comprises a proximal perimeter 142 and a distal perimeter 146. The one or more flange elastic members 144 may be disposed at the distal perimeter 146, being a rear edge of the circular flange 140, distal from the disk 312 and the surface 302 on which the grinder 310 and the apparatus 100 are being used. The one or more flange elastic members 144 push the circular flange 140 away from the distal side of the cowl 120, that is, away from the grinder 310, and towards the surface 302, to assist the apparatus 100 in making good, smooth, and continuous contact with the surface 302, by having the circular flange 140 pushed onto the surface 302 evenly and smoothly. Even when the grinder 310 and apparatus 100 are tilted, that is, angled or inclined, relative to the surface 302, the one or more flange elastic members 144 pushing the circular flange 140 towards the surface 302 may advantageously serve to keep the circular flange 140 in contact with the surface 302 around a proximal perimeter 142 of the circular flange 140, such that the circular flange 140 will be tilted relative to the rest of the apparatus 100 and the grinder 310, while the circular flange 140 remains in contact with the surface 302. As will be apparent to one of skill in the art, the foregoing is applicable when the apparatus 100 is used on any types of surfaces, including without limitation stone, concrete, plastic, metal, or other surfaces.

The one or more flange elastic members 144 are, advantageously, distributed around a distal perimeter 146 of the circular flange 140, and advantageously, the one or more flange elastic members 144 comprise a sufficient number such that the circular flange 140 can be elastically pushed from multiple positions around the distal perimeter 146. The circular flange 140, being elastically movable and elastically flexible, and located within the circumferential space 134 between the outer wall 128 and the inner wall 132, enables more efficient and more effective collection of debris, such as glass particulates or stone particulates or other particulates, and the fluid if used.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the circular flange 140 comprises one or more flange retention slots 150. The one or more flange retention slots 150, being disposed around the circular flange 140, may be reversibly connected with, or in some aspects of the present disclosure, disposed over, one or more wall-flange retainers 152. The outer wall 128 comprises the one or more wall-flange retainers 152. Each of the one or more flange retention slots 150 are advantageously connected with one of the one or more wall-flange retainers 152. A one of the one or more flange retention slots 150 may slide distally and proximally within the circumferential space 134, that is, away from and towards the surface 302 relative to the rest of the apparatus 100, as the apparatus 100 is operated. With the one or more flange elastic members 144 pushing the one or more flange retention slots 150 proximally, being away from the grinder 310 and towards the surface 302, the one or more flange retention slots 150 enable the circular flange 140 to slide distally and proximally on the one or more wall-flange retainers 152, while the one or more wall-flange retainers 152 prevent the circular flange 140 from rotating within the circumferential space 134. Without the one or more wall-flange retainers 152, the circular flange 140 would rotate, with the high spin rate of the disk 312 driving the circular flange 140. If the circular flange 140 were to rotate, it would not maintain consistent contact with the surface 302, and thus would not enable efficient capture of the particulates and any fluid by the apparatus 100, or be able to maintain a safe environment for the health and safety of people in the vicinity of the user.

The apparatus 100 may comprise a handle 180, which may be securely affixed to and removed from the grinder 310 by means of one or more handle bolts 182 through handle bolt holes 184 to the grinder 310, or other means of connection now known or later invented, to allow the user to have and maintain a secure grip on the grinder 310 while operating it with the apparatus 100. The handle 180 may further comprise a handle grip region 186.

The apparatus 100 may comprise one or more fluid control ports 160 for allowing and controlling the injection of a fluid, or more than one fluid, which may comprise water and/or other fluids, separately and/or as a mixture of fluids, as is suitable for the surface on which the apparatus 100 is being used, into and through the grinder 310. Typically, as is known in the art, water is used with the surface 302 at a final polishing step, especially but not only when the surface 302 is glass, and not before then, though as will be apparent to one of skill in the art, this is not necessarily the case. Water is more consistently used, that is, used not only at a last polishing step or steps, when the grinder 310 is used to grind and polish the surface 302 when the surface 302 is stone or concrete or other similarly hard material. The use of the one or more fluid control ports 160 for injecting the fluid and controlling the injection of the fluid provides advantages in maintaining a clean and a safe work environment. Often, as is known in the art, the grinder 310 will comprise a fluid inlet, typically located on the body of the grinder 310, and disposed to release a fluid at or through the spindle or axle of the grinder 310 to one or more fluid openings, as is known in the art, though other arrangements of the components of the grinder 310 are possible. The one or more fluid control ports 160 may be disposed on the apparatus 100, and/or at the cowl 120, and/or at the outer wall 128, and/or at the handle 180. The one or more fluid control ports 160 may be threaded, or may be a quick-connect or clip connection, or may be another connection type, as is now known in the art or later invented. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the one or more fluid control ports 160 may be disposed to connect to a fluid supply line 162, and the handle 180, in some aspects the handle grip region 186, may be configured to comprise a handle-fluid line 164, being disposed near to and through the handle grip region 186. The fluid may be conveyed through portions of the apparatus 100, as described herein. The fluid conveyed through the fluid supply line 162 to the handle-fluid line 164 may then be controlled, in its flow, by the use of a fluid control switch 166, which may be disposed on the handle 180 and advantageously on or near the handle grip region 186, for the convenience of use of a person using the apparatus 100 with the grinder 310. The fluid control switch 166 may be operated by the person to permit the fluid to be conveyed through a handle-grinder line 168 to the grinder 310, being a fluid line disposed from the fluid control switch 166 to the fluid inlet of the grinder 310, whereby the fluid may be conveyed in to the grinder 310 and through the grinder 310 to one or more fluid openings, being approximately in the vicinity of the disk 312, being in the apparatus 100 the interior space 130, as is known in the art.

Certain aspects of the present invention were described above. From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with other advantages, which are obvious in and inherent to the inventive apparatus disclosed herein. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. It is expressly noted that the present invention is not limited to those aspects described above, but rather the intention is that additions and modifications to what was expressly described herein are also included within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the features of the various aspects described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations, even if such combinations or permutations were not made express herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In fact, variations, modifications, and other implementations of what was described herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. As such, the invention is not to be defined only by the preceding illustrative description.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface, the apparatus comprising: a threaded mounting plate, wherein the threaded mounting plate can be reversibly attached to and detached from a grinder; and wherein the threaded mounting plate comprises a plate protrusion, wherein the plate protrusion is approximately cylindrical, and wherein the plate protrusion extends away from the grinder, and wherein the plate protrusion comprises a plate threading;a cowl; wherein the cowl comprises a threaded cowl mount which threaded cowl mount comprises a mount threading, and wherein the cowl can be threaded onto and off of the threaded mounting plate, with the mount threading engaging with the plate threading; and wherein the cowl comprises an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the outer wall and the inner wall are substantially circular and substantially concentric, and define a circumferential space between the outer wall and the inner wall; anda handle, which may be securely affixed to and removed from the grinder;wherein the cowl comprises a vacuum port, wherein the vacuum port is reversibly detachable from the cowl, and reversibly attachable to the cowl.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cowl can be any of a number of one or more cowls, being a first cowl 120a, a second cowl 120b, a third cowl 120c, or more cowls.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner wall is slightly smaller than the outer wall such that the inner wall is disposed in an interior space of the cowl, the interior space being a volume defined by the outer wall.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a circular flange, wherein the circular flange is disposed in the circumferential space, and wherein the circular flange comprises a proximal perimeter and a distal perimeter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the circular flange comprises one or more flange elastic members, wherein the one or more flange elastic members are disposed at the distal perimeter, and wherein the one or more flange elastic members are distributed around the distal perimeter.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more flange elastic members comprise a sufficient number such that the circular flange is elastically pushed from multiple positions around the distal perimeter.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the outer wall comprises one or more wall-flange retainers, and wherein the circular flange comprises one or more flange retention slots, wherein the one or more flange retention slots are disposed around the circular flange, and wherein the one or more flange retention slots are reversibly connected with or disposed over the one or more wall-flange retainers, wherein the one or more flange retention slots may slide distally and proximally within the circumferential space, such that the one or more flange retention slots enable the circular flange to slide distally and proximally on the one or more wall-flange retainers, while the one or more wall-flange retainers prevent the circular flange from rotating within the circumferential space.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer wall further comprises a vacuum port hole, wherein the vacuum port interfaces with the vacuum port hole, to allow a vacuum to be reversibly attached to and removed from the vacuum port.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein all debris is pulled away from the surface through the circumferential space and then through the vacuum port.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises one or more fluid control ports, and a handle-fluid line, and a fluid control switch; and wherein the threaded mounting plate further comprises a plate notch.

11. An apparatus for containing particulates while grinding a surface, the apparatus comprising: a threaded mounting plate, wherein the threaded mounting plate can be reversibly attached to and detached from a grinder; and wherein the threaded mounting plate comprises a plate protrusion, wherein the plate protrusion is approximately cylindrical; anda cowl; wherein the cowl comprises a threaded cowl mount, which threaded cowl mount comprises a mount threading, and wherein the cowl can be threaded onto and off of the threaded mounting plate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cowl comprises an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the outer wall and the inner wall are substantially circular and substantially concentric, and wherein the inner wall is slightly smaller than the outer wall such that the inner wall is disposed in an interior space of the cowl, the interior space being a volume defined by the outer wall, such that the outer wall and the inner wall define a circumferential space between the outer wall and the inner wall.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus further comprises a circular flange, wherein the circular flange is disposed in the circumferential space, and wherein the circular flange comprises a proximal perimeter and a distal perimeter.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the circular flange comprises one or more flange elastic members, wherein the one or more flange elastic members are disposed at the distal perimeter, and wherein the one or more flange elastic members are distributed around the distal perimeter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more flange elastic members comprise a sufficient number such that the circular flange is elastically pushed from multiple positions around the distal perimeter.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the outer wall comprises one or more wall-flange retainers, and wherein the circular flange comprises one or more flange retention slots, wherein the one or more flange retention slots are disposed around the circular flange, and wherein the one or more flange retention slots are reversibly connected with or disposed over the one or more wall-flange retainers, wherein the one or more flange retention slots may slide distally and proximally within the circumferential space, such that the one or more flange retention slots enable the circular flange to slide distally and proximally on the one or more wall-flange retainers, while the one or more wall-flange retainers prevent the circular flange from rotating within the circumferential space.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cowl further comprises a vacuum port, wherein the vacuum port is reversibly detachable from the cowl, and reversibly attachable to the cowl, and wherein the outer wall further comprises a vacuum port hole, wherein the vacuum port interfaces with the vacuum port hole, to allow a vacuum to be reversibly attached to and removed from the vacuum port.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein waste materials are pulled away from the surface through the circumferential space and then through the vacuum port.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprises a handle, and wherein the handle further comprises one or more fluid control ports, and a handle-fluid line, and a fluid control switch.

20. An apparatus for containing particulates while grinding a surface, the apparatus comprising: a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate can be reversibly attached to and detached from a grinder; and wherein the mounting plate comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is approximately cylindrical;a cowl; wherein the cowl comprises a cowl mount, wherein the cowl mount comprises a mount, and wherein the cowl can be mounted onto and off of the mounting plate; andwherein the cowl comprises an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the outer wall and the inner wall are substantially circular and substantially concentric, and wherein the outer wall and the inner wall define a circumferential space between the outer wall and the inner wall; andwherein the apparatus further comprises a circular flange, wherein the circular flange is disposed in the circumferential space, and wherein the circular flange comprises a proximal perimeter and a distal perimeter; andwherein the circular flange comprises one or more flange elastic members, wherein the one or more flange elastic members are disposed at the distal perimeter, and wherein the one or more flange elastic members are distributed around the distal perimeter; andwherein the outer wall comprises one or more wall-flange retainers, and wherein the circular flange comprises one or more flange retention slots, wherein the one or more flange retention slots are disposed around the circular flange, and wherein the one or more flange retention slots are reversibly connected with or disposed over the one or more wall-flange retainers, wherein the one or more flange retention slots may slide distally and proximally within the circumferential space, such that the one or more flange retention slots enable the circular flange to slide distally and proximally on the one or more wall-flange retainers, while the one or more wall-flange retainers prevent the circular flange from rotating within the circumferential space.