NON-MOTORIZED VACUUM SANDING TOOL

Abstract

Example implementations relate to a non-motorized vacuum sanding tool comprising a base plate having a central hub, and a vacuum attachment member having a first end configured for attachment to a vacuum source and a second end configured to rotate around the central hub. The upper surface of the base plate includes a raised lip extending around the central hub and serving as a handle for the sanding tool.

Claims

1. A non-motorized vacuum sanding tool, comprising: a base plate having a central hub; and a vacuum attachment member having a first end configured for attachment to a vacuum source and a second end configured to rotate around the central hub; wherein an upper surface of the base plate includes a raised lip extending around the central hub and serving as a handle for the sanding tool.

2. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 1, wherein the base plate includes a number of apertures therethrough located around a periphery of the central hub.

3. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 2, wherein the second end of the vacuum attachment member includes an annular cavity with a lower portion configured to provide fluid communication between the number of apertures and the first end of the vacuum attachment member.

4. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 3, wherein an exterior surface of the second end of the vacuum attachment member is textured to facilitate hand manipulated rotation of the vacuum attachment member around the central hub during operation.

5. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 1, wherein the second end of the vacuum attachment member has an annular portion, and wherein a lower portion of the annular portion is located below an upper edge of the raised lip.

6. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 1, wherein the vacuum attachment member extends laterally from the central hub and is configured for 360 degree rotation.

7. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 1, including a cap coupled to the central hub and configured to prevent movement of the vacuum attachment member in a vertical direction, wherein the cap configured to remain stationary during rotational movement of the vacuum attachment member around the central hub.

8. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 1, wherein the base is rectangular and the raised lip is ovate.

9. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 1, including a rubber ring formed on the raised lip.

10. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 1, wherein the raised lip extends vertically from the upper surface of the base by 0.1 inches to 0.4 inches.

11. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 1, further comprising a working material configured for releasable attachment to: the lower surface of the base plate; or a lower surface of one or more intermediate pads located between the lower surface of the base plate and the working material.

12. A non-motorized vacuum sanding tool, comprising: a base plate having a central hub; a vacuum attachment member extending laterally from the central hub and having a first end configured for attachment to a vacuum source and an annular second end configured to rotate around the central hub; and an ovate raised lip formed an upper surface of the base plate and serving as a handle for the sanding tool; wherein the annular second end of the vacuum attachment member provides fluid communication between a lower surface of the base plate and the first end of the vacuum attachment member via a plurality of apertures formed through the base plate around an exterior of the central hub; and wherein the annular second end of the vacuum attachment member has a lower surface located below an upper edge of the ovate raised lip.

13. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 12, further comprising a cap coupled to the central hub and securing the vacuum attachment member in place.

14. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 12, wherein the vacuum attachment member does not extend above an upper surface of the cap.

15. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 14, wherein a distance from the lower surface of the base plate to an upper surface of the cap is 3 inches or less.

16. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 12, further comprising a rubber ring coupled to the raised lip.

17. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 12, wherein the ovate raised lip includes an interior edge configured to receive radial pressure outward via one or more fingers of a user during operation of the sanding tool.

18. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 17, wherein the ovate raised lip includes an exterior edge configured to receive radial pressure inward via the one or more fingers of the user during operation of the sanding tool.

19. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 12, wherein the vacuum attachment member is configured to be rotatably maneuvered by a hand of the user while using the ovate raised lip as the handle.

20. The non-motorized vacuum sanding tool of claim 12, wherein the sanding tool is configured for dust free operation when the vacuum attachment member is coupled to a vacuum source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1A illustrates an exploded view of a portion of a non-motorized vacuum sanding tool in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 1B illustrates an unexploded view of the non-motorized vacuum sanding tool shown in FIG. 1A.

[0007] FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of the non-motorized vacuum sanding tool shown in FIG. 1A.

[0008] FIG. 1D illustrates a side view 101-1 and cross sectional views 101-2 and 101-3 of the non-motorized vacuum sanding tool 100 shown in FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Various types of sanding tools exist for abrading different surfaces. Many sanding tools, such as belt sanders, random orbit sanders, rotary sanders, etc. are motorized (e.g., electrically powered). While being effective for quickly removing large amounts of surface material, such motorized sanders often have a reduced ability of the operator to precisely control the movement of the tool and/or pressure applied to the working surface, which can lead to a reduced uniformity of the target surface.

[0010] Therefore, various non-motorized sanding tools can be more effective for certain applications such as drywall sanding (e.g., wall and/or ceiling sanding), for example. The use of non-motorized sanding tools can provide benefits such as allowing an operator to precisely adjust the force applied, the direction of an abrading action, the amount of material abraded away, and the uniformity of abrasion based on feel.

[0011] Some non-motorized hand sanding tools are attached to an elongate pole used to maneuver the tool, while others may include a handle (e.g., knob) located closer to the working surface. Some non-motorized sanding tools include a port (e.g., an air intake) for coupling to a vacuum, which can be used to create a more dust free operating environment.

[0012] However, previous non-motorized vacuum sanders have various drawbacks. For example, some prior sanders can have a higher than desirable center of gravity, which can lead to tipping of the tool resulting in damage to a working surface and/or stutter marks. In some instances, the high center of gravity can result from having to accommodate the vacuum attachment (e.g., hose). Previous non-motorized vacuum sanders can also be cumbersome to operate due to an inability to easily maneuver the vacuum hose while continuing to perform sanding operations, especially in and around inside corners.

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide various benefits compared to prior approaches. Various embodiments include a non-motorized hand manipulated vacuum sander that can provide effective dust free operation at numerous locations, including inside corners (e.g., adjacent wall surfaces and/or wall/ceiling corners). As described further herein, various embodiments include a base plate having a central hub, and a vacuum attachment member having a first end configured for attachment to a vacuum source and a second end configured to rotate around the central hub. The upper surface of the base plate can include a raised lip extending around the central hub and serving as a handle for the sanding tool. The raised lip can be ovate, for example. The vacuum attachment member can extend laterally from the central hub, and the second end of vacuum attachment member can be annular and configured to rotate 360 degrees via hand manipulation of a user. The annular second end of the vacuum attachment member provides fluid communication between a lower surface of the base plate and the first end of the vacuum attachment member via a plurality of apertures formed through the base plate around an exterior of the central hub. In various embodiments, the annular second end of the vacuum attachment member has a lower surface located below an upper edge of the ovate raised lip. Accordingly, various embodiments can have a low center of gravity with a height of the tool being less than 3-4 inches and the laterally extending vacuum attachment member being less than 3 inches from the working surface (e.g., wall, floor, ceiling, table, etc.). Beneficially, the sanding tool can be operated with one hand of the user with the laterally extending vacuum attachment member being maneuverable (e.g., rotatable about the central hub) with one or more fingers of the user during sanding operations. Various embodiments are particularly better suited than motorized sanders for sanding vertical walls and/or ceilings since motorized components increase the center of gravity and provide increased weight, which can be much more physically taxing on the user, especially when sanding a soft material such as gypsum, for example. The reduced weight and center of gravity of embodiments of the invention allow the tool to be easily maneuverable on a surface even with the presence of the vacuum hose.

[0014] FIG. 1A illustrates an exploded view of a portion of a non-motorized vacuum sanding tool 100 in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The tool 100 includes a base plate 110 having a central hub 111 and a vacuum attachment member 104. The base plate 110 can be rectangular as shown in FIG. 1A; however, embodiments are not limited to a particular shape.

[0015] The vacuum attachment member 104 has a first end configured for attachment to a vacuum source and a second end 105 configured to rotate around the central hub 111 (e.g., 360 degrees). The vacuum attachment member 104 extends laterally from the central hub 111. As shown in FIG. 1A, the second end 105 of the vacuum attachment member can be annular. The end 105 includes an annular cavity providing fluid communication between a lower surface of the base plate 110 and the first end of the vacuum attachment member 104 via a plurality of apertures formed through the base plate around an exterior of the central hub 111 (e.g., around its periphery). For example, in operation, abraded material (e.g., dust) is removed from the working surface to a vacuum source through the apertures in the base plate 110 and then through the attachment member 104 via one or more openings (not shown) in the lower portion (e.g., underneath) of the annular end 105. The exterior surface of the annular end 105 can be textured (e.g., knurled) to facilitate hand manipulated rotation of the vacuum attachment member 104 around the central hub 111 during operation.

[0016] The tool 100 includes a cap 102 coupled to the central hub 111 and configured to secure the vacuum attachment member in place (e.g., to prevent movement of the vacuum attachment member 104 in a vertical direction). The cap 102 is configured to remain stationary during rotational movement of the vacuum attachment member 104 around the central hub 111. In various embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, the vacuum attachment member 104 does not extend above an upper surface of the cap 102. In various embodiments, a distance from the lower surface of the base plate 110 to an upper surface of the cap 102 is 3 inches or less, which provides a low profile to facilitate operation of the tool 100 with decreased likelihood of the tool 100 flipping on edge and/or causing damage to the working surface (e.g., in the form of gouges, stutter marks, etc.).

[0017] In various embodiments, the base plate 110 includes a raised lip 108 extending around the central hub 111 and which serves as a handle for the sanding tool 100 during operation. The raised lip can be ovate, as shown in FIG. 1A. In a number of embodiments, a rubber ring 106 can be coupled to the raised lip 108. The rubber ring 106 can provide improved grip, for example.

[0018] The raised lip 108 can extend vertically from the upper surface of the base 110 by between 0.1 inches and about 0.4 inches; however, embodiments are not so limited. During operation, a user of the tool 100 can apply radial pressure outward to the interior edge of the raised lip 108. That is, user's fingers can be pushed against an interior of the lip to move the tool 100 in a desired direction while providing a desired amount of force to the working surface. During operation, a user can grip the tool by applying radial pressure inward to the exterior of the lip 108. The raised lip 108 can provide the ability for the user to manipulate the tool 100 while maneuvering (e.g., rotating) the attachment member 104 (and hose coupled thereto). For example, the relatively low tool profile allows the user to operate the tool 100 with one hand. For instance, the user's palm can be positioned over/on the cap 102, and the user can use the lip 108 as a handle while rotating the attachment member 104 with one or more fingers of the user's hand.

[0019] The sanding tool 100 can be configured for releasable attachment to a working material and one or more intermediate layers located between the base 110 and the working material (e.g., sanding sheet, sanding screen, sanding sponge, etc.). The intermediate layers can be formed of various different materials. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the tool 100 includes an intermediate layer 112 having an upper surface configured for releasable attachment to the lower surface of base 110 and having a lower surface configured for releasable attachment to an upper surface of a working material 114. In this example, the working material 114 is a sanding sponge having a recessed interior and angled sidewalls; however, embodiments are not so limited. The intermediate layer 112 can be rigid or flexible. As illustrated, the layers 112 and 114 can have apertures (e.g., channels and/or holes therethrough) to facilitate dust removal from the working surface through the base 100 and attachment member 104 to the vacuum source (not shown).

[0020] FIG. 1B illustrates an unexploded view of the non-motorized vacuum sanding tool shown in FIG. 1A. A recessed area 109 interior to the raised lip 108 is shown in FIG. 1B.

[0021] FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of the non-motorized vacuum sanding tool shown in FIG. 1A.

[0022] FIG. 1D illustrates a side view 101-1 and cross sectional views 101-2 and 101-3 of the non-motorized vacuum sanding tool 100 shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1D also illustrates example dimensions (in inches) associated with the tool 100. As shown in FIG. 1D, a lower surface of the annular second end 105 of the vacuum attachment member 104 is located below an upper edge of the ovate raised lip 108. The low profile of tool 100, the location and configuration of the attachment member 104, and the raised lip 108 serving as a handle provides numerous operational benefits such as the ability to maneuver the tool with one hand while manipulating the attachment member 104 with one or more fingers.

[0023] In the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how a number of examples of the disclosure can be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples can be used and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0024] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Elements shown in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional examples of the present disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the present disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense. As used herein, the designator N, particularly with respect to reference numerals in the drawings, indicate that a number of the particular feature and/or component so designated can be included with a number of examples of the present disclosure. The designator N can refer to a same feature and/or component, or different features and/or components.

[0025] As used herein, a or a number of something can refer to one or more such things. For example, a number of widgets can refer to one or more widgets. Also, as used herein, a plurality of something can refer to more than one of such things.

[0026] The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the device, method, and use of the device and method of the present disclosure. Since many examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the system and method of the present disclosure, this specification merely sets forth some of the many possible embodiment configurations and implementations.