US20090047882A1

US20090047882A1 - Sanding Tool

Info

Publication number: US20090047882A1
Application number: US11/839,980
Authority: US
Inventors: Darlene K. Collins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-16
Filing date: 2007-08-16
Publication date: 2009-02-19

Abstract

A sanding tool for sanding corners. This tool includes an elongated V-shaped member structured to uniformly contact adjacent corner positions; a sandpaper securing device configured to secure the sandpaper thereon. The device includes: a pair of threaded elongated members; a pair of adjustment mechanisms, having: a clamping member sized to be substantially parallel with the elongated V-shaped member, a first bracing member; and a securing bolt in the form of wing nuts; and a user interface system, configured to enable a user to operate the sanding tool. The user interface further includes: a pair of bracing members inserted into the elongated V-shaped member; a coupling mechanism, in the form of a plate having a socket thereon; a gripping member in the form of a handle, configured to enable a user to grasp the sanding tool.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sanding tools, specifically sanding corners between adjoining structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, it has been known to use sanding tools to perform dry wall construction or the like. Many construction workers typically place sheets of plaster-filled substances on wall surfaces and the joints between the sheets are filled and taped in order to conceal the joints. When finishing construction work, users routinely sand joints to reduce the level of tape and the plaster substance to similar levels as the sheets. Though there are many sanding tools in the marketplace to adequately complete construction work, the user still faces some difficulty in sanding interfaces and corners between adjoining walls or structures in a building. Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples include but are not limited to the references described below, which references are incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,597, issued to Matechuk, discloses a hand sanding tool for sanding corner joints in dry wall construction comprises a resilient foam block shaped to fit the corner and faced with suitable abrasive grit. A carrier is provided for demountably supporting the foam block and properly distributing the force over the faces of the foam block. The carrier is mounted on a handle by a simple universal joint and the handle is arranged to receive an extension piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,708, issued to Miles, discloses a device that is provided for sanding the drywall compound formed along a drywall corner. The device includes a base and a pad holder, the pad holder being adapted to receive and hold a drywall sanding pad. More particularly, the pad holder is in the form of a generally V-shaped plate that conforms to the shape of the drywall sanding pad. The drywall sanding pad and the pad holder can be provided as an integral component or in the alternative, the drywall sanding pad can be detachably secure to the pad holder through a fastener arrangement such as through an array of hook and loop fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,130, issued to Nelson, discloses a corner sander for finishing dry plaster wall corners after application of taping thereto.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D373,715, issued to Fink, discloses an ornamental design for a drywall angle sander.
The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages which include: being inconvenient, having limited versatility to sand various areas; and/or being unable to sufficiently retain sandpaper thereon.
What is needed is a sanding tool that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available sanding tools. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a sanding tool for sanding corners of structures.
There is one embodiment of a sanding tool for sanding corners of structures that may have: an elongated V-shaped member that may be configured to uniformly contact adjacent corner positions, and/or may include a contact side and/or a support side; a sandpaper securing device may be configured to secure the sandpaper to the contact side.
According to one embodiment, there is a sandpaper securing device may further include: a pair of elongated members that may be coupled to opposing medial ends of the support side and may extend outwardly therefrom; and/or a pair of adjustment mechanisms, wherein each may be removably coupled to one of the elongated members. In addition, each adjustment mechanism may include: a clamping member that may be sized to be substantially parallel with the elongated V-shaped member having a hole disposed therein, and/or may be sized to receive one of the elongated members; and/or a first bracing member that may have a hole disposed therein, and/or may be sized to receive one of the elongated members; and/or a securing bolt that may be sized to encase the elongated members, wherein the first bracing member may be inserted into the clamping member and/or may be transversely coupled to the clamping member at opposing ends of the first bracing member.
There is also a user interface device that may be configured to enable a user to operate the sanding tool that may include: a pair of second bracing members that may be inserted into the elongated V-shaped member and/or may be transversely coupled to the elongated V-shaped member at opposing ends of the second bracing members; and/or a coupling mechanism that may be removably coupled to each of the second bracing members; and/or a gripping member that may be configured to enable a user to grasp the sanding tool, and/or may be removably coupled to the coupling mechanism.
According to one embodiment, the gripping member may be in form of a handle and/or may be in the form of a pole.
In another embodiment, the coupling mechanism may be in the form of a plate that may include a socket, wherein the socket may be configured to receive the gripping member.
In yet another embodiment, the elongated members may be threaded and the securing bolt may be in the form of a wing nut.
In still yet another embodiment, there may be foamy material or the like coupled to the contact side of the elongated V-shaped member.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sanding tool, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a sanding tool taken along line 2-2 illustrated in FIG. 1, according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a sandpaper securing device, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention. Additionally, reference to the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are related, dissimilar, the same, etc. The use of the term “an embodiment,” or similar wording, is merely a convenient phrase to indicate optional features, which may or may not be part of the invention as claimed.
Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as “another embodiment,” the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language “another embodiment.” The independent embodiments are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.
Finally, the fact that the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, such as is the practice of some practitioners, is merely a convenience for the reader's clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.
As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “is, are,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising” is to be interpreted as including the more restrictive terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”
Looking to the drawing figures, there is one embodiment of a sanding tool 110 for sanding corners 44 between adjoining structures 46. The tool 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes an elongated V-shaped member 12 having a contact side 14 and support side 16. Non-limiting examples of such structures may include drywalls, wooden walls, etc. Also as shown in FIG. 1, the V-shaped member is configured to uniformly contact corners 44 connecting adjacent structures 46 such as building walls. A user may engage the contact side of the V-shape member with the structure 46 in order to smooth out rough protrusions, and/or edges in dry wall plaster substances, paint, etc. thereon. Non-limiting examples of such protrusions and/or rough edges may include: unevenly painted areas, areas of excess plaster/paint, embedded particles such as dust, dirt, etc. The support side 16 side of the V-shaped member includes a plurality of members configured to help to retain the rigidness of the of the V-shaped member, as well as a user interface system 34 that enables the user to handle and manipulate the tool as a means to apply sandpaper to corners of structures 46.
According to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, there is a sandpaper securing device 18 configured to retain sandpaper 15 onto the tool 10. The securing device includes: a pair of threaded elongated members 20 fixedly coupled to the apex of the V-shaped members 12 at opposing medial ends of the support side 16 and extending outwardly therefrom; a pair of adjustment mechanisms 22 comprised of the elongated member 20, securing bolt 32, and clamping members 26. Additionally, the adjustment mechanisms are removably coupled to the elongated members 20 (also referred to as threaded screws) via the rotatable securing bolts 32, as indicated by arrow 48.
Moreover, the adjustment mechanisms 22 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 further includes: a pair of clamping members 26 sized to be substantially parallel with the elongated V-shaped member 20 having a hole 28 disposed therein; a first bracing member 30 having a hole 28 disposed therein and sized to receive the elongated members 20; and a securing bolt 32 that may be sized to encase the elongated members. The hole 28 in the securing bolt 32 (also referred to as wing nut) is sized to for the bolt be threadedly and rotatably coupleable to the elongated members 20, thereby enabling the user to adjustably move the adjustment mechanism toward or away from the V-shaped member 12, as indicated by arrow 50 in FIG. 3. The bracing member may coupled onto the elongated members through the hole 28 at the apex of the clamping members and transversely coupled to the clamping member at opposing ends thereof.
According to one embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1, there is a user interface device 34, configured to enable a user to operate the sanding tool 10 having: a pair of second bracing members 36 configured to be inserted into the elongated V-shaped member 12 and transversely coupled to the elongated V-shaped member at opposing ends thereof; and coupling mechanism 38, in the form of a plate, that is removably coupled to each of the bracing members 36; and a gripping member 40, in the form of a U-shaped handle, designed to enable a user to grasp the sanding tool, and removably couple the handle 40 to the bracing members 36 via sockets 42.
In operation, a user desiring to sand corners 44 and adjoining structures 46 simultaneously may removably couple sandpaper 15 to the contact side 14 of the elongated V-shaped member 12. The user can accomplish the task by folding the sandpaper over the top and bottom edges of the V-shaped member as shown in FIG. 1, such that the sandpaper is positioned between the V-shaped member and clamping member 26 of the sandpaper securing device in shown in FIG. 3. The user then may slidably move the adjustment mechanism 22 about the threaded screw 20 toward the V-shaped member, as indicated by arrow 50, until the clamping member 26 contacts the sandpaper. The user then may rotate the wing nut 32 clockwise, as indicated by arrow 48, in FIG. 1, to tighten the nut in order for the adjustment mechanism to tightly contact the sandpaper.
The user may then removably couple the U-shaped handle 40 to bracing members 36 on the support side 16 of the tool 10 via the sockets 42 disposed on the coupling mechanism 38. Afterwards, the user can grab the handle with either hand an engage the sandpaper 15 on the contact side 14 with the corners 44 between adjoining structures 46 and move the tool 10 up and down to complete a sanding job.
Upon completion of a sanding job and/or when there is a need to exchange sandpaper 15, the user may decouple the sandpaper from the V-shaped member 12 by turning the wing nut 32 counterclockwise to loosen the nut, as indicated by arrow 48 in FIG. 1. This will enable the user to slidably move the adjustment mechanism 22 away from the V-shaped member until there is a gap 24 between the V-shaped member and clamping members 26 as shown in FIG. 3, thereby allowing the user to remove sandpaper from the tool 10.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the user may removably couple an extension pole to the bracing members 36 in lieu of the handle 40 as a means to sand corners 44 between adjoining structures 46 near hard to reach areas such as the ceiling.
In yet another embodiment, there may be padding material coupled to the contact side 14 of the V-shaped member 12. When a user couples sandpaper 15 to the tool 10, the foamy material will be positioned between the V-shaped member and the sandpaper, thereby serving as a cushioning mechanism to soften the V-shaped member surface in order to avoid potential to corners 44 and adjoining structures 46 due to a user inadvertently applying excessive force to the tool while sanding structures. Non-limiting examples of such padding material may include foam, rubber, etc.
The present invention fulfills the need for an easier and faster method for the user to sand the interfaces between adjoining structures 46 at any corners 44 simultaneously, instead of sanding these surfaces individually.
It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Although FIG. 1 illustrates the gripping member 40 being in the form of a handle, the gripping member may be in the form of a extension pole, enabling the user to sand corners 44 between adjoining structures 46 in hard to reach areas such as ceilings, etc.
It is expected that there could be numerous variations of the design of this invention. An example is that the V-shaped member 12; securing device 18; screws 20; adjustment mechanisms 22; clamping members 26; holes 28; bracing members 30, 36; wing nuts 32; coupling mechanism 38; handle 40; and/or socket 42 may vary in width, length, size, diameter, design, shape, etc., according to various embodiments.
Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may be constructed of a variety of materials, such as metal, steel, aluminum, metal alloys, etc.
Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A sanding tool for sanding corners, comprising:

an elongated V-shaped member, configured to uniformly contact adjacent corner positions, including

a contact side; and

a support side;

a sandpaper securing device, configured to secure the sandpaper to the contact side, including:

a pair of elongated members coupled to opposing medial ends of the support side and extending outwardly therefrom;

an pair of adjustment mechanisms each removably coupled to one of the elongated members, each adjustment mechanism including:

a securing member comprising:

a clamping member sized to be substantially parallel with the elongated V-shaped member having a hole disposed therein, sized to receive one of the elongated members;

a first bracing member having a hole disposed therein, sized to receive one of the elongated members; and

a securing bolt, sized to encase the elongated members;

wherein the first bracing member is inserted into the clamping member and transversely coupled to the clamping member at opposing ends of the first bracing member; and

a user interface system, configured to enable a user to operate the sanding tool including:

a pair of second bracing members inserted into the elongated V-shaped member and transversely coupled to the elongated V-shaped member at opposing ends of the second bracing members;

a coupling mechanism, removably coupled to each of the second bracing members; and

a gripping member, configured to enable a user to grasp the sanding tool, removably coupled to the coupling mechanism; wherein the gripping member is a U-shaped handle.

2. (canceled)

3. The sanding tool of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism is a plate which includes a socket, configured to receive the gripping member.

4. The sanding tool of claim 3, wherein the gripping member is a pole.

5. The sanding tool of claim 4, wherein the elongated members are threaded.

6. The sanding tool of claim 5, wherein the securing bolt is a wing nut.

7. A sanding tool for sanding corners, consisting of:

a contact side; and

a support side;

an pair of adjustment mechanisms each removably coupled to each of the elongated members, each adjustment mechanism including:

a securing bolt, sized to encase the elongated members; wherein the first bracing member is inserted into the clamping member and transversely coupled to the clamping member at opposing ends of the first bracing member; and

a user interface device, configured to enable a user to operate the sanding tool including:

a coupling mechanism, removably coupled to each of the second bracing members: and

8. (canceled)

9. The sanding tool of claim 9, wherein the coupling mechanism is a plate which includes a socket, configured to receive the gripping member.

10. The sanding tool of claim 9, wherein the gripping member is a pole.

11. The sanding tool of claim 10, wherein the elongated members are threaded.

12. The sanding tool of claim 11, wherein the securing bolt is a wing nut.