Abstract:
An orbital sander having a housing defining an axis. A motor and output with a sanding element are aligned on said axis. The housing includes a power source as well as an activating member to energize and de-energize the sander. A handle is spaced from the housing and is substantially parallel to the axis. Further, additional gripping members may be positioned on the housing to provide multiple gripping surfaces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/819,248, filed Apr. 6, 2004. This application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to sanders and, more particularly, to random orbital sanders having multiple gripping members, including a spaced vertical handle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Orbital sanders generally include a vertically orientated housing having a handle at an axial end of the housing. Thus, the handle is positioned above the orbital sanding element so that a workman applies force directly onto the orbital sanding element. These handles have various types of designs in order to accommodate the workman&#39;s hand. Also, orbital sanders exist which include handles which extend from the housing substantially perpendicular to the orbital sander housing. These types of handles are in a horizontal orientation. Thus, during use, for a significant period of time, vibration can cause the user&#39;s hand to become fatigue. Accordingly, it is desirable to have an orbital sander which enables the user various gripping orientations to overcome the shortcoming of the prior art.  
         [0004]     The present invention provides the art with a orbital sander that provides multiple gripping positions. The orbital sander provides the user with a gripping surface spaced from the housing and substantially parallel to the housing. Also, the present invention provides the user with a gripping portion which surrounds the housing to provide a 360 degree handle for various orientations of the orbital sander. Also, the present invention provides the user with a palm grip having a gel portion to reduce vibration in the tool. The present invention also enables the user to utilize both hands at various positions on the sander during operation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     According to a first aspect of the invention, an orbital sander comprises a housing with an overall axial orientation. A motor is positioned within the housing. An output is coupled with the motor to drive the orbital sanding element. A power source is coupled with the motor. An activation member is coupled with the motor and the power source. The activation member energizes and de-energizes the motor which, in turn, randomly rotates the output and sanding element. A handle having an overall vertical orientation is spaced from the housing. The housing ordinarily has a cylindrical portion and a truncated conical portion adjacent the cylindrical portion. A gripping member is positioned at the intersection of the cylindrical portion and a truncated conical portion. The gripping member surrounds a portion of the housing. The gripping member that surrounds the housing is formed from an elastomeric material providing comfort and feel for the user. Also, a gripping member maybe positioned on an end of the housing opposing the output. This gripping member may include a gel portion.  
         [0006]     According to a second aspect of the invention, an orbital sander comprises a housing that has an overall axial orientation with two ends. A motor is positioned within the housing. An output, coupled with the motor, is positioned at one of the ends of the housing to drive a sanding element. A power source is coupled with the motor. An activation member is coupled with the motor and the power source to energize and de-energize the motor which, in turn, drives the output and the sanding element. A gripping member surrounds the housing. The gripping member is positioned between the ends of the housing. The gripping member is elastomeric to provide comfort and feel. The gripping member is continuous 360 degrees around the housing. The gripping member has an annular portion and an extending tail portion. The gripping member is positioned on a truncated conical portion of the housing.  
         [0007]     According to a third aspect of the present invention, an orbital sander comprises a housing having an axial orientation with a pair of ends. A motor is positioned within the housing. An output, coupled with the motor, is positioned at one of the end to drive a sanding element. A power source is coupled with the motor. An activation member is coupled with the motor and the power source to energize and de-energize the motor which, in turn, drives the output and the sanding element. A plurality of gripping members are coupled with the housing. At least one gripping member is spaced from and positioned substantially parallel to the housing. The one gripping member is a handle. The others of the gripping members are on the housing. One of the gripping members surrounds a portion of the housing. One of the gripping members is positioned on the end of the housing opposing the output.  
         [0008]     From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an orbital sander in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2   a - 2   e  are side perspective views of  FIG. 1  with hands shown in phantom for gripping the sander;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3   a  is a side view of the present orbital sander showing its dimensions in millimeters;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3   b  is a bottom view of the present orbital sander showing its dimensions in millimeters;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4   a  is a side view of a second embodiment of the orbital sander having a rectangular sanding element, with dimensions shown in millimeters; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 4   b  is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the orbital sander, with dimensions shown in millimeters. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0017]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0018]     Turning to the figures, an orbital sander is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  10 . The orbital sander includes a housing  12 , a motor  14  positioned within the housing, an output  16  driven by the motor  14 , and a platen or carrier  18  that is coupled to the output and oscillatingly driven. A sanding element (not shown) is attached to the carrier  18 . It should be understood that a polishing or other similar element, other than a sanding element, may be attached to carrier  18  and still be within the scope of the invention.  
         [0019]     A dust collection system  20  is coupled with the housing  12 . Also, a plurality of gripping members  22 ,  24 , and  26  are coupled with the housing. An AC power cord  28  is coupled with the housing to provide power to the motor  14 . An activation member  30  is coupled with the housing to energize and de-energize the motor  14 , in turn, the output  16  which, in turn, rotates the carrier  18 .  
         [0020]     The housing  12  defines a central axis  13  and is normally used in a vertical orientation. The housing  12  includes a cylindrical portion  32  and a truncated conical portion  34  positioned on axis  13 . The truncated conical portion  34  at its end includes a skirt  36 . The skirt  36  provides durability and protects the work surface while sanding.  
         [0021]     A housing gripping member  22  is positioned at the intersection of the cylindrical portion  32  and the truncated conical portion  34 . The housing gripping member  22  includes an annular portion comprising a gripping surface  40  and a tail surface  42 . The gripping surface  40  surrounds the housing providing a 360 degree grip on the housing. The gripping surface  40  is positioned at the other end of the truncated conical portion  34  wherein it intersects the cylindrical portion  32 . The tail surface  42  extends from the gripping surface  40  towards the skirt  36 . The housing gripping member  22  is an elastomeric member and may be over molded onto the housing  12 . The elastomeric member provides a comfortable grip as well as increased feel to the user.  
         [0022]     The other end of the housing  12  includes an upper gripping member  24 . The extending end of the cylindrical portion  32  has a teardrop shaped head  44  with the upper gripping member  24  positioned on top of the head  44 . The upper gripping member  24  has a teardrop shape and is formed from a gel material that forms an upper gripping surface. Thus, the gel provides a top surface to absorb vibration of the sander to increase the duration of use by the user without fatigue.  
         [0023]     Vertical axis  13  is located substantially centrally relative to the sander housing  12  throughout its entire extent. That is, axis  13  is centrally located with respect to all of upper gripping member  24 , cylindrical portion  32  and conical portion  34 . Further, as evident with reference to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   c , upper gripping member  24  defines an outer perimeter such that a downward projection of the outer perimeter defines a volume in which the housing  12  is substantially disposed within throughout its entire extent. In other words, the middle and lower parts of housing  12  do not extend outwardly of upper gripping member  24  for any substantial extent.  
         [0024]     A handle gripping member  26  is spaced from the housing  12 . The handle gripping member  26  runs substantially parallel to the housing  12 , and has a vertical orientation enabling the user to grip handle gripping member  26  to provide a different orientation for the user&#39;s hands. The gripping orientations are illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a - 2   e . Also, the user may use two hands when gripping the handle gripping member  26  with another one of the gripping members  22  or  24 .  
         [0025]     The handle gripping member  26  is ordinarily formed with the housing  12  to provide a clamshell type of housing member. The handle gripping member  26  includes gripping surface  46  and  48  on each of its sides. The gripping surfaces  46  and  48  are similar to gripping surface  40 , and made of an elastomeric material to provide comfort and feel to the user.  
         [0026]     An open space is formed between gripping surfaces  46 ,  48  and housing  12  to allow for gripping of the gripping surfaces, with the user&#39;s hand oriented in a substantially vertical orientation, as explained below.  
         [0027]     During operation, a user may grip the orbital sander at gripping member  22 ,  24  or  26 . This allows the user to vary his hand positions to reduce fatigue during prolonged operation. Also, the user may use a plurality of the gripping members at one time. The user may use grips  22  and  26 ,  24  and  26 , or  22  and  24  at one time to add increased control to the sander during operation.  
         [0028]     Although as discussed above, the sander may be gripped with two hands utilizing various combinations of grips  22 ,  24  and  26 , the preferred overall configurations and weight allow for the sander to be operated by the user with one hand by solely gripping upper grip  24 . As shown in  FIG. 2   a , in this sole gripping position, the user&#39;s hand may extend substantially over the entire extent of the sander housing  12 . In such a configuration, the user&#39;s palm rests substantially in a horizontal plane. One advantage provided by this invention is that in addition to allowing for such overhanded gripping at the top of the sander, the user also can grip the sander with his second hand gripping spaced handle  26 . In particular, as shown in  FIG. 2   b , the user grips gripping surfaces  46  and  48  of handle  26  such that the palm of the second hand is disposed substantially vertically and therefore perpendicular to the palm of the first hand, to provide increased control during operation.  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIG. 3   a , preferred dimensions in millimeters for the sander are shown. In a preferred embodiment, the weight of the orbital sander may be approximately 3.5 pounds. As shown, the handle  26  need not be disposed precisely perpendicular to the gripping surface of upper grip  24 , that is, it need not be disposed precisely vertical. For example, in one preferred embodiment handle  26  and thus gripping surfaces  46  and  48  may be disposed substantially vertically at 103.46° to the horizontal gripping surface of upper grip  24 , and thus at an angle of 13.46° to the vertical axis of housing  12 . Prefereably, this angle may be varied within a range of 5°.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show a second embodiment of the invention, where the carrier  18 , and consequently the sanding element (not shown), is rectangular shaped. The orbital sander shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  is a ¼ sheet sander, with the approximate dimension of the sander shown in millimeters.  
         [0031]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.