BOAT SANDING APPARATUS-AN APPARATUS FOR SANDING THE OUTSIDE OF A BOAT HULL

Abstract: When sanding the outside of a boat hull one uses a device which consists of a support leg, (12) which, by means of a pivot fitting supports a lever arm (23). One end of the lever arm consists of a hand grip (25) while the other end supports a pivoting holder (27) for securing the vibrating sanding machine. When the sanding surface of the sanding machine is placed against the hull it automatically remains in total contact with said hull because of the device's pivoting action.

Description: Ti ie: bOAT SANDING APPARATUS - AN APPARATUS FOR SANDIN G T H E OUTSIDE OF A BOAT HULL The subject invention is a labor saving device designed to remove the difficult work from the task of sanding the out¬ side surface of a boat hull. It has become standard practice to use a vibrating sanding machine to accomplish this work. The common practice is to hold the machine against the hull by hand. This is a very tiring process and is often harmful to the back because the machine must be held upwards against the bottom of the hull or vertically against the keel or sides. The advantage with the subject invention is that it presents an easy and relatively inexpensive way to accomplish this difficult job by lightening the burden of hand holding the sanding machine against the hull of the boat, while at the same time providing for a comfortable workinσ position for the operator. This is accomplished by the presence of a supporting leg which is adjustable in length so that it can reach all points on a hull,as well as hulls of varying heights. At the upper end of the leg a pivot fitting is attached by means of a bolt and an adjustable wing nut. This fitting pivots from side to side around the axis of the bolt. The fitting has, at its upper edge, a second bolt which has its axis perpendi¬ cular to the attachment bolt, and in turn supports a lever arm. This lever arm is perpendicular to the pivot fitting and functions as a handle on one end and for the attachment of a vibrating sanding machine at the other end by the use of a bolt whose axis is parallel to the lever arm pivot axis. The sanding machine is attached to this pivot axle by means of an ordinary hose clamp, or other means for holding the sander. There are, therefore, three pivoting axes. With the help of this invention, the sanding machine can be held against the area of the hull -co be worked on by pressing down on the handle end of the lever arm, thereby forcing the sanding surface against the hull due to the upward motion of the other end of the lever arm. In this way the individual using the device can guide the sanding machine back and forth over the surface of the hull while at the same time remain in a comfortable working position; exerting a minimum of pressure on the lever arm sufficient in order to achieve the required force at the sanding machine end. A schematic drawing of the subject is included. Figure 1 shows a cross-section of one side of a beat hull with a sanding machine shewn at various positions along the hull; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the holder of this invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view from the opposite direction of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the lever arm with the sanding machine attached; Figure 5 is a cross-section through the support leg and the lever arm at the pivot fitting in one of the fitting's two mounting positions, which gives a limited swing radius to the lever arm in its lateral swinging _7.cver.er.tr and Figure β is sectioned as in Figure 5 showing the pivot fitting in an alternative attachment tcsitior. , which per its a full swinging of 90° of the lever ao in its lateral swinging movement to the full horizontal position so that the sanding machine's sanding surface can be brought to bear on a vertical surface. As shown in Figure 1, the sanding machine 10 must be able be held against the hull 11 vertically upward (10a) at an upward slant (10b) or facing sidewise (10c) . When holding the sander by hand, one must support the weight of the machine while at the same time exerting pressure to the hull at the sanding surface so as to effectively sand the hull. Without additional help, this can be a very tiring job. This help is provided by the subject invention thereby making the job considerably easier. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the device consists of a leg 12 which is composed of two telescoping sections 13 and 14 which can be adjusted in length and locked together by means of screw 15. The upper section 17 of the upper internal support leg 14 is flattened. There is a hole in this flattened area through which a pivot axle, bolt 17 is passed so as to fasten the pivot fitting 18 to the upper end of the support leg and thereby providing a pivot point so that the leg and the pivot fitting can rotate in relation to one another. The pivot fitting 18 consists of a steel plate 19 whose side edges are bent upwardly to form two sice flanges 20 and 21, These flanges 20,21 are in turn drilled to accept a second bolt or pivot axle 22 which extends through the two flanges 20, 21 and through a lever arm 23 which pivots around axle 22, adjacent the flange 21. BAD ORIGINAL One end of the lever arm 24 is enlarged to serve as a handle 25; the other end 26 is pivotally secured to a hose cla-np 27 which in turn holds the sanding machine. This is a conventional hose clamp and can be tighened by means of screw 28. The hose or sanding machine holder 27 is drilled to accept axle bolt 29 thereby making it pivotable around axle 29 while at the same time attaching the holder 27 to the end of the lever arm 26. Axle 29 and axle 22 are parallel to one another. It can be seen in Figures 2 and 5 that the upper end 16 of the support leg 14 can be attached to the inside sur¬ face of the pivot fitting 18 between the flanges 20 and 21. The device is thereby set, as seen in Figure 5, so that pivot action of the fitting 18 in relation to the upper end 16 of the support leg 14 is limited by the flanges 20 and 21. The pivot action of the fitting 18 in relation to the upper end 16 of the support leg 14 is limited after a rotation corres¬ ponding to angle A to either side of the vertical position as shown in Figure 5. Flanges 20 and 21 serve as stops for the rotating action of the support leg and the pivot fitting in relation to each other. The assembly as shown in Figure 5 is used when the device is being used on horizontal under- surfaces of the hull. When the sanding of vertical portions of the hull is required f the pivot bolt 17 is removed and the pivot fitting 18 is reversed in relation to the upper end 16 of the support leg 14. This assembly can be seen in Figure 6. D IGINAL O ?I In this position the pivot fitting 18 can be rotated 90 degrees angle B in Figure 6, in relation to upper end 16 from the vertical mid-point. Because of the fact that the construction of the sub¬ ject invention is so simple, it can be produced at a relatively low cost. After the sanding machine is secured in holder 27 the weight of the machine can be comfortably supported by the lever arm by holding the opposite end 25 with one hand. With the other hand one holds the supporting leg just below the pivot fitting 18, and guides the machine over the sur¬ face of the hull in a swinging motion. Because of the mechan¬ ical advantage achieved by the use of the lever- arm, a con¬ siderable amount of force can be brought to bear at the sanding surface and thereby attain the desired results. When work¬ ing on vertical surfaces such as the sides and the keel of the boat, the lever arm is swung to the vertical position and pressure is applied directly to the sanding machine to achieve the desired results. Practical application of the invention has shown that it provides the user with a comfortable means to do an other¬ wise uncomfortable and tiresome job. • sSf iϋ ^ ~ - ^jTc- ~ >-■<£*--- BAD ORIGINAL

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A device for supporting a powered sanding device for working on the outside surfaces of a boat hull, the de¬ vice comprising a telescoping supporting member having a longitudinal axis; a fitting member pivotally supported on the upper end of the supporting member about a first trans¬ verse axis; a lever arm pivotally supported on the fitting member about a second transverse axis substan¬ tially perpendicular to the first transverse axis and longi¬ tudinally removed from the first axis; a handle at one end of the lever arm; and an attachment means for holding a powered sanding device, the attachment means being pivotally attached to the second end of the lever arm about a holder axis parallel to the second transverse axis. 2. The device of Claim 1 wherein the fitting has flanged edges, and wherein the fitting can be secured to the supporting member in a first position wherein the flange members can act as stops against the supporting member to limit the maximum angle of rotation of the fitting, and in a second position wherein the flanges cannot contact the supporting member. * -«S_1u-nLir."-' : m? T~- BAD ORIGINAL

Inventors: DRUSS CHARLES D
Applicants: DRUSS CHARLES D
Application year: 1981
Main classification: F16M13
IPC codes: B63B59, F16M13