Abstract:
A debris collecting apparatus for use with ceiling cutting equipment for collecting debris resulting from the cutting of an opening in a ceiling. The debris collecting apparatus comprises a collection basket having an open upper end and a seal thereat for engaging the ceiling. A cutting blade extends through the basket and is oriented toward the open upper end. A position adjusting mechanism allows relative vertical position of the cutting blade and cutting basket to vary such that the collection basket to remain positioned against the ceiling as the cutting blade penetrates through the ceiling to ensure the collection of all debris, and allows the collection basket to remain stationary as the cutting blade rotates axially therethrough.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a debris collecting apparatus for use with ceiling cutting equipment for collecting debris removed from the ceiling during a cutting operation. 
     Ceiling cutting device are frequently used by electricians and others tradesman for cutting an opening in a ceiling of a building structure. Devices of this type are often times referred to as “hole saws”, “hole cutters” and “round hole cutters”. Container lights, also known as “Hi-Hat” or “can lights” are frequently mounted within these openings formed in a ceiling. In many cases, these lights are referred simply to as recessed light fixtures. In recent years the modern look of these so called recessed lights has become so popular and many business organizations and owners of dwelling structures are removing existing conventional lighting devices and installing these recessed lights. 
     In order to install the recessed light device, in an existing sheet-rocked ceiling, it is necessary to form this enlarged opening in the ceiling for receiving the recessed light fixture. In many cases however, the area beneath the ceiling in which the recessed lights are to be installed may contain furniture and other equipment and appliances. Unless all of such furniture and equipment is removed, debris from the ceiling cutting operation may fall upon and damage the furniture or otherwise fall into the cause malfunctions of, if not completely destroy other equipment or appliances in the region of the cutting. In addition, the abrasiveness of the dust from some sheetrock can scratch furniture as it is dusted. 
     In order to preclude the soiling of furniture or other equipment and even more importantly, the damaging of other furniture and other equipment it is usually necessary to first move the furniture or other equipment and appliances in order to avoid this potential soiling damage. The act of moving the furniture and other equipment certainly presents a risk of damaging equipment or furniture. This is particularly true in the cases of computer equipment in the area where ceiling cutting operations may be present. 
     In many cases and in order to avoid the potential damage resulting from moving, the electrician or the other personnel will attempt to cover the equipment with ‘drop cloths’. However, even this covering operation can result in damage to the equipment and is not necessarily effective in precluding damage from large ceiling pieces which often fall as they are being removed. 
     In addition to the foregoing it may be appreciated that removal or moving of equipment, appliances, and furniture is not only time consuming but adds additional labor cost to an entire operation as well. Furthermore the attendant risk of damage to furniture and equipment necessarily increases the cost of the installation to the average user. As a result it would be desirable to avoid the necessity if moving or covering furniture or other equipment located beneath or in proximity to a region where a ceiling cutting operation may take place, while protecting such furniture and equipment from the cutting operation. 
     Heretofore there has not been any effective apparatus for collecting debris which result from the cutting of a hole in the ceiling or the removal of the material from that ceiling. Part of the problem in designing and constructing any such debris collecting apparatus lies in the fact that the position of the cutting blade operated by that equipment continuously penetrates the ceiling structure. Consequently, it is necessary to ensure that any shield other debris collecting member is capable of remaining in fixed engagement with the ceiling during an entire cutting operation. 
     While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to produce a debris collecting apparatus which is useful with ceiling cutting equipment and capable of collecting debris resulting from the cutting of a ceiling. In another aspect the present invention relates to an assembly capable of cutting an opening in a ceiling or removing material from the ceiling and also collecting all of the debris resulting from the cutting of an opening or removal of material from a ceiling. It is therefore one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a debris collecting apparatus for use with ceiling cutting equipment and which allows for an almost complete collection of any debris removed from a ceiling during the cutting of material removing operation. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an assembly of ceiling cutting equipment having a debris collecting apparatus associated therewith for enabling the cutting of a ceiling and the efficient collecting of material removed from the ceiling. Accordingly, the present invention has a basket, which extends concentric with the cutting saw to collect debris which falls therearound. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a debris collecting apparatus if the type states which efficiently and constantly remains in contact with the ceiling structure during a cutting operation and which thereby ensue an optimum collection of any debris resulting from a cutting operation. 
     It is another object if the present invention to provide a debris collecting apparatus of the type which allows for shiftable movement of a debris collecting shield with respect to a ceiling structure as a cutting elements penetrate the ceiling structure. Accordingly, the invention has a shield or basket adapted for abutting engagement with a downwardly presented surface of a ceiling. The debris collecting apparatus also comprises means for facilitating and compensating the shiftable position of the ceiling cutting equipment as a cutting blade pierces the ceiling structure and which thereby allows the debris collecting shield to constantly remain in contact with the ceiling structure and thereby collects substantially all debris removed therefrom. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a debris collecting apparatus of the type states which is capable of being used with a wide variety if different types and sizes of ceiling cutting equipment. Accordingly, the invention is adaptable for use with a wide variety of power cutting tools and hole cutting saws. 
     In more detail, the debris collecting apparatus of the invention comprises a debris collecting basket having a base wall located to receive a rotating shaft driven by ceiling cutting equipment and this base is operatively mounted with respect to the rotating shaft. An enclosing cylindrical side wall of the basket is mounted on this base wall and receives a cutting blade mounted with respect to and operable by the rotatable shaft. The cutting blade extends axially through the basket and out through an open upper end of the basket for piecing into the ceiling structure. The open upper end of the basket is engaged in a flush engagement with the ceiling to collect debris from the cutting operation. An upper peripheral edge seal of the enclosing side wall engages the ceiling surface and forms a chamber to receive the cutting blade which pierces the ceiling. The cutting blade is actually mounted in an arbor and the side wall of the debris collecting basket is adapted to extend above the arbor. 
     In this latter embodiment of the invention, the debris collecting apparatus comprises a compensating mechanism for shifting the enclosing shield upwardly into constant engagement with the ceiling structure as there is relative movement of the cutting equipment with respect to the debris collecting shield. In this case, the compensating mechanism which provides that compensation includes a collar holding a cylindrically shaped tube which holds a spring-like mechanism causing a spring biasing movement of the shield upwardly into fixed engagement with the ceiling structure, regardless of the potion of the ceiling cutting equipment. Thus, and in effect, there is a relative movement between the debris collecting shield and the compensating mechanism with respect to the position of the cutting blade and the ceiling cutting equipment. 
     In more specific detail, the position compensating mechanism comprises an outer tubular housing having a spring capable of bearing against guides located within the housing and one of theses guides bears against a shiftable bearing. The other of the guides bears against a collar flange on the underside of the shield. Moreover, a bearing is also provided at the other end of the tubular housing to allow the shaft to rotate and to also shift axially with respect thereto. 
     This invention possesses many other advantages and has other purposes, which will become more fully apparent from a consideration of the forms in which it may be embodied. A practical embodiment of the debris collecting apparatus, as well as the assembly of the debris collecting apparatus and the ceiling cutting equipment, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in further detail in the following detailed description of the invention. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially broken away and in section and showing a debris collecting apparatus mounted on and with respect to ceiling cutting equipment, engaged with a ceiling structure to effect cutting thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the debris collecting apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view, showing a portion of the debris collecting apparatus of the present invention and the mounting on ceiling cutting equipment, including a power tool. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view, partially in section, and taken through a portion of the debris collecting apparatus and showing the mounting arrangement of the debris collecting apparatus with respect to ceiling cutting equipment. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partially in section, and showing the mounting of an arbor shaft to the debris collecting apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation view, partially in section and showing a portion of the position compensating mechanism forming part of the debris collecting apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing some of the major components of the position compensating mechanism forming part of the debris collecting apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of basket forming part of the debris collecting apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view taken substantially along the plane of line  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, “ 10 ” designates a debris collecting apparatus for use with ceiling cutting equipment or so-called hole cutters. 
     In this respect, the present invention also employs ceiling cutting equipment, e.g. hole cutters, hole saws, and the like, which have been provided with the debris collecting apparatus which has the capability of collecting any debris during a ceiling cutting operation. The ceiling cutting equipment normally includes a power driven member (tool)  32  somewhat in the nature of a hand drill, having a drive shaft  34 , but having an actuating surface which is capable of cutting holes in a ceiling  11 . In this respect, a hand held pistol grip or other type of hand receiving member is often provided on the housing if the devices and an arbor is mounted on the drive shaft extending from the motor of the hole cutter. Also in this respect and to the extent that the ceiling cutting equipment is conventional, description of such equipment in detail is unnecessary, and is beyond the scope of the present discussion. 
     The debris collecting apparatus generally comprises a basket  20  having a generally continuous side wall  22  and bottom wall  24  connected thereto. The basket  20  is provided with an open upper end  26  thereby forming an interior chamber  28  in which to receive any debris which is removed from the ceiling  11  during a cutting operation. 
     The basket  20  may be formed of any suiting material such as, for example, a lightweight plastic material, and preferably one which is easily molded, such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like. Furthermore, in some cases it is desirable to construct the basket  20  of transparent or at least translucent material so that one can monitor the amount of debris collected in the interior chamber  28  during any cutting operation, and even the progress of the hole cutting operation. 
     Mounted at the upper edge of the side wall  22  is a sealing ring  30  which is preferably formed of a suitable felt material or foam material such as a polyurethane foam. The sealing ring  30  will ensure a tight seal of the basket against the ceiling during a cutting operation and prevents the basket  20  from leaving a mark on the ceiling. The sealing ring effectively contains dust and particles within the basket  20 . In the absence of such a sealing ring  30 , small debris particles and dust which might otherwise enter a living space or working environment. 
     By further reference to FIGS. 1-4, a hole cutter with which the debris collecting apparatus is used comprises a motorized tool  32  having an outwardly extending drive shaft  34 . In ceiling cutting operations. The tool  32  is vertically oriented so that the drive shaft  34  is vertically arranged for the ceiling cutting operations. The tool  32  is typically provided with a hand grip, often in the nature of a pistol grip, and an actuating trigger, which are not shown in detail herein inasmuch as the tool  32  itself is conventional. 
     The hole cuter with which the debris collecting apparatus of the present invention is used is more fully illustrated in FIG. 3 without the debris collecting apparatus. In this case, it can be seen that an arbor  36  is mounted on the drive shaft  34  and is secured thereto through a thumb screw  38 . Secured to the upper end of the arbor  38  is a ceiling cutting blade  40 . Also mounted in the upper end of the drive shaft  34  and extending outwardly therefrom is a piercing drill  42  or so called pilot drill which is concentric with the cutting blade  40 . In this way, the piercing drill  42  will initially form a pilot hole in the ceiling at the desired center of the hole, and rotation of the cutting blade  40  will cause the circular blade to cut a circular hole in the ceiling having a diametrical size approximately equal to that of the cutting blade  40 . 
     The debris collecting apparatus of the invention effectively utilizes the tool  32  and drive shaft  34  as well as the arbor  36 , the cutting blade  40 , and the piercing point  42 . Thus, when so used, it forms an effective combination and essentially can be considered a new tool for cutting a hole in a ceiling. In other words, because of the ceiling cutting equipment, this combination in and of itself forms a new apparatus. 
     The debris collecting apparatus  10  of the invention also utilizes the basket  20  surrounding the cutting blade  40  and piercing point  42  to collect debris as the hole is cut in the ceiling. In this way, when the cutting blade  40  cuts a hole in the ceiling or otherwise removes material from the ceiling, any debris will collect within the basket. 
     It can be observed that as the piercing point  42  and the cutting blade  40  cut into the ceiling, they will progressively raise into the ceiling. Thus, a means to compensate for the position of the basket relative to the cutting blade  40  and the piercing point  42  must be provided. The debris collecting apparatus  10  of the invention provides a position compensating mechanism  50 . 
     The position compensating mechanism  50  includes a compensator housing  52  which is mounted on and receives the drive shaft  34  substantially as shown in FIGS. 1,  4  and  6  of the drawings. The housing  52  is effectively clamped to the underside of the basket  20  by means of a pair of mounting plates  56  and  58 , as best shown in FIGS. 1,  4  and  7  of the drawings. In this case, one of said mounting plates  58  is located on the upper surface of the bottom wall  24  of the basket and one of said mounting plates  56  is mounted immediately below. The two mounting plates  56  and  58  are thereupon secured together by means of bolts  59  which extend through the mounting plates and the basket bottom wall  24 . The actual details of construction of the position compensating mechanism  50  are hereinafter described in more detail. 
     By initial reference to FIG. 6, however, it will be observed and hereinafter described that the drive shaft  34  does not effectively cause rotation of the position compensating mechanism  50  and, moreover, the basket  20  is not rotated inasmuch as the mounting plates  56  and  58  are not rotatable. In effect, the drive shaft  34  is journaled in the housing  52  and the plates  56  and  58 , as hereinafter described in more detail. The drive shaft  34  is provided with coupling  60  at its upper end having a recess  62  to receive the lower end of a blade shaft  64  forming part of a cutting blade. This blade shaft  64  is releasably retained with the fitting  60  by means of a thumb screw  66 . The coupling  60  may be secured to the outer end of the drive shaft  34  as it passes through and beyond the mounting or clamping plates  56  and  58 , by any suitable means as, for example, be means of another thumb screw, if desired. 
     The cutting blade shaft  64  is secure to and causes rotation of an arbor, such as an arbor  70  similar to the previously described arbor  36 . The arbor is secured to the cutting blade shaft  64  by means of thumb screw  72 . Moreover, a washer  74  and locking nut assembly  76  may be mounted on the underside of the arbor  70 . A cutting blade  78  is thereupon secured to the upper end of the arbor  70 . Finally, a pilot drill  80  is also secured to or otherwise formed on the outer end of the cutting blade shaft  64  and is also rotated thereby in response to rotation of the driver shaft  34 . 
     In accordance with the construction thus far shown and described, it can be seen that as the basket  20  is abutted against the undersurface of the ceiling  11 , and the power tool  32  is energized, drive shaft  34  will rotate within the position compensating mechanism  50 , as hereinafter described, and cause rotation of the coupling  60 . However, the basket  20  is not rotatable thereby. Nevertheless, rotation of the drive shaft  34  and the cutting blade shaft  64  will cause rotation of the cutting blade  78  and the pilot drill  80 . As this occurs, a hole will be cut in a ceiling. 
     The position compensating mechanism  50 , as hereinafter described, will allow the cutting blade  78  an the pilot drill  80  to advance upwardly in the ceiling and also maintain the upper edge of the basket  20  in contact with undersurface of the ceiling. In this way, debris will be fully collected within the basket. Further, there will be no disruption of the seal between the upper surface of the basket and the undersurface of the ceiling, as shown in FIG. 1, when the cutting blade  78  and the pilot drill  80  proceed further upwardly into the ceiling structures. 
     The position compensating mechanism  50  is more fully illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The compensating mechanism comprises the aforesaid housing  52 , which in this case is preferably a tubular housing having an interior compartment or chamber  90 . Located within the chamber  90  is a position compensating spring  92  which bears against a pair of spring guides  94  and all of which are disposed about the drive shaft  34  as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The guides  94  are provided with enlarged circular flanges  96  in order to receive the ends of the spring  92  and capture the spring  92  therebetween. 
     A collar  98  is also disposed about the drive shaft  34  and bears against the lowermost guide  94 , that is, the right-hand end guide  94  as shown in FIG.  7  and the lower guide in FIG. 6 of the drawings when the compensating mechanism is vertically arrange in a normal position. The collar  98  actually can serve as a bearing. Otherwise, a suitable ring bearing may be provided in place of the collar  98 . Finally a snap ring  100  is secured against the collar or bearing  98  as shown. The tubular housing  52  is closed at its outer end by an end plate  102  which is secured thereto by means of screws  104  as also best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. 
     The clamping plate or collar  56  is provided with recess  105  for receiving the upper end of the position compensating mechanism housing  52 , as best shown in FIG.  6 . Moreover, at the upper end of the housing  52  and located in abutting engagement against the undersurface of the bottom plate  24  is a bearing  108  and which functions as an upper bearing when the position compensating mechanism is oriented in a vertical arrangement, this is, a normal arrangement of use. This bearing  108  along with the lower bearing  98  provided for journaling of the drive shaft  34 . The bearings  106  and  108  are preferably SEARLE bearings. 
     An O-ring  109  is also disposed about the drive  34  and bears against the bearings  108 . The O-ring  109  effectively functions as a sealing ring and prevents any debris collected in the basket  20  from entering into the chamber of the position compensating mechanism  50 . Furthermore, a washer  112  and snap ring  114  are concentrically disposed about the drive shaft  34 . 
     The housing  52  of the position compensating mechanism may also be formed of suitable plastic material, including any of the plastic materials identified above. However, and in more preferred construction, the housing  52  is preferably formed of a lightweight metal such as aluminum. 
     In accordance with the above-identified construction, it can be seen that as the drill  80  and the cutting blade  78  progress inwardly into the ceiling, that is, raise upwardly with respect to the ceiling, compensation of the position of the basket  20  must take place otherwise the basket would preclude raising of the blade  78  and the pilot drill  80 . the position compensating mechanism provides for this positioning compensation. As the cutting blade  78  and drill  80  move upwardly, the basket  20  is effectively shifted downwardly an this will, in turn, cause a compression of the spring  92 . However, the spring  92  will nevertheless create a biasing force against the mounting plates  56  and  58  and hence against the basket  20  biasing same upwardly into contact with the ceiling. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of basket  120  which may be used with the debris collecting apparatus of the present invention. The basket  120  is similarly provided with the bottom wall  122  and a continuous connecting side wall  124  with an open upper end  126 . Furthermore, the basket  120  is held on the drive shaft  34  by means of mounting plates  128  and  130 , as also shown in FIG.  8 . 
     A channel  132  is formed around the upper end of the side wall  124  as also shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and a urethane foam seal strip  134  is included within this channel  132 . Beyond this, the remaining portions of the apparatus are substantially identical to those previously described. 
     Thus there has been illustrated and described a unique and novel debris collecting apparatus for use with ceiling cutting apparatus which allows a hole to be cut in a ceiling, while the collecting apparatus remains in contact with the ceiling throughout the cut. The present invention thereby fulfils all of the object and advantages which have been sought. It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations and other issues of applications will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings. Therefore, any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be a part of the present invention.