Abstract:
A novel portable waxing and buffing tool is disclosed whereby a tool portion comprising a waxer/buffer is connected to a power supply portion by a power cord. The waxer/buffer is sized to be held by the palm of a user and can be fitted with working discs for the waxing or buffing of surfaces. The power supply portion is attachable to the belt of a user and includes accessible and replaceable rechargeable batteries. The power supply portion has a power socket for interconnecting with the waxer/buffer for supplying power or to an A.C. battery charger for recharging the batteries.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a portable tool for waxing and buffing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a battery powered rotary tool for waxing and buffing. 
         [0004]    Car aficionados are well known for the attention to detail in terms of the time and resources they lavish on their vehicles. Even the most modest of car-lovers will invest sweat and labor in keeping their vehicle in top form and appearance. The largest contribution to the car&#39;s appearance is typically the exterior where the beauty of a well painted body and trim that matches or that has a chrome finish provides the largest cosmetic area; it is the exterior that is likely to grab the attention of others as the car owner drives his vehicle down the street. 
         [0005]    The objective of many car owners and others who may work for car dealers or similar enterprises, is to prepare the vehicle so it appears in so-called “showroom” condition. Many products have been developed for this purpose such as washes, waxes, polishing compounds, tar and bug removers, etc. Related tools have been developed too including washing wands, towels and chamois, pressure sprayers and the like. The steps for achieving a high quality finish typically include the cleaning of the surface and then applying a wax. The wax application can be made by hand or it can be accomplished using a rotary waxing tool. These kinds of tools are well known and range from a simple drill that has been fitted with a rotary disc that can accept a waxing surface up to dedicated waxing tools specially designed for this function. The application of the wax in this fashion spreads the wax out and ensures complete and uniform coverage. Once this is done, the waxing job is enhanced through buffing, either by hand or through the use of buffing tool, which again is a rotary tool like the waxing tool(s) described above. The buffing process will smooth out the surface of the applied and dried wax, resulting in a smooth, shiny and highly reflective finish. 
         [0006]    At times the finish on a car or truck can fade over time, perhaps due to oxidation or sometimes due to the loss of a clear coat that may have been originally applied as part of the finish. When this happens, the application of wax may not be as successful in raising the cosmetic level of the finish. The use of a buffing tool will help to smooth out the oxidized surface and will, at least temporarily, impart an improved appearance. 
         [0007]    Examples of tools that have been used for waxing and buffing are known in the art. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,904,805 (Dardig) a corded, electric buffer is disclosed that plugs into the vehicle&#39;s electrical system through the cigarette lighter. Dardig also entails the use of auxiliary devices to assist in powering the buffing tool, however, the buffer taught by Dardig is not operable separate from its connection to the power supply of the vehicle. In U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0198202 (Leonard) a cordless orbital waxer/buffer is shown with a self contained rechargeable battery. The waxer/buffer of this invention requires that the weight of the battery be carried with the tool itself which will contribute to the fatigue of the user. In addition, the rechargeable battery is limited by size in this tool and thus the duration of time that the waxer/buffer may be in service. 
         [0008]    The tool belt in U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,026 (Lueschen) includes a battery pack that can be recharged, however, it is associated with an electrically powered cable tie tool. The tool belt of Lueschen does require the battery pack to be dedicated to the belt and the user obviously is required to wear the belt when using the tool. Lueschen optimally provides power and a place to store the cable tie tool which is only used on an intermittent basis and does not teach the use of a highly portable battery pack and power tool that is intended for longer periods of constant, or near constant usage. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,779,207 (Candar) teaches the use of a battery pack that is attached to a belt. The battery pack slips onto the belt through a looped element that is affixed to the housing for the battery. Candar, like Lueschen, does not teach the use of a battery pack that is easily carried by the user and then quickly removed without having to unbuckle a belt. The same situation occurs in U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,211 (Sandell) where the power supply for a tool like a battery powered weed trimmer is carried on a belt. Sandell again teaches the use of a power pack that is either dedicated to being affixed to a belt, or is secured to a belt through a looped element 
         [0009]    Lastly, in U.S. Design Patent No. D443,397 (Williams) the design for a waxer/buffer is shown. Williams does not teach a palm sized waxer/buffer that has a remote power supply. 
         [0010]    Notwithstanding the advances in the prior art, there remains longstanding problems associated with the procedure for waxing and/or buffing various projects. The need remains for a compact waxer/buffing tool that is of less weight and heft to allow for comfortable and extended operation by a user. In addition, the need exists for a compact battery for powering a waxing/buffing tool where the battery can easily be suspended from the belt or other points on a user and thereafter be easily removed. In addition, there exists a need to manage the cords associated with a waxing/buffing tool so as to avoid interference with the waxing or buffing processes by keeping the cord out of the way of the user. These and other attributes and benefits of the present invention will be shown and discussed in more detail below. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A novel waxer/buffer is disclosed comprising a tool portion and a power supply portion, where the tool portion has a body for housing a motor, and a working face for use in waxing and/or buffing applications. The power supply portion comprises a battery pack that comprises a battery case and a rechargeable battery. The battery case has a clip for engaging the belt or a pocket of a user, and the battery case further includes a hook for retaining the tool portion thereon. The tool portion is electrically connected to the power supply portion by a power cord. The present invention also includes at least one tether for retaining the power cord and keeping it away from the working face when the waxer/buffer is in use. 
         [0012]    Provisions are made in the power supply portion for interconnecting the power cord with the rechargeable battery, and for connecting the rechargeable battery to a recharging source. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the waxer/buffer of the present invention with the tool portion and the power supply portion, where the power supply portion is shown attached to the belt of a user. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the waxer/buffer of the present invention, showing tool portion as connected to the power supply portion. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the waxer/buffer where the tool portion is shown as attached to the power supply portion, where the power supply portion is attached to the belt of a user. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the power supply portion of the present invention shown as attached to a battery charger. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the tool portion of the present invention shown in a condition to be operated by a user who is using a tether to manage the power cord. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional side view of the power supply portion of the present invention showing a pair of batteries installed therein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    A novel waxer/buffer of the present invention is a portable tool that is intended for use in waxing and/or buffing the finishes of various projects, including the finish of a motor vehicle such as a car or truck. The present invention, in accordance with the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows the tool portion of the present invention, the waxer/buffer  10 , and the power supply portion, the battery pack  30 , where the waxer/buffer  10  includes the palm top  12 , the hanger  14 , the body  16 , the base  18 , the waxer/buffer plug  20  and the power cord  22 . The power supply portion includes the battery pack  30 , the housing  32 , the housing top  34 , the hook  36 , and the housing front  38 . A user  42  is also shown with the user&#39;s belt  40 . 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 2 , the battery pack  30  is disclosed in more detail as is the waxer/buffer  10 , with the motor  50  (shown in phantom), the drive shaft  52  (shown in phantom) which are provided to show the orientation of the components within the waxer/buffer  10 . The battery pack plug  54  is shown with the housing rear  56  and the belt clip  58 . In  FIG. 3 , the waxer/buffer  10  is mounted onto the battery pack  30  where the hanger  14  engages the hook  36  allowing the waxer/buffer  10  to be suspended from the housing  32 . In addition, the waxer/buffer  10  includes a working disc  60  which may comprise a surface for applying wax or for buffing surfaces. 
         [0021]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , the battery pack  30  includes the hinge  70  and the front flap  72 . The battery charger  74  is shown as attached to the battery pack  30  by means of the power cord  22  and plug  54 . On the charger, prongs  76  extend outwardly and are suited for connection into an A.C. outlet. The tool portion is shown in  FIG. 5  with the waxer/buffer  10  shown as it would be held in position in the user&#39;s hand  82  and how the power cord  22  would extend along the user&#39;s arm  80  when then tether  84  is used. 
         [0022]    Lastly, the details of the battery pack  30  are shown in  FIG. 6  with the power socket  90 , the battery pack prongs  92 , the battery pack interface  94 , the battery connection fixture  96 , the batteries  98 , the battery enclosure  100 , the enclosure floor  102  and the battery contacts  104 . 
         [0023]    In use, the battery pack has a fresh set of batteries installed within the battery enclosure. The battery charger is used only when needed to charge the batteries and it is understood that it is removed from the battery pack before the waxer/buffer is to be used The batteries typically have contact for electrical connection to the output of the battery pack, and in this case the contacts are shown generally as touching the floor of the enclosure. It is understood that the appropriate connections are made between the batteries and the power socket so as to provide the direct current power to the waxer/buffer when needed. The exact electrical connections are well known in the art and are left for those who are skilled in fabricating battery packs. What is important to the present invention is that the batteries are easily accessible and can be replaced by the user merely by opening up the housing top, swinging it back on the hinge, and making the replacement. The front flap on the housing and the area it meets on the housing may include flexible fastening fabrics, such as Velcro, for the purposes of keeping the housing top retained in the closed position when that is desired. It may happen that contact for the batteries is needed on the underside of the housing top which, again, is not specifically a part of the present invention but the means for accomplishing this is well known in the art. There may be a single battery necessary to power the waxer/buffer or there may be multiple batteries required. This is an engineering selection and the battery pack of the present invention can be varied to accommodate. 
         [0024]    The power socket for the battery pack is intended to be sized to fit the plugs for the waxer/buffer and the battery charger. Thus the battery pack can offer a convenient way to convert the system from use as an active waxing or buffing tool to a situation where it is recharging the batteries when no longer in use. Of particular interest in this case is the belt clip that is included on the housing. The belt clip allows the battery pack to be installed on the belt (or pocket or other feature that can be engaged) of a user and to thereafter be disengaged at will. The belt does not have to be removed. The battery pack also is accessible while it is installed on the belt of the user allowing a fresh set of charged batteries to be installed while the user is still in the middle of a job. 
         [0025]    The main intent in providing for an independent battery pack is to divorce the weight and bulk of the power supply from the tool itself. As seen in some of the prior art devices, the inclusion of the power supply will result in a heavier and bulkier device which only adds to the fatigue factors in using the device. The waxer/buffer size may be minimized therefore, as can be seen by the placement of the motor and drive shaft which consume much of the interior portion of the unit. Keeping the waxer/buffer smaller in size allows it to be configured to fit the palm of a user which is ergonomically more effective than other devices which may have handles or may require two hands to use. 
         [0026]    The waxer/buffer will accept different working discs depending on the nature of the task. As suggested above, the usual procedure is to first wax the surface and then buff it, but there may be applications where only buffing is needed or where a particular type of buffing disc would be preferred. Conventionally waxer/buffers allow for changes in the working discs and this practice would follow on with the present invention. 
         [0027]    The waxer/buffer, as can now be appreciated, is compact and lightweight and allows the user a great deal of freedom when working on a project. Furthering this benefit is the tether which will manage the power cord and keep it out of the way of the area being worked upon. The tether can be an elastic band that can be wrapped around the power cord and then the user&#39;s arm as shown in the drawings, or it may be integrally attached to the power cord to avoid the potential for losing it. In any event, the tether keeps the power cord out of the way and if need be, additional tethers can be employed as the user may desire. The palm top of the waxer/buffer has a circumferential edge as shown in the drawings that provides a natural gripping point for the user. Just by compressing his/her hand around the palm top, the user will have a firm hold on the tool and can easily guide it during the waxing and buffing jobs. 
         [0028]    One feature of the present invention is the convenience with which the tool portion (the waxer/buffer) can be stored on the power supply portion (the battery pack). As shown in the drawings this provides a very easy and accessible way for the user to place the waxer/buffer on his/her hip area while attending to some other task. When the user returns to the waxing or buffing job at hand, he/she can pick up the tool portion and commence. 
         [0029]    Much of the present invention, such s the waxer/buffer body and the battery pack housing, can be fabricated from plastic which is suitably resistant to impacts and heavy duty use, but it is also provides a lightweight construction that will enhance the utility of the waxer/buffer concept. 
         [0030]    The teachings of the present invention are meant to illustrate the types of applications to which the invention may apply and are not meant to limit or inhibit the scope of the invention.