Patent Publication Number: US-6217428-B1

Title: Grinding disc holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to grinding disc holders and more particularly pertains to a new grinding disc holder for holding and dispensing paper backed abrasive grinding discs. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of grinding disc holders is known in the prior art. More specifically, grinding disc holders heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,294,357; 4,875,609; 4,926,722; 5,454,551; Des. 387,943; and 3,096,975 which are all incorporated by reference herein. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new grinding disc holder. The inventive device includes a base plate and a top plate spaced above the base plate. A spaced apart pair of support rods are extended between the base plate and the top plate. A slide bar is extended between the base plate and the top plate. A clamp plate is interposed between the base plate and the top plate. The clamp plate is positioned between the support rods and the slide bar. A jaw assembly is slidably mounted on the slide bar to permit sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar between the base plate and the top plate. The jaw assembly has a sub-assembly for releasably holding the jaw assembly in a fixed positioned on the slide bar. The jaw assembly also has a jaw portion coupled to the clamp plate such that sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar in turn moves the clamp plate between the base plate and the top plate. 
     In these respects, the grinding disc holder according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding and dispensing paper backed abrasive grinding discs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of grinding disc holders now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new grinding disc holder construction wherein the same can be utilized for holding and dispensing paper backed abrasive grinding discs. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new grinding disc holder apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the grinding disc holders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new grinding disc holder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art grinding disc holders, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a base plate and a top plate spaced above the base plate. A spaced apart pair of support rods are extended between the base plate and the top plate. A slide bar is extended between the base plate and the top plate. A clamp plate is interposed between the base plate and the top plate. The clamp plate is positioned between the support rods and the slide bar. A jaw assembly is slidably mounted on the slide bar to permit sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar between the base plate and the top plate. The jaw assembly has a sub-assembly for releasably holding the jaw assembly in a fixed positioned on the slide bar. The jaw assembly also has a jaw portion coupled to the clamp plate such that sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar in turn moves the clamp plate between the base plate and the top plate. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new grinding disc holder apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the grinding disc holders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new grinding disc holder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art grinding disc holders, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new grinding disc holder which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new grinding disc holder which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new grinding disc holder which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such grinding disc holder economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new grinding disc holder which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new grinding disc holder for holding and dispensing paper backed abrasive grinding discs. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new grinding disc holder which includes a base plate and a top plate spaced above the base plate. A spaced apart pair of support rods are extended between the base plate and the top plate. A slide bar is extended between the base plate and the top plate. A clamp plate is interposed between the base plate and the top plate. The clamp plate is positioned between the support rods and the slide bar. A jaw assembly is slidably mounted on the slide bar to permit sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar between the base plate and the top plate. The jaw assembly has a sub-assembly for releasably holding the jaw assembly in a fixed positioned on the slide bar. The jaw assembly also has a jaw portion coupled to the clamp plate such that sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar in turn moves the clamp plate between the base plate and the top plate. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new grinding disc holder that keeps the grinding discs flat and prevents them from curling due to moisture such as humidity. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new grinding disc holder that allows a user to store and carry a stack of grinding discs in a compact and organized manner. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new grinding disc holder according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross sectional side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of the present invention taken from line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new grinding disc holder embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the grinding disc holder  10  generally comprises a base plate and a top plate spaced above the base plate. A spaced apart pair of support rods are extended between the base plate and the top plate. A slide bar is extended between the base plate and the top plate. A clamp plate is interposed between the base plate and the top plate. The clamp plate is positioned between the support rods and the slide bar. A jaw assembly is slidably mounted on the slide bar to permit sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar between the base plate and the top plate. The jaw assembly has a sub-assembly for releasably holding the jaw assembly in a fixed positioned on the slide bar. The jaw assembly also has a jaw portion coupled to the clamp plate such that sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar in turn moves the clamp plate between the base plate and the top plate. 
     In use, the holder  10  is designed for holding a stack of paper backed abrasive grinding discs having a sandpaper-like abrasive face so that the stack is not easily knocked over and easy for a user to transport from one work location to another. 
     In closer detail, the holder  10  comprises a generally rectangular base plate  11  designed for resting on a surface. The base plate has substantially planar generally rectangular upper and lower faces  12 , 13 , and a generally rectangular outer perimeter comprising a pair of substantially parallel end edges  14 , 15  and a pair of substantially parallel side edges  16 , 17  extending substantially perpendicular of the end edges of the base plate. In an ideal illustrative embodiment, the base plate has a length defined between the end edges of the base plate of about 12 inches and a width defined between the side edges of the base plate of about 9 inches. 
     A generally triangular top plate  18  is spaced above the base plate. Preferably, the top plate is spaced above the base plate between preferably between 12 inches and 24 inches. In an ideal illustrative embodiment, the top plate is spaced above the base plate between about 16 inches and about 20 inches. The top plate has substantially planar upper and lower faces  19 , 20 , and a generally triangular outer perimeter comprising three side edges  21 , 22 , 23  and three flattened corners  24 , 25 , 26 . 
     The base plate and the top plate lie in substantially parallel planes to one another with the lower face of the top plate facing downwards towards the upper face of the base plate. 
     A first of the flattened corners  24  of the top plate is positioned towards a first of the end edges  14  of the base plate. The first flattened corner of the top plate is extended substantially parallel to the first end edge of the base plate. Ideally, the first flattened corner of the top plate and the first end edge of the base plate lie in a common vertical plane. 
     A second of the flattened corners  25  of the top plate is positioned towards a first of the side edges  16  of the base plate. The second flattened corner of the top plate is extended substantially parallel to the first side edge of the base plate. A third of the flattened corners  26  of the top plate is positioned towards a second of the side edges  17  of the base plate. The third flattened corner of the top plate is extended substantially parallel to the second side edge of the base plate. 
     A first of the side edges  21  of the top plate is extended between the second and third flattened corners  25 , 26  of the top plate. The first side edge of the top plate is positioned towards a second of the end edges  15  of the base plate. The first side edge  21  of the top plate is extended substantially parallel to the second end edge  15  of the base plate. 
     A spaced apart pair of substantially parallel elongate support rods  27 , 28  are extended between the base plate and the top plate to support the top plate above the base plate. The support rods each have opposite top and bottom ends and a longitudinal axis extending between the top and bottom ends of the respective support rod. The support rods each preferably have a generally circular transverse cross section taken in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the respective support rod. The bottom ends of the support rods are coupled to the base plate. The top ends of the support rods is coupled to the top plate. One of the side rods is positioned adjacent the first side edge of the base plate and the second flattened corner of the top plate. The other of the side rods is positioned adjacent the second side edge of the base plate and the third flattened corner of the top plate. The longitudinal axes of the support rods are extended substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the base plate and the top plate. 
     An elongate slide bar  29  is extended between the base plate and the top plate. The slide bar is positioned adjacent the first end edge of the base plate and the first flattened corner of the top plate. The slide bar has upper and lower ends, and a longitudinal axis extending between the upper and lower ends of the slide bar. Preferably, the slide bar has a generally rectangular transverse cross section taken in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slide bar. The lower end of the slide bar is coupled to the base plate adjacent the first end edge of the base plate and the upper end of the slide bar is coupled to the top plate adjacent the first flattened corner of the top plate. 
     A generally octagonal clamp plate  30  is interposed between the base plate and the top plate so that the clamp plate is positioned between the support rods and the slide bar. The clamp plate has substantially planar generally octagonal top and bottom faces, and a generally octagonal outer perimeter comprises eight sides. The top face of the clamp plate faces upwards towards the lower face of the top plate and the bottom face of the clamp plate faces downwards towards the upper face of the base plate. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, a first of the sides  31  of the clamp plate is positioned adjacent one of the side rods and a second of the sides  32  of the clamp plate located opposite the first side of the clamp plate is positioned adjacent the other of the support rods. The first and second sides of the clamp plate are preferably extended substantially parallel to the side edges of the base plate. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper face of the base plate and the bottom face of the clamp plate are designed for positioning a generally cylindrical stack of generally circular grinding discs  33  therebetween. 
     A quick release movable jaw assembly  34  is slidably mounted on the slide bar to permit sliding of the movable jaw assembly along the slide bar between the base plate and the top plate. The movable jaw assembly is of the type similar to that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,722 by Sorensen et al. entitled “Quick-Action Bar Clamp” which, as mentioned above, is incorporated by reference herein. The movable jaw assembly comprises a body portion  35  having a slot  36  therethrough. The slide bar is extended through the slot to permit sliding of the body portion along the slide bar. 
     The jaw assembly also includes a jaw portion  37  extending from the body portion in a direction towards the second end edge of the base plate. The jaw portion has an end opposite the body portion coupled to the upper face of the clamp plate such that sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar in turn moves the clamp plate between the base plate and the top plate. 
     The jaw assembly further includes a handgrip portion  38  extending from the body portion opposite the jaw portion. The handgrip portion is outwardly extended in a direction away from the first end edge of the base plate. A trigger  39  is pivotally coupled to the body portion adjacent the slot of the body portion. The handgrip portion has a cavity  40  for receiving the trigger. The cavity of the handgrip portion is in communication with the slot of the body portion. A first coiled compression spring  41  is disposed around the slide bar and positioned in cavity between the trigger and an upper region of the body portion. The spring biases the trigger downwards out of the cavity. A driving lever  42  is disposed around the slide bar between the first spring and the trigger. 
     The jaw assembly also includes a braking lever  43  having an opening therethrough through which the slide bar is extended. The braking lever has a first end  45  pivotally captured in a recess in the body portion and a second end  44  outwardly extending from the body portion such that the trigger is positioned between the handgrip portion and the second end of the braking lever. A second coiled compression spring  46  is coupled to the trigger and the braking lever. The second spring biases the braking lever away from the trigger. In use, the second spring biases the braking lever to a position where the side of the opening of the braking lever engages the slide bar to prevent sliding of the jaw assembly along the slide bar, Moving the braking lever towards the trigger disengages the slide bar from the side of the opening of the braking lever to permit sliding of the jaw assembly up and down along the slide bar. Squeezing the trigger allows incremental movement of the jaw assembly in a downwards direction towards the base plate by pivoting the driving lever to a position where it engages the slide bar and upon release of the trigger moves the jaw assembly down an increment on the slide bar. 
     In use, a stack of grinding discs are positioned between the base plate and the clamp plate. The jaw assembly is used to hold the stack of grinding discs between the base plate and the clamp plate. To remove a grinding disc, the jaw assembly is operated to disengage from the slide bar to permit sliding upwards of the jaw assembly and thus move the clamp plate upwards to permit a user to remove a grinding disc from the top of the stack. After the grinding disc is removed, the jaw assembly may be slid down to clamp the stack of remaining grinding discs between the base plate and the clamp plate. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.