Patent ID: 8231440

Claim:
An expansible sanding block for supporting an exteriorly mounted looped sanding belt, comprising: an elongate and substantially planar shaped base exhibiting a bottom extending belt supporting surface; a cover exhibiting first and second oblique extending belt supporting surfaces establishing a peaked configuration, each of said base and cover exhibiting a first curved end with internally accessible support locations as well as a second end exhibiting externally facing and offset support locations which are engageable with said internally accessible support locations in order that said base and cover can be inter-engaged in a mutually linearly extensible fashion so that an overall length of said cover overlaps said base to collectively define a three-dimensional article for supporting the sanding belt; said base and cover each further comprising a plurality of lengthwise extending and mating tabs and slots defining a range of lengthwise inter-displacement between said base and cover, each of said base and cover further exhibiting linear extending and depthwise projecting support ribs; and a pivotally supported key extending between abutting locations of said base and cover and communicable with a window defined in an upwardly extending interior support rail associated with said base, a trigger portion extending from said key and extending through an elongated slot defined in said cover in an exposed and accessible fashion, said trigger being displaced in a first pivotal direction to engage a first shoulder associated with said window to lengthwise retract said cover in a first extensible direction relative said base and to loosen underside support of the belt, said trigger displacing in a second and opposite pivotal direction to engage a second shoulder associated with said window and to reverse displace and extend said cover relative said base to lengthwise extend and to tauten the belt.