Patent ID: 8747190

Claim:
A tool for removing a joint filling mixture, such as grout or mortar, the tool comprising: (a) a cover comprising a top wall, a front wall having a bottom edge, a rear wall, a left side wall and a right side wall that together are shaped to define no more than a single substantially enclosed interior cavity, wherein the cover is shaped to define a pair of vacuum openings in its rear wall in a spaced apart relationship, (b) a grinding assembly coupled to the cover, the grinding assembly comprising, (i) a main shaft rotatably coupled to the cover and extending transversely through the substantially enclosed interior cavity, (ii) a first grinding element axially mounted on the main shaft in direct alignment with one of the pair of vacuum openings in the cover, and (iii) a second grinding element axially mounted on the main shaft in a spaced apart relationship relative to the first grinding element and in direct alignment with the other of the pair of vacuum openings in the cover, (iv) wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second grinding elements is located within the interior cavity of the cover, (c) a vacuum attachment mounted onto the cover over the pair of vacuum openings, the vacuum attachment being disposed in direct fluid communication with the interior cavity, and (d) a guard bar for limiting the grinding depth attainable by the grinding elements, the guard bar having a bottom edge, the guard bar being pivotally coupled to the cover and adapted for displacement between a first position in which the bottom edge of the guard bar lies flush with the bottom edge of the front wall of the housing and a second position in which the bottom edge of the guard bar lies beneath the bottom edge of the front wall of the housing.