Patent ID: 7591715

Claim:
A hand-held, manually-operated sanding tool for use with a replaceable sheet-like abrasive material, the sanding tool comprising: a base member defining first and second ends, a bottom surface extending between the first and second ends, and a first contact surface formed opposite the bottom surface and extending from the first end; a clamping mechanism having a pivoting member defining a mounting section and a front section, and a gripping surface; wherein the mounting section is pivotally connected to the base member at a pivot point that associates the gripping surface with the contact surface such that the clamping mechanism is movable between an open position, in which the front section is spaced from the first contact surface to establish a gap between the gripping surface and the first contact surface for receiving an end portion of a sheet of abrasive material, and a closed position in which the front section is more proximate the first contact surface; and a first tab including a finger and a latch body, an entirety of the latch body being immovably affixed to and extending from the finger, the first tab extending at least partially between the clamping mechanism and the first contact surface with the clamping mechanism in the open position, the first tab providing a stop surface establishing a trailing side of the gap; wherein the finger projects from one of the base member and the pivoting member, and an other of the base member and the pivoting member forms an engagement surface defining an aperture that is sized to receive the latch body, the sanding tool configured such that when transitioning the clamping mechanism to the closed position the latch body passes through the aperture and contacts the engagement surface to lock the clamping mechanism in the closed position.