EXPANSIBLE SANDING BLOCK EXHIBITING OBLIQUE EXTENDING SURFACES

• US 20080254723A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Lamarche
• Original Assignee: Paul Lamarche
• Inventors: Lamarche, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 451/504
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 55/10 specially designed for portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 15/023 using in exchangeable arrangement a layer of flexible material

Abstract

A sanding block for supporting an exteriorly mounted looped sanding belt having an elongated and planar shaped base. A planar shaped cover exhibits first and second oblique extending surfaces and, upon engaging with the base by a plurality of mating tabs and slots, collectively defines a three-dimensional article for supporting thereupon the looped sanding belt. A trigger exhibits a three-dimensional rectangular shape and extends laterally across a widthwise defined opening in the base in communicating fashion with an end surface associated with the cover, such that the trigger is positioned between the base and cover. The trigger is displaced in a first lateral direction to lengthwise displace the cover away from the base, the trigger displacing in a second and opposite lateral direction to reverse displace the cover inwardly towards the base.

Claims

1. A sanding block for supporting an exteriorly mounted looped sanding belt, comprising:

a base;

a cover engageable with said base to collectively define a three-dimensional article exhibiting exterior surfaces for supporting the sanding belt; and

a trigger extending between abutting locations of said base and cover, said trigger being displaced in a first lateral direction to lengthwise displace said cover away from said base, said trigger displacing in a second and opposite lateral direction to reverse displace said cover inwardly towards said base.

2. The sanding block as described in claim 1, said base and cover each further comprising an interengaging planar surface upon which are defined a plurality of mating tabs and slots defining a range of lengthwise displacement.

3. The sanding block as described in claim 9, each of said base and cover exhibiting depthwise projecting support ribs extending from said planar surfaces, said cover further comprising first and second oblique extending exterior surfaces.

4. The sanding block as described in claim 2, each of said base and cover further comprising lengthwise projecting and spaced apart guides associated with said interengaging planar surfaces, opposing edges of said base and cover further comprising guide receiving recesses which, in cooperation with said mating tabs, slots and said trigger, define said range of lengthwise displacement established between said base and cover.

5. The sanding block as described in claim 3, said trigger exhibiting a substantially three-dimensional rectangular shape and extending laterally across a widthwise defined opening in said base and in communicating with an end surface associated with said cover.

6. The sanding block as described in claim 5, said trigger further comprising an elongate aperture defined along a side surface and within which is defined a ramped surface, a fixed and inward directed end projection associated with said base traveling along said ramped surface, during lateral translation of said trigger, causing said trigger and slidably engaged cover to lengthwise translate in the selected displacing direction.

7. The sanding block as described in claim 6, said trigger further comprising a recess extending along a top surface parallel to said side surface aperture, a downward guide projection associated with said cover seating within said top recess.

8. The sanding block as described in claim 7, a detent formed in an intermediate location of said recess contacting said downward guide projection to indicate a fully expanded position associated with said article.

9. The sanding block as described in claim 1, at least one of said exterior surfaces associated with said base and cover further exhibiting projecting scales, between which are defined vacuum withdrawal passageways communicating with said interior of said three-dimensional article via slots defined in said exterior surfaces.

10. The sanding block as described in claim 9, further comprising a vacuum attachment aperture defined in a side surface associated with said cover and facilitating retrieval of accumulated particles resulting from a sanding operation.

11. The sanding block as described in claim 1, said base, cover and trigger exhibiting a specified shape and size and being constructed of a durable plasticized material.

12. A sanding block for supporting an exteriorly mounted looped sanding belt, comprising:

a substantially elongated and planar shaped base having a first end and a second end;

a substantially elongated and planar shaped cover exhibiting at least first and second oblique extending surfaces, each of said base and cover further comprising interengaging surfaces upon which are defined a plurality of mating tabs and slots and by which, upon engagement, collectively define a three-dimensional article for supporting thereupon the looped sanding belt; and

a trigger exhibiting a substantially three-dimensional rectangular shape and extending laterally across a widthwise defined opening in said base in communicating fashion with an end surface associated with said cover, such that said trigger is positioned between said base and cover, said trigger being displaced in a first lateral direction to lengthwise displace said cover away from said base, said trigger displacing in a second and opposite lateral direction to reverse displace said cover inwardly towards said base.

13. The sanding block as described in claim 12, said trigger further comprising an elongate aperture defined along a side surface and within which is defined a ramped surface, a fixed and inward directed end projection associated with said base traveling along said ramped surface, during lateral translation of said trigger, causing said trigger and slidably engaged cover to lengthwise translate in the selected displacing direction.

14. The sanding block as described in claim 13, said trigger further comprising a recess extending along a top surface parallel to said side surface aperture, a downward guide projection associated with said cover seating within said top recess.

15. The sanding block as described in claim 12, a detent formed in an intermediate location of said recess contacting said downward guide projection to indicate a fully expanded position associated with said article.

16. The sanding block as described in claim 12, each of said base and cover further comprising lengthwise projecting and spaced apart guides associated with said interengaging planar surfaces, opposing edges of said base and cover further comprising guide receiving recesses which, in cooperation with said mating tabs, slots and said trigger, define said range of lengthwise displacement established between said base and cover.

17. The sanding block as described in claim 12, at least one of said exterior surfaces associated with said base and cover further exhibiting projecting scales, between which are defined vacuum withdrawal passageways communicating with said interior of said three-dimensional article via slots defined in said exterior surfaces.

18. The sanding block as described in claim 17, further comprising a vacuum attachment aperture defined in a side surface associated with said cover and facilitating retrieval of accumulated particles resulting from a sanding operation.

19. The sanding block as described in claim 12, said base, cover and trigger exhibiting a specified shape and size and being constructed of a durable plasticized material.

20. A three-dimensional sanding article for supporting thereupon an exteriorly mounted looped sanding belt, said article comprising:

a first component and a second interengageable and slidably traversable component collectively defining a three-sided article for supporting the sanding belt; and

a trigger extending between abutting locations of said first and second components, said trigger being displaced in a first direction to lengthwise displace said components in extensible fashion, said trigger displacing in a second and opposite direction to reverse displace said components in collapsing fashion.