Power operated sanding machine

Claim 2

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate and providing a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor supported by said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, a plurality of posts carried by said housing for suspending said base plate from said housing, said posts being formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said base plate relative to said housing by operation of said motor, and cooperating means on said base plate and the lower end of each of said posts for providing a detachable bayonet like connection between said base plate and the lower end of each post.

Claim 3

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor supported by said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, a plurality of one-piece mounting members carried by said housing for supporting said base plate from said housing, said mounting members being formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said assembly relative to said housing by operation of said motor, each of said mounting members comprising a pair of spaced apart posts and a spacer portion integrally joined to said posts at corresponding ends thereof, and cooperating means integral with said base plate and each of said posts at the end thereof opposite from the spacer portion for providing a detachable bayonet-like connection between said base plate and each of said posts.

Claim 4

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor supported by said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, a plurality of one-piece mounting members carried by said housing for supporting said base plate from said housing, said mounting members being formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said assembly relative to said housing by operation of said motor, each of said mounting members comprising a pair of spaced apart posts and a spacer portion integrally joined to said posts at corresponding ends thereof, and cooperating means integral with said base plate and each of said posts at the end thereof opposite from the spacer portion for providing a detachable bayonet-like connection between said base plate and each of said posts.

Claim 5

The hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine defined in claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a pair of separately formed shells, and wherein means are provided for securing said shells together, said spacer portion of each mounting member being received in cavities formed in said shells and being trapped in place between interior surfaces of said shells.

Claim 6

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor supported by said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, at least one mounting member carried by said housing for supporting the assembly of said base plate and said pad from said housing, said mounting member being formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said assembly relative to said housing by operation of said motor, said mounting member having a pair of posts and a spacer portion extending between and joined to said posts at corresponding ends thereof, a coupling portioN positioned on the end of each post opposite from said spacer portion, a coupling structure for each post, each coupling structure being positioned on said base plate for engagement with an associated one of said coupling portions to detachably couple said base plate to said posts, each coupling portion being disengageable from its associated coupling structure by rotational deformation of said mounting member to uncouple said base plate from said posts.

Claim 7

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor supported by said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, at least one mounting member carried by said housing for supporting the assembly of said base plate and said pad from said housing, said mounting member being formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said assembly relative to said housing by operation of said motor, said mounting member having a pair of posts and a spacer portion extending between and joined to said posts at corresponding ends thereof, a coupling portioN positioned on the end of each post opposite from said spacer portion, a coupling structure for each post, each coupling structure being positioned on said base plate for engagement with an associated one of said coupling portions to detachably couple said base plate to said posts, each coupling portion being disengageable from its associated coupling structure by rotational deformation of said mounting member to uncouple said base plate from said posts.

Claim 8

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor in said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, first and second mounting members carried by said housing for supporting said assembly from said housing and formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said assembly relative to said housing by operation of said motor, each of said mounting members comprising a pair of posts, a spacer portion extending between and integrally joined to said posts at corresponding ends thereof, and a coupling portion integral with each post, said base plate being integrally formed with a coupling structure for each of said posts, each coupling structure being positioned to engage an associated one of said coupling portions to detachably couple said base plate to said posts, and each coupling portion being disengageable from its associated coupling structure by rotational deformation of its associated mounting member for uncoupling said base plate from said posts.

Claim 9

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor in said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, first and second mounting members carried by said housing for supporting said assembly from said housing and formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said assembly relative to said housing by operation of said motor, each of said mounting members comprising a pair of posts, a spacer portion extending between and integrally joined to said posts at corresponding ends thereof, and a coupling portion integral with each post, said base plate being integrally formed with a coupling structure for each of said posts, each coupling structure being positioned to engage an associated one of said coupling portions to detachably couple said base plate to said posts, and each coupling portion being disengageable from its associated coupling structure by rotational deformation of its associated mounting member for uncoupling said base plate from said posts.

Claim 10

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor supported by said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, first and second mounting members carried by said housing for supporting said assembly from said housing and formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said assembly relative to said housing by operation of said motor, each of said mounting members comprising a pair of posts, a spacer portion extending between and integrally joined to said posts at corresponding ends thereof, and a coupling portion integral with each post at the end thereof opposite from its associated spacer portion, said base plate being integrally formed with a coupling structure for each of said posts, each coupling structure being positioned to engage an associated one of said coupling portions to detachably couple said base plate to said posts, and each coupling portion being disengageable from its associated coupling structure by torsional deflection of its associated post or by flexing its associated spacer portion to uncouple said base plate from said posts.

Claim 11

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor supported by said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, first and second mounting members carried by said housing for supporting said assembly from said housing and formed from elastically deformable material to permit motion of said assembly relative to said housing by operation of said motor, each of said mounting members comprising a pair of posts, a spacer portion extending between and integrally joined to said posts at corresponding ends thereof, and a coupling portion integral with each post at the end thereof opposite from its associated spacer portion, said base plate being integrally formed with a coupling structure for each of said posts, each coupling structure being positioned to engage an associated one of said coupling portions to detachably couple said base plate to said posts, and each coupling portion being disengageable from its associated coupling structure by torsional deflection of its associated post or by flexing its associated spacer portion to uncouple said base plate from said posts.

Claim 12

The hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine defined in claim 6 wherein each coupling portion comprises a coupling flange that is rotatable from a coupling position to an uncoupling position that is angularly spaced from said coupling position by torsionally deflecting its associated post or by flexing its associated spacer portion, and wherein each coupling structure comprises a pair of shoulders positioned in a hole that is formed in said base plate for each coupling flange, said coupling flange being insertable into its associated hole beyond said shoulders when in said uncoupling position, and said coupling flange being engaged with the undersides of said shoulders when it is rotated within its associated hole to said coupling position.

Claim 13

The hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine defined in claim 6 wherein said housing is longitudinally divided into a pair of separately formed shells, wherein means are provided for securing said shells together, wherein the spacer portion of each of said mounting members is trapped between said shells, and wherein said shells have wall portions that engage the spacer portion of each of Said mounting members to prevent flexure of said spacer portions in the assembled relation of said shells with said mounting members.

Claim 14

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate and providing a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor in said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, a plurality of torsionally deflectible posts of elastically deformable material supported at corresponding ends from said housing, each of said posts being integrally formed with a coupling portion, each coupling portion being rotatable from a coupling position to an uncoupling position that is angularly spaced from said coupling position by torsional deflection of its associated post, said base plate being integrally formed with a coupling structure for each of the coupling portions, each coupling portion being engaged with its associated coupling structure when in said coupling position to couple said posts to said base plate, and each coupling portion being disengaged from its associated coupling structure when in said uncoupling position to uncouple said posts from said base plate.

Claim 15

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing, a base plate, a pad secured to said base plate and providing a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, means comprising a motor in said housing for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, a plurality of torsionally deflectible posts of elastically deformable material supported at corresponding ends from said housing, each of said posts being integrally formed with a coupling portion, each coupling portion being rotatable from a coupling position to an uncoupling position that is angularly spaced from said coupling position by torsional deflection of its associated post, said base plate being integrally formed with a coupling structure for each of the coupling portions, each coupling portion being engaged with its associated coupling structure when in said coupling position to couple said posts to said base plate, and each coupling portion being disengaged from its associated coupling structure when in said uncoupling position to uncouple said posts from said base plate.

Claim 16

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing having a body portion, a pad assembly providing a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, a plurality of one-piece members of elastically deformable material suspending said pad assembly from said body portion to permit motion of said pad assembly relative to said housing, means comprising a motor in said housing for imparting motion to said pad assembly, at least said body portion of said housing being divided longitudinally into a pair of separately formed shells, and means securing said shells together, corresponding ends of said one-piece members being trapped between said shells and being held in place only by separable seating surface engagement with interior surfaces of said shells.

Claim 17

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing having a body portion, a pad assembly providing a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, a plurality of one-piece members of elastically deformable material suspending said pad assembly from said body portion to permit motion of said pad assembly relative to said housing, means comprising a motor in said housing for imparting motion to said pad assembly, at least said body portion of said housing being divided longitudinally into a pair of separately formed shells, and means securing said shells together, corresponding ends of said one-piece members being trapped between said shells and being held in place only by separable seating surface engagement with interior surfaces of said shells.

Claim 18

The hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine defined in claim 10 wherein each of said one-piece members comprises a pair of spaced apart posts having their upper ends received in said body portion and a spacer portion integrally joined to the upper ends of said posts within said body portion, the lower ends of said posts being secured to a part of said pad assembly.

Claim 19

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing having a body portion, a pad assembly providing a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, first and second mounting members of elastically deformable material for suspending said pad assembly from said housing and permitting relative motion between said pad assembly and said housing, each of said mounting members comprising a pair of posts connected at corresponding ends to said pad assembly and a spacer portion integrally joined to and extending between said posts at the opposite ends thereof, at least said body portion of said housing being longitudinally divided into a pair of separately formed shells having a first pair of inwardly opening cavities and a second pair of inwardly opening cavities spaced from said first pair of cavities, and means securing said shells together, the spacer portion of said first member being received in the cavities of said first pair of cavities and being held in place only by separable seating surface engagement with interior cavity-defining surfaces of said shells, and said spacer portion of said second member being received in the cavities of said second pair of cavities and being held in place only by separable seating surface engagement with interior cavity-defining surfaces of said shells.

Claim 20

In a hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine, a housing having a body portion, a pad assembly providing a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, first and second mounting members of elastically deformable material for suspending said pad assembly from said housing and permitting relative motion between said pad assembly and said housing, each of said mounting members comprising a pair of posts connected at corresponding ends to said pad assembly and a spacer portion integrally joined to and extending between said posts at the opposite ends thereof, at least said body portion of said housing being longitudinally divided into a pair of separately formed shells having a first pair of inwardly opening cavities and a second pair of inwardly opening cavities spaced from said first pair of cavities, and means securing said shells together, the spacer portion of said first member being received in the cavities of said first pair of cavities and being held in place only by separable seating surface engagement with interior cavity-defining surfaces of said shells, and said spacer portion of said second member being received in the cavities of said second pair of cavities and being held in place only by separable seating surface engagement with interior cavity-defining surfaces of said shells.

Claim 21

In a hand manipulatable, power operated sanding machine, a base plate of rectangular configuration, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, drive means for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, a pair of sandpaper holders, said base plate being integrally formed with at least one beaRing portion for each of said sandpaper holders, and each sandpaper holder being pivotally mounted directly on its associated bearing portion and having means integral with said bearing portions and said holders for preventing each holder from being disengaged from its associated bearing portions except when said holders are pivoted to pre-selected positions.

Claim 22

In a hand manipulatable, power operated sanding machine, a base plate of rectangular configuration, a pad secured to said base plate to provide a backing for a sheet of sandpaper, drive means for imparting motion to the assembly of said base plate and said pad, a pair of sandpaper holders, said base plate being integrally formed with at least one beaRing portion for each of said sandpaper holders, and each sandpaper holder being pivotally mounted directly on its associated bearing portion and having means integral with said bearing portions and said holders for preventing each holder from being disengaged from its associated bearing portions except when said holders are pivoted to pre-selected positions.

Claim 23

The hand-manipulatable, power-operated sanding machine of claim 13 having spring means for biasing said holders to their sandpaper-clamping positions, said spring means comprising a flat-sided leaf spring for each of said holder, each leaf spring being seated at one end thereof in a shallow recess in said base plate, and the other end of each leaf spring being seated against a portion of its associated holder.