Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
An adapter for converting a right angle grinder into a random orbital sander which employs a sanding pad assembly, the right angle grinder having a threaded output shaft, the adapter comprising: a cylindrical body having a bearing aperture on its front side and a threaded bore for screwing onto the threaded output shaft on its back side, the axis of said threaded bore corresponding to the axis of said cylindrical body; a bearing assembly fitted into said bearing aperture so that as to establish a second axis of rotation that is parallel to but offset from the axis of said cylindrical body; means for attaching the sanding pad assembly to the bearing assembly so that the sanding pad assembly can rotate freely about the second axis; a counterweight mounted on the front side of said cylindrical body so as to be located relative to measurement along the cylindrical axis at a position that is between the center of mass of said bearing assembly and said sanding pad assembly when said sanding pad assembly is connected to said attachment means, said counterweight providing both static and dynamic balance for said adapter; and a locking mechanism located on the side of said bearing assembly that is opposite to the side on which the sanding pad assembly is mounted, said locking mechanism for preventing the attachment means from rotating while the sanding pad assembly is attached to and/or disassembled from said attachment means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
An adapter for converting a right angle grinder into a random orbital sander which employs a sanding pad assembly, the right angle grinder having a threaded output shaft, the adapter comprising: a cylindrical body having a bearing aperture on its front side and a threaded bore for screwing onto the threaded output shaft on its back side, the axis of said threaded bore corresponding to the axis of said cylindrical body; a bearing assembly fitted into said bearing aperture so that as to establish a second axis of rotation that is parallel to but offset from the axis of said cylindrical body; means for attaching the sanding pad assembly to the bearing assembly so that the sanding pad assembly can rotate freely about the second axis; a counterweight mounted on the front side of said cylindrical body so as to be located relative to measurement along the cylindrical axis at a position that is between the center of mass of said bearing assembly and said sanding pad assembly when said sanding pad assembly is connected to said attachment means, said counterweight providing both static and dynamic balance for said adapter; and a locking mechanism located on the side of said bearing assembly that is opposite to the side on which the sanding pad assembly is mounted, said locking mechanism for preventing the attachment means from rotating while the sanding pad assembly is attached to and/or disassembled from said attachment means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein said adapter body is machined from a solid block of aluminum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein said counterweight has an outer perimeter that generally conforms to and is within the circular outer perimeter of the front side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The adapter of claim 3 wherein said counterweight comprises a material that is more dense than aluminum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The adapter of claim 4 further comprising at least one blind drive screw rivet holding said counterweight onto the front side of said cylindrical body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
The adapter of claim 1 for use with a sanding pad assembly that includes a threaded post for attaching the sanding pad assembly to a tool and wherein the bearing assembly has an inner race that includes an inner bore and said attachment means is a cylindrically-shaped insert having a rim at one end and a threaded hole at the opposite end for receiving the threaded post of the sanding pad assembly, the rim having a diameter larger than the inner bore of said bearing assembly, said insert being held within said inner bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The adapter of claim 6 wherein the head of said insert is slotted and said cylindrical body has a radially oriented hole which aligns with said slot when said head is rotated to a predetermined orientation, said hole for receiving a pin that can slide into said slot and prevent said insert from rotating, said hole and said slot forming said locking mechanism.