[0002] The present invention relates to abrasive discs, and more particularly to a universal
abrasive disc for use with orbital sanders having different numbers of exhaust holes.
[0003] Many orbital or random orbit sanders include a vacuum extraction system, which may
be integrally or detachably mounted to the sander. A flat surface of the sander units
are often provided with a number of exhaust holes that are connected to the vacuum
extraction system. The vacuum extraction system sucks in dust and debris through these
exhaust holes while the sander unit is in use. Most sander units are provided with
either five or eight exhaust holes. Conventional abrasive disc that are attached to
the flat surface of the sander unit are also provided with either five or eight apertures
that can be aligned with the exhaust holes of the sander unit. Accordingly, different
types of abrasive discs are required to meet the number of holes provided on the sander
unit. What is needed is a universal abrasive disc compatible with different sander
unites having different numbers of exhaust holes.
[0004] In order to overcome these and other objective, a universal abrasive disc is provided
that can be mounted on a surface of an orbital sander having either five or eight
dust extraction holes. The abrasive disc includes apertures arrangeable to at least
partially overlap each of the five or eight dust extraction holes of the orbital sander.
[0005] In one embodiment, the abrasive disc includes at least one aperture having two elongated
portions connected to each other at one end, the elongated portions extending along
two axes forming an angle of curvature θ of between 90° to 150°. The aperture is arranged
such that the angle θ is facing the center of the abrasive disc. In other words, the
center of the abrasive disc is inside the angle θ. The disc may also include one or
more substantially circular-shaped aperture and one or more elongated aperture that
are elongated along a single axis (i.e., include no angle of curvature). The elongated
apertures may be arranged in symmetry along a vertical axis of symmetry intersecting
the center of the abrasive disc. The substantially circular-shaped apertures may be
arranged in symmetry along a horizontal axis of symmetry intersecting the center of
the abrasive disc.
[0006] In an alternative embodiment, the apertures of the disc are disposed within a first
ring and a second ring, where the two rings have the same center as the abrasive disc
and each have a width equal to a diameter of the apertures. The rings are arranged
such that an outer circumference of the first ring substantially overlaps an inner
circumference of the second ring. In an embodiment, an equal number of apertures are
disposed equidistantly within the first and the second rings respectively. Also, in
an embodiment, each aperture within the first ring has the same distance from its
two closest apertures within the second ring, and vice versa.
[0007] In yet another embodiment, the apertures of the disc include a first group of apertures
arranged at a first distance from the center of the abrasive disc, a second group
of apertures arranged at a second distance from the center of the abrasive disc, and
a third aperture arranged at a third distance from the center of the abrasive disc.
Each of the first and second apertures is arranged symmetrically with respect to a
corresponding aperture along a first axis of symmetry that intersects the center of
the third aperture and the center of the abrasive disc. However, in an embodiment,
none of the first and second apertures is arranged symmetrically with respect to a
corresponding aperture along a second axis located perpendicularly to the first axis
of symmetry through the center of the abrasive disc.
[0008] For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, reference
may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings.
[0009] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended
to limit the scope of this disclosure in any way:
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an abrasive disc, according to a first embodiment
of this disclosure;
FIGs. 2A and 2B depict perspective views of the abrasive disc of the first embodiment
as used with a five hole and an eight hole sander unit, according to an embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an abrasive disc, according to a second embodiment
of this disclosure;
FIGs. 4A and 4B depict perspective views of the abrasive disc of the second embodiment
as used with a five hole and an eight hole sander unit, according to an embodiment
of the invention; and
FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of an abrasive disc, according to a third embodiment
of this disclosure.
[0010] With reference to the Fig. 1, an abrasive disc 100 according to a first embodiment
of the invention is depicted. The abrasive disc 100 is a universal abrasive disc that
may be utilized with sander units having different numbers of exhaust holes, in particular
sander units having either five or eight exhaust holes.
[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the abrasive disc 100 includes a plurality of exhaust apertures.
In the exemplary embodiment, the abrasive disc 100 includes one or two substantially
circular apertures 102a, at least two apertures 102b elongated along a single axis
112, and at least two boomerang-shaped apertures 102c elongated along two axes 114,
116 arranged at an angle θ. In other words, apertures 102c each include two elongated
portions connected to each other at an angle θ. The arrangement of the apertures 102
allows for the abrasive disc 100 to be used with sander units having either five or
eight exhaust holes. The circular apertures 102a are symmetrically arranged with respect
to the axis of symmetry 122. The elongated apertures 102b and the boomerang-shaped
apertures 102c are symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of symmetry 120.
[0012] Figs. 2A and 2B depict the arrangements of the abrasive disc 100 over a flat surface
of sander units having five and eight holes, respectively. As shown in Fig. 2A, the
apertures 102 of the abrasive disc 100 at least partially overlap the exhaust holes
202 of a five-hole sander unit. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 2B, the apertures 102
of the abrasive disc 100 at least partially overlap the exhaust holes 204 of an eight-hole
sander unit. Other annular arrangements of the abrasive disc 100 over the flat surface
of the sanding unit are possible to achieve sufficient exposure of the exhaust holes.
[0013] Fig. 3 depicts an abrasive disc 300 according to an alternative embodiment of the
invention. As shown in Fig. 3, the abrasive disc 300 includes a first annular ring
of apertures 302 and a second annular ring of apertures 304. The first and second
annular rings shown by dotted lines in this figure are not actual patterns visible
on the disc and are only used in these figures to illustrate the relative positions
of the apertures 302 and 403 within the abrasive disc 300. The apertures 302 of the
first annular ring are arranged such that the inner circumference 316 and outer circumference
318 of the first annular ring are respectively disposed within distances 306 and 308
from the center of the abrasive disc 300. The apertures 304 of the second annular
ring are arranged such that the inner circumference 318 and outer circumference 320
of the second annular ring are respectively disposed within distances 308 and 310
from the center of the abrasive disc 300. Thus, the outer circumference of the inner
annular ring and the inner circumference of the second annular substantially overlap.
[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the same number of apertures 302, 304 may be arranged
within each of the first and second annular rings, although other variations of the
number of apertures within each annular ring are within the scope of the invention.
In the example provided in Fig. 3, nine apertures 302 and nine apertures 304 are provided
within the first and second annular rings, respectively. Furthermore, in the exemplary
embodiment, the apertures 302, 304 within each ring are equidistance, although in
alternative embodiments the distance between respective apertures may vary to optimize
the area of the sander unit holes covered by the abrasive disc 300 apertures 302,
304.
[0015] In addition, in some embodiments, additional rings of apertures may be provided in
parallel to the first and second annular rings. For example, a third annular ring
of apertures may be provided outside the second ring. The third annular ring includes
apertures of equal size as apertures 302, 304, although in some embodiments the third
annular ring may include larger or smaller apertures. The inner circumference of the
third ring may overlap the outer circumference of the second annular ring, although
in some embodiments the third annular ring may be disposed farther from the center
of the disc.
[0016] Figs. 4A and 4B depict the arrangements of the abrasive disc 300 over a flat surface
of sander units having five and eight holes, respectively. As shown in Fig. 4A, the
apertures 302 and 304 of the abrasive disc 300 at least partially overlap the exhaust
holes 402 of a five-hole sander unit. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 4B, the apertures
302 and 304 of the abrasive disc 300 at least partially overlap exhaust holes 404
of an eight-hole sander unit. As can be seen in these figures, it is possible to arrange
the abrasive disc 300 over the flat surface of the sander unit in different annular
orientations so as to provide adequate alignment between the apertures 302, 304 of
the abrasive disc and the exhaust holes 402, 404 of the sanding unit. In other words,
while the annular arrangement of the abrasive disc 300 is not completely independent
of the location of the exhaust holes (i.e., in some annular arrangement, one or more
holes may not be partially exposed), it provides the user with many a lot of flexibility
for placing the disc on the sander in a way that a substantial portion of the exhaust
holes 402, 404 are exposed through the apertures 302, 304.
[0017] Fig. 5 depicts an abrasive disc 500 according to a third embodiment of the invention.
As shown in Fig. 5, the abrasive disc 500 includes multiple circular apertures arranged
at different distances from the center 520 of the disc 500. In the exemplary embodiment,
four apertures 502a-d are positioned on a first circle 542 having a radius 532 (i.e.,
at a distance 532 from the center 520), four apertures 504a-d on a second circle 544
having a radius 534 (i.e., at a distance 534 from the center), and a single aperture
506 on a third circle 546 (i.e., at a distance 536 from the center 520). Apertures
502a-d and 504a-d are alternatively arranged around the center 520. The disc is symmetric
around the axis of symmetry 522 through the aperture 506. Specifically, apertures
502a and 502d, apertures 502b and 502c, apertures 504a and 504d, and apertures 504b
and 504c are arranged in symmetry around the axis of symmetry 522. In an embodiment,
the aforementioned apertures are not in symmetry around the axis 524.
[0018] While the this invention is illustrated using conventional five and eight hole sander
units, it is readily understood that the abrasive disc of this invention can be adapted
for use with sanding units and dust extraction systems having different numbers and
configurations of exhaust holes. Other size mounting surfaces are also available on
the market which may also provide the need for universal abrasive discs.
[0019] Although this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments,
workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, the invention
is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof as modifications and variations
thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
1. An abrasive disc adapted to mount on a surface of a sander having either five or eight
dust extraction holes, the disc comprising a plurality of apertures arrangeable to
at least partially overlap each of the five or eight dust extraction holes of the
sander, the plurality of apertures comprising at least one aperture having two elongated
portions connected at one end, the elongated portions extending along two axes forming
an angle θ of between 90° to 150°, the center of the abrasive disc being located inside
the angle θ.
2. The abrasive disc of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures comprises at least
one substantially circular-shaped aperture.
3. The abrasive disc of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures comprises at least
one aperture elongated along a single axis.
4. The abrasive disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is arranged in symmetry
with a second identically-shaped aperture along a first axis of symmetry intersecting
the center of the abrasive disc.
5. The abrasive disc of claim 4, wherein the plurality of apertures comprises two elongated
apertures that are each elongated along a single axis, the elongated apertures being
arranged in symmetry with one another along the first axis of symmetry.
6. The abrasive disc of claim 4, wherein the plurality of apertures comprises two substantially
circular-shaped apertures arranged in symmetry with each other along a second axis
of symmetry substantially perpendicular to the first axis of symmetry and intersecting
the center of the abrasive disc.
7. The abrasive disc of claim 6, wherein the first axis of symmetry intersects the centers
of the substantially circular-shaped apertures.
8. An abrasive disc adapted to mount on a surface of a sander having either five or eight
dust extraction holes, the disc comprising a plurality of equally-sized apertures
arrangeable to at least partially overlap each of the five or eight dust extraction
holes of the sander, the plurality of apertures comprising a first plurality of apertures
disposed within a first annular ring and a second plurality of apertures disposed
within a second annular ring, the first and the second annular rings each having the
same center as the abrasive disc and each having a width equal to a diameter of each
aperture, wherein an outer circumference of the first annular ring substantially overlaps
an inner circumference of the second annular ring.
9. The abrasive disc of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second plurality of apertures
is disposed equidistantly within the first and the second annular rings, respectively.
10. The abrasive disc of claim 9, wherein each of the first plurality of apertures is
disposed within the same distance of the two nearest apertures of the second plurality
of apertures.
11. The abrasive disc of claim 8, wherein an equal number of apertures are disposed within
the first and the second annular rings.
12. The abrasive disc of claim 8, wherein at least nine apertures are disposed within
each of the first and the second annular rings.
13. The abrasive disc of claim 8, further comprising a third plurality of apertures disposed
within a third annular ring having the same center as the abrasive disc and having
a width equal to the diameter of the third apertures.
14. An abrasive disc adapted to mount on a surface of a sander having either five or eight
dust extraction holes, the disc comprising a plurality of apertures arrangeable to
at least partially overlap each of the five or eight dust extraction holes of the
sander, the plurality of apertures comprising a first plurality of apertures arranged
at a first distance from the center of the abrasive disc, a second plurality of apertures
arranged at a second distance from the center of the abrasive disc, and a third aperture
arranged at a third distance from the center of the abrasive disc, wherein each of
the first and second apertures is arranged symmetrically with respect to a corresponding
aperture along a first axis of symmetry that intersects the center of the third aperture
and the center of the abrasive disc.
15. The abrasive disc of claim 14, wherein none of the first and second plurality of apertures
is arranged symmetrically with respect to a corresponding aperture along a second
axis located perpendicularly to the first axis of symmetry through the center of the
abrasive disc.
16. The abrasive disc of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second plurality of apertures
comprises four apertures.
17. The abrasive disc of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second plurality of apertures
and the third aperture is substantially circular-shaped.
18. The abrasive disc of claim 14, wherein two apertures of the first plurality of apertures
are arranged in close proximity to the third aperture.
19. The abrasive disc of claim 14, wherein the first and second plurality of apertures
are alternatively arranged around the center of the abrasive disc.
20. The abrasive disc of claim 14, wherein the plurality of apertures are equally-sized.