WO2007073512A2

WO2007073512A2 - Hemispherical tool

Info

Publication number: WO2007073512A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/060652
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan S. Ritter; Rebecca D. Ritter
Original assignee: The Shire Corporation
Priority date: 2005-11-08
Filing date: 2006-11-08
Publication date: 2007-06-28
Also published as: WO2007073512A3

Abstract

An attachment for reciprocating tools that allows blades, sanders, rasps, or any other device associated with a reciprocating tool to pivot. A pivoting hinge allows the tool to be to adjusted to reach areas typically inaccessible to other reciprocating tools. The invention is comprised of an attachment to a reciprocating tool which has a first and second plane, a pivoting hinge and a receiving foot meant to hold the standard blade or similar tool. In this way, a user may pivot an otherwise immobile tool to facilitate the work at hand.

Description

IN THE APPLICATION OF

JON AND REBECCA RITTER

FOR A

HEMISPHERICAL TOOL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an attachment for reciprocating tools, such as reciprocating saws. More particularly, the present is an offset attachment that permits a reciprocating tool to be fit with a variety of blades, sanders, rasps, and the like to attack a point from an offset angle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional reciprocating tools allow the user to attack a point straight on, or in other words, in a direct line from the tip of the reciprocating tool to the point. While a typical blade can be affixed in the center of the reciprocating tool, the body of the reciprocating tool oftentimes interferes with the surfaces around a point of attack.

For example, if a user wants to use a reciprocating tool to cut a two-inch by two- inch section in a dry wall area so that the two-inch by two-inch section is adjacent to a floor, the user cannot easily do so with a reciprocating tool. Because the saw blade extends out of the center front of the reciprocating tool, and the reciprocating tool has a bulky mass, the user can only make such a cut into the drywall at an angle away from ninety degrees. The best way to cut into the drywall is to maintain the saw blade perpendicular to the dry wall; however, because the reciprocating tool must remain above the floor, the user must approach the drywall so that the point of attack varies from ninety degrees from the drywall. Varying from a perpendicular point of attack, the user's cut is less reliable, less controlled, and encroaches into the drywall unevenly.

Restated, the problem is that the user cannot possibly position the reciprocating tool perpendicular to the drywall because the housing of the reciprocating tool must remain above the floor. There is a need for a device that allows reciprocating tool attachments perpendicular access to spaces wherein the mass of the reciprocating tool interferes with the normal point of attack.

In the past, users have attempted to create attachments capable of making cuts near an object while maintaining a perpendicular point of attack. However, such attachments have been either not rigid enough in order to effectuate a straight cut (that is, the saw attachments bend under the pressure of the saw attachments entering the drywall); have been too rigid, thereby preventing the user from completing the cut all the way into a corner (the saw attachments cannot be adjusted or interchanged as access to points of attack vary); or have been so complicated that they would break -- and when broken, would be very expensive to fix. Thus, there is a need for a requisitely rigid offset attachment for a reciprocating tool that can be adjusted or interchanged easily that is not so complicated that the cost is prohibitive should it become damaged.

US Patent No. 3,028,890 issued on April 10, 1962, to G.E. Atkinson, et al. describes a power saw which accepts a blade in both the center position and offset on the edge of the blade holders. Atkinson's blade holder is inferior to the present invention as Atkinson's blade holder can only adjust to various positions in line with the power saw; it is ill suited to make a cut in a wall at the point where the wall touches the floor because there is very little room to maneuver the body of the power saw. Further, Atkinson's blade holder does not offer any extension of the blade forward, so that the power saw can remain a greater distance from the cut while cutting.

US Patent No. 3,260,290 issued on July 12, 1966, to R. Happe et al. describes a power saw attachment which accepts a blade for an offset position. However, Happe's

device uses a guide rod that shortens the cut of the blade and does not allow the blade to be as flexible as desired. Furthermore, Happe's device does not allow for different and varied blade placements and offsets.

US Patent No. 4,553,306 issued on November 19, 1985 to Mineck describes a reciprocating offset blade. Although Mineck's offset blade adapter does allow for the blade to be placed in more then one position, Mineck's adapter does so through a complicated device that, once broken, is expensive to replace. Furthermore, unlike the present invention, Mineck's adapter does not allow for different and varied blade placements and offsets, and does not allow for an extension of the distance between the blade and the reciprocating tool.

Thus, there is a need for an offset tool adapter for a reciprocating tool capable of distancing offset tool attachments from the offset tool itself (i.e. adding inches onto the length of the offset tool attachment). Furthermore, there is a need for an offset tool adapter that allows various positioning so that the angle of attack to make a cut, etc. can be altered. Also, there is a need for an offset tool adapter that allows for quick interchangeability so that various offset tool attachments can be employed in a short amount of time.

SUMMARY OF THE DWENTION

The present invention is an attachment for reciprocating tools that allows blades, sanders, rasps, or any other device associated with a reciprocating tool to be to adjusted to reach areas typically inaccessible to other reciprocating tools. The present invention allows the user to hold the reciprocating tool's body in a different plane than the device attached to the reciprocating tool. The present invention has a rotation capacity of 320- degrees, which allows for multiple angle shifts between the plane of the reciprocating tool and the plane of the device attached to the reciprocating tool. Each of the possible angles provides a good blend of offset distance, structural integrity, and extension of the device ahead of the reciprocating tool.

It is an object of the present invention to allow tools to be adjusted so that they may effectively cut drywall in hard-to-reach areas where it is difficult to achieve a perpendicular plane for effective cutting. It is an object of the present invention to allow for the hinge of the reciprocating tool to swivel so that there is greater possibility of movement of the device.

The present invention is essentially comprised of a power driven saw with a reciprocating drive member, and an additional attachment with a pivoting hinge meant to support the tool (sander, blade or the like) and optimize the accessibility of the reciprocating tool. In this fashion, the present invention is an improvement on prior art by providing for a stable, flexible but reasonably rigid offset device, and provides greater room for accessibility to the wall. The user can hold the reciprocating tool's body in a different plane than the device attached to the reciprocating tool. Therefore the device can access areas that are typically unreachable with a standard non-pivoting reciprocating tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT

The present embodiment essentially consists of two planes (30 and 60) that attach to the reciprocating drive member (20), a pivoting hinge (80) and a receiving foot (100) for a blade or similar variety of tools (110).

As seen in the attached drawings, the present invention is designed to be used with any power driven saw (10) having a reciprocating drive member (20). The reciprocating drive member (20) is then attached to the first plane (30) (the saw inserts use standard methods of insertion). The first straight metal plane (30) is designed to insert into the reciprocating drive member (20) and has two standard holes (40) used for locking any reciprocating saw blade into a reciprocating drive member (20).

The second metal plane (60) is attached to the first metal plane by one of fouτ adjustment points (70). The second metal plane (60) is disposed anywhere from 45 to 320 degrees. These adjustment points (70) help to alter the position and angle of the second metal plane (60). The saw (10) can be Dositioned using adjustment points (70) to cut in difficult areas. The metal planes (30 and 60) support the offset tool, while allowing the device to be flexible enough to access angles that are normally not accessible.

The second metal plane (60) is then attached to a pivoting hinge (80) by use of two mechanical fasteners with nylon inserts (90). These nylon inserts (90) govern resistance to movement. The pivoting hinge (80) allows for an adjustment area of 320 degrees. The user can therefore create the desired approach to the wall. The entire device is powered by the reciprocating drive member (20),

The pivoting hinge (80) attaches to a receiving foot (100), which is then attached to a tool (1 10) like a blade, rasp, or sander. The pivoting hinge (80) allows the reciprocating drive member to approach the point of attack at an optimal 90-degree (perpendicular) angle, or any other angle. The reciprocating tool's body (20) attaches to a pivoting hinge (80), such that the receiving foot (100) for the device (110) attached to the reciprocating tool (20) rotates for ease of use in accessing work areas. The receiving foot (100) is adapted to fit any tool (110), which can easily and quickly be changed for a variety of tasks.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention are many and varied. The following are some examples of tools that can be attached in place of a standard blade (1 10): rod; saw; blade; coping saw; saw rip; saw jig; saw back; saw compass; saw panel; saw pad; saw bow; all metal and wood-type buffers and sanders; and blade hacksaw and crosscuts.

The first and second metal planes (30 and 60) may be shortened or lengthened depending on the type of power-driven saw (10) employed and depending on the additional offset length or reach desired. As the adapter is inexpensive to manufacture, and is quite simple in design, many different lengths of the first and second planes (30 and 60) may be provided in the box much the same fashion as drill bits are conventionally sold.

It should be noted that no matter the format of the adapter, it is always able to fit into a power-driven saw (10). As aforementioned, the standard holes (40) are identical to the conventional holes used for locking any reciprocating saw blade (110) into a reciprocating drive member (10).

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, but should be interpreted as any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. An adapter for a reciprocating drive unit, comprising: two plane members; a pivoting hinge in communication with said plane members; a receiving foot in communication with one of said two plane members..

2. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein said plane members are a first metal plane and a second metal plane.

3. An adapter for a reciprocating drive unit, comprising: a first plane member; a second plane member, in communication with said first plane member; and a means of attaching a conventional tool to said second plane member.

4. The adapter of claim 3 wherein said first plane member is configured to receive the reciprocating drive unit at a first end of said first plane member.

5. The adapter of claim 3 wherein said first plane member is configured to receive the reciprocating drive unit via two standard holes at a first end of said first plane member.

6. The adaptor of claim 3 wherein said second plane member is configured to receive said first plane member via at least four adjustment points on a first end of said second plane member.

7. The adaptor of claim 3 wherein said first plane member is configured to receive a pivoting hinge at a second end of said first plane member.

8. The adaptor of claim 7 wherein said pivoting hinge is configured to pivot at least 320 degrees.

9. The adaptor of claim 7 wherein said pivoting hinge is configured to receive second plane member.

10. The adaptor of claim 9 wherein said second plane member is in communication with a receiving foot.

11. The adaptor of claim 10 wherein said receiving foot is configured, on one end, to receive a blade, sander, rasp or similar tool.