Orbital sander with vertical handle

Abstract

An orbital sander having a housing defining an axis. A motor and output with a sanding element are aligned on said axis. The housing includes a power source as well as an activating member to energize and de-energize the sander. A handle is spaced from the housing and is substantially parallel to the axis. Further, additional gripping members may be positioned on the housing to provide multiple gripping surfaces.

1 . A sander having multiple gripping members, comprising: 
 a housing having a top portion, a middle portion and a bottom portion, and the middle portion and the bottom portion having substantially the same central vertical axis;    a sanding element located at a bottom portion of the housing;    a first gripping member comprising a handle spaced apart from the housing and being substantially parallel to the housing;    a second gripping member located generally at the bottom portion of the housing, the second gripping member extending around the housing and having a smoothly outwardly curved shape.    
   
   
       2 . The sander of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the middle portion of the housing is generally a cylindrical portion and the bottom portion of the housing is a truncated conical portion.    
   
   
       3 . The sander of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the spacing of the handle from the housing allows a user's hand to easily fit through the space between the handle and the housing to grip the middle portion or the bottom portion of the housing, and the housing is shaped to allow for easy gripping with a single hand.    
   
   
       4 . The sander of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third gripping member located at the top portion of the housing and having a gel-like material thereon for creating a comfortable gripping surface for the user.    
   
   
       5 . The sander of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the third gripping surface is generally tear-drop shaped.    
   
   
       6 . The sander of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a dust collection system located at the bottom of the handle and a power cord located at the top of the handle.    
   
   
       7 . A sander having multiple gripping members, comprising: 
 a housing having a cylindrical portion and a truncated conical portion, the cylindrical portion and the truncated conical portion concentrically spaced around a vertical axis of the housing with the truncated conical portion extending downwardly from the cylindrical portion;    the truncated conical portion including a skirt and a carrier element;    a first gripping member including a handle spaced from the housing and oriented substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the housing, the first gripping member having first gripping surfaces thereon; and    a second gripping member located substantially on the truncated conical portion and having a curved second gripping surface.    
   
   
       8 . The sander of  claim 7  wherein: 
 the spacing of the handle from the housing allows a user's hand to easily fit through the space between the handle and the housing to grip the cylindrical portion or the truncated conical portion of the housing, and the housing is shaped to allow for easy gripping with a single hand.    
   
   
       9 . The sander of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a third gripping member extending above the cylindrical portion and having a gel-like material thereon creating a third gripping surface.    
   
   
       10 . The sander of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the third gripping surface is generally tear-drop shaped.    
   
   
       11 . The sander of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a dust collection system located at the bottom of the handle and a power cord located at the top of the handle.    
   
   
       12 . A sander having multiple gripping members, comprising: 
 a housing having a top portion, a middle portion and a bottom portion, and a vertical axis with at least the middle portion and the bottom portion having the same vertical axis;    a handle gripping member spaced apart from the housing and being substantially parallel to the axis;    a housing gripping member located substantially on the bottom portion of the housing; and    a top gripping member located substantially at the top portion of the housing and having a cushioning material thereon for creating a comfortable gripping surface.    
   
   
       13 . The sander of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the handle gripping member is spaced from the housing to allow a user's hand to easily fit through the space between the handle gripping member and the housing to grip the housing gripping member, and the housing gripping member is sized to allow for easy gripping with a single hand.    
   
   
       14 . A power driven oscillating tool comprising: 
 a housing, said housing having a longitudinal axis which is situated substantially centrally of said housing for substantially the entire vertical extent of said housing, said housing having an upper gripping surface;    a motor disposed in said housing;    a carried disposed below said housing and driven to oscillate by said motor;    a side gripping surface displaced from said housing so as to form an open space between said side gripping surface and said housing.    
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein the side gripping surface has a longitudinal axis which extends substantially vertically.  
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein the side gripping surface has a longitudinal axis which makes an angle with the longitudinal axis of the housing within a range of 8.46° to 18.46°.  
   
   
       17 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein said angle is substantially equal to 13.46 degrees.  
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein said carrier comprises a sanding platen and is driven in an orbiting motion by said motor.  
   
   
       19 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein said housing includes a cylindrical portion extending downwardly from said upper gripping surface and a truncated conical portion extending downwardly from said cylindrical portion, said truncated conical portion providing a lower gripping surface of said housing.  
   
   
       20 . A power driven oscillating tool comprising: 
 a housing having an upper gripping member and a main body portion extending downwardly from said upper gripping member, said upper gripping member defining an outer perimeter, a downward projection of said outer perimeter defining a volume such that said housing is disposed throughout substantially the entire extent of said housing substantially entirely within the defined volume.    a motor disposed in said housing;    a carrier disposed below said housing and driven to oscillate by said motor; and    a side gripping surface displaced from said housing so as to form an open space between said side gripping surface and said housing.    
   
   
       21 . The tool of  claim 20 , wherein said side gripping surface has a longitudinal axis which extends substantially vertically.  
   
   
       22 . The tool recited in  claim 20 , wherein said housing has a longitudinal axis, said side gripping surface has a longitudinal axis which makes an angle with said longitudinal axis of said housing in a range of 8.46° to 18.45°.  
   
   
       23 . The tool recited in  claim 22 , wherein said angle is substantially equal to 13.46°.  
   
   
       24 . The tool recited in  claim 20 , wherein said housing includes a cylindrical portion extending downwardly from said upper gripping member and a truncated conical portion extending downwardly from said cylindrical portion, said truncated conical portion having an outer perimeter which is substantially coincident with the outer perimeter of said upper gripping member.  
   
   
       25 . The tool recited in  claim 20 , wherein said carrier comprises a sanding platen and is driven in an orbiting motion by said motor.  
   
   
       26 . A power sander comprising: 
 a housing having an upper gripping member, said sander configured so as to allow for one-handed operation in normal use by gripping the upper gripping member;    a motor disposed in said housing;    a platen disposed below said housing and driven to oscillate by said motor; and    a side gripping surface displaced from said housing so as to form an open space between said side gripping surface and said housing.    
   
   
       27 . The sander recited in  claim 26 , wherein said platen is substantially circular and said outer perimeter of the housing below said upper gripping member has substantially circular outer perimeter, wherein said housing has a maximum diameter which is no greater than 122 mm and said sander has a maximum weight of 3.5 pounds.  
   
   
       28 . The sander recited in  claim 26 , wherein said platen is substantially rectangular and the outer perimeter of the housing below said upper gripping member has a substantially rectangular outer perimeter, wherein said housing has a maximum cross-sectional area which is no greater than 12,140 mm 2  and said sander has a maximum weight of 3.5 pounds.