Pole sander

Abstract

A pole sander having a rectangular sander plate which removeably holds one or more sheets of sandpaper by a pair of clamp assemblies positioned at opposite ends of the sander plate. The sander plate is attached to the upper end of a pole by a universal joint having elements arranged to permit the pole to assume a position close to parallel with the drywall surface being sanded.

1 . A pole sander for sanding a drywall surface, comprising: 
 a pole; 
 a sander plate having clamps that releasably secure one or more sheets of sandpaper to the sander plate;  
 a universal joint interposed between one end of the pole and the sander plate, said universal joint including a swivel connector attachable to the pole at one end and formed with an elongated inverted U-shaped yoke at its other end;  
 pole attachment means at one end of the yoke wherein the yoke includes legs of sufficient length to straddle the universal joint when the pole is pivoted to a position almost paralleling the sander plate;  
 a swivel element extending across the open end of the yoke; and  
 a swivel journal rotatably extending at a right angle away from the center of the swivel element at an angle normal to the swivel element.  
   
   
   
       2 . A pole sander as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein an annular aperture is formed on the sander plate to receive the lower end of the yoke when the pole is pivoted to a position almost paralleling the sander plate.  
   
   
       3 . A pole sander as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a foam base pad is attached to the underside of the sander plate, and such pad is formed with an aperture opposite the sander plate aperture.  
   
   
       4 . A pole sander as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the sander plate is formed with a pair of like parallel ribs having their mid-section spaced above such upper surface and formed with aligned horizontal bores that support the opposite ends of the swivel element.  
   
   
       5 . A pole sander as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein an annular aperture is formed on the sander plate to receive the lower end of the yoke when the pole is pivoted to a position almost paralleling the sander plate.  
   
   
       6 . A pole sander as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the upper surface of the sander plate is formed with a pair of like paralleled ribs having their mid-section spaced above such upper surface and formed with aligned horizontal bores that support the opposite ends of the swivel element.