System and method for capturing dust created by rotary tool attachments

Abstract

A system and method are provided for capturing dust created from a work surface by a rotary tool attachment. A shield is comprised of a ridged shroud and a flexible skirt. The shroud is configured to be coupled to a rotary tool, and to either fully enclose or partially expose the rotary tool attachment. The shroud has a plurality of air inlets, a first opening, and a second opening through the top surface of the shroud. The first opening receives a mechanical driveshaft of the rotary tool and the second opening is coupled to an external vacuum source. The flexible skirt is coupled to a perimeter of the shroud and extends downward from above the top surface of the shroud and is configured to contact the work surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shield for capturing dust created from a work surface by a rotary tool attachment, the shield comprising:
 a shroud having a top surface configured to be coupled to a rotary tool, the shroud having a plurality of air inlets therethrough; and   a flexible skirt coupled to a perimeter of the shroud and extending downward from above the top surface of the shroud and configured to contact the work surface.   
     
     
         2 . The shield of  claim 1  further comprising a first opening through the top surface of the shroud and configured to receive a mechanical driveshaft of the rotary tool for coupling the rotary tool attachment to the rotary tool. 
     
     
         3 . The shield of  claim 1  further comprising a second opening through the top surface of the shroud configured to be coupled to vacuum coupler. 
     
     
         4 . The shield of  claim 3  wherein the vacuum coupler is positioned substantially parallel to the rotary tool when the shield is coupled to the rotary tool and the vacuum coupler is configured to couple the second opening to an external vacuum source. 
     
     
         5 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the skirt is coupled to the shroud by a strap around an outer perimeter of the skirt. 
     
     
         6 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the skirt has a length that is insufficient to reach an outer perimeter of the rotary tool attachment. 
     
     
         7 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein a diameter of the shroud is no less than a diameter of the rotary tool attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein a diameter of the shroud is no less then substantially fifteen percent greater than a diameter of the rotary tool attachment. 
     
     
         9 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein a diameter of the shroud is no less then substantially forty percent greater than a diameter of the rotary tool attachment. 
     
     
         10 . The shield of  claim 9  wherein the first opening is offset from a center of the shroud. 
     
     
         11 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of the air inlets are irregularly spaced around the perimeter of the shroud. 
     
     
         12 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the shroud is comprised of steel and the skirt is comprised of urethane. 
     
     
         13 . A shield for capturing dust created from a work surface by a rotary tool attachment, the shield comprising:
 a shroud having a top surface configured to partially expose the rotary tool attachment,   the shroud having a plurality of air inlets therethrough;   a first opening through the top surface of the shroud for receiving a mechanical driveshaft of the rotary tool therethrough for coupling the rotary tool attachment to the rotary tool;   a second opening through the top surface of the shroud configured to be coupled to an external vacuum source; and   a flexible skirt coupled to a perimeter of the shroud extending downward from above the top surface of the shroud and configured to contact the work surface.   
     
     
         14 . The shield of  claim 13  wherein a diameter of the shroud is no less than a diameter of the rotary tool attachment and the skirt has a length that is insufficient to reach an outer perimeter of the rotary tool attachment. 
     
     
         15 . The shield of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of the air inlets are irregularly spaced around the perimeter of the shroud. 
     
     
         16 . The shield of  claim 13  wherein a diameter of the shroud is no less then substantially fifteen percent greater than a diameter of the rotary tool attachment. 
     
     
         17 . The shield of  claim 13  wherein a diameter of the shroud is no less then substantially forty percent greater than a diameter of the rotary tool attachment. 
     
     
         18 . The shield of  claim 17  wherein the first opening is offset from a center of the shroud. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a shield for capturing dust created from a work surface by a rotary tool attachment, the method comprising:
 forming a shroud from a rigid material having a top surface;   creating a plurality of air inlets, a first opening and a second openings through the shroud; and   coupling a flexible skirt to the perimeter of the shroud with a strap around the outside perimeter of the skirt.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising cutting the flexible skirt to predetermined dimensions from a larger piece of urethane.