Pole sander

Abstract

A pole sander is provided including an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, and a sanding head attached via a pivot mechanism to a first end of the elongate body. The sanding head includes a hood including a plate and a sidewall to form a chamber, an output spindle projecting through the hood into the chamber, and an electric motor mounted on the hood and configured to rotatably drive the output spindle about a rotational axis. The pivot mechanism allows the sanding head to pivot around a pivot axis that intersects the sanding head forward of at least one of a centre of gravity of the sanding head or the rotational axis of the output spindle relative to the elongate body when the longitudinal axis of the elongate body is located parallel to the plane of the plate.

1 . A pole sander comprising:
 an elongate body having a longitudinal axis; and   a sanding head attached via a pivot mechanism to a first end of the elongate body, wherein the sanding head comprises: a hood including a plate and a sidewall to form a chamber, an output spindle projecting through the hood into the chamber, and an electric motor mounted on the hood and configured to rotatably drive the output spindle about a rotational axis,   wherein the pivot mechanism allows the sanding head to pivot around a pivot axis that extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and parallel to the plane of the plate, wherein the pivot axis intersects the sanding head forward of at least one of a centre of gravity of the sanding head or the rotational axis of the output spindle relative to the elongate body when the longitudinal axis of the elongate body is located parallel to the plane of the plate.   
     
     
         2 . The pole sander of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is forward of the centre of gravity of the sanding head by a distance of between 5 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The pole sander of  claim 1 , wherein, when the pole sander is supported above a horizontal surface, with the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and the pivot axis both extending parallel to the horizontal surface, and with the sanding head able to freely pivot around the pivot axis, the plane of the plate extends at an angle within the range of 30 degrees and 20 degrees relative to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         4 . The pole sander of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is located forward of the rotational axis of the output spindle relative to the elongate body by a distance of between 5 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The pole sander of  claim 1 , further comprising a gear housing enclosing a gear transmission mounted on the hood, wherein the electric motor drives the output spindle via the gear transmission. 
     
     
         6 . The pole sander of  claim 5 , wherein the gear transmission comprises a planetary gear system. 
     
     
         7 . The pole sander of  claim 5 , wherein the pivot mechanism comprises at least one arm connected at one end to the elongate body and pivotally connected at the other end to the gear housing. 
     
     
         8 . The pole sander of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot mechanism comprises a fork having two arms having free ends pivotally connected to the sanding head, a pole support section connected to the elongate body, and a central interconnecting section connecting the pole support section to the two arms. 
     
     
         9 . The pole sander of  claim 8 , wherein the sanding head further comprises a gear housing which encloses a gear transmission, wherein the two arms pivotally connect to sides of the gear housing. 
     
     
         10 . The pole sander of  claim 8 , wherein the free ends two arms are pivotally connected to the sanding head via a bolt that engages with the sanding head. 
     
     
         11 . The pole sander of  claim 8 , further comprising an end housing provided on the first end of the elongate body, wherein the pole support section is connected to the end housing. 
     
     
         12 . The pole sander of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot mechanism allows the sanding head to pivot around a second pivot axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body; wherein the sanding head can pivot about the pivot axis to an angular position where the plane of the plate is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body; and wherein, when the plane of the plate is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, the second axis of rotation is located below the centre of gravity. 
     
     
         13 . The pole sander of  claim 12 , wherein the second pivot axis is located below the centre of gravity by a distance of between 5 mm and 10 mm when the longitudinal axis of the elongate body is located parallel to the plane of the plate. 
     
     
         14 . The pole sander of  claim 12 , further comprising an end housing provided on the first end of the elongate body, wherein the pivot mechanism comprises a fork having two arms having free ends pivotally connected to the sanding head, a pole support section connected to the end housing, and a central interconnecting section connecting the pole support section to the two arms. 
     
     
         15 . The pole sander of  claim 14 , wherein the pole support section of the pivot mechanism connects to the end housing via an axle forming the second pivot axis. 
     
     
         16 . The pole sander of  claim 15 , wherein the end housing comprises a recess and a part of the axle is mounted inside of the recess via two bearings. 
     
     
         17 . The pole sander of  claim 16 , wherein the pole support section includes a second recess and a part of the axle is rigidly mounted in the second recess.