DISC FOR GRINDER AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. Nos. 62/851,236, filed May 22, 2019, and 62/859,752, filed Jun. 11, 2019, incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The invention relates to the field of hand grinders.

BACKGROUND

The X-Lock system of Robert Bosch GmbH allows for the cutting/grinding disk of a hand grinder to be quickly replaced without tools. The system includes disks having a specially-shaped aperture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is a method for producing a disk of the type having a central hub surrounded by an abrasive material, the hub having an aperture of the type provided in abrasive discs sold by Robert Bosch GmbH under the trademark X-LOCK.

The method comprising as steps:

• • positioning a metal hub against an abrasive disc,
    • the metal hub having an annular portion and a plurality of tabs, the annular portion defining an aperture of the type provided in abrasive discs sold by Robert Bosch GmbH under the trademark X-LOCK and the plurality of tabs protruding from the annular portion, against an abrasive disc,
    • the abrasive disc having a central void, and
    • the positioning being such that the metal hub occludes the central void and the tabs protrude through the disc; and
  • bending the tabs such that the abrasive disc is gripped between the annular portion and the tabs.

According to another aspect, the tabs can extend through the void.

According to another aspect, the disc has, for each tab, a recessed section which receives the tab after the bending step has been completed such that the disc and hub are mechanically locked together.

According to another aspect, the disc can have an opening for each tab and each tab can protrude through the opening provided therefor after the positioning step has been completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-15 each show a disc for use in the method

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16-24 each show inserts for use in the method

FIG. 25 shows the disc of FIG. 1 with the insert of FIG. 16;

FIG. 26 shows the structure of FIG. 24 fitted together;

FIG. 27A shows the structure of FIG. 24 in use;

FIG. 27B is another view of the structure of FIG. 27A;

FIG. 27C is another view of the structure of FIG. 27A;

FIG. 28 is a view of the structure of FIG. 1 and the structure of FIG. 24;

FIG. 29 shows the structure of FIG. 28 fitted together;

FIG. 30A shows the structure of FIG. 28 in use;

FIG. 30B is another view of the structure of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 31 is a view of an abrasive disc formed of the structure of FIG. 6 and the structure of FIG. 17;

FIG. 32 is a view of the structure of FIG. 31 fitted together;

FIG. 33A is a view of the structure of FIG. 32 in use;

FIG. 33B is another view of the structure of FIG. 33A;

FIG. 33C is another view of the structure of FIG. 33A;

FIG. 34 is a view of the structure of FIG. 6 and the structure of FIG. 21;

FIG. 35 is a view of the structure of FIG. 34 fitted together;

FIG. 36A is a view of the structure of FIG. 35 in use;

FIG. 36B is another view of the structure of FIG. 36A;

FIG. 37 is a view of the structure of FIG. 17 and the structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 38 is a view of the structure of FIG. 37 fitted together;

FIG. 39A is a view of the structure of FIG. 37 in use;

FIG. 39B is another view of the structure of FIG. 39A;

FIG. 39C is another view of the structure of FIG. 39A;

FIG. 40 is a view of the structure of FIG. 7 and the structure of FIG. 20;

FIG. 41 is a view of the structure of FIG. 40 fitted together;

FIG. 42A is a view of the structure of FIG. 41 in use;

FIG. 42B is another view of the structure of FIG. 42A;

FIG. 43 is a view of the structure of FIG. 3 and the structure of FIG. 20;

FIG. 44 is a view of the structure of FIG. 43 fitted together;

FIG. 45A is a view of the structure of FIG. 44 in use;

FIG. 45B is another view of the structure of FIG. 45A;

FIG. 45C is another view of the structure of FIG. 45A;

FIG. 46 is a view of an abrasive disc formed from the structure of FIG. 15 and the structure of FIG. 18;

FIG. 47 is a view of the structure of FIG. 46 fitted together;

FIG. 48A is a view of the structure of FIG. 47 in use;

FIG. 49 is a view of the structure of FIG. 5 and the structure of FIG. 24

FIG. 50A is a view of the structure of FIG. 49 in use;

FIG. 50B is another view of the structure of FIG. 50A;

FIG. 51 is a view of the structure of FIG. 5 and the structure of FIG. 16;

FIG. 52 is a view of the structure of FIG. 51 fitted together;

FIG. 53A is a view of the structure of FIG. 52 in use;

FIG. 53B is another view of the structure of FIG. 53A;

FIG. 53C is another view of the structure of FIG. 53A;

FIG. 54 is a view of the structure of FIG. 5 and FIG. 24;

FIG. 55 is a view of the structure of FIG. 54 fitted together;

FIG. 56A is a view of the structure of FIG. 55 in use;

FIG. 56B is another view of the structure of FIG. 56A; and

FIG. 56B is another view of the structure of FIG. 56A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary method comprises fitting a metal hub 100 having the aperture 102 of the X-Lock system and a plurality of protruding tabs 104, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 25, into a disc 106 having a central void 108 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 25; and crimping the tabs around the disc, as indicated by the sequence of FIGS. 26, 27A. Details of the X-Lock system are shown in WO2018036831, incorporated herein by reference.

Other similar methods are shown by the following sequences:

• • FIGS. 28, 29,30A
  • FIGS. 31, 32, 33A
  • FIGS. 34, 35, 36A
  • FIGS. 37, 38, 39A
  • FIGS. 40, 41, 42A
  • FIGS. 43, 44, 45A
  • FIGS. 46, 47, 48
  • FIGS. 49, 50A
  • FIGS. 51, 52, 53A
  • FIGS. 54, 55, 56A

In these regards, some notable variations include:

• • the discs of FIGS. 5, 7 and 11 are provided with interior notches 110, to provide for a mechanical radial connection between the hub and disc;
  • the discs of FIG. 10 includes recesses 112 into which the tabs fold, to similarly provide a mechanical radial connection;
  • the disc of FIG. 13 has radial slots 114 through which the tabs project in use;
  • the disc of FIG. 12 has openings holes 116 through which the tabs project in use;
  • the disc of FIGS. 31 and 46 is provided with abrasive flaps; and
  • the system could be used with apertures of shapes differing from that of the X-LOCK system (not shown).

Further variations are of course possible. Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.