Grinding Wheel Sharpening Devices Mountable To A Rotary Power Source

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/891,592, filed Sep. 20, 2024, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/104,515, filed Feb. 1, 2023, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 63/305,774, filed Feb. 2, 2022, and incorporates the filings in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to grinding wheels which are adapted to be mounted to and driven by any rotary power source, such as a motor, transmission, pulley system, or directly to a rotary power source. More particularly, the present invention relates to an abrasive grinding wheel sharpening devices in the form of a grinding wheel body having a drive shaft, and which are adapted to shape and/or sharpen oscillating saw blades, chisels, knives, drill bits, other straight edge blades, circular saw blades, hole saws, and reciprocating saw blades.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is believed that grinding wheels have been used since ancient times, rotated by hand-crank or water, and later by foot-pedal. These early grinding wheels were used to grind and mill grain, or sharpen weapons and tools. In the middle-ages, abrasive grinding wheels were developed and rotated either by opposing cranks or treadle powered means. During the Industrial Revolution, the need for more efficient grinding, led to the introduction of improved abrasive materials beyond natural stones, culminating with cylindrical grinding machines which provided far greater shaping and sharpening precision.

Currently, commercially available griding wheels are offered in various shapes and sizes and typically are disposed in a housing and rotary driven. Typically, grinding wheels are powered by being spun at high speeds by a motor. This power can be generated from electric motors, wherein the motor attaches to the wheel's arbor, and the abrasive disc(s) rotate and perform tasks like sharpening, polishing, or grinding. Portable grinding wheels have been developed for consumer use and/or for use at a job site which are manufactured as a hand-held device, powered by a battery pack or an electric source. Typically, these hand-held devices are designed for use with a specific abrasive grinding wheel and for a particular purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present subject matter relates to grinding wheel sharpening devices for mounting to a rotary power tool, rotation of the grinding wheel sharpening devices being powered and driven by the rotary power tool. Each of the grinding wheel sharpening devices of the present subject matter is in the form of a grinding wheel body having a drive shaft, the drive shaft configured to be mounted to a rotary power tool and adapted to be powered and driven by the rotary power tool, at least one abrasive sharpening surface, and a blade rest within which the grinding wheel is disposed during use, the blade rest enabling precision shaping and/or sharpening of a blade. In a preferred embodiment, the grinding wheel body and drive shaft are formed as a single unit from a metal or metal compound.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device in the form of a grinding wheel body having a drive shaft, the drive shaft configured to be mounted to a rotary power source and adapted to be powered and driven by the rotary power source.

It is another object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device in the form of a grinding wheel body having a drive shaft formed as a single unit from a metal or metal compound.

It also is an object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device which is configured to be mounted to any rotary power source, examples of which include a motor, transmission, pulley system, or directly to a rotary power tool, such as a power drill or die grinder.

It is still another object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device to be mounted to a rotary power source and having a blade rest within which the grinding wheel body is disposed during use.

It is a yet another object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device to be mounted to a rotary power source for shaping and/or sharpening oscillating saw blades, chisels, knives and other straight edge blades, circular saw blades, hole saws, and reciprocating saws.

It is a further object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device to be mounted to a rotary power source having a blade rest for housing the grinding wheel body during use, the blade rest having a vacuum hose receiver block, a blade support surface to stabilize the blade during the shaping and/or sharpening operation, and a bearings system.

It is yet a further object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device wherein the grinding body is conical shape, having a blade-sharpening surface comprising a plurality of shaped grooves of varying diameters, with the largest diameter being disposed at the outer end of the grinding body and the smallest diameter being disposed at the inner end of the grinding body, and the diameter of each of the plurality of shaped grooves descending in diameter from the largest diameter to the smallest diameter.

It is still a further object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device having a conical-shaped grinding body comprising a blade-sharpening surface having a plurality of shaped grooves which form a plurality of grinding edges that match existing teeth found on commercially available oscillating multi-tool (OMT) blades.

It is a further object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device having a conical-shaped grinding body comprising a blade-sharpening surface comprising a plurality of customized shaped grooves which form a plurality of grinding edges to match a desired blade tooth design.

It also is an object of the present subject matter to provide a conical-shaped grinding wheel sharpening device which is engineered to enable a blade length of unlimited length to be shaped or sharpened.

It is an additional object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device comprising a grinding body in the form of a single point grinding wheel having a flat and thin profile, and having a draft shaft, the drive shaft configured to be mounted to a rotary power source and adapted to be powered and driven by the rotary power source, the single point grinding wheel having an inverted “V”-shaped sharpening edge to enable grinding of individual teeth and custom shaping saw blade teeth.

It also is an object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device in the form of a mini circular grinding body having a drive shaft, the mini grinding body comprising a thin, flat peripheral edge for sharpening saw blades, hole saws and reciprocating saws, and a plurality of V-shaped grinding edges disposed on the blade-sharpening surface, the drive shaft configured to be mounted to a rotary power source and adapted to be powered and driven by the rotary power source.

It is an additional object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device in the form of a mini circular grinding body having a drive shaft, the mini grinding body comprising a V-shaped peripheral edge for sharpening individual oscillating multi-tool saw blade teeth, and a plurality of V-shaped grinding edges disposed on the blade-sharpening surface, the drive shaft configured to be mounted to a rotary power source and adapted to be powered and driven by the rotary power source.

It also is an object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device in the form of a large circular grinding body having a drive shaft, the large grinding body comprising a V-shaped peripheral edge which is provided with an electroplated abrasive for sharpening oscillating multi-tool (OMT) teeth, a plurality of V-shaped grinding edges disposed on the blade-sharpening surface, which are spaced apart such that an OMT blade can be sharpened along the entire width of the large grinding body, the drive shaft configured to be mounted to a rotary power source and adapted to be powered and driven by the rotary power source.

It is an additional object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device in the form of a large circular grinding body having a drive shaft, the large grinding body comprising a thin, flat peripheral edge for sharpening saw blades, hole saws and reciprocating saws, and a plurality of V-shaped grinding edges disposed on the blade-sharpening surface, the drive shaft configured to be mounted to a rotary power source and adapted to be powered and driven by the rotary power source.

If is a further object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device in the form of a large circular grinding body having a drive shaft, the large grinding body comprising a peripheral edge for sharpening, a plurality of V-shaped grinding edges disposed on the blade-sharpening surface, and an under surface provided with either a removable abrasive material or an electroplated permanent abrasive surface for sharpening chisels, knives, and other straight edges.

It also is an object of the present subject matter to provide a grinding wheel sharpening device in the form of a large circular grinding body having a drive shaft, the large grinding body being adapted to be disposed within a blade rest, the blade rest having a fixed or adjustable angle guide for chisel sharpening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view illustrating a sharpening device of the present subject matter in the form of a conical-shaped grinding wheel.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the conical-shaped grinding wheel of the present subject matter depicting the sharpening of an oscillating saw blade.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the conical-shaped grinding wheel of the present subject matter mounted to a rotary power tool.

FIG. 4 is top perspective view illustrating a sharpening device of the present subject matter in the form of a single point grinding wheel.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the single point grinding wheel of the present subject matter mounted to a rotary power tool.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a sharpening device of the present subject matter in the form of a mini grinding wheel.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the mini grinding wheel of the present subject matter depicting the sharpening of an oscillating saw blade.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a mini grinding wheel of the present subject matter mounted to a rotary power tool.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sharpening device of the present subject matter in the form of a large grinding wheel.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the large grinding wheel of the present subject matter depicting the sharpening of an oscillating saw blade.

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the large grinding wheel of the present subject matter depicting the sharpening of an oscillating saw blade.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the large grinding wheel of the present subject matter mounted to a rotary power tool.

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the large grinding wheel of the present subject matter depicting a fixed or adjustable angle guide for chisel sharpening.

FIG. 14 is a top rear perspective view of the large grinding wheel of the present subject matter mounted to a rotary power tool and depicting the rear surface of the large grinding wheel having an abrasive surface.

It is to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Rather, the drawings are merely representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the present subject matter unless specified otherwise. The drawings are intended to depict exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter, and therefor should not be considered limiting in scope. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements. Further, certain elements in some figures may be omitted, or not illustrated to scale, for illustrative clarity. Any cross-sectional views may be in the form of “slices,” or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines that may otherwise be visible in a “true” cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity. In some instances, where multiple elements are present, only a single element may be labeled or multiple elements may have the same label to indicate that the label applies to all elements of the same type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, like reference numbers are used to identify like elements. Furthermore, the drawings are intended to illustrate major features of exemplary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of every implementation nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements and are not drawn to scale. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to clearly describe various specific embodiments disclosed herein. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the presently claimed invention may be practiced without all the specific details discussed below. In other instances, well known features have not been described so as not to obscure the invention.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of the terms “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the use of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” throughout the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the claimed invention. The present disclosure is directed to overcoming or at least reducing the effects of one or more of the problems presented above.

The present subject matter is directed to grinding wheel sharpening devices mountable to a rotary power source, and powered and driven by the rotary power source. The rotary power source may be a motor, transmission, pulley system, or a rotary power tool, such as a power drill or die grinder. In one embodiment, the rotary power source may be a rotary power drill. More particularly, the present subject matter is directed to several configurations of sharpening devices comprising a grinding wheel body having a drive shaft associated therewith, the inventive grinding wheel sharpening devices are adapted for sharpening saw teeth saw blades, such as oscillating saw blades, chisels, blades, and the like.

The grinding wheel body is provided with one or more sharpening surfaces provide with an abrasive material for shaping and sharpening the desired saw teeth, blades, chisels, and the like. Grinding edges can be coated with an abrasive such as an electroplated cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasive for sharpening steel blades or an electroplated diamond abrasive for sharpening carbide blades. In some embodiments, the rear surface of the grinding wheel body may be coated with an electroplated CBN or diamond abrasive, or with other multiple abrasive grits and abrasive coatings. Each of the grinding wheel sharpening devices of the present subject matter are designed to create teeth using at least two passes of a saw blade and sharpen in a crisscross way.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the grinding wheel sharpening device 100 of the present subject matter is in the form of a conical-shaped grinding wheel body 102 having a drive shaft 110, the drive shaft having a proximal end 112 and a distal end 114. The grinding wheel body 102 comprises an outer blade sharpening face 103 configured with a plurality of shaped grooves 104 which are designed to shape and sharpen the teeth on an oscillating multi-tool (OMT) saw blade, and a rear face 105 from which the drive shaft 110 extends outwardly. The plurality of shaped grooves 104 provide a plurality of grinding edges 107 that may match existing teeth patterns found on available oscillating multi-tool blades or may be provided with customized grooves to meet a desired blade tooth design. The conical shape of the grinding wheel body is engineered to enable a blade length of unlimited length to be shaped or sharpened.

The conical-shaped grinding wheel body 102 and drive shaft 110 may be formed from a single piece of metal or the drive shaft may be introduced and extended through a central opening disposed within the rear face of the grinding wheel body. The plurality of shaped grooves 104 have varying diameters with the largest diameter 108 being disposed proximal to the rear face 105 of the conical-shaped grinding wheel body, the smallest diameter 109 being disposed distal to the rear face 105, and the diameters of each of the plurality of shaped grooves 104 descending in diameter from the largest 108 to the smallest 109, thereby forming the conical shape. This conical-shaped configuration allows an oscillating blade to be shaped or sharpened without interfering with the component parts supporting the grinding wheel body, such as the drill, die grinder, motor, or direct/indirect rotary sources to which the drive shaft 110 is mounted, or any support or retention method 116 such as a screw head, bolt, or bearing on the distal end 114 of the drive shaft. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the grinding wheel body 102 and drive shaft 110 may be formed as a single unit or the drive shaft 210 may be removably associated with the single point grinding wheel body, such as by introducing and extending the drive shaft through an opening 208 centrally disposed within the grinding wheel body 102.

As shown in FIG. 3, the proximal end 112 of drive shaft 110 can be mounted to any rotary power source, including for example, a motor, transmission, pulley system or directly be a power tool PT, such as a drill or die grinder. This conical-shaped grinding wheel may be provided with a blade rest 120 to stabilize the blade for more precision sharpening. The blade rest 120 is adapted with reversible left-hand and right-hand use.

In one embodiment, the grinding wheel sharpening device 200 of the present subject matter is in the form of a single point grinding wheel body 202 having a drive shaft 210, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The single point grinding wheel body has a flat and thin profile. Such a design facilitates the sharpening of a single edge of many forward angled teeth or straight teeth. The thin profile is designed to fit within the narrow slot between forward angled teeth or straight teeth. Referring to FIG. 4, the single point grinding wheel body 202 is illustrated having a “V” shaped sharpening edge 204 which is so configured to enable the grinding of individual teeth and custom shaping saw blade teeth. Sharpening edge 204 is provided with an abrasive coating, including for example, an electroplated CBN coating or an electroplated diamond coating.

The use of a single point grinding wheel sharpening device 200 can create custom tooth geometry, sharpen individual teeth, sharpening forward set directional teeth, or sharpen unusual/irregular teeth geometry. Adding a single point grinding wheel also enables the user to sharpen other cutting tools such as drill bits, chisels, knives, and circular saw blades.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the drive shaft 210 of single point grinding wheel sharpening device 200 comprises a proximal end 212 and a distal end 214. The grinding wheel body 202 and drive shaft 210 may be formed as a single piece of metal or the drive shaft 210 may be removably associated with the single point grinding wheel body, such as by introducing and extending the drive shaft through an opening 208 centrally disposed within the grinding wheel body. As shown in FIG. 5, the distal end 214 of the drive shaft extends completely through a central opening which allows the single point wheel to be driven from the left side and the right side. Proximal end 212 is configured to be mounted to any rotary power source, including for example, a motor, transmission, pulley system or directly be a power tool PT, such as a drill or die grinder. The distal end 214 of the drive is introduced into an opening 221A of blade rest 220 to enhance more precise use.

The blade rest 220 further comprises a vacuum hose body 222 having a receiver opening, a blade support table 224 and bearings and bearing supports 226. Preferably, the blade rest 220 has dual openings 221A and 221B such that the distal end 214 of the drive shaft 210 can be introduced into opening 221A and through opening 221B, thereby offering the user both left-handed and right-handed operation.

In one embodiment, the grinding wheel sharpening device 300 of the present subject matter is in the form of a mini grinding wheel body 302 having a drive shaft 310, the drive shaft having a proximal end 312 and a distal end 314 which is introduced and extends through an opening 308 centrally disposed within the grinding wheel body as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8. Alternatively, the grinding wheel body 302 and drive shaft 310 may be formed as a single piece of metal. The mini grinding wheel body 302 comprises a thin flat peripheral edge 303 for sharpening saw blades, hole saws, and reciprocating saw blades. Proximal end 312 of drive shaft 310 is adapted to be mounted to any rotary power source, including for example, a motor, transmission, pulley system or directly be a power tool PT, such as a drill or die grinder.

The mini grinding wheel body 302 is introduced into blade rest 320 having a vacuum block 322 with a hose receiver opening, a blade support table 324 and a bearing and bearing holder 326. As shown particularly in FIG. 7, the mini grinding wheel body has an outer blade-sharpening face 304 comprising a plurality of V-shaped grinding edges 306 which are spaced apart such that an oscillating multi-tool (OMT) blade can be sharpened along the entire width of the grinding wheel face. Referring now to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the peripheral edge 303 may be V-shaped for sharpening individual OMT teeth, or may be a thin, flat, and straight peripheral edge for sharpening circular saws, hole saws, and reciprocating blades. The peripheral edge 303, the grinding edges 306, and the rear face 305, can be provided with one or more abrasive materials including electroplated abrasive coatings. The abrasive material disposed on rear face 305 may an adhesive-backed removal abrasive material or may be an electroplated permanent abrasive

In one embodiment, the grinding wheel sharpening device 400 of the present subject matter is in the form of a large grinding wheel body 402 having a drive shaft 410 as shown in FIGS. 9-14. Referring to FIG. 9, the large grinding wheel body 402 comprises a peripheral outer edge 403, an outer blade-sharpening face 404, and a rear face 405, the outer face 404 having a plurality of V-shaped grinding edges 406 which are spaced apart such that an oscillating multi-tool (OMT) blade can be sharpened. It is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention that a recessed screw may be utilized rather than an outer bearing support, such that an OMT blade can be sharpened along entire width of the grinding wheel face 404. Referring to FIG. 11, the peripheral outer edge 403 may be a V-shaped edge comprising an electroplated abrasive for sharpening OMT teeth. Alternately, the peripheral edge 403 can be a thin and flat edge coated with an abrasive material for sharpening circular saw blades, hole saws, or reciprocating saw blades as shown in FIG. 14.

The grinding edges 406 are provided with an electroplated abrasive material. The rear face 405 of the large grinding body may be provided with an abrasive material 409. The abrasive material may an adhesive-backed removal abrasive material or may be an electroplated permanent abrasive for sharpening chisels, knives, or other straight edges.

Drive shaft 410 has a proximal end 412, and a distal end 414 which is introduced and extends through an opening 408 centrally disposed within the grinding wheel body the grinding wheel body. Alternatively, the large grinding wheel body and drive shaft may be formed as a single piece of metal.

The distal end 414 of drive shaft 410 is introduced into blade rest 420 comprising a vacuum block 422 having a hose receiving opening 423, a blade support table 424 and bearings and bearing supports 426 as shown in FIG. 12. The blade rest 420 further may comprise a fixed or adjustable angle guide 428 for chisel sharpening as illustrated in FIG. 13 and a rear bearing block 429 as illustrated in FIG. 14.

While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated and can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The foregoing detailed description of exemplary and preferred embodiments is presented for purposes of illustration and disclosure in accordance with the requirements of the law. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form(s) described, but only to enable others skilled in the art to understand how the invention may be suited for a particular use or implementation. The possibility of modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. No limitation is intended by the description of exemplary embodiments which may have included tolerances, feature dimensions, specific operating conditions, engineering specifications, or the like, and which may vary between implementations or with changes to the state of the art, and no limitation should be implied therefrom.

Applicant has made this disclosure with respect to the current state of the art, but also contemplates advancements and that adaptations in the future may take into consideration of those advancements, namely in accordance with the then current state of the art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims as written and equivalents as applicable. Reference to a claim element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated. Moreover, no element, component, nor method or process step in this disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, under the provisions of 35 U.S.C § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . ” and no method or process step herein is to be construed under those provisions unless the step, or steps, are expressly recited using the phrase “step(s) for . . . .”