Plate locking mechanism

Abstract

A plate locking mechanism for a surface preparation device comprising a connecting plate having a receiving aperture, a base plate and a floating plate capable of being substantially aligned with the base plate. A fastener extends through a floating plate aperture and engages with a base plate aperture and a resilient member is operatively associated with the fastener to maintain the floating plate in contact with the base plate and wherein, when the base plate is located within the receiving aperture, the floating plate is rotatable to retain the connecting plate in position.

1 . A plate locking mechanism for a surface preparation device comprising:
 (a) a connecting plate having a receiving aperture and at least one blocking member;   (b) a base plate having a base plate aperture, the base plate having a shape complimentary to that of the receiving aperture;   (c) a floating plate capable of being substantially aligned with the base plate, the floating plate having a first surface, at least one floating plate projection and a floating plate aperture, the first surface in contact with the base plate;   (d) a fastener extending through the floating plate aperture and engaging with the base plate aperture; and   (e) a resilient member operatively associated with the fastener and in compressing contact with a second surface of the floating plate;   wherein, location of the base plate within the receiving aperture enables the floating plate to be rotated to align the at least one floating plate projection with the at least one blocking member to thereby lock the connecting plate in position.   
     
     
         2 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the connecting plate is connected to a rotatable plate comprising a grinding tool. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the connecting plate is integral with the rotatable plate. 
     
     
         5 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the floating plate further comprises an actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the base plate comprises at least one projecting member extending from a body thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 6  wherein the at least one floating plate projection can be aligned with the base plate at least one projecting member. 
     
     
         8 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 6  wherein the base plate at least one projecting member is adapted to be accommodated within a complimentary portion of the receiving aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the fastener threadedly engages with the base plate aperture. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the resilient member is a compression spring through which the fastener passes. 
     
     
         12 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 11  wherein movement of the fastener further into the base plate aperture causes compression of the compression spring and increases the force maintaining the first surface of the floating plate in contact with the base plate. 
     
     
         13 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 6  wherein the base plate at least one projecting member comprises a radial aperture to receive a locating fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 13  wherein a head of the locating fastener can be accommodated within a floating plate aperture formed within the at least one floating plate projection. 
     
     
         15 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 14  wherein the actuator is moved in a direction away from the base plate to place the floating plate above the level of the head of the locating fastener prior to rotation of the actuator. 
     
     
         16 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A plate locking mechanism for a surface preparation device comprising:
 (a) a floating plate having an actuator, at least one floating plate projection and a floating plate aperture;   (b) a fastener extending through the floating plate aperture, the fastener having a head and a shank and being adapted to engage a base plate; and   (c) a resilient member at least partially surrounding the shank and extending between the head of the fastener and a receiving surface of the floating plate;   wherein, moving the head of the fastener towards the receiving surface of the floating plate compresses the resilient member.   
     
     
         29 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 28  wherein the floating plate has a plurality of floating plate projections extending from a central body. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The plate locking mechanism of  claim 28  wherein the resilient member is a compression spring through which the fastener passes. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A rotatable plate for a surface preparation device comprising a plate collar defining a hollow passage, the plate collar extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the rotatable plate and ending in a connecting plate, the connecting plate in a plane parallel to that of the rotatable plate and having a receiving aperture continuous with the hollow passage. 
     
     
         35 . The rotatable plate of  claim 34  wherein the plate collar extends above a surface of the rotatable plate to accommodate a plate locking mechanism within the hollow passage. 
     
     
         36 . The rotatable plate of  claim 34  wherein the receiving aperture is adapted to accommodate a base plate having a shape complimentary to the receiving aperture. 
     
     
         37 . The rotatable plate of  claim 34  further comprising disc attachment apertures and/or ballast attachment apertures for the attachment of grinding discs and weights, respectively. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled)