Grinding Wheel Guard

Abstract

A guard attachment for a grinding tool has a metal body with an upper surface, a side wall along part of a perimeter of the upper surface, and a connector with which it can be attached to a grinding tool. Additional features include a bottom plate opposite the upper surface and a debris outlet attached at one end to the surface and side wall of the guard, and having a magnet removably attached to the other end. The bottom plate swivels outward from the body of the guard to facilitate changing the wheel or disk of the grinding tool. The magnet has an aperture allowing for the passage of air, but prevents sparks from escaping the guard attachment.

1 . A wheel guard, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 an upper surface, and 
 a side wall along a perimeter of the upper surface; 
   a clamp attached to the upper surface and configured to attach the wheel guard to a grinding tool;   a debris outlet having a first end attached to the body and a second end; and   a magnet attached to the second end of the debris outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a swivel plate parallel to the upper surface, having a perimeter located along the side wall opposite the upper surface in a first configuration, the swivel plate rotatable into a second configuration away from the body. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a latch operable to secure the swivel plate in the first configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a clamp on the second end of the debris outlet whereby the magnet is removably attached to the second end of the debris outlet. 
     
     
         5 . A wheel guard, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 an upper surface, and 
 a side wall along a perimeter of the upper surface; 
   a clamp attached to the upper surface and configured to attach the wheel guard to a grinding tool; and   a swivel plate parallel to the upper surface, having a perimeter located along the side wall opposite the upper surface in a first configuration, the swivel plate rotatable into a second configuration away from the body.   
     
     
         6 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a latch operable to secure the swivel plate in the first configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a debris outlet having a first end attached to the body and a second end. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a magnet attached to the second end of the debris outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the magnet is attached to the second end of the debris outlet by a clamp on the second end of the debris outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the magnet comprises an aperture to allow air to flow out of the debris outlet. 
     
     
         11 . A wheel guard, comprising:
 a body;   a debris outlet having a first end attached to the body and a second end;   a clamp attached to the second end of the debris outlet;   a magnet removably attached to the clamp; and   a bottom plate alongside the body.   
     
     
         12 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the bottom plate is rotatably attached to the body by a hinge, allowing the bottom plate to rotate outward from alongside the body to a configuration away from the body to facilitate changing a wheel of a grinding tool. 
     
     
         13 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a latch engageable to secure the bottom plate in a configuration alongside the body. 
     
     
         14 . The wheel guard as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the magnet comprises an aperture to allow the flow of air through the debris outlet.