Vacuum Sander

Abstract

A vacuum sander includes a head assembly. A handle attachment is rotatable coupled to a drive to allow selective rotation of the handle attachment relative to the drive and a debris shroud about a first axis. The drive is rotatable relative to the debris shroud to allow selective rotation of the drive and the handle attachment relative to the debris shroud about a second axis different from the first axis. The drive is rotatably coupled to a forked handle attachment between two prongs thereof. The drive is configured to couple to a sanding implement and to selectively drive rotation of the sanding implement about an axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum sander comprising:
 an elongate handle;   a forked handle attachment coupled to the elongate handle, wherein the forked handle attachment includes two prongs; and   a drive coupled to the forked handle between the two prongs thereof, wherein the drive is configured to couple to a sanding implement and to selectively drive movement of the sanding implement.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum sander set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive is rotatably coupled to the two prongs of the forked handle attachment to allow for selective rotation of the forked handle attachment and the elongate handle relative to the drive about an axis. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum sander set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the drive is disposed in a space between the two prongs to provide clearance for the drive as the forked handle attachment rotates about the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum sander set forth in  claim 3 , wherein together the handle, the forked handle attachment and the drive define a vacuum passage extending therethrough and configured to provide fluid communication between the sanding implement and the vacuum source. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum sander set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive comprises an electric motor. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum sander set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the handle is configured to be fluidly connected to a vacuum source. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum sander set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a control coupled to the handle, the control including an actuator in electrical communication with the drive configured to actuate operation of the drive. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum sander set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive includes a motor, a gearbox transmission having an output shaft configured to couple to the sanding implement for rotating the sanding implement about the axis, and a belt-drive transmission operatively connecting the motor to the gearbox transmission. 
     
     
         9 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the belt-drive transmission is rotatably coupled to the gearbox transmission to allow selective rotation of the belt-drive transmission, the motor, and the forked handle attachment relative to the gearbox transmission and the debris shroud. 
     
     
         10 . A head assembly for a vacuum sander comprising:
 a forked handle attachment configured to couple to an elongate handle, wherein the forked handle attachment includes two prongs;   a drive rotatably coupled to the forked handle attachment between the two prongs thereof, wherein the drive is configured to couple to a sanding implement and to selectively drive rotation of the sanding implement about an axis; and   a debris shroud coupled to the drive and configured to enclose the sanding implement when coupled to the drive.   
     
     
         11 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the drive includes a motor, a gearbox transmission having an output shaft configured to couple to the sanding implement for rotating the sanding implement about the axis, and a belt-drive transmission operatively connecting the motor to the gearbox transmission. 
     
     
         12 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the belt-drive transmission is rotatably coupled to the gearbox transmission to allow selective rotation of the belt-drive transmission, the motor, and the forked handle attachment relative to the gearbox transmission and the debris shroud. 
     
     
         13 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the drive is rotatably coupled to the two prongs of the forked handle attachment to allow for selective rotation of the forked handle attachment and the elongate handle relative to the drive about an axis. 
     
     
         14 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the drive is disposed in a space between the two prongs to provide clearance for the drive as the forked handle attachment rotates about the axis. 
     
     
         15 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 11 , wherein together the forked handle attachment and the drive define a vacuum passage extending therethrough and configured to provide fluid communication between the sanding implement and a vacuum source. 
     
     
         16 . A head assembly of a vacuum sander comprising:
 a handle attachment configured to couple to an elongate handle;   a drive configured to couple to a sanding implement and to selectively drive rotation of the sanding implement about an axis; and   a debris shroud configured to enclose the sanding implement when coupled to the drive,   wherein the handle attachment is rotatable coupled to the drive to allow selective rotation of the handle attachment relative to the drive and the debris shroud about a first axis,   wherein at least a portion of the drive is rotatable relative to the debris shroud to allow selective rotation of said at least a portion of the drive and the handle attachment relative to the debris shroud about a second axis different from the first axis.   
     
     
         17 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the handle attachment is rotatable about the first axis in a first plane, wherein together said at least a portion of the drive and the handle attachment are rotatable about the second axis in a second plane, wherein the first and second planes are transverse to one another. 
     
     
         18 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the drive includes a motor, a gearbox transmission having an output shaft configured to couple to the sanding implement for rotating the sanding implement about the axis, and a belt-drive transmission operatively connecting the motor to the gearbox transmission. 
     
     
         19 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the belt-drive transmission is rotatably coupled to the gearbox transmission to allow selective rotation of the belt-drive transmission, the motor, and the forked handle attachment relative to the gearbox transmission and the debris shroud. 
     
     
         20 . The head assembly set forth in  claim 17 , wherein together the forked handle attachment and the drive define a vacuum passage extending therethrough and configured to provide fluid communication between the sanding implement and a vacuum source.