Adjustable handheld sander

Abstract

An adjustable sander having a body and a flexible base. The flexible base includes a first end and a second end spaced apart from one another. The first end and second end are each pivotally attached to the body. The flexible base is configured to move between a concave configuration, a neutral configuration, and a convex configuration relative to the body. The adjustable sander further includes a removable sanding surface affixed to a surface of the flexible base that is distal from the body. The adjustable sander also includes a locking mechanism configured to selectively hold the flexible base in a desired concave, neutral or convex configuration. The locking mechanism is characterized in that it includes an axial having a head and a shaft having a series of shaft notches.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable sander comprising:
 a body;   a flexible base having a first end and a second end spaced apart from one another, and wherein the first end and second end is each pivotally attached to the body, and wherein the flexible base is configured to move between a concave configuration, a neutral configuration, and a convex configuration relative to the body;   a removable sanding surface affixed to a surface of the flexible base that is distal from the body;   a locking mechanism configured to selectively hold the flexible base in a desired concave, neutral or convex configuration; and   characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises:
 an axial including a head and a shaft, and wherein the shaft includes a series of shaft notches; 
 a sleeve configured to be positioned around the shaft; 
 a selector having an operator surface and a holder coupled to the selector, wherein the operator surface is accessible from outside the body and the holder includes an engagement surface having at least one holder notch configured to selectively engage at least one of the shaft notches, and wherein said selector is selectively movable between an engaged position wherein the at least one holder notch is engaged to one of the shaft notches, and a disengaged position, wherein the at least one holder notch is disengaged from the shaft notches. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is U-shaped and includes two tines each having an engagement surface with at least one holder notch thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , wherein holder is a plate defining an opening having a large end and a small end, and wherein at the large end, the opening is much larger than the shaft such that an internal edge of the opening, which functions as the holder notch, cannot engage the shaft notches, and wherein at the small end, the opening is only slightly larger than the shaft such that the internal edge of the opening, which functions as the holder notch can engage the shaft notches. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve further defines a window, and wherein the engagement surface of the holder may engage the shaft notches through said window. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a second series of shaft notches and the sleeve further defines a second window. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further includes a gear nut fixed within the body and having an interior surface including series of nut notches, and the holder is a gear pin having a first portion including a series of holder notches and a second portion having a series of locking notches configured to selectively engage the nut notches such that when the holder is in the engaged position, the nut notches and locking notches are engaged to one another, and in the disengaged position, the nut notches and locking notches are disengaged from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable sander of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the nut notches and locking notches are chamfered. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , wherein the operator surface of the selector is a thumb slider. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable sander of claim from  1 , wherein the operator surface of the selector is a winged slider. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further includes a detent biased by a spring, and wherein said detent is configured to engage detent receiving surfaces on the selector. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable sander of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the shaft notches and holding notches are chamfered. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable sander of  claim 11 , further including a spring positioned around the shaft and configured to be selectively compressed between the head of the shaft and the sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , wherein the body is constructed of a two-part clam shell. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , further including first and second connecting arms spaced apart from one another and each having one end connected to the flexible base, and a second end connected to the body, and wherein said connecting arms are configured to facilitate greater pivotal movement of the flexible base relative to the body. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable sander of  claim 1 , further including a vacuum tube coupling having one end configured to engage a vacuum mechanism and the other end configured to facilitate access to sanded particles freed by the sanding surface.