Foldable sander head

Abstract

A foldable sander head includes a head body with first and second head portions. The first and second head portion are pivotable relative to one another about a pivot joint between a planar configuration and a non-planar configuration. A pivot joint connector couples the first and second head portions to one another. The pivot joint connector includes a slide coupler that is slidably coupled to the first and second head portions, such as by tracks on the first and second head portions. The first and second head portions are selectively lockable relative to one another in the planar configuration and are free to pivot in the non-planar configuration. The pivot joint passes through and orthogonal to a central axis of the head body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable sander head for a sander, the foldable sander head comprising:
 a head body including first and second head portions each having a lower surface; and   a pivot joint connector pivotably coupling the first and second head portions to one another so that the first and second head portions are pivotable relative to one another about a pivot joint between a planar configuration, in which the lower surfaces of the first and second head portions are generally coplanar with respect to one another, and a folded configuration, in which the lower surfaces of the first and second head portions define an included angle therebetween that is less than 180 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint is a central pivot joint extending through and orthogonal to a central axis of the head body. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint connector includes a track-bearing assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the track-bearing assembly includes
 a first pair of opposing tracks fixedly coupled to the first head portion,   a second pair of opposing tracks fixedly coupled to the second head portion,   a first bearing slidably coupled to the first pair of opposing tracks and configured to be slidable along the first pair of opposing tracks, and   a second bearing slidably coupled to the second pair of opposing tracks and configured to be slidable along the second pair of opposing tracks.   
     
     
         5 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the first and second bearings are fixedly coupled to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second bearings comprises a plain bearing received in the corresponding one of the first and second pair of opposing tracks. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising a latch coupled to the head body, the latch configurable between a locked configuration, which locks the head body in the planar configuration to inhibit pivoting of the first and second head portions relative to one another, and an unlocked configuration, in which the first and second head portions are freely pivotable relative to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the latch includes a lever coupled to the first head portion, and a catch coupled to the second head portion, wherein lever is selectively movable relative to the first head portion to i) engage the catch, thereby configuring the latch in the locked configuration, and ii) disengage the catch, thereby configuring the latch in the unlocked configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the latch comprises two latches. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a pole coupler coupled to the pivot joint connector. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the pole coupler is rotatable coupled to the pivot joint connector. 
     
     
         12 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the pole coupler includes a clevis rotatably coupled to the pivot joint connector and rotatable about a first rotational axis that is transverse to the pivot joint, and a pole connector rotatably coupled to the clevis and rotatable about a second rotational axis that is generally parallel to the pivot joint. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint connector comprises a slide coupler slidably coupled to the first and second head portions. 
     
     
         14 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising at least one track coupled to the first and second head portions, wherein the slide coupler includes at least one bearing slidably coupled to the at least one track. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one track includes at least one first track coupled to the first head portion, and at least one second track coupled to the second head portion. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one bearing includes at least one first bearing slidably coupled to the at least one first track, and at least one second bearing slidably coupled to the at least one second track. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one first bearing includes at least one first plain bearing received in the at least one first track, wherein the at least one second bearing includes at least one second plain bearing received in the at least one second track. 
     
     
         18 . A foldable sander head for a sander, the foldable sander head comprising:
 a head body including first and second head portions each having a lower surface, wherein the first and second head portions are selectively pivotable relative to one another about a pivot joint between a planar configuration, in which the lower surfaces of the first and second head portions are generally coplanar and fixed with respect to one another, and a folded configuration, in which the lower surfaces of the first and second head portions define an included angle therebetween that is less than 180 degrees; and   a latch coupled to the head body, the latch configurable between a locked configuration, which locks the head body in the planar configuration to inhibit pivoting of the first and second head portions relative to one another, and an unlocked configuration, in which the first and second head portions are freely pivotable relative to one another,   wherein the latch includes a lever coupled to the first head portion, and a catch coupled to the second head portion, the lever selectively movable relative to the first head portion to i) engage the catch, thereby configuring the latch in the locked configuration, and ii) disengage the catch, thereby configuring the latch in the unlocked configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The foldable sander head set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the latch extends across the pivot joint in the locked configuration. 
     
     
         20 . A foldable sander head for a sander, the foldable sander head comprising:
 a head body including first and second head portions each having a lower surface, wherein the first and second head portions are selectively pivotable relative to one another about a pivot joint between a planar configuration, in which the lower surfaces of the first and second head portions are generally coplanar and fixed with respect to one another, and a folded configuration, in which the lower surfaces of the first and second head portions define an included angle therebetween that is less than 180 degrees,   wherein the pivot joint is a central pivot joint extending through and orthogonal to a central axis of the head body, and   wherein the head body is lockable in the planar configuration to inhibit pivoting of the first and second head portions relative to one another about the pivot joint.