Angle grinder including non-removable guard

Abstract

An angle grinder includes an output shaft defining a rotational axis, a housing from which the output shaft extends, and a flange coupled to the housing and surrounding the output shaft. The angle grinder further includes a first circumferential groove defined between the flange and the housing, a first array of radially outward-extending slots in the flange and in communication with the first circumferential groove, and a keyway defined in the housing. The keyway is positioned inline with a first of the radially outward-extending slots in the first array. The angle grinder further includes a guard with a second array of radially inward-extending projections and a key positionable within the keyway. The radially inward-extending projections are received in the radially outward-extending slots. The key is able to close the first radially outward-extending slot in the first array to prevent removal of the guard from the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An angle grinder comprising:
 an output shaft defining a rotational axis;   a housing from which the output shaft extends;   a flange coupled to the housing and at least partially surrounding the output shaft;   a first circumferential groove defined between the flange and the housing;   a first array of radially outward-extending slots defined in the flange, each of the slots in the first array in communication with the first circumferential groove;   a keyway defined in the housing and positioned inline with one of the radially outward-extending slots in the first array;   a guard including a second array of radially inward-extending projections configured to be received in the first array of radially outward-extending slots; and   a key positionable within the keyway to close the one of radially outward-extending slot in the first array to prevent removal of the guard from the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The angle grinder of  claim 1 , wherein the second array of radially inward-extending projections includes at least one alignment projection, and wherein the alignment projection has a larger width than a remainder of the radially inward-extending projections. 
     
     
         3 . The angle grinder of  claim 2 , wherein the first array of radially outward-extending slots includes at least one alignment slot, wherein the alignment slot has a larger width than a remainder of the radially outward-extending slots, and wherein the radially inward-extending projections on the guard are aligned with and receivable through the radially outward-extending slots in the flange when the alignment projection is aligned with the alignment slot. 
     
     
         4 . The angle grinder of  claim 1 , wherein the key includes a second circumferential groove in which the radially inward-extending projections in the second array are movable when adjusting a rotational orientation of the guard relative to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The angle grinder of  claim 1 , wherein the first circumferential groove in the housing and the second circumferential groove in the key have equal thicknesses. 
     
     
         6 . The angle grinder of  claim 1 , wherein the key includes a flange portion received within one of the radially outward-extending slot in the first array when the key is positioned in the keyway, and wherein the flange portion of the key and the flange have equal thicknesses. 
     
     
         7 . The angle grinder of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a hole configured to receive a fastener to secure the key within the keyway. 
     
     
         8 . The angle grinder of  claim 7 , wherein the hole is oriented transverse to the rotational axis. 
     
     
         9 . The angle grinder of  claim 7 , wherein the fastener is a pin, and wherein the key includes a corresponding receiving aperture aligned with the hole in the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The angle grinder of  claim 7 , wherein the fastener is a set screw, and wherein the key includes an indent aligned with the hole in the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The angle grinder of  claim 10 , wherein the indent includes a bottom surface and an angled surface. 
     
     
         12 . The angle grinder of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener is engageable with the angled surface of the indent in a first position of the key within the keyway. 
     
     
         13 . The angle grinder of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener is engageable with the bottom surface and the angled surface of the indent in a second position of the key within the keyway. 
     
     
         14 . An angle grinder comprising:
 an output shaft defining a rotational axis;   a housing from which the output shaft extends;   a flange coupled to the housing and at least partially surrounding the output shaft;   a circumferential groove defined between the flange and the housing;   a first array of radially outward-extending slots defined in the flange, each of the radially outward-extending slots in the first array in communication with the circumferential groove;   a guard including a second array of radially inward-extending projections configured to be received in the first array of radially outward-extending slots;   a first stop disposed on the housing; and   a second stop formed on the guard and engageable with the first stop to prevent re-alignment of the second array of radially inward-extending projections with the first array of radially outward-extending slots, and subsequent removal of the guard from the housing.   
     
     
         15 . The angle grinder of  claim 14 , wherein the first stop has a cross-section that is L-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The angle grinder of  claim 14 , wherein the first stop is fastened to the housing after the guard is installed on the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The angle grinder of  claim 14 , wherein the second stop is a radially outward-extending projection. 
     
     
         18 . The angle grinder of  claim 14 , wherein the first stop includes a notch configured to receive the second stop. 
     
     
         19 . An angle grinder comprising:
 an output shaft defining a rotational axis;   a housing from which the output shaft extends;   a guard coupled to the housing and partially surrounding the output shaft; and   a guard locking flange coupled to the housing, the guard locking flange being permanently affixed to the housing and configured to axially retain the guard to the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The angle grinder of  claim 19 , wherein the guard locking flange includes a first pin opening and the housing includes a second pin opening, and wherein the angle grinder further comprises a pin press-fit to the first pin opening and the second pin opening and non-removable therefrom to permanently affix the guard locking flange to the housing.