Angled Guard Ring for Power Tool Abrasives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guards for power tools like angle grinders only protect a portion of the abrasive, limiting the ability to work at low angles and creating safety hazards when operators remove them to access surfaces effectively, as they interfere with the abrasive's contact with the work surface.

Innovation Solution

A guard design featuring a collar, hood, and guard ring that extends around the entire circumference of the abrasive, with an angled guard ring to allow the abrasive to contact the work surface while maintaining protection, and includes stiffeners for structural rigidity and visibility windows to ensure safe operation at low angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a guard protects only a portion of the abrasive, then the abrasive can contact the work surface effectively, but operator safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to contact work surfaceVSAvoidoperator safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guard is segmented into multiple functional components: a collar that attaches to the tool, a hood that covers the upper portion of the abrasive, and a guard ring that extends around the circumference. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively providing comprehensive protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the guard provide different types of protection tailored to local needs. The hood provides overhead protection, the guard ring provides lateral protection, and strategic openings are provided where they will not interfere with work surface contact. This local differentiation optimizes both safety and operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a guard extends entirely around the collar, then operator safety is improved, but the abrasive's contact with the work surface is interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidcontact with work surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guard ring is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt during operation. The guard ring extends entirely around the collar for comprehensive protection, but includes strategically positioned openings or gaps that allow the abrasive to contact the work surface when needed. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between comprehensive protection and operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the guard ring is angled to allow abrasive contact, then ease of operation is improved, but protection coverage is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabrasive contact capabilityVSAvoidprotection coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guard ring employs asymmetric design where the thickness or positioning varies around its circumference. This allows certain portions to be angled or positioned to facilitate abrasive contact with the work surface, while other portions maintain full protection coverage. The asymmetric configuration optimizes both operational capability and safety coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS11440160B2Guards for use with power tools and power tools including such guards

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 PAUL MUELLER COMPANY

AI summary

Example guards for use with power tools and power tools including such guards. The guards include a collar structured to be removably coupled to a hand-guided electrical tool, a hood coupled to the collar, and a guard ring coupled to the collar via the hood. The guard ring extends entirely around the collar.