1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vacuum shrouds. More specifically, the present invention relates to vacuum shrouds for angle grinders which include an access hatch and a retention mechanism for the access hatch.
2. State of the Art
Dust shrouds are typically used to both contain grinding dust and prevent a mess as well as to protect an operator from debris, dust, and the grinding disc. These shrouds generally attach to an angle grinder between the grinder body and the grinding wheel. The shroud then forms a barrier between the operator and the grinding wheel. The shroud often extends around the edges of the grinding wheel, leaving the bottom grinding portion open for use. Thus, the dust shroud provides a dust and debris barrier and a safety barrier.
Some dust shrouds provide a vacuum attachment so that dust and debris can be suctioned out of the shroud. This avoids airborne dust and debris that can lead to such health problems as silicosis. The use of a vacuum also keeps the workplace clean of debris, dramatically reducing the time necessary to clean up after a grinding job. Vacuum dust shrouds are commonly used while grinding concrete. It can be appreciated how, without a shroud, a significant amount of concrete dust is spread across a wide area. With a vacuum shroud, very little dust goes uncollected. The use of a vacuum shroud can also protect the tool by preventing dust and debris from entering the motor and gears, thus extending tool life.
Effective vacuum shrouds often cover the top and entire perimeter of the grinding disc, such that most of the dust and debris is captured by the vacuum and the disc is not exposed to the operator. Complete enclosure of the perimeter of the grinding disc makes it difficult to use against a corner, such as when grinding a floor adjacent a wall.
Vacuum shrouds for grinders have been made which allow a user to remove a hatch portion of the shroud to expose a side of the grinding disk and allow grinding into a corner. It has been found, however, that workers tend to remove the hatch to grind a corner and either lose the hatch or neglect to replace the hatch after finishing the corner. The worker needs both hands for operating the grinder, and thus can not hold the hatch while grinding. It is not uncommon for workers to simply place the hatch in a toolbox or on the floor, and lose the hatch or simply not replace the hatch as is desired.
The failure to replace the hatch when not grinding a corner is more detrimental than one might think. In addition to the danger of having an exposed grinding disk, having an opening in the perimeter of the dust shroud allows a significant portion of the grinding dust to escape and not be collected by the vacuum. The dust from grinding concrete is very fine, and will float in the air for a long period of time, allowing uncollected dust to settle over a large area. Additionally, the dust contains compounds from the concrete which are harmful to the lungs, and uncollected dust poses more of a health risk to the worker and to others.
Thus there is a need for a grinder dust shroud with a removable corner grinding hatch which encourages workers to use the hatch. There is a need for a grinder shroud which allows a person to store an access hatch on the shroud itself when the hatch is removed from the shroud.