This invention relates to a surface treating machine; more particularly, to retainers for hand or power driven devices or tools adapted to be manipulated over a surface to be treated by sanding.
In surface treating machines, of which perhaps the most important is a sanding machine, the portable electric sander has become very popular in recent years. As a result of the "Do-It-Yourself" trend, there has been a tremendous increase in demand for portable electric sanders, and there have been extensively sold on the market several types of sanders, among which are the purely vibratory sander, the rotary disc type sander, the belt type sander, the orbital sander, the reciprocating sander, and others.
A surface treating machine such as an electric sander requires simple and readily actuatable means for releasing and securing the sandpaper to the machine. This is so because it frequently becomes necessary to change the sandpaper which becomes charged with the removed material and must be replaced to reinstate sanding effectivness.
The prior art abounds with clamping devices, including several over center locking devices. However, many of these prior art devices are characterized by expensive construction, requiring a multiplicity of parts or excessive material; and some require considerable operator care to assure adequate sandpaper tautness which insure uniformity of sanding.
What is required is a simple, economical and effective device, which is readily engageable and disengageable, and which aides in the tautening of sandpaper as it engaged.