The present disclosure relates to an angle grinder including an elongated handle body having front and rear portions. The handle body has a greater nominal width proximate the front portion than proximate the rear portion. A recessed hand grip portion is defined by the handle body between the front and rear handle portions. The recessed hand grip portion transitions inward to a nominal girth that is smaller than the girth of both the front and rear portions. The recessed hand grip portion also includes a leading front wall that transitions from the smaller nominal girth of the grip portion toward the larger nominal girth of the front portion. The leading front wall is aligned at an angle that slopes in a forward direction as the leading front wall extends from the top side toward the bottom side of the handle body. The disclosure also relates to an angle grinder having a switch paddle pivotally connected to a handle. The switch paddle is sized and shaped to fit within a recess defied by the handle so as to form an integral part of the handle. The disclosure further relates to an angle grinder having a switch paddle equipped with an intermediate finger stop protrusion sized for supporting a user's finger.

An isolator for use in a hand-held vibrating device for providing optimum vibration isolation by utilizing elastomeric buckling sections which operate in a buckled mode during normal use. The buckled elastomer sections significantly reduce the spring rate within an operating load range thus substantially reducing the vibration transmitted to the user. Six embodiments are shown which utilize buckling sections to enhance vibration isolation along an axial direction of vibration. A first embodiment includes a frustoconical section, while the second employs a W-shaped buckling element. A third embodiment includes use of a tuned fluid inertia which is tuned to substantially coincide with a predominant operating frequency of the vibrating device and produces amplified counter inertial forces to substantially reduce the vibration transmitted to the user, while three other embodiments employ metallic buckling springs. Another embodiment employs a tuned vibration absorber and still another combines a tuned mass with a buckling column. A first embodiment of a front grip isolator that is used with the buckling isolator for reducing the radial mechanical vibration transmitted to the front hand of the user, also utilizing buckling sections, is taught. A second embodiment of the grip isolator has buckling sections with low combined axial stiffness to provide both radial and axial vibration isolation.

The invention provides a power tool including a tool body and a handle mounted on the tool body at an upper vibration isolation joint and a lower pivot joint. The lower joint permits pivotal movement of the handle relative to the tool body while giving an operator lateral stability and torsional control over the tool. The upper joint serves as a primary vibration isolation joint and includes a spring which is precompressed to a minor fractional portion of its unloaded length and which is positioned between the tool body and the handle to bias the tool body and the handle apart. The spring is compressible from its precompressed state responsive to operator applied pressure, and when operator applied pressure on the handle is maintained within predetermined levels the spring is operable to reduce transmission of vibration from the tool body to the handle during tool operation.

A handle assembly for a power tool is described and includes a first substantially tubular body portion 210 which contains a first spring 212. A second body portion 216 is slidably mounted within first body portion 210 and contains a second spring 218. A third body portion 222 is also slidably mounted within first body portion 210. The biasing coefficient, or spring constant, of the first spring 212 is less than that of the second spring 218. The first, second and third body portions 210, 216 and 222, and first and second springs, 212 and 218, are all mounted coaxially on threaded bolt 224. In use the third body portion 222 moves within first body portion 210 in a direction towards end portion 214 and the first and softer spring 212 becomes compressed more rapidly than the second and harder spring 218. When the distance D.sup.1 has reduced to zero, by compression of first spring 212, the rubber washer 230 engages end portion 220 of second body portion 216 and the biasing effect of first spring 212 is eliminated The biasing force of the harder second spring 218 acts alone up to a distance D.sup.2.

A removable guard for a hand-held power tool. The guard is configured to cover an area proximate a spindle assembly of the tool between the spindle assembly and a user of the tool. The guard is further configured to be securely mounted to a semi-elastic lower bearing housing supporting the spindle assembly of the tool. The guard, when mounted to the semi-elastic lower bearing housing of the tool, and when in use during operation of the tool, must remain functional under conditions of flying debris, such as under conditions of an exploding, rotating abrasive grinding wheel mounted on the spindle assembly of the tool. The guard includes a clamp ring depending from a guard hood. The clamp ring's inner circumferential portion has at least a partially-knurled surface, whereby when securely tightened around the semi-elastic lower bearing housing, the at least partially-knurled surface of the clamp ring inner circumferential portion compresses into the semi-elastic lower bearing housing to securely mount the guard to the tool.