GB2450219A

GB2450219A - Treatment Tool

Info

Publication number: GB2450219A
Application number: GB0810014A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chris Ager; Jonathan Gordon; Stephen Parker
Original assignee: Coventry University
Current assignee: Coventry University
Priority date: 2007-05-31
Filing date: 2008-06-02
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-02
Also published as: GB0810014D0; GB2450219B; GB0710445D0

Abstract

A treatment tool A comprising an elongate, relatively stiff support 14, an elongate relatively flexible treatment member B which extends in the same direction as the support 14 and has a has a treatment surface 1 facing away from the support 14, and a link mechanism 10 disposed between the support 14 and the treatment member B which allows the treatment member B to pivot with respect to the support 14 and to adopt a curved configuration. The link mechanism 10 comprises two parallel, laterally spaced arms 10 with slotted pivoted portions 11 and holed pivoted portions 12, and a central portion with a pivot 17 whereby the arms are attached to portions on the flexible treatment member B and the central portion is secured to the underside of the support 14. The treatment tool A can comprise two link members 10 spaced longitudinally all on the treatment member B, as shown in figure 1. The treatment tool A may comprise a motor 7 for transmitting vibration to the treatment member B.

Description

Treatment Tool This invention relates to a treatment tool such as a

sanding or polishing device. In particular, the invention relates to an elongate support which can carry a strip of treatment material such as sandpaper or another suitable material. The invention is particularly concerned with the provision of a support that can be conformed to a curved surface that is being treated.

It has been proposed to mount a strip of sandpaper on a flexible support that can deflect with respect to the longitudinal direction, so that it can conform to a curved surface. Known such arrangements have limited abilities, and in particular are unsuitable for sanding articles such as the hull of a ship, where there are complex curves extending over large areas.

According to the present invention, there is provided a treatment tool comprising an elongate, relatively stiff support; an elongate relatively flexible treatment member extending in the same direction as the support, the treatment member having a treatment surface facing away from the support; and a link mechanism between the support and the treatment member which permits the treatment member (a) to pivot with respect to the support and (b) to adopt a curved configuration.

Preferably the pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate treatment member and curvature of the treatment member takes place in a plane which is generally perpendicular to the pivot axis. Thus the curved configuration may comprise deflection from the support that varies along the longitudinal axis of the treatment member but which is substantially uniform along axes parallels to the pivot axis.

The link mechanism may permit the whole treatment member to pivot with respect to the support, or may only permit pivoting of a portion of the member; i.e. the pivoting action may only be local to some part of the member.

In a preferred arrangement, the link mechanism comprises an elongate arm having a central portion and two end portions, wherein the central portion is connected to the support for pivotal movement about a lateral axis, one end portion is connected to the treatment member at a first location, and the other end portion is connected to the treatment member at a second location spaced longitudinally along the treatment member from the first location, the treatment member being capable of deflection between the first and second locations.

Such an arrangement provides for tilting of the treatment member with respect to the support, and for deflection of the treatment member between first and second locations, thus enabling it to adopt a curved configuration. This provides considerable versatility in conforming the treatment member to the surface of an object that is to be treated by the treatment surface. It will be appreciated that the mounting arrangement is similar to that used to mount windscreen wiper blades on a vehicle.

In a preferred arrangement, two link mechanisms are provided, spaced longitudinally along the support / treatment member. Thus, in a preferred arrangement using a link mechanism as above described, there is provided a second link mechanism comprising a second elongate arm having a central portion and two end portions, wherein the central portion of the second arm is connected to the support for pivotal movement about a lateral axis displaced longitudinally along the support from the lateral axis where the first arm is connected to the support, one end portion of the second arm is connected to the treatment member at a third location, the third location being displaced longitudinally along the treatment member from the first and second locations, and the other end portion of the second arm is connected to the treatment member at a fourth location spaced longitudinally along the treatment member from the third location, the treatment member being capable of deflection between the third and fourth locations.

In general, depending on the length of the support and treatment member, there may be any desired number of link mechanisms spaced longitudinally, each having such a construction permitting pivoting and curving, and each preferably involving an arm as described above.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the connection between an arm and the treatment member at the two spaced locations is provided by a pivotal joint, whose pivotal axis is parallel to that between the arm and the support. For each arm, one or both of the pivotal connections to the treatment member may provide for longitudinal sliding motion, to accommodate the flexing of the treatment member.

Thus, for example, the arm may be provided with a pivot pin at each end. At one end, such as that nearer an end of the treatment member, the pin may engage in a hole, whereas at the other end the pin may engage in a slot. In some arrangements, slots may be provided for both ends.

In preferred arrangements, a pair of laterally spaced link mechanisms are provided so as to provide a more stable connection between the board and the treatment member. Thus, for example, there may be four link mechanisms in total; namely two laterally spaced mechanisms on one side of a central portion of the tool, and two laterally spaced mechanisms spaced longitudinally from these, on the other side of the central portion.

The support may be provided with one or more handles to assist in manipulation. A motorised vibration unit may be provided to transmit vibration to the treatment member, such as an electric motor driving an eccentric. In one preferred embodiment, a control for the vibration unit is provided on a handle. The handle may be of variable orientation, for example being rotatable from a transverse to a longitudinal configuration. Length adjustment may also be provided.

The treatment member may be provided with means such that a treatment material, for example a foam polishing pad or an abrasive material, such as a strip of sandpaper of the desired grade, may be attached to the member so as to provide a treatment component of the treatment surface. It will be appreciated that, in the broadest sense of the invention, the treatment surface need not be provided with treatment material as such, that material being attached as necessary.

It will also be appreciated that the invention has application to various material treatments apart from sanding, and that the treatment member may be a scraper or a polisher, for example.

The device may be of a suitable length for use in sanding or polishing the hulls or other portions of boats, for example, and may for example be a metre long or longer.

However, the device may be of use for other applications also and may be available in a variety of lengths. Other uses could include furniture or automobile bodies, whether for manufacture or repair, wood sculpture, carpentry and so forth. The resilience of the relatively flexible member may be varied according to the desired application. In some embodiments, the treatment member will possess a degree of transverse flexibility as well as longitudinal flexibility.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sander in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the assembled sander; Figure 3 is a top view of the sander; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sander; Figure 5 is an illustration showing a user holding the sander; Figure 6 is a side view of the sander in use with the abrasive member in a flexed condition; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment.

Referring now to Figure 1, the sander A comprises a flexible elongate abrasive member B which consists of an outer abrasive strip I which is secured by a hook and loop arrangement via a strip 2 bonded to a medium density polystyrene foam board 3, that being bonded in turn to a polyurethane base plate 4. The medium density foam board 3 and base plate 4 provide a flexible and cushioned surface. The plate 4 is provided with a nylon bush 5 on which is rotatably mounted a 0.5 mm offset cam. A motor housing 7 mounts a 30 watt 15 volt DC motor which drives the cam, this being powered by two rechargeable lithium ion battery packs 9. It will be appreciated that the precise electrical details are not relevant to the invention in its broad sense.

Four ABS pivot arms 10 are provided; two parallel, laterally spaced arms are provided for one end of the tool, and two like arms are provided for the other end of the tool. These are provided with slotted pivot portions 11 and holed pivot portions 12 which are pivotally attached to the ends of the arms and secured to portions 16 on the plate 4, so that each arm 10 is pivotally connected at its ends to the plate. The central part of each arm 10 is provided with a pivot 17 which is secured by portions 18 to the underside of an ABS top support board 14 so that each arm can pivot with respect to the board.

The arm arrangement allows for pivoting and flexing of the abrasive member B with respect to the support board 14, thus enabling the abrasive member to conform to a contour being sanded and providing a uniform distribution of the applied force across and along the sander.

The support board is provided with two handles 15, one at either end. In a central region the board 14 is provided with an aperture 14 which receives the motor 8, this being covered by a housing 13 which provides effective ventilation and protection from dust and also optimises the transfer of energy from the motor to the abrasive member B. Figures 2 and 3 show side and top views of the sander A. Figure 3 shows how the handles 15 can be rotated to different positions.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sander, showing some features in greater detail.

It will be seen that the foam board 3 extends beyond the plate 4, providing an overhanging cushioned edge which prevents abrasive streaks on the surface being sanded, such as a boat hull. One of the handles 15 is provided with a scroll wheel 19 to operate and control the speed of motor 8. The top board 14 houses a wiring loom (not shown) connecting the scroll wheel 19, battery packs 9 and motor 8.

Figure 5 shows a user holding the sander A by means of the handles 15. Pressing the sander against a contoured surface will cause the abrasive member B to deflect as shown in Figure 6, so as to match the contour of the surface.

This embodiment of the present invention enables a user to sand a surface, with the sander conforming to the contours of the surface and providing even pressure, with a reduction in the level of skill required using conventional sanding techniques. The adjustable vibration unit provides a mechanical advantage without reducing the "feel" of the tool.

It will be appreciated that simpler embodiments of the invention may be provided, such a embodiments with only two longitudinally spaced link mechanisms (using components similar to arms 10 described above), and / or no vibration unit and / or simpler handles. One such an embodiment is shown in Figure 7 which illustrates an alternative sander 20.

Claims

Claims 1. A treatment tool comprising an elongate, relatively stiff

support; an elongate relatively flexible treatment member extending in the same direction as the support, the treatment member having a treatment surface facing away from the support; and a link mechanism between the support and the treatment member which permits the treatment member (a) to pivot with respect to the support and (b) to adopt a curved configuration.
2. A treatment tool as claimed in claim I wherein the pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate treatment member and curvature of the treatment member takes place in a plane which is generally perpendicular to the pivot axis.
3. A treatment tool as claimed in claim I or 2 wherein the link mechanism comprises an elongate arm having a central portion and two end portions, wherein the central portion is connected to the support for pivotal movement about a lateral axis, one end portion is connected to the treatment member at a first location, and the other end portion is connected to the treatment member at a second location spaced longitudinally along the treatment member from the first location, the treatment member being capable of deflection between the first and second locations.
4. A treatment tool as claimed in any preceding claim having a second link mechanism spaced longitudinally along the support / treatment member.
5. A treatment tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second link mechanism comprises a second elongate arm having a central portion and two end portions, wherein the central portion of the second arm is connected to the support for pivotal movement about a lateral axis displaced longitudinally along the support from the lateral axis where the first arm is connected to the support, one end portion of the second arm is connected to the treatment member at a third location, the third location being displaced longitudinally along the treatment member from the first and second locations, and the other end portion of the second arm is connected to the treatment member at a fourth location spaced longitudinally along the treatment member from the third location, the treatment member being capable of deflection between the third and fourth locations.
6. A treatment tool as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein the connection between an elongate arm and the treatment member at the two spaced locations is provided by a pivotal joint whose pivotal axis is parallel to that between the arm and the support.
7. A treatment tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein one or both of the pivotal connections to the treatment member provides for longitudinal sliding motion, to accommodate the flexing of the treatment member.
8. A treatment tool as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a pair of laterally spaced link mechanisms are provided.
9. A treatment tool as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support comprises one or more handles to assist in manipulation.
10. A treatment tool as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a vibration unit to transmit vibration to the treatment member.
11. A treatment tool as claimed in claim 10 wherein a control for the vibration unit is provided on a handle.
12. A treatment tool as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the treatment member comprises means for attaching a treatment material thereto.
13. A treatment tool as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the treatment surface comprises an abrasive surface.
14. A treatment tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the treatment surface comprises a polishing surface.
15. A treatment tool as claimed in any preceding claim being not less than one metre in length.
16. A treatment tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.