US20220055172A1 - Surface-abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole - Google Patents
Surface-abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole Download PDFInfo
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- US20220055172A1 US20220055172A1 US17/520,679 US202117520679A US2022055172A1 US 20220055172 A1 US20220055172 A1 US 20220055172A1 US 202117520679 A US202117520679 A US 202117520679A US 2022055172 A1 US2022055172 A1 US 2022055172A1
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- tool
- support
- pad
- pole
- plate
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24D—TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING
- B24D15/00—Hand tools or other devices for non-rotary grinding, polishing, or stropping
- B24D15/02—Hand tools or other devices for non-rotary grinding, polishing, or stropping rigid; with rigidly-supported operative surface
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24B—MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
- B24B7/00—Machines or devices designed for grinding plane surfaces on work, including polishing plane glass surfaces; Accessories therefor
- B24B7/10—Single-purpose machines or devices
- B24B7/18—Single-purpose machines or devices for grinding floorings, walls, ceilings or the like
- B24B7/182—Single-purpose machines or devices for grinding floorings, walls, ceilings or the like for walls and ceilings
- B24B7/184—Single-purpose machines or devices for grinding floorings, walls, ceilings or the like for walls and ceilings pole sanders
Definitions
- Hand manipulated surface-treating tools have been employed since antiquity for the preparation, cleaning, and finishing of surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and floors.
- a plethora of configurations with tool heads coupleable to extension poles has evolved over time, each providing one or a few advantageous features. Attached or attachable to these tool heads are changeable and/or reconfigurable working materials in the form of pads and or sheets of surface-treating material.
- Such tools have included pads or sheets for cleaning, polishing, painting, sealcoating, and abrading (e.g., sanding) surfaces.
- Embodiments of the present invention improve upon previous related apparatus by, in some versions, variously facilitating rapid, tool-less changing and durable selective securement of tool pads to a unitary tool head with infinite angular displaceability within specified ranges about two mutually orthogonal pivot axes. In alternative versions otherwise substantially similar, securement of tool pads to tool heads is permanent.
- a hand manipulated surface-treating tool is configured for coupling to an extension pole having longitudinally opposed proximal and distal pole ends.
- the surface-treating tool has a tool head including a rigid tool support with mutually opposed tool-support upper and lower surfaces bounded by a common tool-support periphery, and, within the tool-support periphery, a tool-support center.
- a pole coupling is affixed to the tool-support upper surface and configured for selectively coupling the tool support to the pole distal end.
- the pole coupling may include a sleeve member defining an internally-threaded socket into which an externally-threaded pole distal end is selectively threaded.
- a sleeve member defining an internally-threaded socket into which an externally-threaded pole distal end is selectively threaded.
- Such threadable coupling between a surface-engaging tool and an extension pole is ubiquitous and not in itself a limitation or a point of novelty relative to the present invention.
- the pole coupling is affixed to the tool-support upper surface such that an extension pole coupled to the tool head by the pole coupling is pivotable relative to the tool support about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes.
- this dual-pivot-axis functionality is achieved by what amounts to a universal joint, a mechanical coupling itself also well-known across multiple applications wherever large relative angular displacement along a continuum between two coupled components is desired.
- the proximal pole end could occupy an infinite number of points along substantially an imaginary hemispherical shell with a radius that includes the length of the pole and has as its origin a point located near or at a crossing between the mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes, depending on whether the first and second pivot axes are coplanar or nearly coplanar.
- An equivalent functionality can be alternatively achieved through use of a ball-and-socket joint.
- axle is mounted between two stanchions that depend from—and extend upwardly from—the tool-support upper surface, one stanchion on each side of the tool-support center.
- the axle defines the first pivot axis.
- the axle includes an axle block.
- a yoke connected to the pole coupling straddles the axle block and is attached for pivotal movement relative to the axle block, thereby defining the second pivot axis, which is orthogonal to the first pivot axis.
- An embodiment of the surface-treating tool further includes a tool pad.
- the tool pad includes a rigid plate having mutually opposed plate top and bottom surfaces bounded by a peripheral plate edge extending between the plate top and bottom surfaces.
- a resilient layer has a resilient-layer upper surface and an opposed attachment surface. The resilient-layer upper surface is permanently adhered to the plate bottom surface, while the attachment surface is configured for releasably retaining a working material.
- the working material is an abrading material in the form of a sheet or pad, such as sandpaper or a sanding pad.
- the working material could more broadly be a non-abrading material, such as a cleaning or painting pad or sponge, for example. In any event, it is desirable that the working material be attachable to the attachment surface without the use of tools.
- the tool pad is attached to the tool head with the plate top surface in contacting engagement with the tool-support lower surface. More specifically, the tool pad has a tool-pad center at which there is defined through the rigid plate a plate-center hole and, through the resilient layer, a resilient-layer center hole aligned with the plate-center hole.
- the pad fastener is introduced from below the tool pad into at least the resilient-layer center hole and secured to a portion of the tool-support lower surface configured for receiving the pad fastener. That is, the tool pad is retained by a pad fastener introduced from the tool pad side for fastening to the tool-support lower surface.
- this permits the rigid plate to be relatively thin compared to a plate required to carry threads for receiving top-down fasteners from the tool support side, for example.
- the pad fastener is a permanent fastener such that the tool pad is permanently attached to the tool head with the plate top surface in contacting engagement with the tool-support lower surface.
- Contacting engagement is to be interpreted broadly to include other-than-direct contact; an intermediate medium or element could be present, such as a washer or gasket, by way of non-limiting example.
- the pad fastener is permanent or not, the tool pad, when mounted and fastened to the tool support, is oriented such that the rigid plate is situated between the resilient layer and the tool-support lower surface.
- the pad fastener is permanent, it would be installed as part of the fabrication process.
- the permanent pad fastener is a threaded fastener that has applied to the threads an adhesive before being threadably joined with the tool support such that, when the adhesive cures, the subsequent unthreading of the fastener and removal of the tool pad from the tool support are prevented.
- An example of such an adhesive is a fastener-thread adhesive presently sold under the trademark Loctite®. While an illustrative example of a threaded pad fastener is shown as internally threaded in the drawings discussed in the detailed description, it is to be understood that the pad fastener could be internally of externally threaded.
- the tool pad is removably attached to the tool head by a non-permanent, removable pad fastener.
- the removable pad fastener may be a threaded fastener.
- the threaded fastener is a tool-less fastener Representative embodiments are more completely described and depicted in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
- FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a surface-abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole;
- FIG. 2 shows the tool support, tool pad, and pad fastener of the surface-abrading tool of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state
- FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the surface-abrading tool of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing how a tool pad is attached to the tool support from the bottom using the pad fastener;
- FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the surface-abrading tool of FIGS. 1-3 with an abrading material sheet removable attached to the tool pad;
- FIG. 5 shows the tool support and tool pad in a disassembled state.
- an embodiment of a surface-abrading tool 10 is configured for coupling with an elongated extension pole 20 having longitudinally opposed proximal and distal pole ends 22 and 24 .
- the surface-abrading tool 10 includes a tool head 100 having a rigid tool support 110 .
- the tool support 110 has mutually opposed tool-support upper and lower surfaces 120 and 130 bounded by a common tool-support periphery 140 , and further includes a tool-support center 150 .
- a pole coupling 200 configured for selectively coupling the tool support 110 to the pole distal end 24 is affixed to the tool-support upper surface 120 .
- the pole coupling 200 is configured and affixed to the tool-support upper surface 120 such that the extension pole 20 , when coupled to the tool head 100 by the pole coupling 200 , is pivotable relative to the tool support 110 about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes A P1 and A P2 . While the particular mechanisms employed to enable pivoting about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes A P1 and A P2 is quite secondary to the broader inventive aspects, the manner in which it is achieved relative to the illustrative embodiment(s) depicted is self-explanatory.
- the tool head 100 is configured for use with a removably mountable tool pad 300 .
- the tool pad 300 includes a rigid plate 310 which has mutually opposed plate top and bottom surfaces 320 and 330 .
- the plate top and bottom surfaces 320 and 330 are bounded by a common peripheral plate edge 340 that extends between the plate top and bottom surfaces 320 and 330 .
- the rigid plate 310 is comprised of sheet metal, such as aluminum or steel, but can be fabricated from any material that is self-supporting and provides rigidity.
- the tool pad 300 further includes a resilient layer 360 with a resilient-layer upper surface 362 permanently adhered to the plate bottom surface 330 .
- An attachment surface 364 is situated opposite the resilient-layer upper surface 362 that is adhered to the rigid plate 310 .
- the attachment surface 364 is configured for releasably retaining a working material 370 .
- the working material 370 is an abrading material 380 in the form of a sheet or pad, such as sandpaper or a sanding pad.
- the working material 370 could more broadly be a non-abrading material, such as a cleaning or painting pad or sponge, for example.
- the tool 10 may be alternatively and interchangeably referred to as a surface-treating tool 10 .
- the working material 370 pad or sheet may have a back surface 372 attachable to the attachment surface 364 of the resilient layer 360 by a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners 366 such as those most commonly known and sold under the tradename “Velcro®.”
- the resilient layer 360 may comprise a material providing cushioning, but also exhibiting a “memory” property allowing it, when deformed, to return to a predefined default shape.
- suitable materials include foam, foam-rubber, and rubber.
- the resilient layer 360 is bounded by a resilient-layer periphery 365 .
- the resilient-layer periphery 365 extends to the outside of the peripheral plate edge 340 of the rigid plate 310 in order to prevent damage to surfaces of adjacent workpieces being abraded by the surface-abrading tool 10 . This is clearly shown in FIG. 5 .
- the rigid plate 310 and the tool-support lower surface 130 of the tool support 110 are cooperatively configured to enable removable attachment of the tool pad 300 to the tool head 100 with the plate top surface 320 in contacting engagement with the tool-support lower surface 130 .
- a single pad fastener 400 retains the tool pad 300 on the tool head 100 .
- the tool pad 300 has a tool-pad center 305 .
- At the tool-pad center 305 there is a plate-center hole 325 through the rigid plate 310 and a resilient-layer-center hole 367 extending through the resilient layer 360 and at least partially aligned with the plate-center hole 325 .
- the tool pad 300 is removably attached to the tool-support lower surface 130 by introducing the pad fastener 400 into at least the resilient-layer-center hole 367 and securing the pad fastener 400 to the tool-support center 150 . More specifically, as seen most clearly in FIG. 2 , the tool-support center 150 has defined thereabout an annular pad mount 155 that, in this case, is provided with external threads 156 .
- the illustrative pad fastener 400 depicted includes a ring 410 provided with internal threads 412 configured for threadable engagement with the external threads 156 of the pad mount 155 .
- the pad fastener 400 , resilient layer 360 , and the resilient-layer-center hole 367 are configured such that, at least when the pad fastener 400 is fully secured to the tool support 110 , the pad fastener 400 is recessed relative to the attachment surface 364 of the resilient layer 360 .
- the pad fastener 400 is covered and does not cause bulging of the abrading material 380 sheet/pad.
- the plate-center hole 325 is smaller than the resilient-layer center hole 367 such that an annular portion 326 of the rigid plate 310 is visible through the resilient-layer center hole 367 .
- the annular pad mount 155 and external threads 156 of same—protrude(s) downwardly through the plate-center hole 325 and partially into the resilient-layer center hole 367 below the plate-center hole 325 .
- the pad fastener 400 is introduced into the resilient-layer center hole 367 and the internal threads 412 of the pad fastener 400 are threaded onto the external threads 156 of the pad mount 155 until the ring 410 of the pad fastener 400 bears down on the annular portion 326 of the rigid plate 310 and forces the rigid plate 310 toward and against the tool-support lower surface 130 .
- a ring bridge 420 extends diametrically across the center of the ring 410 . A user can grasp the ring bridge 420 between two finger fingers—most likely the thumb and index finger—to tighten and loosen the pad fastener 400 .
- the rigid plate 310 and the tool-support lower surface 130 are complementarily keyed such that, when the tool pad 300 is removably mounted to the tool-support lower surface 130 and the pad fastener 400 is secured, the tool pad 300 is prevented from rotating relative to the tool support 110 .
- the complementary keying comprises at least one off-center key aperture 328 in the rigid plate 310 and at least one key protrusion 138 extending downwardly from the tool-support lower surface 130 .
- the tool 10 when the resilient layer 360 is worn or a change is otherwise indicated, a user of the tool 10 can remove and replace the tool pad 300 , a fact that is readily appreciated from the description above.
- the tool 10 is configured at manufacture such that the tool pad 300 and tool head 100 are permanently attached.
- the tool 10 is generally configured as described above and illustratively depicted FIGS. 1-5 .
- a permanent pad fastener 400 is used to retain the rigid plate 310 of the tool pad 300 against the tool-support lower surface 130 .
- Such a fastener 400 could be variously configured as at least one of a rivet, pin, bolt, screw, spot weld, press-fit interference, or adhesive, by way of non-limiting example.
- the threads 412 may have applied to them an adhesive 415 before or while being threadably joined with the tool support 110 via the pad mount 155 .
- the adhesive 415 when cured, prevents subsequent unthreading of the fastener 400 and removal of the tool pad 300 from the tool support 110 .
Abstract
A surface-treating tool is configured for coupling to an extension pole with opposed proximal and distal pole ends. The tool comprises a tool head including a rigid tool support having mutually opposed tool-support upper and lower surfaces. A pole coupling configured for selectively coupling the tool support to the pole distal end is affixed to the tool-support upper surface such that a coupled extension pole is pivotable relative to the tool support about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes. A tool pad includes a rigid plate with plate top and bottom surfaces and a resilient layer permanently adhered the plate bottom surface. The resilient layer includes an attachment surface to which a working material may be removably attached without tools. A pad fastener introduced through the resilient layer attaches the tool pad to the tool-support lower surface with the rigid plate between the tool support and the resilient layer.
Description
- The present application is a continuation application of International Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/031824 filed May 7, 2020 pursuant to the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and under the title “SURFACE-ABRADING TOOL CONFIGURED FOR MOUNTING TO AND EXTENSION POLE.” Application PCT/US2020/031824 claimed priority benefits in U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/844,209 filed May 7, 2019 under the title “SURFACE-ABRADING TOOL CONFIGURED FOR MOUNTING TO AND EXTENSION POLE.”
- The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/844,209, as well as the filing date of PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/031824, based on the priority chain outlined above. Moreover, the entireties of the disclosures, including the drawings, of both previous applications in the aforesaid priority chain are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully in the present application.
- Hand manipulated surface-treating tools have been employed since antiquity for the preparation, cleaning, and finishing of surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and floors. A plethora of configurations with tool heads coupleable to extension poles has evolved over time, each providing one or a few advantageous features. Attached or attachable to these tool heads are changeable and/or reconfigurable working materials in the form of pads and or sheets of surface-treating material. Such tools have included pads or sheets for cleaning, polishing, painting, sealcoating, and abrading (e.g., sanding) surfaces.
- Embodiments of the present invention improve upon previous related apparatus by, in some versions, variously facilitating rapid, tool-less changing and durable selective securement of tool pads to a unitary tool head with infinite angular displaceability within specified ranges about two mutually orthogonal pivot axes. In alternative versions otherwise substantially similar, securement of tool pads to tool heads is permanent.
- Illustratively embodied, a hand manipulated surface-treating tool is configured for coupling to an extension pole having longitudinally opposed proximal and distal pole ends. The surface-treating tool has a tool head including a rigid tool support with mutually opposed tool-support upper and lower surfaces bounded by a common tool-support periphery, and, within the tool-support periphery, a tool-support center. A pole coupling is affixed to the tool-support upper surface and configured for selectively coupling the tool support to the pole distal end.
- Illustratively, the pole coupling may include a sleeve member defining an internally-threaded socket into which an externally-threaded pole distal end is selectively threaded. Such threadable coupling between a surface-engaging tool and an extension pole is ubiquitous and not in itself a limitation or a point of novelty relative to the present invention. The pole coupling is affixed to the tool-support upper surface such that an extension pole coupled to the tool head by the pole coupling is pivotable relative to the tool support about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes. In various embodiments, this dual-pivot-axis functionality is achieved by what amounts to a universal joint, a mechanical coupling itself also well-known across multiple applications wherever large relative angular displacement along a continuum between two coupled components is desired. Thusly joined, in at least several embodiments, the proximal pole end could occupy an infinite number of points along substantially an imaginary hemispherical shell with a radius that includes the length of the pole and has as its origin a point located near or at a crossing between the mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes, depending on whether the first and second pivot axes are coplanar or nearly coplanar. An equivalent functionality can be alternatively achieved through use of a ball-and-socket joint.
- While the particular mechanisms employed to enable pivoting about mutually orthogonal first and second axes is quite secondary to the broader inventive aspects, the manner in which it is achieved relative to the illustrative embodiment(s) depicted and later discussed in the detailed description involves a yoke and axle system. An axle is mounted between two stanchions that depend from—and extend upwardly from—the tool-support upper surface, one stanchion on each side of the tool-support center. The axle defines the first pivot axis. The axle includes an axle block. A yoke connected to the pole coupling straddles the axle block and is attached for pivotal movement relative to the axle block, thereby defining the second pivot axis, which is orthogonal to the first pivot axis. This illustrative set of mechanisms, while warranted some mention in the summary, is not called out in all of its specific detail in the detailed description because (i) it is only one illustrative set of pivoting mechanisms that could be implemented and (ii) it is not tied to a claimed point of novelty. Nevertheless, its antecedent is hereby established with sufficient specificity to support a claim if later warranted.
- An embodiment of the surface-treating tool further includes a tool pad. The tool pad includes a rigid plate having mutually opposed plate top and bottom surfaces bounded by a peripheral plate edge extending between the plate top and bottom surfaces. A resilient layer has a resilient-layer upper surface and an opposed attachment surface. The resilient-layer upper surface is permanently adhered to the plate bottom surface, while the attachment surface is configured for releasably retaining a working material. In each of various embodiments, the working material is an abrading material in the form of a sheet or pad, such as sandpaper or a sanding pad. However, the working material could more broadly be a non-abrading material, such as a cleaning or painting pad or sponge, for example. In any event, it is desirable that the working material be attachable to the attachment surface without the use of tools.
- In each of various configurations, by means of a pad fastener, the tool pad is attached to the tool head with the plate top surface in contacting engagement with the tool-support lower surface. More specifically, the tool pad has a tool-pad center at which there is defined through the rigid plate a plate-center hole and, through the resilient layer, a resilient-layer center hole aligned with the plate-center hole. The pad fastener is introduced from below the tool pad into at least the resilient-layer center hole and secured to a portion of the tool-support lower surface configured for receiving the pad fastener. That is, the tool pad is retained by a pad fastener introduced from the tool pad side for fastening to the tool-support lower surface. Among other advantages, this permits the rigid plate to be relatively thin compared to a plate required to carry threads for receiving top-down fasteners from the tool support side, for example.
- According to one version, the pad fastener is a permanent fastener such that the tool pad is permanently attached to the tool head with the plate top surface in contacting engagement with the tool-support lower surface. “Contacting engagement” is to be interpreted broadly to include other-than-direct contact; an intermediate medium or element could be present, such as a washer or gasket, by way of non-limiting example. In any event, whether the pad fastener is permanent or not, the tool pad, when mounted and fastened to the tool support, is oriented such that the rigid plate is situated between the resilient layer and the tool-support lower surface.
- In a version in which the pad fastener is permanent, it would be installed as part of the fabrication process. In at least one variation, the permanent pad fastener is a threaded fastener that has applied to the threads an adhesive before being threadably joined with the tool support such that, when the adhesive cures, the subsequent unthreading of the fastener and removal of the tool pad from the tool support are prevented. An example of such an adhesive is a fastener-thread adhesive presently sold under the trademark Loctite®. While an illustrative example of a threaded pad fastener is shown as internally threaded in the drawings discussed in the detailed description, it is to be understood that the pad fastener could be internally of externally threaded.
- In alternative versions, the tool pad is removably attached to the tool head by a non-permanent, removable pad fastener. The removable pad fastener may be a threaded fastener. In a still-more-specific version, the threaded fastener is a tool-less fastener Representative embodiments are more completely described and depicted in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a surface-abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole; -
FIG. 2 shows the tool support, tool pad, and pad fastener of the surface-abrading tool ofFIG. 1 in a disassembled state; -
FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the surface-abrading tool ofFIGS. 1 and 2 showing how a tool pad is attached to the tool support from the bottom using the pad fastener; -
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the surface-abrading tool ofFIGS. 1-3 with an abrading material sheet removable attached to the tool pad; and -
FIG. 5 shows the tool support and tool pad in a disassembled state. - The following description of variously embodied surface-abrading tools is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or its application of uses. Accordingly, the various implementations, aspects, versions and embodiments described in the summary and detailed description are in the nature of non-limiting examples falling within the scope of the appended claims and do not serve to restrict the maximum scope of the claims. Moreover, among the various depicted embodiments, like reference numbers are used to refer to similar or analogous components.
- Referring to
FIGS. 1-5 , an embodiment of a surface-abrading tool 10 is configured for coupling with anelongated extension pole 20 having longitudinally opposed proximal anddistal pole ends tool 10 includes atool head 100 having arigid tool support 110. Thetool support 110 has mutually opposed tool-support upper andlower surfaces support periphery 140, and further includes a tool-support center 150. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , apole coupling 200 configured for selectively coupling thetool support 110 to the poledistal end 24 is affixed to the tool-supportupper surface 120. Thepole coupling 200 is configured and affixed to the tool-supportupper surface 120 such that theextension pole 20, when coupled to thetool head 100 by thepole coupling 200, is pivotable relative to thetool support 110 about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes AP1 and AP2. While the particular mechanisms employed to enable pivoting about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes AP1 and AP2 is quite secondary to the broader inventive aspects, the manner in which it is achieved relative to the illustrative embodiment(s) depicted is self-explanatory. - The
tool head 100 is configured for use with a removablymountable tool pad 300. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 5 , thetool pad 300 includes arigid plate 310 which has mutually opposed plate top andbottom surfaces bottom surfaces peripheral plate edge 340 that extends between the plate top andbottom surfaces rigid plate 310 is comprised of sheet metal, such as aluminum or steel, but can be fabricated from any material that is self-supporting and provides rigidity. - The
tool pad 300 further includes aresilient layer 360 with a resilient-layerupper surface 362 permanently adhered to theplate bottom surface 330. Anattachment surface 364 is situated opposite the resilient-layerupper surface 362 that is adhered to therigid plate 310. Theattachment surface 364 is configured for releasably retaining a workingmaterial 370. Most commonly, the workingmaterial 370 is an abradingmaterial 380 in the form of a sheet or pad, such as sandpaper or a sanding pad. However, the workingmaterial 370 could more broadly be a non-abrading material, such as a cleaning or painting pad or sponge, for example. In broader configurations encompassingnon-abrading working materials 370, thetool 10 may be alternatively and interchangeably referred to as a surface-treatingtool 10. The workingmaterial 370 pad or sheet may have aback surface 372 attachable to theattachment surface 364 of theresilient layer 360 by a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners 366 such as those most commonly known and sold under the tradename “Velcro®.” - The
resilient layer 360 may comprise a material providing cushioning, but also exhibiting a “memory” property allowing it, when deformed, to return to a predefined default shape. Nonlimiting examples of suitable materials include foam, foam-rubber, and rubber. Theresilient layer 360 is bounded by a resilient-layer periphery 365. In at least one version, the resilient-layer periphery 365 extends to the outside of theperipheral plate edge 340 of therigid plate 310 in order to prevent damage to surfaces of adjacent workpieces being abraded by the surface-abradingtool 10. This is clearly shown inFIG. 5 . - With principal reference now to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , in one embodiment, therigid plate 310 and the tool-supportlower surface 130 of thetool support 110 are cooperatively configured to enable removable attachment of thetool pad 300 to thetool head 100 with the platetop surface 320 in contacting engagement with the tool-supportlower surface 130. In the embodiments depicted, and especially most clearly inFIGS. 2 and 3 , asingle pad fastener 400 retains thetool pad 300 on thetool head 100. More specifically, thetool pad 300 has a tool-pad center 305. At the tool-pad center 305 there is a plate-center hole 325 through therigid plate 310 and a resilient-layer-center hole 367 extending through theresilient layer 360 and at least partially aligned with the plate-center hole 325. - The
tool pad 300 is removably attached to the tool-supportlower surface 130 by introducing thepad fastener 400 into at least the resilient-layer-center hole 367 and securing thepad fastener 400 to the tool-support center 150. More specifically, as seen most clearly inFIG. 2 , the tool-support center 150 has defined thereabout anannular pad mount 155 that, in this case, is provided withexternal threads 156. Theillustrative pad fastener 400 depicted includes aring 410 provided withinternal threads 412 configured for threadable engagement with theexternal threads 156 of thepad mount 155. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thepad fastener 400,resilient layer 360, and the resilient-layer-center hole 367 are configured such that, at least when thepad fastener 400 is fully secured to thetool support 110, thepad fastener 400 is recessed relative to theattachment surface 364 of theresilient layer 360. In this way, when an abradingmaterial 380—or other workingmaterial 370—pad or sheet is attached to theattachment surface 364 of theresilient layer 360, as shown inFIG. 4 , thepad fastener 400 is covered and does not cause bulging of the abradingmaterial 380 sheet/pad. - Referring again to
FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the plate-center hole 325 is smaller than the resilient-layer center hole 367 such that anannular portion 326 of therigid plate 310 is visible through the resilient-layer center hole 367. When thetool pad 300 is aligned and mounted to the tool-supportlower surface 130, theannular pad mount 155—andexternal threads 156 of same—protrude(s) downwardly through the plate-center hole 325 and partially into the resilient-layer center hole 367 below the plate-center hole 325. Thepad fastener 400 is introduced into the resilient-layer center hole 367 and theinternal threads 412 of thepad fastener 400 are threaded onto theexternal threads 156 of thepad mount 155 until thering 410 of thepad fastener 400 bears down on theannular portion 326 of therigid plate 310 and forces therigid plate 310 toward and against the tool-supportlower surface 130. - It is advantageous, and therefore preferred, that the
pad fastener 400 be tool-less. That is, that thepad fastener 400 can be tightened and loosened without the use of tools. Accordingly, in the version depicted, aring bridge 420 extends diametrically across the center of thering 410. A user can grasp thering bridge 420 between two finger fingers—most likely the thumb and index finger—to tighten and loosen thepad fastener 400. - For various reasons, preventing rotation of the
tool pad 300 relative to thetool support 110 is advantageous. Accordingly, with reference toFIG. 5 , it can be seen that therigid plate 310 and the tool-supportlower surface 130 are complementarily keyed such that, when thetool pad 300 is removably mounted to the tool-supportlower surface 130 and thepad fastener 400 is secured, thetool pad 300 is prevented from rotating relative to thetool support 110. In this particular example, the complementary keying comprises at least one off-centerkey aperture 328 in therigid plate 310 and at least onekey protrusion 138 extending downwardly from the tool-supportlower surface 130. When the at least onekey protrusion 138 is caused to protrude into the at least one off-centerkey aperture 328, an interference fit is established between the tool-support 110 and therigid plate 310, thereby preventing the aforesaid relative rotation. - In connection with various versions, it is envisioned that, when the
resilient layer 360 is worn or a change is otherwise indicated, a user of thetool 10 can remove and replace thetool pad 300, a fact that is readily appreciated from the description above. However, in other cases, thetool 10 is configured at manufacture such that thetool pad 300 andtool head 100 are permanently attached. In one version, thetool 10 is generally configured as described above and illustratively depictedFIGS. 1-5 . However, in order to prevent inadvertent or intentional separation of thetool pad 300 from thetool support 110, apermanent pad fastener 400 is used to retain therigid plate 310 of thetool pad 300 against the tool-supportlower surface 130. Such afastener 400 could be variously configured as at least one of a rivet, pin, bolt, screw, spot weld, press-fit interference, or adhesive, by way of non-limiting example. Where a threadedfastener 400 is used, thethreads 412 may have applied to them an adhesive 415 before or while being threadably joined with thetool support 110 via thepad mount 155. The adhesive 415, when cured, prevents subsequent unthreading of thefastener 400 and removal of thetool pad 300 from thetool support 110. - The foregoing is considered to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since modifications and changes to various aspects and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that the foregoing does not limit the invention as expressed in the appended claims to the exact constructions, implementations and versions shown and described.
Claims (13)
1. A hand manipulated surface-treating tool configured for coupling to an extension pole having longitudinally opposed proximal and distal pole ends, the surface-treating tool comprising:
a tool head including a rigid tool support having mutually opposed tool-support upper and lower surfaces bounded by a common tool-support periphery, and further including a tool-support center;
a pole coupling affixed to the tool-support upper surface and configured for selectively coupling the tool support to the pole distal end, the pole coupling being affixed to the tool-support upper surface and further configured such that an extension pole coupled to the tool head by the pole coupling is pivotable relative to the tool support about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes; and
a tool pad including (i) a rigid plate having mutually opposed plate top and bottom surfaces bounded by a peripheral plate edge extending between the plate top and bottom surfaces and (ii) a resilient layer with a resilient-layer upper surface permanently adhered to the plate bottom surface and an attachment surface that is opposite the resilient-layer upper surface and configured for releasably retaining a working material, wherein
(a) the tool pad is attached to the tool head with the plate top surface in contacting engagement with the tool-support lower surface;
(b) the tool pad includes a tool-pad center;
(c) there is a plate-center hole through the rigid plate and a resilient-layer-center hole extending through the resilient layer and aligned with the plate-center hole at the tool-pad center; and
(d) the tool pad is attached to the tool-support lower surface by a pad fastener introduced into at least the resilient-layer-center hole and secured to the tool-support center.
2. The surface-treating tool of claim 1 wherein the pad fastener is a permanent fastener such that the tool pad is permanently attached to the tool head with the plate top surface in contacting engagement with the tool-support lower surface.
3. The surface-treating tool of claim 2 wherein the permanent pad fastener is a threaded fastener that has applied to the threads an adhesive before being threadably joined with the tool support such that, when the adhesive cures, the subsequent unthreading of the fastener and removal of the tool pad from the tool support are prevented.
4. The surface-treating tool of claim 1 wherein the pad fastener is a removable fastener such that the tool pad is removably attached to the tool head with the plate top surface in contacting engagement with the tool-support lower surface.
5. The surface-treating tool of claim 4 wherein the removable pad fastener is a threaded fastener.
6. The surface-treating tool of claim 5 wherein the pad fastener is a tool-less fastener.
7. A hand manipulated surface-abrading tool configured for coupling to an extension pole having longitudinally opposed proximal and distal pole ends, the surface-abrading tool comprising:
a tool head including a rigid tool support having mutually opposed tool-support upper and lower surfaces bounded by a common tool-support periphery, and further including a tool-support center within the tool-support periphery;
a pole coupling affixed to the tool-support upper surface for selectively coupling the tool support to the pole distal end, the pole coupling being affixed to the tool-support upper surface and configured such that an extension pole coupled to the tool head by the pole coupling is pivotable relative to the tool support about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes; and
a tool pad including (i) a rigid plate having mutually opposed plate top and bottom surfaces bounded by a peripheral plate edge extending between the plate top and bottom surfaces and (ii) a resilient layer with a resilient-layer upper surface permanently adhered to the plate bottom surface and an attachment surface that is opposite the resilient-layer upper surface and configured for releasably retaining an abrading material, wherein
the tool pad and the tool-support lower surface are cooperatively configured to enable removable attachment of the tool pad to the tool head with the rigid plate between the resilient layer and the tool-support lower surface.
8. The surface-abrading tool of claim 7 wherein
(a) the tool pad includes a tool-pad center;
(b) there is a plate-center hole through the rigid plate and a resilient-layer-center hole that extends through the resilient layer and is aligned with the plate-center hole at the tool-pad center; and
(c) the tool pad is removably attached to the tool-support lower surface by a pad fastener introduced into at least the resilient-layer-center hole and secured to the tool-support center.
9. The surface-abrading tool of claim 8 wherein the rigid plate and the tool-support lower surface are complementarily keyed such that, when the tool pad is removably attached to the lower surface of the tool support, and the pad fastener is secured, the tool pad is prevented from rotating relative to the tool support.
10. The surface-abrading tool of claim 9 wherein the complementary keying comprises at least one off-center key aperture in the rigid plate and at least one key protrusion extending downwardly from the tool-support lower surface and into the at least one off-center key aperture, thereby establishing an interference fit between the tool-support and the rigid plate.
11. A surface-treating tool configured for coupling to an extension pole having opposed proximal and distal pole ends, the surface-treating tool comprising:
a tool head including a rigid tool support having mutually opposed tool-support upper and lower surfaces;
a pole coupling configured for selectively coupling the tool support to the pole distal end and affixed to the tool-support upper surface such that a coupled extension pole is pivotable relative to the tool support about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes;
a tool pad including a rigid plate with plate top and bottom surfaces and a resilient layer permanently adhered to the plate bottom surface, the resilient layer including an attachment surface to which a working material can be removably attached without tools; and
a pad fastener for attaching the tool pad to the tool-support lower surface, wherein
the pad fastener is introduced through the resilient layer and secured to tool-support lower surface in order to attach the tool pad to the tool-support lower surface with the rigid plate between the tool support and the resilient layer.
12. The surface-treating tool of claim 11 wherein the working material is an abrading material in the form of one of (i) a sheet and (ii) a pad.
13. The surface-treating tool of claim 12 wherein the abrading material is attached to the resilient-layer attachment surface by a plurality of hook-on-loop fasteners.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/520,679 US20220055172A1 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2021-11-07 | Surface-abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201962844209P | 2019-05-07 | 2019-05-07 | |
PCT/US2020/031824 WO2020227495A1 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2020-05-07 | Sureach- abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole |
US17/520,679 US20220055172A1 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2021-11-07 | Surface-abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2020/031824 Continuation WO2020227495A1 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2020-05-07 | Sureach- abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20220055172A1 true US20220055172A1 (en) | 2022-02-24 |
Family
ID=73050605
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/520,679 Pending US20220055172A1 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2021-11-07 | Surface-abrading tool configured for mounting to an extension pole |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20220055172A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3965992A4 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3139515A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2020227495A1 (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3965992A1 (en) | 2022-03-16 |
CA3139515A1 (en) | 2020-11-12 |
WO2020227495A1 (en) | 2020-11-12 |
EP3965992A4 (en) | 2022-12-28 |
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