WO2008094139A1

WO2008094139A1 - Inprovements in sanding disks

Info

Publication number: WO2008094139A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/002343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher R. Grace; Carey Hilburn
Original assignee: Grace Manufacturing Inc.
Priority date: 2007-01-29
Filing date: 2007-01-29
Publication date: 2008-08-07

Abstract

An improved abrading device (10) for removing measured amounts of material from a work piece in which a series of tooth segments (12) are formed about the abrading device in spaced relation to one another, said abrading device having a series of attachment devices (20) on the rear of the spaces (22) between the tooth segments wherein the attachment device is selectively mated with a companion attachment device on a work tool to secure the abrading device to the work tool in order to impart motion to the abrading device to remove material from a work piece.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN SANDING DISKS

The present invention relates generally to disks used for sanding in conjunction with a power tool, such as an electric drill or vibrating pad.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The sand disk of the present invention is intended for use in finishing wood products, or the like, in conjunction with a power tool such as an electric drill. This represents an improvement in the sand disk shown and described in the above referenced co-pending application.

As stated in the co-pending application, there is a plethora of sanding devices, all of which have one or more deficiencies ranging from quickly loading up with removed material to accelerated wear. It is the intent and purpose of this device to alleviate, if not eliminate, the deficiencies of existing devices. Overview of the Prior Art

While the intrinsic value of sandpaper products is almost universally recognized, so too are the deficiencies. Among early patented efforts to eliminate the paper backing used in conventional sandpapers is Lambert patent number 1,729,881, issued in 1929. Lambert teaches a rotary disk having a series of uniformly spaced punched cutting teeth. Lambert was primarily concerned with the positioning and rigidity of the disk, which was intended for use. with a hand power tool, to avoid imbalance and the dangers of flying debris. Schwartz, in his patent number 4,685,181 offers a slightly different shaped disk with teeth formed by drilling holes and then upsetting an edge of the opening.

While Lambert focused on a sanding device for a rotary tool, Benis et al. applied his thinking to a vibratory device in his patent number 3,583,107 for a flexible sheet metai speed file. A uniform pattern of punched teeth were formed on a rectangular piece of malleable metal. The thrust of the patent was, however, directed to the flaps 29, 31 which were used to hold the device to the hand tool. Konrad patent number 4,028,781 is a similar type device, and Young patent number 5,683,292 is yet another abrading device with rows of upstanding, similarly oriented, teeth having angles of 45 to 135 degrees.

Having found devices for use with rotary, orbital and vibratory power tools, Konrad patent number 4,377,081 addresses the use of a metal belt surfacing tool which has been perforated to form teeth.

The shape of the teeth is a function of the punching device used to form them, as evidenced by the several patents discussed, together with Amsen patent number 2,820,28I₇ which teaches an abrasive device in which the teeth are formed by a punch which causes the upward tearing of the material so as to have five upstanding points. Kaufman, on the other hand, in his patent number 3,468,079, creates a star-like tooth. Kaufman envisions his device as a callous remover.

It will be appreciated that when a punch, or stamping device, is used, the punch penetrated the metal material at a center point, and the material is literally torn, as the punch advances; from that central point to the root, or perimeter, of the tooth, which is determined by the depth of the punch. Each segment of torn material will define a sharp point which is intended to contact the material, e.g., wood, plastic or metal, and remove particles thereof.

Yet another inventor, Rickey Newmayer, has yet another device in the form of a rotary disk (patent number 4,137,617) having square and/or circular teeth for the cutting of plastics. The formation of the Newmayer teeth is attributable, in the Newmayer specification, to two other patents, and both of those patents talk of punch and die methods.

There are several other patents found in the abrading art, all of which have one or more variations on essentially the same theme.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an improved multi-faceted abrading device, the basic design of which makes it compatible with both rotary, orbital and vibratory power hand tools to effect a finish of desired smoothness on a work piece of wooden material. With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary objective to provide such a device that is capable of performing like sandpaper, while having none of the deficiencies of sandpaper as chronicled above.

Another objective of the present invention is to create an improved metallic abrading device that has the efficacy of sandpaper, in that it is capable of removing controlled amounts of material, irrespective of the direction in which it is moved, while having excellent durability and useful life.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an abrading device which is usable either with a rotary hand tool or a vibratory hand tool, and which starts exceptionally sharp and stays sharp for extended periods of use. An objective related to the foregoing is that the device of the present invention will not clog or load up in a way which adversely effects its performance.

More specifically, it is an objective of the present invention to overcome occasional problems experienced in the use of the abrasive device of the above referenced co-pending PCT application. The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the abrading device of the present invention, will become more evident from a reading of the following Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment, taken in concert with the drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, is a side elevation of the face of an abrading device in the nature of a sanding disk constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2, is a side elevation of the rear of the disk of Fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and coincidently to the above referenced application which is incorporated herein by reference, the improved omnidirectional abrading device in the nature of a disk of the present invention is illustrated at 10. The several disk configurations described and claimed in the above referenced PCT application have been shown in most commercial and home projects to be exceptionally effective. In some applications, however, there have been times, and under some conditions, when the disk clogs and toads up with removed material, causing unacceptable erratic surfaces on a work piece and work delays while the disk is cleaned off or replaced.

In other situations, e.g., where the moisture content is higher than usual, the saw dust, or other debris removed from the work piece, will accumulate behind the disk between the disk and the power tool driving the disk. When this occurs, the disk tends to deform and may pull away from the tool, and the surface being worked may be damaged, or even worse, the disk may separate from the tool. The disk 10 has been specifically created in order to minimize, if not totally eliminate,, the problems enumerated above. Further, while the disk 10 is metallic and, as illustrated, is circular, other shapes may be constructed without departure from the operative principles taught herein. Finally, heat generated at the disk under normal operating conditions is heightened by accumulated debris as it clogs teeth, and adhesives holding the loop and hook material in place may be adversely effected, as well as the hook and loop material itself, which is susceptible to distortion due to excessive heat.

Returning to the drawings, it will be seen in FIG. 1 that there are a plurality of discrete segments 12 , each having a pattern of cutting teeth. The segments are positioned about the periphery of the disk. The segments 12 are preferably spaced equidistant from each other, although it may not be necessary. Each of the peripheral segments is preferably of a geometric shape to take optimum advantage of the space available on the disk. A central segment is also provided at 16. In an attempt to alleviate heat problems, a series of vents 17 are strategically located in spaces between tooth segments 12 and center segment 16.

As pointed out, each tooth segment is formed with an array of abrading elements, or teeth, 14, which teeth are preferably formed by a photo chemical etching process in the nature of that set forth in Sturtevant et al. patent 5,100,506. Each segment may have a tooth pattern which is omnidirectional, or where appropriate, the array of teeth in each segment may be unidirectional and all of the segments combined are able to cut in an omnidirectional pattern when the disk is rotated.

Several omnidirectional tooth configurations are taught in the above referenced Sand Disk application, any one of which may be used with the present disk without departure from the invention. In keeping with the objective of the present invention to substantially alleviate, if not eliminate, clogging and loading problems, the positioning of teeth segments 12 on the disk becomes important.

The disk of the present invention is preferably formed of a flat disk, and as finished, is a planer piece of relatively rigid material having front and rear faces 18 and 19, respectively. In order to affix the disk to a platen mounted on its companion power tool (not shown as it is of well known configuration), it is fitted with a hook and loop type attachment arrangement which will adhere the disk to the tool used to power it. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the back 19 of the disk is affixed with a series of attachment devices 20. The attachment devices are in spaced relation about the disk and, as shown, are located in the spaces 22 between the tooth segments 12. With this intermittent spacing, none of the teeth are covered by an attachment device, or any portion thereof. Further, there is a series of channels created between the disk and the power tool equal to the thickness of the attachment fabric which has the dual advantage of allowing air flow beneath the clusters or segments 12.

Each attachment device is formed with one half of a hook and loop type fabric, and all of the attachment devices 20 are of the same fabric. The companion fabric, whether hook or loop, is mounted to the tool used to drive the disk, whether it is rotated, oscillated or vibrated, and the disk is, thus, secured to the tool, by mating segments of the hook and loop fabric, and able to function in concert with the power tool as it was designed to do.

Having now described the improved sand disk in considerable detail it will be seen that by spacing the hook and loop attachment material, channels are created which permit the discharge of debris otherwise accumulated behind the teeth and, further, provides air flow which would tend to cool the disk, thereby decreasing heat build up which would harm performance. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that some variation in the shape, size and nature of the various elements of the disk would be possible, and such variations are within the contemplation of the invention as described in the accompanying claims, wherein:

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An abrading device in the nature of a disk for use in concert with a power tool for removing measured amounts of material from a work piece; said disk being of relatively thin material, and having a front face and a rear face, said disk having a series of tooth segments formed therein, each segment having a plurality of omnidirectional abrading elements facing outwardly from said front face, said tooth segments being spaced from one another; an attachment device, said attaching device being affixed to the rear face of said disk in said spaces, said attachment device comprising facing attachment elements, each said one of said attachment elements engaging a companion attachment element on the power tool to thereby adhere said disk to said power tool to drive said disk to remove material when placed against the work piece.

2. The disk as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the said disk includes a central segment; said central segment having an array of cutting teeth therein.

3. The disk as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said disk is planar.

4. The disk as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said teeth in each said segment are arrayed to cut in any direction in which said disk is moved.

5. The disk as set forth in Claim 1, wherein each said disk includes a plurality of vents for cooling purposes.

6. The disk as set forth in Claim 5, wherein said vents are located between each said tooth segment and said center segment.

7. The disk as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said attachment device comprises a hook and loop arrangement.

8. An abrading device in the nature of a disk for use in concert with a power tool for removing measured amounts of material from a work piece; said disk being planer and of relatively thin material, and having a front face and a rear face, said disk having a series of tooth segments formed therein, each said tooth segment having a plurality of abrading elements, said tooth segments being spaced from one another; said abrading elements in said segments combined to cut in any direction in which said disk is moved; an attachment device, said attachment device comprising facing attachment elements, one of said attachment elements being affixed to the rear face of said disk in said spaces between said tooth segments, one of said attachment elements engaging a companion attachment element on the power tool to thereby adhere said disk to said power tool to drive said disk to remove material when placed against the work piece.

9. An abrading device as set forth in Claim 8 for use in concert with a power tool for removing measured amounts of material from a work piece, said disk having abrading elements on the front face; said one of said attachment elements and said companion attachment element being engagable with one another by means of a hook and loop device.

10. An abrading device in the nature of a disk for use in concert with a power tool for removing measured amounts of material from a work piece; said disk being of relatively thin material and having a front face and a rear face, said disk being planer and having a series of tooth segments formed therein, said disk being affixed to the power tool such that channels are created between the rear side of the disk and the power tool which permit the discharge of abraded debris from the area directly behind the tooth segments.