SANDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
An improved resilient sanding block of the type comprising a core having a plurality of exterior surfaces, including a first major surface and a second major surface and side surfaces, and having a layer of abrasive material disposed thereon. The resilient sanding block may have one or more apertures or through holes extending from one major surface to the other major surface and channels formed in at least one of the major surfaces, with the channels in communication with the aperture. When a vacuum source is operatively connected to the aperture, the dust created by sanding will be substantially removed into the vacuum source via the channels and the aperture. A holder for a resilient sanding block is also disclosed, as well as a handle for the holder, which together form a sanding system.
This application claims benefit to a provisional application No. 60/657,461 filed on Mar. 1, 2005 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to surface finishing tools. Particularly, the present invention relates to flexible sanding tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to resilient sanding blocks that can be used in conjunction with a holder to improve the user's grip and which can be used in conjunction with components of existing surface finishers to form a dustless sanding system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dustless sanding tools and dustless sanding have been known and practiced in the construction trades for a number of years. Known dustless sanding tools comprise a handle that connects to a vacuum source, and a sanding element, such as a sanding screen, which attaches to the bottom surface of the tool by means of clamping mechanisms. Such bottom surfaces are provided with through holes or grooves that are in communication with the vacuum source, and over which the sanding screen is positioned. In operation, dust is sucked through apertures in the screen and the grooves or through holes and is deposited into a collection receptacle.
Such dustless sanding tools have many disadvantages. They are not useful for small jobs, or jobs that have a limited amount of space in which to operate. They are not economical, especially for small jobs, because the user must purchase a hand held tool as well as an abrasive sanding screen, which are not inexpensive. Additionally, existing dustless sanding tools are designed to work only in a reciprocating motion and often, the suction force developed by the vacuum causes the sander to be clamped to the surface being sanded. Another drawback is that the bottom surface is made from relatively rigid material such as plastic or hard rubber. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, to sand a curved or undulating surface. Further, the hard bottom commonly leaves relatively deep grooves in drywall that requires subsequent re-finishing. Moreover, these known dustless sanding tools are large, heavy and cumbersome.
There is a need for a sanding tool that has the abrasive material incorporated into the tool itself, rather than requiring an abrasive material be attached to a tool. There is a need for a sanding tool made of a resilient material so the tool that is able to conform to irregular surfaces. There is a need for a sanding tool that is inexpensive to manufacture and disposable. There is a need for a compact and lightweight dustless sanding tool. There is a need for a resilient sanding block that can be used with existing dustless sanding components. And, there is a need for a small, portable, dustless sanding system that can be easily transported about a job site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to increase the utility of known sanding tools that may be optionally connected to a-vacuum device. The present invention achieves this objective by providing an existing resilient sanding block having a centrally located through hole or aperture and one or more channels located and formed on sanding surfaces of the block. The aperture may be directly connected to a vacuum source or it may be attached to a holder that directs a vacuum source to the sanding surface of the resilient sanding block. The block may be more than one aperture or through holes depending on the particular type of holder that will be used in conjunction with the block.
More specifically, the resilient sanding block has a plurality of surfaces including a first and second major surface. Abrasive material may be disposed on one or both of the major surfaces. The channels on the major surfaces may be formed in a variety of patterns and are generally in communication with the aperture. When a suction force is applied to the aperture, dirt and dust will travel through the channels and then up through the aperture. From there, the dirt and dust will be directed towards the vacuum source and into a collection receptacle. If the resilient block is attached to a holder, the dirt and dust will travel from the channel, through the aperture and into the holder, which will direct the debris toward the vacuum source and into the collection receptacle.
A resilient sanding block of the present invention may be manufactured by taking an existing block with an abrasive material disposed on at least one major surface and forming at least one through hole or aperture between the major surfaces of the block. Channels may then be formed to be in communication with the aperture(s). The resilient sanding block of the present invention may also be manufactured by first forming channels in the major surfaces of the block and then forming a though hole between the major surfaces of the block.
The present invention is illustrated in
In this present embodiment, an aperture or through hole 80 is formed in the resilient sanding block 10 so that it extends through the thickness of the core 12 from the first major surface 24 to the second major surface 26. Preferably, the aperture 80 is generally located in the center of the resilient sanding block 10. Preferably, the primary channels 42-56 (see also
The channels 42-74 can be formed, molded or cut into the core 12 and are recessed just below the first major surface 24 or the second major surface 26 of the core 12 to allow air to be sucked into the channels 42-74 from outside the core 12 and into the aperture 80. As better illustrated in
Referring particularly now to
As seen in
The channels should not be limited in shape and can have any number of cross-sectional profiles including a “v”-shaped groove, round or flat bottom, square or rectangular. A square or rectangular shaped channel is preferred. More preferably, the channels will have a depth and width of about 0.5 to about 7.0 mm, more preferably 1.0 to about 5.0 mm. It is preferred, although not necessary, that the resilient sanding block be provided with channels in the first major surface 24, as well as the second major surface 24, 26 so that resilient sanding block may be inverted and the first and second major surface 26. Additionally, it is preferred that the apertures have a diameter that is larger than the cross-sectional area of the channels.
The resilient sanding block 10 should also not be limited in the number of surfaces that are coated with abrasive material. For example, the first major surface 24, the second major surface 26, two end surfaces 18, 22, and the side surfaces can be coated with abrasive material and a pattern of channels can be applied to only the first major surface 24. It should be noted that any combination of sides with or without abrasive coating or with or without channels can be included in the scope of the invention and the present invention should not be limited in scope by leaving out any combination. Moreover, it is envisioned that the surfaces of the resilient sanding block may be provided with different grades of abrasive material.
This system 500 differs, however, in that it is designed to work in conjunction with irregularly, job specific angled sanding blocks 510. To that end, the walls of the second shell 504b on one side of the holder 502 are angled to reflect the configuration of the block 510. This shifts the passageway 506 on the side of the shell 504b so that it is positioned to receive dust that rides up on the angled surface of the sanding block 510. Apertures 508 are located on the side of the second shell 504b to allow air/dust to be drawn from around the resilient sanding block 510 into the passageway 506 and eventually out of the sanding system 500 via the vacuum attachment 538.
Note that the holder 602 in
The resilient sanding block 710 of this embodiment also has hook material 782 disposed on a first major surface 724 of the block 710. The hook material 782 may be attached to the surface 724 by laminating a sheet of hook material 782 via adhesive to the first major surface 724 or any other portion of the resilient sanding block 710 in where hook material is desired. The hook material 782 corresponds to a loop material 784 that is attached to an abrasive sheet 760. The abrasive sheet 760 is thereby removably attached to the resilient sanding block 710. The abrasive sheet 760 may be a sanding screen and could be made of a plastic material having the characteristics of a grater. If a sanding screen is used, the sanding screen will preferably have a grit size from about 40 to about 400 grit. The resilient sanding block 710 can be frictionally maintained by a skirt 704 formed by the holder 702.
Inside the holder 702 are support ribs or spacers 750 that serve to position the resilient block 710 away from the passageway 706 so that it partially closes the walls of the holder 702 creating a substantially enclosed passageway 706. Each spacer 750 has an aperture 708 or slot 709 to allow air/dust to therebetween. In operation with an vacuum source, air and or dust will travel from through the abrasive sheet 760, through apertures 780 in the resilient sanding block 710, into the holder 702 and then out of the sanding device 700 through the exit port 740.
The conveyor portion 804 of the machine 800 comprises four sprockets 818, two chains 820, and individual catches or tines 816. The chain conveyor system 804 revolves in a clockwise motion around the sprockets 818 so that the catches or tines 816 are able to grab individual resilient sanding blocks 810 from a plurality of blocks 810 stacked in the hopper 808. The resilient sanding blocks 810 fall due to gravity onto the chain conveyor system 804 in-between the tines 816. The chain conveyor system 804 rides on two rails 832 positioned under the slide plate 812. The slide plate 812 has three slots 824 cut into it so that the saw blades 802a-f may extend through the slots 824 and above the surface of the slide plate 812, thereby allowing the saw blades 802a-f to form channels in the surface of the resilient sanding blocks 810. The slide plate 812 also has two longitudinal slots 824, 826 that cut into the length of the resilient sanding block 810 so that the tines or catches 816 of the chain conveyor system 804 extend above the surface of the slide plate 810 so as to allow the tines 816 to catch or grab resilient sanding blocks 810 from the hopper 808 and push them through the saw blades 802a-f. The chain 820, moving clockwise, transports or pushes the resilient sanding blocks 810 through the saw blades 802a-f. The saw blades 802a-f are set up with a series of three blades on top and three blades on the bottom. The top blades 802a-c turn clockwise and the bottom blades 802d-f turn counter-clockwise. As the resilient sanding blocks 810 are fed into the saw blades 802a-f, a spring bar 814 applies pressure to the top of the resilient sanding block 810 pushing it down onto the slide plate 812 so as to provide enough pressure so the resilient sanding block 810 does not kick up while going through the saw blades 802a-f. Adjustable side guides 822 serve to align the resilient sanding blocks 810 accurately through the saw blades 802a-f preventing them from wandering from side to side. In the preferred method, the resilient sanding blocks 810 are stacked into the hopper 808 in quantities of about 40 or 50 at a time and gravity fed onto the conveyor 804 and as the conveyor 804 turns the bottom most resilient sanding block 810 is pulled from the bottom of the stack of blocks 810 by the tines 816, which catch the block 810 and push it along and through the saw blades 802a-f. The next resilient sanding block 810 falls onto the chain conveyor system 804 on so on. After the resilient sanding blocks 810 are pushed through the saw blades 802a-f they will have a series of three saw kerfs or channels (See
The set of intersecting channels are cut into the resilient sanding block 810 by the same machine 800 by adjusting the saw blades 802a-f, the hopper 808 size and the side guides 822 accordingly and by turning the blocks 810 approximately 90 degrees and restacking them in the hopper 808. Alternatively, the channels may be molded, incised, or heat formed in the resilient sanding block 810.
It is envisioned that, it may be more efficient to have a separate machine of the same type as the machine 800 set up to cut the intersecting channels so the resilient sanding blocks 810 may be placed in hopper 808 of the second machine 800 after going through the first machine 800 without requiring any readjustments. It may also be possible to set up the two machines 800 (only one is shown) so that the chain conveyor system 804 automatically feeds the resilient sanding blocks onto the conveyor system of the second machine without the need to place the resilient sanding blocks 810 in the hopper of the second machine (not shown). It may be necessary to install a cooling system (not shown) to run water on the saw blades 802a-f so that they do not overheat from cutting the abrasive material on the resilient sanding blocks 810. In a third operation, the resilient sanding blocks 810 would be taken to a punch machine (not shown) with single or multiple hole punches so that the aperture 80 or apertures (See
Although the preferred embodiments and methods of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1-36. (canceled)
37. A sanding system comprising:
- a sanding block having a flexible resilient core, a plurality of exterior surfaces, including an abrasive first major surface and a second major surface and side surfaces and abrasive material coated onto at least the abrasive first major surface;
- apertures that extend from the abrasive first major surface to the second major surface, wherein the flexible resilient core is configured and arranged to be operatively connected to a suction device; and
- a holder configured and arranged to hold the flexible resilient core, the holder being configured and arranged to be operatively connected to a suction device.
38. The system of claim 37, further comprising a flexible hose that operatively connects the suction device to the flexible resilient core.
39. The system of claim 37, further comprising a dust collection receptacle operatively connected to the suction device.
40. The system of claim 37, further comprising a handle, the handle attached to the holder.
41. The system of claim 37, wherein the holder comprises a grip.
42. The system of claim 37, wherein said sanding block further comprises apertures that are generally circular.
43. The system of claim 37, wherein said sanding block further comprises a flexible core that is generally rectangular and has a thickness defined by the first and second major surfaces.
44. The system of claim 37, wherein said sanding block comprises first and second major surfaces that are generally parallel with respect to each other.
45. The system of claim 37 wherein the flexible resilient core comprises resilient foam material.
46. The system of claim 37, wherein said holder further comprises an upper chamber having spacers positioned within said upper chamber, wherein said spacers position the sanding block away from said chamber, and a skirt that frictionally retains said sanding block within the holder.
47. An improved sanding block comprising:
- one flexible resilient core having a plurality of exterior surfaces, including one abrasive first major surface and one second major surface and side surfaces and abrasive material coated onto at least the one abrasive first major surface; and
- apertures that extend from the one abrasive first major surface to the one second major surface.
48. The improved sanding block of claim 47, further comprising apertures that are generally circular.
49. The improved sanding block of claim 47, further comprising the one resilient flexible core that is generally rectangular and has a thickness defined by the one abrasive first major surface and the one second major surface.
50. The improved sanding block of claim 47 further comprising the one abrasive first major surface and the one second major surface being generally parallel with respect to each other.
51. The improved sanding block of claim 47, further comprising the one abrasive first major surface and the one second major surface being generally flat.
52. The improved sanding block of claim 47, wherein the one flexible resilient core comprises resilient foam material.
53. The improved sanding block of claim 47, wherein the one abrasive first major surface and the one second major surface are abrasive surfaces.
54. The improved sanding block of claim 47, having hook and loop fastening material attached to the one second major surface.
55. A method of forming a sanding block, comprising:
- providing a flexible resilient core having a plurality of exterior surfaces, including an abrasive first major surface and a second major surface and side surfaces;
- coating abrasive material onto at least the abrasive first major surface; and
- extending apertures from the abrasive first major surface to the second major surface.
56. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing a resilient flexible core is generally rectangular and has a thickness defined by the first and second major surfaces.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 1, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 24, 2008
Inventor: John E. Brown (Anoka, MN)
Application Number: 12/024,570
International Classification: B24B 23/00 (20060101); B24B 55/10 (20060101); B24D 11/00 (20060101);