Abstract: A polyethylene back-up plate is attached directly to the rear surface of a rotary foam buffing pad or to an intermediate polyethylene layer on the back of any of several types of rotary buffing pads utilizing a permanent heat bond.

Abstract: A rotary finishing tool, such as a buffing pad, utilizes a connector assembly for demountable attachment to a powered rotary backing plate. The finishing tool is attached to the front face of a backing disc and the rear face of the backing disc includes a first piece of the connector assembly, the second piece of which is carried by the backing plate. The first and second connector pieces include complementary driving surfaces and complementary locking surfaces which respectively interengage in response to linear movement bringing the two connector pieces together and relative radial movement between the locking surfaces which are preferably resiliently biased.

Abstract: A back-up plate is provided for a reversible double-sided rotary buffing pad. The back-up plate is attached directly to the output shaft of the power buffer and the buffing pad is attached to the back-up plate and, when attached, circumferentially spaced fingers on the outer edge of the back-up plate bear on the unused buffing face and prevent excess flexing and premature fracture and failure of the backing disk on the interior of the pad that supports the oppositely disposed buffing faces.

Abstract: A rotary foam buffing pad is provided with a concave working face which allows the operator to provide true graduated surface contact in applying polish, buffing or glazing compounds, while containing the polishing compound against centrifugal force which would otherwise result in splattering of the compound. The manner in which the concave working face is formed and in which the edge face is formed and dressed results in dynamic balancing of the pad and reducing vibration and operator fatigue. The working surface forming and pad finishing operations further provide a velvetized texture to the pad working surfaces which further enhances the polishing or finishing process.

Abstract: A rotary surface finishing tool includes a generally circular body of a finishing material, such as polymeric foam, the peripheral edge of which is wrapped around the outer edge of a circular cup-shaped backing plate. The plate is subsequently crimped over the edge of a locking ring to capture the edge of the foam material therebetween. Other types of finishing material, such as tufted wool, including a backing with a flexible peripheral edge can also be mounted to a backing plate using the crimping techniques described herein.

Abstract: A polymeric foam finishing pad is made by attaching an array of foam fingers to a suitable support substrate. The foam fingers are attached to the substrate in a continuous strip of interconnected fingers or may be individually inserted into a support substrate and attached to the substrate by an adhesive layer. Each of the foam members is preferably formed in and cut from an advancing foam strip and folded and inserted into a preformed opening contained in the support substrate, such that each foam member forms a pair of fingers that extend from the front face of the support substrate. The outer tip of each foam finger may include a pair of slits extending into the foam member from the outer tip to divide each outer tip into a plurality of contact tips, thereby increasing the amount of surface contact between the finishing pad and the surface being finished. The tips of the fingers may also be provided with abrasive particles to provide a more aggressive pad finishing surface.

Abstract: A smoke detector and signal device is adapted for attachment to an interior door knob or to the window of a room. The device includes a housing containing an interconnected array of components including a smoke responsive transducer, an electric power source, a signal light, and an electronic circuit device interconnecting the array of components. The device includes connectors for either attaching the housing to the window for displaying the signal light to the outside or to the door knob of the room to provide a lighted signal of the precise location of the door knob to an occupant within the room.

Abstract: A surface treating device is provided for rotating a primary surface treating arrangement supplied with a surface treating material relative to a working surface. A driving mechanism is provided for rotating the primary surface treating arrangement including a driven output tube operably connected to the primary surface treating arrangement. In the preferred embodiment, an auxiliary surface treating arrangement is spaced inwardly of the output tube and is non-rotatably mounted on the driving mechanism. The auxiliary surface treating arrangement includes a manually actuated pump slidably mounted relative to the output tube for controllably delivering a supply of the surface treating material to the primary surface treating arrangement.

Abstract: A rotary foam buffing pad is provided with a concave working face which allows the operator to provide true graduated surface contact in applying polish, buffing or glazing compounds, while containing the polishing compound against centrifugal force which would otherwise result in splattering of the compound. The manner in which the concave working face is formed and in which the edge face is formed and dressed results in dynamic balancing of the pad and reducing vibration and operator fatigue. The working surface forming and pad finishing operations further provide a velvetized texture to the pad working surfaces which further enhances the polishing or finishing process.

Abstract: A polymeric foam finishing pad is made by attaching a dense array of individual foam members to a suitable support substrate. The foam members are individually inserted into a support substrate and attached to the substrate by an adhesive layer. When making the foam pad, each of the foam members is preferably folded and inserted into a preformed opening contained in the support substrate, such that each foam member forms a pair of fingers that extend from the front face of the support substrate. The outer tip of each foam finger may include a pair of slits extending into the foam member from the outer tip.

Abstract: A polymeric foam finishing pad is made by attaching a dense array of individual foam fingers to a suitable backing substrate. The fingers may be individually attached to the substrate or attached to the substrate by an intermediate foam strip to which the fingers are integrally joined. When making a circular rotary buffing pad, the foam strip is preferably attached to the substrate in a spiral pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a buffing pad mounted on a rotary powered buffing machine is adapted to be adjustably mounted by a plurality of support legs within an open container containing a liquid cleaning solution. The buffing pad is placed in an upper enclosure that can be adjusted in size to correspond to buffing pads of varying thickness. The bottom of the enclosure includes a water wheel mounted for engagement by the buffing pad and rotatable between the enclosure and a point below the level of cleaning solution in the container, such that powered operation of the buffing machine and rotation of the pad drives the water wheel to deliver cleaning solution to the pad enclosure to clean accumulated wax, dirt and other materials from the pad. The device makes use of a series of rotatable cleaning wheels of the type used in prior devices which are also driven by the buffing pad and assist in loosening and removing accumulated materials from the buffing pad.

Abstract: A replacement blank for an incandescent lamp in a string of decorative lights includes a base adapted for removable insertion into one of the sockets of the light string in place of a lamp. The base is provided with an electrically conductive strip which is sized and shaped to maintain the series connection between the leads in the socket. The use of multiple replacement blanks in place of selected lamps in the string allows the user to create decorative patterns or designs where it is desirable to have sections of the string not lighted.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a buffing pad mounted on a rotary powered buffing machine is adapted to be mounted on the upper edge of an open container containing a liquid cleaning solution. The buffing pad is placed in an upper enclosure the bottom of which includes a water wheel mounted for engagement by the buffing pad and rotatable between the enclosure and a point below the level of cleaning solution in the container, such that powered operation of the buffing machine and rotation of the pad drives the water wheel to deliver cleaning solution to the pad enclosure to clean accumulated wax, dirt and other materials from the pad. The device makes use of a series of rotatable cleaning wheels of the type used in prior devices which are also driven by the buffing pad and assist in loosening and removing accumulated materials from the buffing pad.

Abstract: A backing plate for a rotary buffing pad assembly provides cushioned support for a pair of curved edge buffing pads mounted back-to-back. The backing plate is adapted for easy reversible mounting and the cushioned pad support prevents damaging contact by the edge of the rigid backing plate with the surface being finished.

Abstract: A hand-held cleaning and dressing tool for foam buffing pads includes a series of toothed cleaning wheels mounted for independent rotation on a common shaft attached to the end of a pistol grip handle. The cleaning wheels are shrouded to help capture caked material picked up from the surface of the rotating pad. The tool also includes an abrasive dressing surface to reshape the buffing pad as a result of wear. Both the cleaning and dressing tools are operated by holding the same in operative contact with the rotatably driven pad.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning buffing pads includes a hollow cleaning enclosure for receiving the pad while still attached to the buffing machine and permitting rotation of the pad within the enclosure. Agitating members are provided to contact the buffing pad while cleaning solutions are injected into the enclosure and against the buffing pad face while rotating. A pump drive wheel driven by the rotating buffing pad provides power to drive a pump contained within a reservoir of cleaning fluid to pump the cleaning fluid to the enclosure and pad.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning buffing pads while attached to a buffing machine includes a hollow enclosure into which the pad may be inserted and partially enclosed. Rotatable agitating members are provided in combination with the injection of cleaning solutions pumped from a central reservoir onto the pad surface, as the pad is rotated by the buffing machine to which it is normally mounted. Rotation of the pad in contact with the agitating rollers combined with the application of cleaning solution causes the release and washing of particulate matter from the pad. The pad edge is also caused to rotate against stationary protuberances in the enclosure side wall to assist in cleaning the pad as well. A movable cover section is provided for ease of inserting and removing the pad within the enclosure, and the cover includes a central aperture through which the shaft of the buffing machine may be extended.