Sanding system

Abstract

An abrasive sanding work glove (12) has a fabric (13) with an inner first elastomeric cushion coat (18) and an harder cured coat (21) cured on the palm and finger fronts. Abrasive particles (22) are bonded to the cured coat (21) to provide for a sanding or gripping work tool. A sanding cloth (15) can be handled by the sanding work glove. The sanding cloth has an abrasive side (35) with abrasive particles (30) adhered to the cloth and a back side (36) that engages with the sanding work glove (12).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of this invention relates to an improved sanding system that can apply to a sanding work glove or sanding cloth.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

While power sanding devices have made sanding work easier, there is still a need for hand sanding. There are many problems with hand sanding with sandpaper. The stiffness of sandpaper and the inability to get into tight corners results in awkward handling and often incomplete jobs. The sandpaper back often slips out of any grip to limit the control one has on the sandpaper. When the sandpaper is folded, a permanent crease is formed in the paper backing and the abrasive grit separates from the paper at the crease.

Many attempts have been made to eliminate sheets of sandpaper by providing a sanding glove or other sanding device. One advantage of a sanding glove is elimination of fatigue due to holding a separate piece of sandpaper. Another advantage allows the user to sand curved, grooved or more complexly shaped surfaces that may be inaccessible or difficult with sandpaper. While the general concept of having an abrasive material attached closely to a worker's hand is well known, none of the previous attempts have been commercially successful. The prior art attempts have come up short for providing a successful products for a variety of reasons.

The glove may have been too stiff and uncomfortable to wear. The worker may have lost much dexterity with his hand when the worker was wearing a stiff glove such that the glove could not be used as a work glove. Other gloves may have been uncomfortable because they were too hot and did not provide for adequate breathing or ventilation for extended wear. Other gloves were difficult to manufacture and similarly provided durability problems. Other gloves were clumsy to operate having many abrasive pads secured thereto or having removable wearable sanding surface attachable to the glove through a plurality of snaps.

A suitable interface to secure the abrasive particles directly to the glove fabric has not been heretofore achieved. While rubber coatings provide a cushion for the hand, the rubber has a low adhesion power to the abrasive particles. Secondly, rubber has a high coefficient of friction which prevents the glove from adequately sliding over the wood or plastic work piece if it comes into contact with the work surface during sanding.

Other hand sanding devices included foam blocks with an integrally formed abrasive surface. These foam blocks have limitations in fitting into tight corners and providing a tactile feedback. They are also clumsy and awkward to hold.

What is needed is an improved hand sanding system that uses a sanding cloth that has an abrasive side and a backside with a sanding gripping glove that can grip and handle the back side of the sanding cloth during sanding motion but be easily releasable when lifted from the cloth. What is also needed is an improved abrasive glove without the above mentioned problems where workers can use the glove to hand sand complex or otherwise inaccessible surfaces. The sanding glove can also double as a work glove and be used to protect the hand and as a grip to enhance the hold of a paint bush or roller handle as well as a grip device for controlling a sanding cloth.

What is needed is a comfortable wearable sanding work glove that is durable and is suitable for extended wear and provide for sufficiently low coefficient of friction for the glove. What is also needed is a flexible sanding cloth that can be easily gripped and maneuvered by a gripping hand glove but easily disengaged when the glove is lifted from the cloth for an improved hand sanding system.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance to one aspect of the invention, a glove for sanding surfaces includes a knitted glove having a breathable fabric base. A flexible elastomeric layer on the exterior palm side section of the glove is adhered to the fabric base. A layer of abrasive particles is on the elastomeric layer with a connecting layer having a lower coefficient of friction than the flexible elastomeric layer. The connecting layer is constructed to adhere the layer of abrasive particles onto the flexible elastomeric layer. Preferably, the connecting layer bonds a proximate section of the abrasive particles and has thin areas between the abrasive particles to provide a plurality of flexibility point. The connecting layer is also substantially harder than the elastomeric layer to provide a secure hold of the abrasive particles to the elastomeric layer.

In one embodiment, a substantial portion of a backside of the glove is free from the flexible elastomeric coating and is breathable. Preferably, a substantial portion of a backside of finger sections of the glove is free from the flexible elastomeric coating and is breathable.

In one embodiment, the elastomeric layer is a soft rubber material and the connecting layer is an epoxy material. Alternatively, the elastomeric layer maybe a soft rubber material and the connecting layer maybe a cured urethane material.

According to another aspect of the invention, an abrasive sanding cloth has a flexible cloth layer and abrasive particles secured onto at least one side of the cloth layer. The abrasive sanding cloth preferably has its abrasive particles bonded to the cloth layer by an adhesive coating which bonds a proximate end of the abrasive particles onto the cloth. The adhesive coating has thin areas between the abrasive particles to provide flexibility points to retain flexibility of the flexible cloth layer.

In one embodiment, the cloth layer is a woven textile. In one embodiment, the adhesive coating is an epoxy material. Alternatively, the adhesive coating may be a cured urethane material.

According to another aspect of the invention, a hand sanding system has a sanding cloth with an abrasive side and a back side for handling. A gripping glove has gripping sections for providing a high coefficient of friction to engage the back side of the cloth and for moving the sanding cloth sideways but easily engageable and disengageble in a transverse vertical direction from the back side of the cloth. Preferably, the sanding cloth has abrasive particles secured onto the sanding cloth by a hardened epoxy. The gripping section of the glove has abrasive particles adhered onto the glove to provide frictional contact with the sanding cloth when a sanding motion is applied but easily separate from the sanding cloth when lifted away from the sanding cloth.

In one embodiment, the abrasive particles on the sanding cloth and the glove have approximately the same grit size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved hand sanding system incorporating a sanding and gripping glove and sanding cloth according to one embodiment of the invention being used by an operator to sand an object;

FIG. 2 is a palm side elevational view of the left handed glove similar to that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view enlarge fragmentary view of the knit stitching of the fabric of the glove shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the fabric in a stretched position;

FIG. 5 shows the glove being worn and in a flexed position along creases that correspond to the flexing of the user's hand;

FIG. 6 shows a highly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 in FIG. 5 showing the detail of abrasive particles, connecting the epoxy layer and the flex points in epoxy layer to retain flexibility of the fabric and elastomeric layer of the glove;

FIG. 7 illustrates the sanding cloth made of textile material and having an abrasive retained on one side shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a highly enlarged cross-sectional view in showing the detail of abrasive particles retained by an epoxy layer and the flex points in the epoxy layer to retain flexibility of the cloth;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating the use of the sanding glove as a gripping tool for the sanding cloth;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the glove being and disengaging from the sanding cloth; and

FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment of the glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, an operator 10 is wearing an abrasive sanding work glove 12 that grips a sanding cloth 15 for sanding a complexly shaped object 14 such as a fluted column. The abrasive glove 12 may be either right handed as shown in FIG. 1 or left handed as shown in FIG. 2. The abrasive sanding work glove 12 as shown more clearly in FIG. 2 is made with a knitted fabric 13, i.e. a woven fabric with relatively large stitching and has flexibility and some elasticity between a relaxed position and a stretched position when worn on a hand. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate how the woven fabric looks between the relaxed and stretched position. The stretched position clearly illustrates the breathability of the fabric. The fabric of the knit glove can be cotton or any of well known synthetic fiber.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the exterior of the palm side 16 and front side of the fingers 20 have a soft elastomeric coating 18 on the fabric 13. The first elastomeric layer 18 may be a rubber and have a cushion or tacky feel to it. The fabric 13 may be partially or fully embedded in the elastomeric layer 18. The elastomeric layer 18 is coated with a plurality of abrasive particles 22. The abrasive particles may be aluminum oxide or a silicate. Diamonds particles are also foreseen when a harder abrasive is required. The abrasive particles are of a predetermined grit depending on the desired application. For many sanding and gripping applications, particles with a grit of 150 are suitable. It is foreseen that a wide range of grit size are applicable ranging from 80 to 400.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the particles 22 are secured onto the elastomeric layer 18 by a second thin harder shell adhesive connecting layer 21. The thin adhesive connecting layer 21 may be an epoxy or cured urethane or other suitable strong material with good adhesive properties. The layer 21 may be sprayed on the abrasive particles 22 and the elastomeric layer 18 and allowed to dry or be cured. The harder shell layer 21 is substantially thinner than the elastomeric layer 18 and the diameter of the abrasive particles 22. As the thin layer 21 settles, the adhesion coefficient provides that the material sticks to the proximate section 23 of the abrasive particles 22. The flex points 25 between the particles 22 is the thinnest section of the hard shell layer 21. Because of the vast plurality of flex points 25 throughout the abrasive particles 22 in layer 21, the glove retains great flexibility. Furthermore, the abrasive particles 22 extend up beyond the adhesive layer 21 to be exposed and form an abrasive surface 27 that substantially covers layer 21 to sand surfaces. In the shown embodiment, the elastomeric layer 18 is set, cured or dried before application of the second layer 21 such that the particles 22 are embedded only in the connecting layer 21. It is foreseen that the elastomeric layer 18 and abrasive particles 22 can be applied before the elastomeric layer 18 is fully dried such that the particles 22 may also partially extend into layer 18 and extend entirely through layer 21.

The rubber or soft tacky elastomer of the layer 18 provides cushioning to the hand. The urethane, epoxy or other adhesive material connecting layer 21 is much harder and has a less coefficient of friction than the layer 18. The layer 21 by curing or drying to a harder condition also provides a better securement to the abrasive particles than the first layer18. Thus the glove 12 provides cushioning but provides needed sliding against the work piece 14 if the layer 21 comes in contact with the work piece 14. The layer 21 helps prevent the rubber layer 18 from coming into direct contact with the work piece 14 and interfering with the sanding of the work surface with a high coefficient of friction. In addition, by lowering the coefficient of friction, with the interposition of the harder layer 21, the heat build up of the glove is also reduced during sanding operation.

The backside 24 of the palm 16 and fingers 20 and sides 26 may remain free of the layers 18, 21 and abrasive particles 22. The backside 24 and sides 26 may have its fabric stretched as shown in FIG. 4 when worn to provide extra breathability of the glove.

A knit glove with the hard shell 21 forming a plurality of thin flex points 25 retains flexibility to contour to the operators hand particularly about natural flex lines 28 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The back side 24 and sides 26 of the fingers 20 retain the flex and elasticity between the relaxed position and the stretched position to allow a formed fit with the operator's hand. The knit fabric at the sides 26 and the back side 24 of the fingers 20 allow for sufficient breathing of the glove to allow the hand to remain comfortable and dry and prevent the build up of humidity. The lowering of the heat build up also increases the comfort level of the hand in the glove 12.

The abrasive particles are securely bonded to the coating during the bonding process. The comfort of the glove promotes extended sanding time without removal of the glove. The comfort of the glove also allows extended wear time which allows other uses for the glove such as a general protective work glove or as an enhanced grip glove for paint brush, roller handles or a sanding cloth 15 described below.

In order to vastly increase durability of the glove 12, a sanding cloth 15 is used as the primary sanding surface. The cloth 15 has its abrasive particles 30 secured directly onto one side 35 of the cloth material 33 by an epoxy, urethane or other hard shell layer 31. The urethane, epoxy or other hard shell adhesive layer 31 is sprayed onto the abrasive particles 30 and cloth 15 and dried or cured thereon to secure the abrasive particles to the cloth as more clearly shown in FIG. 8. The cloth remains flexible due to the plurality of thin flex points 37 of the adhesive layer between the abrasive particles 30 in much the same fashion as described above for the glove.

The back side 36 of the cloth remains free of abrasive particles. The glove 12 has its abrasive particles surface 27 free to vertically lift from the weight of the cloth 15 as shown in FIG. 10. However when sanding is required, the glove has a very high coefficient of friction with respect to the cloth 15 to push and pull it along a sanding surface object 14 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9.

In this fashion, the glove provides total control of sanding motion of the abrasive cloth over the sanding object 14. The cloth and glove are flexible to provide total conformity to both the hard and sanding work surface and to provide tactile sensation to feel any roughness i.e. bumps in the work surface through the cloth 15 and glove 12. Grit size can be conveniently changed by switching to a sanding cloth with a different grit size. The cloth has the ability to wet sand. The back side 36 of the cloth 15 and glove 12 can both be used to wipe dust off the sanded surface. Furthermore, the glove easily disengages when lifted up from the cloth 15 as illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 discloses an alternate embodiment 42 where the back side 44 of the glove 42 may also have abrasive particles 22 secured thereto in the same fashion as above described. The abrasive particles 22 may be secured directly on the fabric 13 via an adhesive epoxy layer or the fabric 13 may have an intervening elastomeric layer. With such a glove, it may be designed to fit on both a right and left hand.

The glove 12 provides total sanding control of a flexible abrasive cloth 16 which can sand complicated shapes and get into edges and corners. The cloth 15 can be reversed for engaging the back side 36 without the abrasive for wiping the sanding surface 14 clean. The glove 12 also by itself can be used for wiping and sanding. In one embodiment, the sanding glove may have the same grit size as the sanding cloth to allow the glove to be used as touch up sanding.

In this fashion, a superior hand sanding system is incorporated by using a glove as a gripping tool and a flexible abrasive cloth as the primary sanding instrument to add durability to the glove and provide total non-slip control of the sanding cloth on the sanding surface. It is also foreseen that the sanding cloth may be made from non-woven cloth or textile cloth. In certain applications, both sides of the cloth 15 may have abrasive particles adhered thereto. In other applications, a non-skid coating may be applied to the back side 36 of the cloth 15. In other embodiments, the sanding cloth 15 may be handled by a glove with other gripping and non-skid features.

Other variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A glove for sanding surfaces comprising:

a knitted glove having a breathable fabric base;

a flexible elastomeric layer on the exterior palm side section of the glove and adhered to the fabric base;

a layer of abrasive particles on said elastomeric layer; and

a connecting layer with a lower coefficient of friction than said flexible elastomeric layer constructed to adhere said layer of abrasive particles onto said flexible elastomeric layer and to cover said flexible elastomeric layer.

2. A glove for sanding surfaces as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said connecting layer bonding the bottom section of said abrasive particles and having thin areas between said abrasive particles to provide a plurality of flexibility point of said connecting layer; and

said connecting layer being substantially harder than said elastomeric layer to provide a secure hold of said abrasive particles to said elastomeric layer.

3. A glove as defined in claim 2 further comprising:

a substantial portion of a backside of said glove being free from said flexible elastomeric coating and being breathable.

4. A glove as defined in claim 3 further comprising:

a substantial portion of a backside of finger sections of said glove being free from said flexible elastomeric coating and being breathable.

5. A glove as defined in claim 4 further comprising:

said elastomeric layer being a soft rubber material; and

said connecting layer being an epoxy material.

6. A glove as defined in claim 4 further comprising:

said elastomeric layer being a soft rubber material; and

said connecting layer being a cured urethane material.

7. An abrasive sanding cloth comprising:

a flexible cloth layer; and

abrasive particles secured onto at least one side of said cloth layer;

said abrasive particles bonded to said cloth layer by an adhesive coating which bonds a proximate end of said abrasive particles onto said cloth; and

said adhesive coating having thin areas between said abrasive particles to provide flexibility points to retain flexibility of said cloth layer.

8. (canceled)

9. An abrasive sanding cloth as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

said cloth layer being a woven textile.

10. An abrasive sanding cloth as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

said adhesive coating being an epoxy material.

11. An abrasive sanding cloth as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

said adhesive coating being a cured urethane material.

12. A hand sanding system comprising:

a sanding cloth having an abrasive side and a back side for handling;

a gripping glove having gripping sections for providing a high coefficient of friction to engage said back side of said sanding cloth and for moving said cloth sideways but easily disengageble in a transverse vertical direction from said back side of said sanding cloth;

said sanding cloth having abrasive particles secured onto said cloth by a hardened epoxy; and

said gripping glove having its gripping sections comprising abrasive particles adhered onto said glove to provide frictional contact with said sanding cloth when a sanding motion is applied but easily separate from said sanding cloth when lifted away from said sanding cloth.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A hand sanding system as defined in claim 14 further comprising:

said abrasive particles on said cloth and said glove having approximately the same grit size.