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  Laminated flexible resilient abrasive articleUSPTO Application #: 20070243802Title: Laminated flexible resilient abrasive article Abstract: A sheet-like abrasive article includes a resilient backing sheet having opposed major surfaces and a continuous abrasive sheet affixed to the backing sheet. The abrasive sheet includes an abrasive support layer with abrasive particles arranged thereon, thereby defining an abrasive surface. A sanding tool assembly including such a sheet-like abrasive article is also disclosed. (end of abstract) Agent: 3m Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul, MN, US Inventors: John G. Petersen, Chris A. Minick, Ian R. Owen USPTO Applicaton #: 20070243802 - Class: 451514000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Abrading, Tool Support For Flexible-member Tool, Including Resiliently Urged Tool Holding Member The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070243802. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates generally to sheet-like abrasive articles used for abrading a work surface and, more particularly, to flexible resilient sheet-like abrasive articles, and to a sanding tool assembly including such an abrasive article. [0002] Sheet-like abrasive articles are commonly used in a variety of sanding operations including hand sanding of wooden surfaces. In hand sanding, the user may hold the abrasive article directly in his or her hand and move the abrasive article across the work surface. Sanding by hand can, of course, be an arduous task. [0003] To facilitate the hand sanding process, the sheet-like abrasive article may be placed on a sanding block. Sanding blocks hold the abrasive article and can be readily grasped by a user to make hand sanding faster and easier. A commercially available sanding block is the 3M.TM. Rubber Sanding Block available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. Sanding blocks are also known in the patented prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,672, (Gregoire, Sr.) for example, discloses an abrasive sheet holder having a base provided with clamping shoulders formed in a pair of opposed side edges thereof. A handle member is detachably secured over a rear surface of the base. The handle member has opposed flexible flange walls for clamping opposed end edge portions of an abrasive paper sheet which is positioned over a front working surface of the base with the edge portions of the paper sheet extending over the clamping shoulders. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,469 (Deshler) discloses a sanding block including a generally rectangular base housing upon which a multiply contoured generally convex hand grip is secured. The hand grip further defines inwardly extending concave portions that facilitate easy and secure grip by the user. An over-center lever clamp mechanism is operative at each end of the sanding block to secure the opposed ends of a sandpaper sheet in a releasable attachment. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,936 (Goulet et al.) discloses a hand held abrading tool including clamping mechanisms to quickly and reliably secure sanding paper, bristled sheets, polishing cloths, and the like to the tool. [0006] Sheet-like abrasive articles include, for example, conventional sandpaper. Conventional sandpaper is typically produced by affixing abrasive mineral to a relatively thin, non-extensible, non-resilient, and optionally non-porous backing material, such as paper or a polymeric film material. Conventional sandpaper typically exhibits good initial stock removal (i.e. cut) but produces a relatively deep scratch pattern for a given mineral size, and generally has an undesirably short life. In addition, the thin, flat, slippery nature of conventional sandpaper makes the article difficult to grasp, hold and maneuver, and does not make sandpaper well suited for sanding curved, contoured, or textured surfaces. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,051 (Beardsley et al.) discloses abrasive foam articles comprising a flexible and resilient foam substrate having first and second major substrate surfaces, at least one of the surfaces having a plurality of open cells substantially across the substrate surfaces, the open cells having coatable surfaces defined by interconnected voids; and a plurality of abrasive particles adhered to the coatable surface of the open cells in a substantially uniform manner. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,113 (Minick et al.) discloses a flexible abrasive product comprising a flexible sheet-like substrate comprising a multiplicity of separated resilient bodies connected to each other in a generally planar array in a pattern which provides open spaces between adjacent connected bodies, each body having a first surface and an opposite second surface; and abrasive particles to cause at least the first surface to be an abrasive surface. [0009] The industry is always seeking improved conformable flexible abrasive articles that are more durable, are easier to handle and use, have improved cut, produce finer scratches, have a longer life, and can be used with hand sanding blocks. It would be desirable to provide a flexible resilient abrasive article that has improved durability over a wide range of abrasive grit sizes, has improved flexibility, has improved handling and is therefore is easy and comfortable to use, is easy and inexpensive to make, has improved cut, produces finer scratches than a comparable sheet of sandpaper, lasts longer, and can be used with a hand sanding block. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a flexible resilient sheet-like abrasive article in combination with a hand sanding tool. SUMMARY [0010] The present invention generally provides a flexible resilient sheet-like abrasive article with improved durability over a wide range of abrasive grit sizes, has improved flexibility, has improved handling and is therefore easy and comfortable to use, has improved cut, produces finer scratches than a comparable sheet of sandpaper, is easy and inexpensive to make, lasts longer than other flexible resilient abrasive articles, and/or may be used with a hand sanding block. The expression "sheet-like" as used herein refers generally to the broad, thin, flexible nature of the abrasive article. [0011] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a sheet-like abrasive article including a resilient backing sheet having opposed major surfaces, and a continuous abrasive sheet affixed to at least one surface of the backing sheet. The abrasive sheet includes a continuous abrasive support layer with abrasive particles arranged thereon, thereby defining an abrasive surface. [0012] In more specific aspects, the resilient backing sheet may comprise a continuous closed-cell foam, or may comprise a discontinuous sheet formed by a plurality of separated resilient bodies held together in a pattern so as to provide openings between each adjacent separated body yet connected to one another at contact points. In even more specific aspects, the backing sheet may be formed of a polyvinylchloride foam material, a foamed latex rubber material, or a nonwoven material. The backing sheet may also comprise a conventional tack cloth. [0013] In another specific aspect, the backing sheet generally has a thickness of no greater than about 8 mm, more generally no greater than about 7 mm, and even more generally no greater than about 6 mm. [0014] In yet another aspect, the backing sheet may include a generally flat surface bonded with the abrasive support layer and may further include a textured surface opposite the flat surface defining a gripping surface opposite the abrasive surface which is engaged by the user to manually actuate the abrasive article. [0015] In another aspect, the abrasive support layer may comprise a cloth material. A particular cloth material is a J-weight woven cloth. In a specific embodiment, the abrasive sheet and backing sheet may be adhesively bonded together. [0016] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a sanding tool assembly including a hand-held, manually-operated sanding tool and a replaceable sheet-like abrasive material such as the sheet-like abrasive material described above. In more specific aspects, the sanding tool may comprise a base member having first and second opposed ends and a generally planar bottom surface extending between the first and second ends, and at least one inclined upper contact surface opposite the bottom surface adjacent one of the first and second ends arranged to form an acute angle with the bottom surface relative to the associated adjacent end, and a clamping mechanism pivotally connected with the base member, the clamping mechanism being movable between an open position wherein the clamping mechanism is spaced from the base member contact surface, thereby defining a gap between the base member upper contact surface and the clamping mechanism for receiving an end portion of the sheet of abrasive material, and a closed position wherein the clamping mechanism is moved toward the contact surface and is arranged adjacent the base member contact surface, the clamping mechanism including a tensioning member arranged to slidably engage the contact surface, whereby when an end portion of the sheet of abrasive material is inserted into the gap between the base member and the clamping mechanism, and the clamping mechanism is moved from the open position to the closed position, the tensioning member engages the sheet of abrasive material, and as the clamping mechanism is further urged toward the contact surface, the tensioning member and abrasive sheet move upwardly along the inclined contact surface away from the associated end, thereby tightening the fit of the abrasive sheet against the bottom surface of the base member. [0017] In other aspects, the tensioning member may comprise a flexible metal leaf spring, and the tensioning member may extend the width of the clamping mechanism. In addition, the tensioning member may include a gripping surface for increasing the frictional force between the tensioning member and the sheet of abrasive material. In one embodiment, the gripping surface may comprise a plurality of the projections [0018] Advantages of certain embodiments of the invention include improved durability, providing an abrasive article that has a comfortable gripping surface, providing a simplified design that is easy and less costly to manufacture, providing an abrasive article that has improved cut, improved flexibility, reduced scratch, reduced loading, and the ability to be readily used with a hand sanding block. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible resilient abrasive article according to the invention; [0021] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the abrasive article of FIG. 1; Continue reading... Full patent description for Laminated flexible resilient abrasive article Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Laminated flexible resilient abrasive article patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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