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  Rotary finishing deviceUSPTO Application #: 20060014482Title: Rotary finishing device Abstract: A rotary finishing device includes a generally circular hub having a front surface, a back surface, an inner periphery and an outer periphery. The inner periphery of the device defines a throughhole. The front surface of the hub has a plurality of slots formed therein. Each of the plurality of slots has a plurality of finishing sheets secured therein by an adhesive. Each of the finishing sheets is of sufficient length such that when the generally circular hub rotates at a slower speed, the plurality of sheets remain within the outer periphery of the generally circular hub and provide a relatively flexible device for contacting a surface to be finished. Further, when the generally circular hub rotates at a higher speed, the plurality of sheets extend beyond the outer periphery of the generally circular hub and provide a relatively stiff device for contacting a surface to be finished. (end of abstract) Agent: Artz & Artz, P.C. - Southfield, MI, US Inventors: Robert J. Wentworth, Lionel Belanger USPTO Applicaton #: 20060014482 - Class: 451466000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Abrading, Carrier For Relatively Movable Simultaneously Usable Tools, For Radially Movable Tools, Centrifugal Force Urged Tools, Flexible Flail Tools The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060014482. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/588,402, filed Jul. 15, 2004 and entitled "Rotary Finishing Device." TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to a rotary finishing device, and more particularly to a rotary finishing device for improving the finish of a wide variety of different surfaces having different shapes and contours. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Tools for leveling the surfaces of parts to be finished are well known. One such tool known in the art is commonly referred to as a flap disc. This type of leveling tool consists of a backing plate constructed of a plastic, aluminum or fiberglass material. The backing plate has a plurality of sheets of abrasive media, such as sandpaper, adhered thereto by epoxy. Each of the individual sheets is disposed within a respective slot formed in the backing plate or surface mounted to the backing plate. Additionally, each of the sheets is positioned on the backing plate such that the width of each sheet is substantially longer than its length. This configuration of the sheets with respect to the backing plate provides a stiff and relatively inflexible configuration, which yields a leveling wheel that operates similar to a belt sander in that it removes material from the surface it contacts in a planar fashion in order to flatten it. [0004] One significant disadvantage of these leveling tools is that they are unable to effectively contact the entirety of surfaces to be finished due primarily to their stiff and inflexible configuration. For example, known leveling tools cannot effectively contact curved surfaces or right-angled surfaces. Moreover, attempts to contact these hard to reach places with a leveling tool often results in "edge cutting" marks being formed in the surface, which are undesirable. [0005] Accordingly, to improve the finish of these portions of the types of surfaces, which leveling tools cannot effectively accomplish, secondary tools or processes need to be employed. These secondary finishing tools can include hand tools with various types of finishing media or, alternatively, a flap wheel. Employing these secondary processes increases the labor time by requiring the utilization of multiple different finishing tools to finish each different surface. This also increases the costs associated therewith. [0006] A typical flap wheel differs from a leveling wheel in that the flap wheel is intended to finish a surface instead of leveling or flattening it. Typical flap wheels include a central hub portion and have a plurality of flexible finishing strips secured thereto and extending from the outer periphery thereof. Because of their configuration, these flap wheel-type rotary finishing devices are also limited in the types of surfaces they can successfully and efficiently finish. [0007] Because of the disadvantages present with existing rotary finishing devices, in order to improve the finish of a metal surface having a variety of contours such as a wheel rim or a surface having right angles, multiple tools typically need to be utilized to finish it efficiently. To the extent a single device can finish the surface, the surface finish is likely not uniform. [0008] Therefore, a need exists for a rotary finishing device that is more flexible than existing finishing devices and can finish more areas on compound surfaces than existing products. In other words, a need exists for a rotary finishing device for finishing surfaces that can accomplish, in many instances, what currently requires multiple tools. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] It is therefore an advantage of the present invention is to provide a rotary finishing device that is more flexible than prior rotary finishing devices in that it can finish a wide variety of different surfaces, which have varying contours, including complex curves, concave surfaces and right angled surfaces. [0010] It is a related advantage of the present invention to provide a rotary finishing device that can finish surfaces that are constructed of different materials, including metal and non-metal. [0011] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a rotary finishing device that increases the efficiency associated with finishing a product having a complex surface, a concave surface and/or a right-angled surface. [0012] Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a rotary finishing device that decreases the time required to finish a product having a complex surface, a concave surface and/or a right-angled surface and therefore provides decreased cost. [0013] Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a rotary finishing device that can easily change the surface finish of a piece being finished by changing the rotational speed of the device. [0014] It is still a further advantage of the present invention to provide a rotary finishing device that is more durable and has a significantly longer useful life than existing rotary finishing devices. [0015] It is yet a further advantage of the present invention to provide a rotary finishing device with an effective diameter that varies with the rotational speed of the device. [0016] It is a related advantage of the present invention to provide a rotary finishing device with an effective diameter that increases as the rotational speed of the device increases. [0017] It is still yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a rotary finishing device with attached finishing media having a length that is greater than this width. [0018] In accordance with the above and the other advantages of the present invention, a rotary finishing device is provided. The rotary finishing device includes a backing plate having an inner face and an outer face. The backing plate is coupled to a drive shaft to allow rotation of the device as desired and at a desired speed, which can vary. The inner face of the backing plate has one or more sheets of finishing media secured thereto and extending therefrom. Each of the sheets is configured such that it has a length at least as long as the width. In another embodiment, the length of the finishing strips is at least twice as great as the width. [0019] The sheets are flexible and thus flatten or fan out as the device is rotated. The faster the device is rotated, the flatter the finishing media becomes, which provides a stiff finishing tool. The slower the device is rotated, the more flexible the finishing media becomes to allow finishing of a contoured surface. The effective contact area or diameter of the device thus changes or varies with the rotational speed. [0020] Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims. Continue reading... Full patent description for Rotary finishing device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Rotary finishing device 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Rotary finishing device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Drum for drum sander for surface mounting of sandpaper blanks Next Patent Application: Stuffing/dosing machine comprising a tilting hopper Industry Class: Abrading ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Rotary finishing device patent info. 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