SANDING DEVICE

Abstract

attached to the surface. A handle (C) is attached to one edge of the blade (A) in order to stiffen the blade (A) so that the blade is stiff around one axis lying in a plane normal to the plane of the blade and normal to the handle and is flexible around an axis normal to the plane of the blade and parallel to the handle. The sanding device facilitates abrasion of surfaces in corners and rebates without undesirably abrading the adjacent surface.

Claims

1. A sanding device comprising a resiliently deformable blade (A), one element (B) of a hook and loop fastener formed on one planar surface of the blade (A) whereby an abrasive sheet provided with the complementary element of a hook and loop fastener can be secured to the blade (A), characterized by a stiffening structure (C) at one edge of the blade (A) to stiffen the blade (A) so that the blade will flex easily in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the blade and a long axis of the stiffening structure and is relatively stiff perpendicular to the plane of the blade and parallel to the long axis of the stiffening structure.

2. A sanding device according to claim 1 comprising: the blade is formed of a material to be resiliently flexible.

3. A sanding device according to claim 1 comprising the blade having a long edge and a short edge adjacent the long edge; the element of a hook and loop fastener secured to a face of the blade and extending from the long edge.

4. A sanding device according to claim 1 comprising: an abrasive sheet (D) having an abrasive face and the other element of the hook and loop faster carried on its opposite face.

5. A sanding device according to claim 3, wherein the short edge of the blade forms an angle of no more than 90° with the long edge.

6. A sanding device according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening structure (C) for restricting the flexibility of the blade comprises a bar formed integrally with the blade and having a thickness greater than that of the blade.

7. A sanding device according to claim 6, wherein the bar is in the form of a handle secured to the blade.

8. A sanding device according to claim 6, wherein the bar is elongate and extends in a direction substantially parallel, as herein defined, to the long edge of the blade.

9. A sanding device according to claim 1, wherein the blade is rectangular.

10. A sanding device according to claim 1, wherein the blade is formed of polypropylene or polycarbonate.

11. A sanding device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the length of the long edge of the blade to the thickness of the blade is between 50:1 to 100:1

12. A sanding device according to claim 11 wherein the ratio of the length of the long edge of the blade to the thickness of the blade is 75:1

13. A sanding device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of specific stiffness of the blade in each said direction is between 1.25 and 6.

14. A method of sanding a surface, using a sanding device according to any previous claim, including the steps of applying the device to the surface with the abrasive face against the surface, applying hand pressure to the device in a region away from the long edge thereby to cause the blade to flex while moving the device in a plane parallel to the surface, thereby to abrade the surface.

Description

INTRODUCTION TO THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a sanding device according to the invention without any abrasive paper hook fastener strip set squarely along the abrasive edge;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows the sanding device of FIG. 2 being applied to a flat surface panel recessed within a frame;

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the sanding device of FIG. 2 being used in a difficult to reach flat space between a kitchen unit and a refrigerator;

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the sanding device according to the invention being used to sand all three facets of a groove in tongue and groove panelling;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a profile drawing of the sanding device of FIG. 2 being used to sand a surface right up to the corner with adjacent surface; and

[0029] FIG. 8 shows the sanding device of FIG. 2 being applied to a wooden mirror frame attached to a wooden backboard.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the sanding device according to the invention without any abrasive paper attached. The device comprises a generally rectilinear blade (A), formed of moulded polypropylene and having a 115 mm long edge (E), a 100 mm short edge (X) forming an angle 90° with the long edge (E) and a thickness of 1.5 mm, a hook fastener strip (B) that is the hook component of a hook & loop fastener and is permanently fixed to one side of the blade (A). The other side of the blade (A) is bare and has no hook fastener strip. Starting from the abrasive straight long edge (E), the hook fastener strip (B) extends across the full width of the blade (A) and to just over half the depth of the blade (A). This is preferable, although the hook element (B) could extend of the blade so that there is no flexibility in the blade across its width. The blade (A) is intended to only flex along the depth axis which runs between the abrasive edge (E) and the handle (C). The handle (C) also provides comfort to the palm when held in the operator's hand, typically when in use the handle rests across the palm as seen in FIG. 4. The device is rarely if ever actually held by the handle (C) when in use.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the abrasive paper (D) is mounted onto the hook fastener strip (B) of the device. The abrasive paper (D) is backed by the loop component of a hook & loop fastening.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the device with the abrasive paper (D) is mounted to the hook fastener strip (B) set squarely along the abrasive edge (E).

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4 in use the device is applied to a flat surface wood panel recessed within a frame, also known as the stile or rail, as is common in the construction of a cupboard door. The semi-flexible nature of the blade (A) is used by the operator to apply sprung pressure to the surface of the abrasive paper (D) and this pressure is strongest at the abrasive edge (E). Given that the abrasive edge (E) is straight, sanding can be performed squarely up to the inside corner of an adjacent edge (F) or into a corner (G). Given that the sprung pressure provided by the blade (A) is maximised at the abrasive edge (E) the device can perform effective sanding right up to adjacent edges (F) and inside corners (G). space where the operator's fingers are unable to reach. The smooth side of the blade (A) faces the fridge, the sprung pressure available in the blade (A) is used lightly in this instance in combination with utilising the flat profile of the blade. The kitchen side panel is sanded by the abrasive paper (D) while the fridge is not exposed to the abrasive paper (D) despite the very tight space.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6 the device can be used to sand all three facets of a groove in some tongue and groove panelling. In this instance the abrasive paper (D) has been wrapped around the end of the abrasive edge (E) of the blade (A), the abrasive paper (D) is held secure by the hook fastener strip (B) on one side and the operator's fingers on the opposite and smooth side of the blade (A), thus allowing all three sides of the abrasive edge (E) of the blade (A) to sand in the groove. As the abrasive paper (D) on the abrasive edge (E) becomes worn, the abrasive paper (D) is removed and an unused section of the same sheet of abrasive paper (D) is set around the abrasive edge (E). This process can continue until the entire area of the abrasive paper (D) is worn to depletion.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 7 the device can be used to sand the surface (Z) right up to the corner with adjacent surface (Y), without abrading the surface (Y).

[0036] As shown in FIG. 8 the device can be applied to a wooden mirror frame (T) attached to a wooden backboard (V). A mirror (M) is mounted to the backboard (V) via screws set close to the mirror frame (T). One screw (S) can be seen in the illustration. The semi-flexible nature of the blade (A) is used by the operator to apply the sprung pressure of the device to the abrasive paper (D) allowing the operator to sand the surface of the frame (T) right meet. The head of the domed screw (S) would generally restrict access to sanding the corner if power sanders, sanding blocks or sanding pads were in use. In this example, the screw (S) is not an obstruction to sanding the surface of the frame (T) because of the thin profile of the device allows the device to access and abrade the frame (T) with even pressure just as thoroughly as if the screw (S) was not present.

[0037] In summary, the described and illustrated embodiments of the invention provide a hand-held blade (A), planer in shape, typically the size of a post card, mounted with abrasive paper (D) to one side by means of hook and loop fastenings (B). The flexibility of the blade (A) is restricted across its entire width by a rigid handle (C) fixed across the top and the full width of the blade (A). The flexibility of blade (A) is not restricted in the longitudinal direction in the same manner to allow it to flex thereby allowing the operator to apply sprung pressure from the flexible blade (A) down the length of the blade (A), through the abrasive paper (D) mounted along the abrasive edge (E) of the blade. In use the abrasive edge (E) is used for abrading tightly into edges, detail and corners or when not under sprung pressure, applied flat to abrade smaller flat areas.