TOOL FOR REMOVING A GRINDING OR POLISHING PLATE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool (10) for releasing a connection between a grinding or polishing plate and a support plate of a grinding or polishing device, which connection is based on a hook-and-loop fabric.

Claims

1. Tool for releasing a connection between a grinding or polishing plate and a support plate of a grinding or polishing device, which connection is based on a hook-and-loop fabric, comprising a grip portion by means of which the tool can be manually gripped by a user, and a separation portion which is designed to be inserted between the grinding or polishing plate and the support plate in order to remove said plates from one another, wherein the separation portion has a rounded tip.

2. Tool according to claim 1, wherein the separation portion is rounded off.

3. Tool according to claim 1, wherein the separation portion is flat.

4. Tool according to claim 1, wherein the separation portion has a thickness which is smaller than the thickness of the grip portion.

5. Tool according to claim 1, wherein the separation portion has a thickness which decreases from the end of the separation portion that is on the grip portion side towards the tip of the separation portion.

6. Tool according to claim 1, wherein the separation portion has a first narrow side and a second narrow side, the first narrow side extending such that it is outwardly curved and the second narrow side extending such that it is inwardly curved.

7. Tool according to claim 6, wherein the first narrow side has a smaller thickness than the second narrow side.

8. Tool according to claim 1, wherein that the tip of the separation portion is arranged so as to be laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the tool.

9. Tool according to claim 1, wherein an element which is detachably or irremovably connected to the tool is arranged in the region of the grip portion.

10. Tool according to claim 9, wherein that the element which is detachably or irremovably connected to the tool comprises a debossed symbol, in particular a trademark of a manufacturer of the grinding or polishing device.

11. Tool according to claim 1, wherein a subregion of a surface of the grip portion, in particular an element which is arranged in the region of the grip portion and is detachably or irremovably connected to the tool is made of a polymeric material, preferably rubber, the surface in said subregion having a higher coefficient of static friction, with respect to a glove material or a human hand, than a surface of the separation portion.

12. Tool according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion has an ergonomic shape, in particular is flat.

13. Tool according to claim 12, wherein the grip portion has an hourglass-shaped cross section, in particular in the plane of the flat extension thereof parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool.

14. Tool according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning portion is arranged on an end of the grip portion that is remote from the separation portion, at least one cleaning blade and/or bristles of a cleaning brush being arranged in the cleaning portion.

15. Tool according to claim 14, wherein the at least one cleaning blade has a meander-shaped cross section in the plane of a flat extension of the grip portion and preferably generally extends in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tool.

16. Tool according to claims 9 and 14, wherein the cleaning blade is formed in one piece with the element which is detachably or irremovably connected to the tool.

17. Tool according to claim 9, wherein a cleaning blade is formed in one piece with the element which is detachably or irremovably connected to the tool.

18. Tool according to claim 15, wherein the at least one cleaning blade is formed in one piece with the element which is detachably or irremovably connected to the tool.

19. Tool according to claim 2, wherein the separation portion is flat.

20. Tool according to claim 2, wherein the separation portion has a thickness which is smaller than the thickness of the grip portion.

Description

[0025] Additional features, possible uses and advantages of the invention can be found in the following description of an embodiment of the invention which is explained with reference to the drawings, it being possible for the features to be essential to the invention when taken in isolation and in combination, without this explicitly being mentioned every time. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first side of a first embodiment of the tool according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool from FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second side of the tool from FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a side view of the tool from FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tool from FIG. 1 in which detachable elements have been detached;

[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2 of an alternative embodiment of the tool;

[0032] FIG. 7 shows the tool from FIG. 6, detachable elements having been detached;

[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective plan view of the tool according to the invention according to FIG. 1 to 7;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective view from below of the tool according to the invention according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7;

[0035] FIG. 10 is a side view of a further embodiment of the tool according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the top of the tool from FIG. 10; and

[0037] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the bottom of the tool from FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0038] In FIG. 1, a tool according to the invention is provided, in general, with reference numeral 10. The tool comprises a grip portion 12 and a separation portion 14. The separation portion 14 comprises a tip 16 and an end 18 that is on the grip portion side. The tip 16 of the separation portion 14 is rounded. The separation portion 14 and the grip portion 12 are both flat. The tip 16 of the separation portion 14 is both rounded in a plane 32 of the flat extension and orthogonal to said plane 32. The plane 32 of the flat extension is provided with a corresponding reference numeral in FIG. 4.

[0039] The separation portion 14 has a first narrow side 20 and a second narrow side 22. The first narrow side 20 transitions into the second narrow side 22 in the tip 16. The two narrow sides 20 and 22 are rounded off. In this case, the rounded regions are such that they have a radius of at least 0.5 mm. What is meant by this is that none of the edges in the region of the separation portion 14 are sharp-edged, but rather all of the regions in which an edge could be seen have at least one rounded region having a radius of at least 0.5 mm.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool 10 from FIG. 1. It can be seen from the perspective view that a thickness 24 of the separation portion 14 decreases from the end 18 of the separation portion 14 that is on the grip portion side towards the tip 16.

[0041] The first narrow side 20 and the second narrow side 22 generally extend substantially orthogonally to a plane 32 of the flat extension of the separation portion 14. In FIG. 4, the plane 32 of the flat extension of the separation portion 14 is indicated by a reference numeral. The first narrow side 20 extends such that it is outwardly curved, i.e. the first narrow side 20 extends, at a radius 26, such that it is curved around a center of curvature which, when viewed from the narrow side 20, is located on the side of the separation portion 14. Conversely, the second narrow side 22 extends, at a radius 28, such that it is curved around a center of curvature which, when viewed from the narrow side 22, is opposite the separation portion 14. Both the radius 26 of the first narrow side 20 and the radius 28 of the narrow side 22 vary along the extension of the narrow side 20, 22, respectively. However, the center of curvature of the narrow sides 20, 22 remains on the same one of the narrow sides 20, 22 over the curve thereof until said sides transition into the tip 16 of the separation portion 14. The second narrow side 22 is therefore inwardly curved, whereas the first narrow side 20 is outwardly curved.

[0042] As can be seen in FIG. 3, channel-like recesses 29 are arranged on one side of the separation portion 14. The recesses 29 are mutually spaced and substantially follow the curve of the narrow side 20, 22 that is closest thereto in each case. The recesses 29 generally extend from the grip portion 12 towards the tip 16 of the separation portion 14. The recesses 29 each have an extension in the direction of a longitudinal axis 30 of the tool 10 that corresponds to at least 60% of the extension of the separation portion 14 along the longitudinal axis 30. The recesses 29 each have an extension which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 30 of the tool 10 and which corresponds to at most 40% of an extension of the separation portion 14 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 30, this comparison between the extension of the separation portion 14 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 30 of the tool 10 and the extension of the recesses 29 orthogonal to said longitudinal axis being made locally and orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 30 in each case.

[0043] The tip 16 is arranged so as to be laterally offset from the longitudinal axis 30 of the tool 10. In other words, the tip 16 is offset to one side with respect to the longitudinal axis 30 of the tool 10. What is meant by this is that in the plane 32 of the flat extension of the tool 10, which corresponds to the position of the tool 10 in FIG. 1, the tip 16 is offset to one side with respect to the longitudinal axis 30 of the tool 10 within this plane 32.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows the tool 10 when viewed in the plane 32 of the flat extension of the separation portion 14 and of the grip portion 12.

[0045] The grip portion 12 has, in regions, a surface which is made of rubber, i.e. a polymeric material. The tool 10 preferably comprises a main part 31, which in turn comprises detachable elements 33 on two opposite sides of the grip portion 12, which detachable elements can be clipped to the tool 10 or the main part 31 in a simple manner. It is particularly preferable for the two sides of the grip portion 12 to have recesses 31, 31 in which the elements 33 can be introduced and fastened at least in part. Alternatively, the detachable elements 33 can also be designed as elements 33 that are irremovably connected to the tool 10; the elements 33 can in particular be cast or injection molded onto the tool 10 in the region of the two sides of the grip portion 12 during the injection molding process for producing the elements 33. The elements 33 can however also be irremovably glued to the tool 10. Preferred materials for the elements 33 are mentioned in the introductory part of the description.

[0046] As already mentioned above, the grip portion 12 is also flat. The grip portion 12 has an hourglass-shaped cross section. What is meant by this is that a first narrow side 34 of the grip portion 12 and a second narrow side 36 of the grip portion 12 both curve inwardly such that they are each curved around a center of curvature which, when viewed from the relevant narrow side 34, 36, is not located on the side of the grip portion 12, but rather on the opposite side.

[0047] A cleaning portion 40 is arranged on the grip portion 12 on an end 38 of the grip portion 12 that is opposite the separation portion 14. The cleaning portion 40 comprises cleaning brushes 42, only three of which are provided with a reference numeral in FIG. 3. It can then be seen from FIG. 4 that each of the cleaning brushes 42 has a plurality of bristles 43. The cleaning portion 40 further comprises two cleaning blades 44. The blades 44 may end such that they are flush with the cleaning brushes 42 (cf. FIG. 4). Advantageously, however, the cleaning brushes 42 or the bristles 43 thereof extend beyond the outer distal edge of the blades 44 (cf. FIGS. 8 and 9). The cleaning blades 44 generally extend along the longitudinal axis 30 of the tool 10. The course thereof is however meander-shaped, i.e. wave-like, around the direction of the longitudinal axis 30. The cleaning blades 44 are made of a soft polymeric material. The cleaning blades 44 are in this case formed in one piece with one of the detachable elements 33. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tool from FIG. 1 to 4 in which the detachable elements 33 have been detached and in which there are no cleaning brushes 42 or cleaning blades 44. FIG. 5 therefore only shows the main part 31.

[0048] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of an alternative embodiment, writing 45 and a logo 46 being debossed in the detachable element 33.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows the tool from FIG. 6, the detachable element 33 having been detached. A rib structure 48, which can be arranged in the main part 31 and comprises a plurality of ribs 49 which preferably extend in parallel with the outside of the first narrow side 34 or the second narrow side 36, can be seen in the region in which the detachable element 33 is normally attached to the main part 31. The rib structure 48 allows the main part 31 to be produced in a simpler manner and makes it possible for the element 33 to be fastened in an improved manner and to be provided with a rest and support over a large surface area.

[0050] FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the embodiment of a tool 10 according to the invention according to FIG. 1 to 7; however, in these figures, the cleaning brushes 42 of the cleaning portion 40 are shown.

[0051] FIG. 10 to 12 show an alternative embodiment of the tool 10 according to the invention. FIG. 10 is a side view of said tool 10, whereas FIGS. 11 and 12 are plan views of the tool from opposite sides. The grip portion 12 of the embodiment in FIG. 10 to 12 is similar to the grip portion 12 of the embodiment in FIG. 1 to 9. However, the separation portion 14 of this embodiment has a different design. The separation portion 14 of the embodiment according to FIG. 10 to 12 has a constant thickness 24 over the entire longitudinal extension thereof that is smaller than the thickness 50 of the grip portion 14. The thickness 24 only decreases in the region of the narrow sides 20, 22 and the tip 16 of the separation portion 14 so as to make this region rounded. On the end 18 of the separation portion 14 that is on the grip portion side, a reinforcement portion 52 makes the thickness 24 slightly larger.

[0052] In the embodiment according to FIG. 10 to 12, the tip 16 is not offset to one of the sides of the tool 10 with respect to the longitudinal axis 30. Instead, the tip 16 is symmetrically rounded with respect to the longitudinal axis 30, and defines a semi-circle of which the central point is on the axis 30. The narrow sides 20, 22 extend in parallel with one another. The tool 10 according to the embodiment of FIG. 10 to 12 also has a cleaning portion 40 on the end 38 thereof that is opposite the separation portion 14 (cf. FIG. 12). A plurality of cleaning brushes 42 (not shown in FIG. 10) are arranged on the cleaning portion 40, only two of which brushes are provided with a corresponding reference numeral in FIG. 12. The embodiment of FIG. 10 to 12 does not have any cleaning blades 44.

[0053] When using the tool 10, the separation portion 14 is inserted between a grinding or polishing plate and a support plate of a grinding or polishing device. By inserting the entire separation portion 14 and moving the separation portion 14 along the connection between the support plate and the grinding or polishing plate, a connection which is based on a hook-and-loop fabric (based on a hook-and-pile fastener) is released. The rounded-off design of the narrow sides 20, 22 and the rounded tip 16 of the separation portion 14 of the tool 10 make it possible to prevent the support plate and/or the grinding or polishing plate from getting damaged.

[0054] By means of the grip portion 12, the tool 10 can be manually gripped by a user of a grinding or polishing device in a simple and secure manner and can be used in a simple manner. The cleaning brushes 42 and the cleaning blades 44 can be used to clean the grinding or polishing plate in the assembled state. By cleaning the grinding or polishing plate, the operational life thereof is increased, and therefore the grinding or polishing plate does not need to be changed as frequently.

[0055] Combining the cleaning brushes 42 and cleaning blades 44 with the separation portion 14 in a single tool 10 is advantageous in that a user of the grinding or polishing device only needs to carry this one tool 10 with them in order to clean the grinding or polishing plate and remove said plate from the support plate. As a result, the effort involved in handling the grinding or polishing device is reduced and fewer accessories need to be carried with said device.

The Scope of the Invention

[0056] It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein. Also, the drawings herein are not drawn to scale.

[0057] Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.