U.S. patent application number 10/158608 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-04 for sanding block.
This patent application is currently assigned to Trim-Tex, Inc.. Invention is credited to Koenig, Joseph M. JR..
Application Number | 20030224708 10/158608 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29582715 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030224708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koenig, Joseph M. JR. |
December 4, 2003 |
Sanding block
Abstract
In a sanding block having two expansive sides and two adjacent
sides, each adjacent side adjoins each expansive side at a given
one of two opposite edges of that expansive side. The expansive and
adjacent sides are abrasive. When viewed macroscopically before the
sanding block becomes worn, the expansive sides between their
opposite edges are planar and are parallel, a given one of the
opposite edges of each expansive side is a curved edge, which
defines a radius not less than about 1/8 inch at any location on
the curved edge, and the other one of the opposite edges of each
expansive side is a sharp edge, which defines an acute angle in a
range from about 55.degree. to about 70.degree.. The curved edges
are intended to minimize gouging or scuffing due to uneven pressure
being applied by a user holding the sanding block in one hand and
to minimize damage when gouging or scuffing due thereto occurs. The
sanding block is intended particularly for drywall-finishing uses
but is expected to be also useful for fiberglass-finishing,
metal-finishing, wood-finishing, and other uses.
Inventors: |
Koenig, Joseph M. JR.;
(Glenview, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
500 W. MADISON STREET
SUITE 3800
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Assignee: |
Trim-Tex, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
29582715 |
Appl. No.: |
10/158608 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
451/461 ;
451/523 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24D 15/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/461 ;
451/523 |
International
Class: |
B24B 025/00 |
Claims
1. A sanding block conforming, when viewed macroscopically before
the sanding block becomes worn, substantially to a parallelepiped
having two expansive, abrasive sides and two adjacent sides,
wherein each adjacent side adjoins each expansive side at a given
one of two opposite edges of said expansive side, wherein a given
one of the opposite edges of each expansive side, when viewed
macroscopically before the sanding block becomes worn, is a curved
edge, and wherein the other one of the opposite edges of each
expansive side, when viewed macroscopically before the sanding
block becomes worn, is a sharp edge.
2. The sanding block of claim 1 wherein, when viewed
macroscopically before the sanding block becomes worn, each curved
edge defines a radius not less than about 1/8 inch at any location
on said curved edge.
3. The sanding block of claim 1 wherein, when viewed
macroscopically before the sanding block becomes worn, each sharp
edge defines an acute angle is in a range from about 55.degree. to
about 70.degree..
4. The sanding block of claim 2 wherein, when viewed
macroscopically before the sanding block becomes worn, each sharp
edge defines an acute angle in a range from about 55.degree. to
about 70.degree..
5. The sanding block of claim 1 wherein each adjacent side also is
abrasive.
6. The sanding block of claim 2 wherein each adjacent side also is
abrasive.
7. The sanding block of claim 3 wherein each adjacent side also is
abrasive.
8. The sanding block of claim 4 wherein each adjacent side also is
abrasive.
9. A sanding block conforming, before the sanding block becomes
worn, substantially to a parallelepiped having two expansive,
abrasive sides and two adjacent sides, wherein each adjacent side
adjoins each expansive side at a given one of two opposite edges of
said expansive side, wherein a given one of the opposite edges of
each expansive side, when viewed macroscopically before the sanding
block becomes worn, is a curved edge, wherein the other one of the
opposite edges of each expansive side, when viewed macroscopically
before the sanding block becomes worn, is a sharp edge, wherein a
given one of the expansive sides, a given one of the adjacent
sides, and the curved edge where the given one of the expansive
sides adjoins the given one of the adjacent sides have a
comparatively coarser, abrasive grit, and wherein the other one of
the expansive sides, the other one of the adjacent sides, and the
curved edge where the other one of the expansive sides adjoins the
other one of the adjacent sides have a comparatively finer,
abrasive grit.
10. The sanding block of claim 9 wherein, when viewed
macroscopically before the sanding block becomes worn, each curved
edge defines a radius not less than about 1/8 inch at any location
on said curved edge.
11. The sanding block of claim 9 wherein, when viewed
macroscopically before the sanding block becomes worn, each sharp
edge defines an acute angle in a range from about 55.degree. to
about 70.degree..
12. The sanding block of claim 10 wherein, when viewed
macroscopically before the sanding block becomes worn, each sharp
edge defines an acute angle in a range from about 55.degree. to
about 70.degree..
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention pertains to a sanding block intended
particularly for drywall-finishing uses but expected to be also
useful for fiberglass-finishing uses, metal-finishing uses,
wood-finishing uses, and other similar and dissimilar uses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sanding blocks, which include sanding pads and sanding
sponges, of various types are known. Sanding blocks of a first
known type are monolithic blocks of pumice or other inherently
abrasive materials, which may be porous or nonporous, which may be
flexible or inflexible in normal uses, and which may be
compressible or incompressible in normal uses. Sanding blocks of a
second known type have cores of suitable materials, which may be
flexible or inflexible in normal uses and which may be compressible
or incompressible in normal uses, with abrasive materials, such as
abrasive grit, emery sheets, or sandpaper sheets, which are bonded
to the cores. Except as illustrated in the drawings and described
herein, particulars of the cores and abrasive materials and of
bonding of abrasive materials to the cores are known and are
outside the scope of this invention.
[0003] As sold by Trim-Tex, Inc. of Lincolnwood, Ill., and admitted
here to constitute prior art, a sanding block of the second known
type has abrasive grit bonded to a core, which is made of a
flexible, compressible, polymeric foam. The sanding block is a
six-sided block having two expansive sides, to each of which
abrasive grit is bonded, two adjacent sides, to each of which
abrasive grit is bonded, and two lateral sides, which do not have
abrasive grit and at which the core is exposed. Each adjacent side
meets each expansive side at two opposite edges. The sanding block
has comparatively coarser, abrasive grit bonded to a given one of
the expansive sides and to a given one of the adjacent sides and
comparatively finer, abrasive grit bonded to the other one of the
expansive sides and to the other one of the adjacent sides.
[0004] When viewed macroscopically before the sanding block becomes
worn, the sanding block is tapered at its adjacent sides so that a
given one of the opposite edges defines an obtuse angle and so that
the other one of the opposite edges defines an acute angle in a
range from about 55.degree. to about 70.degree.. The acute angle
enables a user holding the sanding block in one hand to sand a
surface with said expansive side, as far as another surface
intersecting the surface being sanded at a right angle, without
scuffing the intersecting surface with the adjacent side meeting
said expansive side at the acute angle. However, if the user
holding the sanding block in one hand applies uneven pressure,
gouging of the surface being sanded can occur easily at the
opposite edge, which defines the obtuse angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention provides a sanding block conforming, when
viewed macroscopically before the sanding block becomes worn,
substantially to a parallelepiped having two expansive, abrasive
sides and two adjacent sides. Each adjacent side adjoins each
expansive side at a given one of two opposite edges of said
expansive side. A given one of the opposite edges of each expansive
side, when viewed macroscopically before the sanding block becomes
worn, is a curved edge, whereas the other one of the opposite edges
of said expansive side, when viewed macroscopically before the
sanding block becomes worn, is a sharp edge, which may define an
acute angle. Preferably, when viewed macroscopically before the
sanding block becomes worn, the curved edge defines a radius not
less than about 1/8 inch at any location on the curved edge.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, a given one of the expansive
sides, a given one of the adjacent sides, and the curved-edge where
the given one of the expansive sides adjoins the given one of the
adjacent sides have a comparatively coarser, abrasive grit, whereas
the other one of the expansive sides, the other one of the adjacent
sides, and the curved edge where the other one of the expansive
sides adjoins the other one of the adjacent sides have a
comparatively coarser, abrasive grit.
[0007] Herein, a given side of a sanding block is regarded as
abrasive if the sanding block is inherently abrasive at the given
side or if the sanding block has abrasive grit, an emery sheet, a
sandpaper sheet, or other abrasive material bonded to the
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] The single figure is an isometric view of a sanding block
constituting a preferred embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
[0009] As illustrated in the drawing, a sanding block 10
constituting a preferred embodiment is of the second type described
above as having abrasive grit bonded to a core, which is made of a
flexible, compressible, polymeric foam. Before the sanding block 10
becomes worn, it conforms substantially to a parallelepided having
two expansive, rectangular sides 12, to which abrasive grit is
bonded, two adjacent, rectangular sides 14, to which abrasive grit
is bonded, and two lateral, trapezoidal sides 16, which do not have
abrasive grit and at which the core is exposed. As indicated in the
drawing, exemplary dimensions enabling a user to hold the sanding
block 10 comfortably in one hand are a length (L) about 5 inches, a
width (W) of about 31/4 inches, and a thickness (T) of about 1
inch.
[0010] Each adjacent side 14 meets each expansive side 12 at two
opposite edges. When viewed macroscopically before the sanding
block becomes worn, the sanding block is tapered at its adjacent
sides 14, as illustrated in the drawing. According to this
invention, a given one of the opposite edges of each expansive side
12 is a curved edge 20 and the other one of the opposite edges is a
sharp edge 22 defining an acute angle (A) in a range from about
55.degree. to about 70.degree., an acute angle of about 70.degree.
being illustrated.
[0011] Preferably, the sanding block 10 has comparatively coarser,
abrasive grit bonded to a given one of the expansive sides 12, to
whichever of the adjacent sides 14 adjoins the given one of the
expansive sides 12 at one of the curved edges 20, and to the curved
edges 20 where they adjoin and the sanding block 10 has
comparatively finer, abrasive grit bonded to the other one of the
expansive sides 12, to whichever of the adjacent sides 14 meets the
other one of the expansive sides 12 at one of the curved edges 20,
and to the curved edges 20 where they adjoin. Alternatively, the
sanding block 10 has similar grit bonded to each expansive side 12,
to each adjacent side 14, and to each curved edge 20.
[0012] As indicated in the drawing, when viewed macroscopically
before the sanding block 10 becomes worn, each curved edge 20
defines a radius (R). which equals about 1/8 inch at any location
on the curved edge 20. Each curved edge 20 is intended to minimize
gouging or scuffing due to uneven pressure being applied by a user
holding the sanding block 10 in one hand, for sanding with either
of the expansive sides 12 or with either of the adjacent sides 14,
and to minimize damage when gouging or scuffing due thereto
occurs.
[0013] Although the sanding block 10 is intended particularly for
drywall-finishing uses, the sanding block 10 is expected to be also
useful for fiberglass-finishing, metal-finishing, wood-finishing,
and other uses.
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