U.S. patent application number 12/028383 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-14 for wool buffing and finishing ball.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lake Country Manufacturing, Inc.. Invention is credited to Scott S. McLain.
Application Number | 20080189891 12/028383 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39684599 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080189891 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McLain; Scott S. |
August 14, 2008 |
Wool Buffing and Finishing Ball
Abstract
A buffing ball is made from two layers of tufted wool or
synthetics cut to identical FIG. 8 shape and secured to the outer
surface of a spherical member, preferably by stitching.
Inventors: |
McLain; Scott S.;
(Mukwonago, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANDRUS, SCEALES, STARKE & SAWALL, LLP
100 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 1100
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202
US
|
Assignee: |
Lake Country Manufacturing,
Inc.
Hartland
WI
|
Family ID: |
39684599 |
Appl. No.: |
12/028383 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60888783 |
Feb 8, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/209.1 ;
112/475.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/14 20130101;
A47L 11/08 20130101; A47L 11/4036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/209.1 ;
112/475.01 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/16 20060101
A47L013/16; D05B 1/00 20060101 D05B001/00 |
Claims
1. A buffing and polishing ball comprising: a center spherical
member; a pair of flexible backing layers, each carrying a covering
of buffing fibers on an outer surface; the backing layers having a
shape generally of a FIG. 8 such that the layers, when applied to
the surface of the spherical member, having abutting edges; means
for securing the inner surface of the backing layers t the surface
of the spherical member; and, a driving connection attached to the
spherical member.
2. The buffing and polishing ball as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the securing means comprises abutting edge stitching.
3. The buffing and polishing ball as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the securing means comprises adhesive bonding.
4. The buffing and polishing ball as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the buffing fibers are selected from the group consisting of
natural wool, synthetic fibers, and a blend of wool and synthetic
fibers.
5. The buffing and polishing ball as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the backing layer material is selected from the group consisting of
woven, cotton and synthetics, and sheepskin.
6. The buffing and polishing ball as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the material for the spherical members is selected from the group
consisting of metal, plastics and synthetic foam.
7. The buffing and polishing ball as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the driving connection comprises a short drive shaft.
8. A buffing and polishing ball comprises a hollow plastic
spherical member having attached to the outer surface a short
radially extending drive shaft; a pair of flexible backing layers
of a scrim-supported tufted fiber material having a FIG. 8 shape
covering the spherical member; and, edge stitching securing the
backing layers to the spherical member.
9. The buffing and polishing ball as set forth in claim 8 wherein
the scrim-supported fiber material comprises wool fiber on a jute
backing.
10. A method for making a buffing and polishing ball comprising the
steps of: (1) forming a pair of FIG. 8 backing layers carrying an
outer surface covering of buffing fibers; (2) covering a spherical
center member with said layers such that the edges of the layers
abut; and, (3) stitching the abutting edges together.
11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the forming step is
performed using a tufted wool material.
12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the stitching step
comprises: (1) initially stitching the edges to define an edge
opening larger than the diameter of the spherical member; (2)
inserting the spherical member through the edge opening; and, (3)
completing the stitching to substantially enclose the spherical
member.
13. The method as set forth in claim 10 including the step of
attaching a driving connection to the spherical member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/888,783, filed Feb. 8, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to power-driven rotary devices
for buffing and finishing surfaces, such as painted or clear coat
finishes, and more particularly, to such a buffing and polishing
device in a spherical shape using tufted wool (or wool-like
materials) or wool yarn.
[0003] Buffing pads and the like made of natural wool, polymeric
foams, and other synthetic materials have long been used to buff
and polish surfaces. Conventional flat-faced pads have evolved to
include pads with curved faces and other surface treatments
intended to enhance performance. Also known in the prior art are
buffing, polishing and finishing pads which have a generally
spherical shape. These spherical buffing and polishing balls have
been made from polymeric foam materials which are uniquely cut and
compressed to form a spherical shape. Such spherical buffing balls
have gained wide acceptance because of their utility in fishing
contoured surfaces and in permitting operators to reach into and
through small openings and other recesses and crevices that were
typically difficult to reach with pads having generally flat
operating faces.
[0004] However, it would be useful to have a power-driven rotary
buffing and polishing ball that uses natural wool or other
wool-like materials, in addition to known buffing balls made of
polymeric foam materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, a sphere of a
suitable material is covered with a tufted wool, and a driving stub
shaft is attached to the center sphere to provide connection to a
powered driver for rotary buffing and polishing. The center sphere
may be made of a wide range of materials, including hard metal or
plastics, softer plastics, and even foam. The tufted wool covering
preferably comprises a scrim fabric of jute, cotton, synthetics or
other suitable backing material to which the wool fibers are
attached in a conventional tufting process. The tufted wool is cut
into two identical figure eight patterns which are attached to the
inner sphere in a manner similar to the manufacture of a baseball.
Thus, the figure eight sheets can be stitched together, but the
figure eight sheets may also be attached to the sphere in another
manner, such as bonding with glue or the like. The size of the
center sphere may vary widely and the length of the wool fibers on
the tufted sheets may also vary widely from relatively short to
quite long nap. The stitching pattern is significant because the
inherent curvature of the seam minimizes or eliminates rotational
"thumping" that is often produced in rotary buffing tools having
extended linear seams.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tufted wool buffing ball of the
present invention shown attached to a powered driver.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back sides of the two figure
eight tufted wool covers used to make the buffing ball of FIG.
1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of one embodiment of the FIG. 1
buffing ball.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of another embodiment of the FIG.
1 buffing ball.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the buffing ball taken on
line 5-5 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] A spherical buffing ball 10 includes an outer covering of
tufted wool 11, as shown in FIG. 1. The tufted wool cover 11 is
made from two identical figure eight cover pieces 12 that are
conveniently sewn together and attached to enclose and cover a
center sphere 13 (shown in FIGS. 3-5). A short drive shaft 14 is
attached to the sphere 13 to provide connection to a conventional
powered driver 15 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] Each of the cover pieces 12 includes a scrim fiber layer 16
to which the wool fibers 11 are attached in a conventional tufting
process. The figure eight shape of the cover pieces is the same as
the cover pieces of cowhide or the like which are used to cover a
conventional baseball. The scrim layer 16 may be of woven jute,
cotton, or other materials, including synthetics. Similarly, the
tufted wool may be replaced by or blended with synthetic fibers,
just as tufted wool and tufted synthetics are used in the
manufacture of rugs and carpets.
[0013] The center sphere 13 (and correspondingly the cover pieces
12) can be of any size to suit the needs of the user. The sphere 13
may be made of a wide variety of materials ranging from very hard
to very soft. Thus, hard metal spheres can be used, as well as a
wide range of plastics from hard to quite soft, and the sphere 13
may even be made of a polymeric foam or similar highly compressible
material. A range of core softness will affect the way the buffing
ball 10 conforms to the working surface. The sphere 13 shown in
FIG. 5 is formed from two semi-spherical halves 18 glued or
otherwise secured together.
[0014] In accordance with one method for making a buffing ball 10
of the present invention, the two cover pieces 12 are sewn together
as with a stitched seam 17, except for portions along a common edge
that provide an opening large enough to allow the center sphere 13
to be inserted therethrough. After the center sphere is inserted,
the stitching may be completed to finish the covering. Alternately,
the opening may be positioned to surround the drive shaft 14 and
the unstitched portions glued to the surface of the sphere 13. See
FIG. 3.
[0015] It is also possible to attach the cover pieces 12 to the
sphere 13 by bonding with a suitable adhesive as shown in FIG. 4.
However, the stitched baseball-like attachment of the cover pieces
12 is presently preferred.
[0016] In the embodiment described herein, the cover pieces 12 are
made of tufted wool using a conventional scrim fabric backing.
However, sliver knit wool or natural sheepskin cover pieces may
also be used. In addition, the wool fibers may be attached in an
untwisted form thereby providing the outer surface of the buffing
ball 10 with a longer fiber and more fuzzy appearance. Further,
blends of wool with acrylic or polyester or even all synthetic
fibers can be used.
[0017] The spherical wool buffing ball 10 of the present invention
follows the recent development and successful introduction of the
polymeric foam buffing ball. However, in certain finishing
operations, wool provides the user the ability to provide a finish
that cannot be achieved with polymeric foam materials.
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