INTERFACE PAD

COUSSIN D'INTERCONNEXION

English Abstract

An interface pad for between a hook-and-loop attachment
surface of an attachment for a power tool and an attachable and
detachable work surface. Preferably, the interface pad is for use
in conjunction with an attachment, e.g. a sander or buffer
attachment, comprising a hook-and-loop mounting pad. A hook-and-loop
face of the interface pad is for releaseable mounting of the
interface pad onto the hook-and-loop mounting pad of the
attachment. A preferably non-hook-and-loop face of the interface
pad is for selective, releaseable mounting of non-hook-and-loop
accessories such as a low grit number circular sandpaper sheet.

Claims

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We claim:
1. An interface pad for positioning between a hook-and-loop
mounting surface of an attachment for a power tool and an
attachable and detachable work surface, said pad comprising a
hook-and-loop surface adapted for mounting onto said hook-and-loop
mounting surface, and a support substrate adapted for
mounting of the work surface.
2. The interface pad of claim 1 wherein the substrate is leather.
3. The interface pad of claim 1 wherein the substrate is adapted
for mounting of a sticky-backed work surface.
4. The interface pad of claim 1 wherein the substrate is adapted
for mounting of a hook-and-loop backed work surface.

Description

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Interface Pad
The invention relates to a rotating or vibrating
attachment for power tools, such as electric or pneumatic drills,
sanders and polishers. More particularly, the invention relates to
an interface pad for between such attachment and a work surface,
such as a sandpaper sheet.
Many known attachments for electric or pneumatic drills,
sanders and polishers provide a hook-and-loop mounting surface for
attachment of work surfaces, such as sandpaper or buffing pads,
having a hook-and-loop type backing for releaseable attachment to
the mounting surface. When the work surface is worn or dirty, it
may be simply pulled away from the mounting surface and replaced
with a new or clean work surface. These hook-and-loop attachments
are generally favoured over attachments providing sticky-backed
mounting surfaces, or mounting surfaces for attachment of sticky-
backed work surfaces, since the latter types of mounting surfaces
often result in overheating of work surfaces and consequent
gumming-up and reduced useful life of the work surface.
Furthermore, the latter attachment types require frequent
replacement due to damage or wear to the mounting surface resulting
from the effects of the harsh working conditions. The popularity
of the hook-and-loop type of attachment is due to its general
reduction of such problems and the relative ease of replacing one
work surface with another. However, there is a relatively limited
availability of different types of work surfaces with a hook-and-
loop backing. One factor responsible for such limited availabilityis that a relatively coarse grit sandpaper having a hook-and-loop
backing is not able to stay sufficiently cool in use to avoid
premature gumming or clogging. Also, the holding power of the
hook-and-loop backing of such coarse grit sandpaper is questionable
in use. Furthermore, coarse grit sandpaper is relatively difficult
to produce with a hook-and-loop backing.

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In view of the known hook-and-loop systems, it is
therfore often necessary to switch back and forth from a hook-and-
loop attachment mount to a sticky-backed attachment mount, so that
a full range of work surfaces may be employed. This is a time
consuming, annoying and costly method, involving the use of tools
to make each switch.
There is therefore a specific need for a means to improve
the usefulness of a coarse grit sandpaper with conventional hook-
and-loop mounting surfaces of sander attachments. That is, a means
to improve cooling of the sandpaper during use to reduce the
gumming-up of the sandpaper and, thereby, increase the useful life
of the sandpaper.
There is also a specific need for a means to improve the
grip of the hook-and-loop mounting surface of the conventional
sander attachments on work surfaces attached to the mounting
surface so that coarse grit sandpaper may be more easily used with
such attachments.
There is also a need for an improved system for switching
from one type of work surface to another, i.e. without having to
use tools for the change, and/or having to use additional
equipment.
The invention provides an interface pad for positioning
between a hook-and-loop mounting surface of an attachment for a
power tool and an attachable and detachable work surface, the pad
comprising a hook-and-loop surface adapted for mounting onto the
hook-and-loop mounting surface, and a support substrate adapted
for mounting of the work surface. The substrate preferably is made
of leather or other material which will also allow for reduction of
heat build-up, or improve the cooling, of the attachable and
detachable work surface. The substrate is preferably adapted for
attachment of a sticky-backed work surface, but may also be adapted
for attachment of a hook-and-loop backed work surface.
With a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one

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can change work surfaces, e.g. from sticky-backed sandpaper of one
grit size to sticky-backed sandpaper of another grit size , by
simply removing the former from the interface pad and attaching the
latter. Alternatively, the interface pad may be removed from the
hook-and-loop mounting surface of the attachment, with for example
sandpaper still attached, and a second interface pad with a
different grit of sandpaper attached may be mounted to the hook-
and-loop mounting surface.
In drawings attached to illustrate preferred embodiments
of the invention,
FIGURE 1 is a cross-section side view of a typical (prior art)
sander attachment and a sandpaper work surface to which the
inventive interface pad relates;
FIGURE 2 is a cross-section side view of the attachment of
Figure 1 and of a preferred interface pad of the present invention;
and
FIGURE 3 is a top view of a preferred interface pad of the
present invention wherein the support surface is made of leather.
With reference to Figure 1, in a known sander attachment
for a power tool, e.g. a pneumatic tool, there is a threaded
connector 1, foam backing pad 2, and a hook-and-loop surface 3. A
commonly used hook-and-loop product is sold under the trademark
Velcro~. The sandpaper 4 is shown with a hook-and-loop backing
selected for mating with the hook-and-loop surface 3. In Fig. 2
there is shown an interface pad 5, having a hook-and-loop surface
selected for mating with the hook-and-loop surface 3, and having an
opposite side 6 for attachment of the sticky side of the sticky-
backed sandpaper 7.
In a preferred construction, the interface pad is leather
on one side and Velcro~ on the other, the two sides being bonded
together with adhesive and further preferably with stitching.

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Preferably, the stitching may be of a cross-hatch pattern as shown
in Fig. 3, which is particularly durable, but may also be of any
other pattern, such as a spiral or concentric circles, which
functions to secure or assist in securing the leather to the
Velcro~. The leather, when provided with a smooth or polished
surface, provides a particularly suitable surface for adhesion of
sticky-backed sandpaper as the latter may be readily attached or
removed. As well, the leather is easy to clean and additionally
facilitates cooling of the sandpaper during its use, thereby
reducing gumming-up and increasing the useful life of the
sandpaper.
Although leather is preferred for the substrate of the
interface pad, other suitable resilient materials may be used
within the scope of the present invention. One skilled in the art
may relatively easily be able to come up with suitable alternative
substrates bearing in mind that an ideal substrate will be
relatively: solvent resistant; pliable yet resilient so as to
support a work surface under varying degrees of applied pressure;
heat resistant for the typically harsh working environment and high
friction associated with operation of such equipment; suitable for
allowing adhesion by common adhesives applied to work surfaces; and
soft enough to limit or prevent damage to the treatment target,
e.g. an autobody, in the event that the work surface tears or is
damaged so as to expose the treatment target. Straigtforward
experiments with different materials would be expected to reveal
which types of materials would be suitable for use as a substrate.
The interface pad is useful in numerous automotive,
aircraft, machinery, industrial and home applications, for example
where sanding or refinishing or polishing is needed. For example,
floor refinishing equipment having hook-and-loop pads may also be
equipped with a suitably scaled interface pad.

Representative Drawing