BLOC DE PONCAGE

SANDING BLOCK

Abrégé français

Bloc de ponçage comprenant un premier organe ayant une portion intermédiaire et une paire d'extrémités relativement flexibles, une surface supérieure du premier organe étant configurée pour être tenue manuellement et une surface inférieure de chacune des extrémités comprenant au moins une surface ouverte de retenue, un deuxième organe ayant une portion intermédiaire raccordée à la portion intermédiaire du premier organe et une paire d'extrémités, une surface supérieure de chaque extrémité du deuxième organe comprenant, en extension depuis celle-ci, au moins une protubérance de retenue complémentaire qui siège respectivement dans l'une des surfaces ouvertes de retenue, le bloc de ponçage incluant au moins une surface creuse formée dans celui-ci, et ayant un organe de support relativement léger disposé au sein de la surface creuse.

Abrégé anglais

A sanding block has a first member having an intermediate portion and a pair of relatively flexible ends wherein a top surface of the first member is configured to be hand held and a bottom surface of each of the ends has at least one retention open surface therein, a second member having an intermediate portion connected to the intermediate portion of the first member and a pair of ends wherein a top surface of each end of the second member has extending therefrom at least one complimentary retention protrusion which respectively seat in one of the retention open surfaces, wherein the sanding block includes at least one hollow surface formed therein, and having a relatively lightweight support member disposed within the hollow surface.

Revendications

CLAIM
1. A sanding block for hand held use, which includes:
a first member having an intermediate portion and a pair of flexible ends
wherein a
top surface of said first member is configured to be hand held and a bottom
surface of each
of said ends has at least one retention open surface therein;
a second member having an intermediate portion connected to said intermediate
portion of said first member and a pair of ends wherein a top surface of each
said end of
said second member has extending therefrom at least one complementary
retention
protrusion which respectively seat in one of said retention open surfaces; and
wherein said sanding block includes at least one hollow surface formed
therein; and
a relatively lightweight support member disposed within said hollow surface.
2. The sanding block of claim 1. wherein said hollow surface extends through a
part of
said top surface of said first member and said support member extends
throughout said
hollow surface and has an exposed surface visible adjacent. said top surface
of said first
member.
3. The sanding block of claim 2, wherein said exposed surface of said
support
member includes a predetermined. marking.
4. The sanding block of claim 1. wherein said hollow surface is generally T-
shaped.
5. The sanding block of claim 4, wherein said support member is generally T-
shaped.
6. The sanding block of claim 4, wherein said T-shaped hollow surface is
inverted to
and extends within said second member and said intermediate portions.
7. The sanding block of claim 6, wherein said support member is
complimentarily
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configured to said hollow surface.
8 The sanding block of claim 1, wherein said ends of one of said second member
have
a chamfered edge extending along a periphery thereof.
9. The sanding block of claim 8, which is further characterized as having said
chamfered edge extending about said top surface of each end of said second
member.
10. The sanding block of claim 1, wherein said top surface of said first
member has a
plurality of relatively flexible treads formed thereon.
11. The sanding block of claim 1, wherein said second member has a bottom
surface
having a plurality of relatively nonflexible treads formed on the surface
thereof.
12. The sanding block of claim 1, wherein said first member and said second
member
have sides and wherein at least one of said sides has a plurality of
relatively flexible treads
formed thereon.
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Description

CA 02258425 1999-O1-12
SANDING BLOCK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of sanding devices. More
particularly, but
not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to improvements in
sanding blocks.
Related Art
There presently exist a variety of styles of sanding blocks. These sanding
blocks are
generally integrally formed of rubber and typically include a first member
having an
intermediate portion and a pair of ends wherein a top surface of the first
member is
configured to be hand held and a bottom surface of each of the ends has
retention surfaces
therein and a second member having an intermediate portion connected to the
intermediate
portion of the first member and a pair of ends wherein a top surface of each
end of the
second member has a plurality of nails complimentary formed to respectively
seat in one of
the retention open surfaces. The respective first ends must be pried apart
such that the nails
are removed from the retention surfaces so that an end of a piece of sandpaper
can be
disposed between the first ends whereupon release of the ends, the nails
pierce the sandpaper
to hold the same in place. The second ends are likewise manipulated to retain
the other end
of the sandpaper.
As a whole, sanding blocks have not evolved to meet the needs of the user. For
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CA 02258425 2002-11-07
example, it is desirable to minimize fatigue to the user while maintaining the
effectiveness
of the sanding block. The rubber material employed in these blocks is
relatively rigid,
dense and heavy and difficult for the user to pry apart and rise for long
period of time. This
is particularly true for woman which are inereasingl_.. entering into the do-
it-yourself (DIY)
market.
Recently, applicant has alleviated some of these problems. Particularly, the
applicant in U.S. Patent Nc>. 5,8f>3,2~~ discloses a ribbed gripping surface
and chamfered
surface portions between the ends ot~the irrst and second members to aid in
sanding use.
While these changes have been helptirl in gripping the block as well as prying
apart the
ends of the block, there remains a need tc impro~~e other aspects of sandi,ag
blocks.
The present invention overc~~mes other deficiencies of present sanding blocks.
The
present invention also better meets i:ha needs of present day consumer.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVF;N'fION
It is an object: to improve; sanding blocks.
It: is another object to enhance the ease of use: of sanding blocks while
maintaining
effectiveness of the same in a cc>st efficient manner.
It: is also an abject to provide a relatively inexpensive sanding block with a
means
of marking the same.
Accordingly, the present in v°ention is directed to a sanding block
having a first
member having an intermediate portion and a pair ctf relatively flexible ends
wherein a top
surface of the first member is configured to be h<~nd held and a bottom
surface of each of

CA 02258425 1999-O1-12
the ends has at least one retention open surface therein and a second
relatively rigid
member having an intermediate portion connected to the intermediate portion of
the first
member and a pair of ends wherein a top surface of each end of the second
member has
extending therefrom at least one complimentary retention protrusion which
respectively seat
in one of the retention open surfaces, and wherein the sanding block includes
at least one
hollow surface formed therein and having a relatively lightweight support
member disposed
within the hollow surface. The sanding block is further characterized such
that the hollow
surface extends through a part of the top surface of the first member and the
support
member extends throughout the hollow surface and has a top surface remaining
partially
visible. The top surface of the support member includes a predetermined
marking.
Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art upon
viewing the drawings and reading the detailed description hereafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the present invention
FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the present invention
taken through
line 5-5 of FIG 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings in FIGS. 1-5, the sanding block of the present
invention is generally referred to by the numeral 10. The sanding block 10 has
a first
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CA 02258425 2002-11-07
member 12 which has an intermedia a portion l4 and a hair of relatively
flexible ends 16a
and 16b. A top surface 18 of the lurst member l:~ is configured to be hard
held. In this
regard, the top surface 18 of the first member 12 ha.surface portions 18a a~zd
18b which
have a plurality of relatively flexible treads 20a and 20b, respectively,
formed transversely
thereon. These treads 20a and 2017 aid the user in grippinE the sanding block.
Bottom
surfaces '?2a and 22b of each of the ends 16a and 16b, rc;spectively, each
have a plurality of
retention open surfaces 24a and 24b, respectively.
The sanding block 10 has a second member 26 having an intermediate portion 28
connected, preferabl:~ integrally, tc:> the intermediate portion 14 of the
first member 12.
The second member 26 also has a pair of ends 30a and :30b which are disposed
adjacent
ends 16a and 16b, respectively, anal are generally of about the same lengrh.
Each of the
ends 30a and 30b have a top surfacf:~ 32a and 32b, respectively, which face
the bottom
surfaces 22a and 22b, respectively.
Treads 33a are provided on side surfaces 3:x::1 and :sib of the sanding block
10 to aid
the user in gripping the sanding block 10. The second member 26 has a bottom
surface 34
best seen in FIG. 3 a.nd has a plurality of relativt;ly nonllexible treads 36
formed thereon to
aid in not only gripping the back side of the sandpaper hut also in its
removal of sticky back
sandpaper, for example.
(:hamfered surface portions 38a and 38b extend along a periphery of top
surfaces
32a and 32b, respectively. Elere, the chamfered surf°acv portions 38a
and 38b are
preferably chamfered at a suffi<;ient slant to permit the bottom surfaces ;?2a
and 22b to be
gripped with a user's pad of a finger tip in a rnarmer such that the user's
finger nail is less
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CA 02258425 2002-11-07
likely to be damaged in prying apart the ends 16a and 16b from ends 30a and
30b,
respectively in order 1:o insert a piece of sandpaper therc;between.
The first member 12 and the second member 26 are preferably int-~grally formed
via
a molding process. The first member 12 and second nuernber 26 are preferably
made of a
relatively flexible thermoplastic polymer which i,~ cross-linked only to an
extent to solidify
the material to provide a rubber-like characteristic. 1'e~lyvinyl chloride is
a suitable and
preferable material in this regard. 'hhe. material characteristics of the
members 12 and 26
described have desirable attributes of touch and feel for handling by the user
as well as
function :in aiding to perform certain objectives herein.. It is recognized
tzat other relatively
flexible materials may be employed to provide such attributes.
Wlhile the characteristics ol~tl~e rubber-like material are desirable for the
sanding
block 10" the material which provides such desirable characteristics does have
its
drawbacks. Such material is relatively dense and heavy and accordingly leads
to fatigue of
the user ~~t a faster rate. Also, the ir~aterial is relatively expensive and
it is desirable to
1 ~ reduce the amount of material needed. The inherent pre>perties of the
rubber-like material
of the sanding block 10 requires a solid or pseudo-solid support structure.
This is because
such rubber-like material tends to col lapse in on itself during the
particular molding process
where a hollow surface exists.
7,0 overcome this problem, the present invention provides a relatively
lightweight
rigid plastic support member 37 which is best seen in FI.CiS. 1 and 5. 'The
support member
37 is made of a thermoplastic resin which is prel~;rably cross-linked to an
extent to provide
a haxd solid, high strength support structure. Polystyrene, white for
exaanple, is desirable in

CA 02258425 1999-O1-12
this regard as it is relatively inexpensive and performs the desired
objectives, but other rigid
materials may be employed to accomplish the purposes described herein.
The support member 37 is pre-molded into a generally hollow T-shape. The
material of the support member 37 serves as a lightweight insert which
occupies a
substantial volume of space within the sanding block 10, while leaving in tact
the desirable
attributes of the members 12 and 26. Thus, the support member 37 reduces cost
of the
sanding block 10 and enhances the usefulness by providing a lighter sanding
block 10
which will not fatigue the user as quickly. The support member 37 has two arms
42a
and 42b which are to be disposed within the second member 26 and an
intermediate leg 44
which has a top surface 46 and extends within the sanding block 10 from the
intermediate
portion 28 of the second member 26 and through the intermediate portion 14 of
the first
member 12.
The top surface 46 will preferably remain exposed to visibility. This provides
another feature of the present invention. The top surface 46 can be cut and/or
marked with
a private label for a retailer to display a desired house brand, preferably
prior to the
molding process. In this way, there only need be a one mold produced for the
formation of
the first member 12 and second member 26 with the support member 37 inserted
therein.
The support member 37 is set into such mold in an inverted manner, wherein the
mold is
cut to produce an integral formation of the first member 12 and second member
26 about
the support member 37.
By so doing, a hollow surface 48 is formed within the sanding block 10 within
which the support member 37 seats against. The hollow surface 48 takes on a
generally
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CA 02258425 1999-O1-12
complimentary configuration to the support member 37, save for the top surface
46 which
is left open for exposure thereof as previously discussed. The arms 42a and
42b are of a
width and height slightly less than the ends 30a and 30b of the second member
26 and lend
substantial rigidity throughout the same.
A plurality of retention protrusions (spikes) SOa and SOb extend from top
surfaces
32a and 32b, respectively. The spikes 50 are preferably integrally formed into
the sanding
block 10 during the molding process. The retention protrusions SOa and SOb
respectively
removably seat in the retention open surfaces 24a and 24b.
The sanding block 10 of the present invention now overcomes the disadvantages
of
prior sanding blocks. A relatively lightweight and inexpensive sanding block
10 is
provided with the aforesaid desired external attributes.
The above described embodiment is set forth by way of example and is not for
the
purpose of limiting the present invention. It will be readily apparent to
those skilled in the
art that obvious modifications, derivations and variations can be made to the
embodiment
without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the claims
appended
hereto should be read in their full scope including any such modifications,
derivations and
variations.
What is claimed is:
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Dessin représentatif