A sanding and finishing tool is constructed from a number of interlocking sanding members configured such that the sanding and finishing tool is equipped for sanding and/or finishing jobs of varying sizes and degrees, and is further able to easily sand and/or finish in and around various sized edges, crevices and corners. The tool includes a first sanding member having a handle which can be provided with auxiliary sanding members having auxiliary sanding surfaces. The first sanding member includes a sanding surface covered by a sanding material, wherein the sanding material is removably attached to the sanding surface. The tool further includes any number of additional sanding members, such that each additional sanding member dovetails on to the last sanding member, and also includes a sanding surface and material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of hand tools. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of handheld sanding and finishing tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sanding and finishing tools commonly include a member with a flat surface for receiving the back side of a sheet of sandpaper and a clamp or other means for securing the sheet of sandpaper to the tool. These tools are well adapted for sanding most flat surfaces. However, problems are encountered when they are employed to sand surfaces that are confined, narrow, curved either convexly or concavely, or otherwise irregular in some respect.

One application where this is a particular problem is automotive body sanding and finishing. This problem requires current sanding and finishing tool users to have sanding and finishing tools of various sizes and shapes. This can be inconvenient and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sanding and finishing tool including a number of interlocking sanding members configured such that the sanding and finishing tool is equipped for sanding and/or finishing jobs of various sizes and shapes, and is further able to easily sand and/or finish in and around various sized edges, crevices and corners. The tool of the present invention includes a first sanding member provided with a handle, wherein the handle can also include auxiliary sanding members having auxiliary sanding surfaces. The sanding member includes a sanding surface covered by a sanding material, wherein the sanding material is removably attached to the sanding surface. The tool further includes any number of additional sanding members, such that each additional sanding member dovetails on to the preceding sanding member, and also includes a sanding surface and material.

In one aspect of the invention, a sanding apparatus includes a first sanding member including a first sanding surface configured for sanding variously shaped surfaces. A second sanding member is formed with a channel and in which is received the first sanding member such that the second sanding member is removably attached to the first sanding member. When the first and second sanding members are attached, the second sanding member substantially covers the first sanding surface, and the first sanding member defines a handle.

A first sanding material is affixed to the first sanding surface such that the first sanding material substantially covers the first sanding surface. A second sanding material is affixed to the second sanding surface such that the second sanding material substantially covers the second sanding surface. Either of the first sanding material or the second sanding material is removably affixed to the first sanding surface or the second sanding surface, respectively. The first sanding material is removed from the first sanding surface before the second sanding member is coupled to the first sanding member. In a preferred embodiment, the first sanding surface and the second sanding surface are covered with a vinyl backing layer. A surface of the first sanding material is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is removably joined to the vinyl backing layer on the first sanding surface. A surface of the second sanding material is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is removably joined to the vinyl backing layer on the second sanding surface. In an alternative embodiment, the first sanding surface and the second sanding surface are covered with one half of a hook and loop fastener. A surface of the first sanding material is provided with the other half of a hook and loop fastener which is removably joined to the one half of a hook and loop fastener on the first sanding surface. A surface of the second sanding material is provided with one half of a hook and loop fastener which is removably joined to the other half of a hook and loop fastener on the second sanding surface.

The handle preferably has a substantially cylindrical shape and includes an auxiliary sanding member wherein the auxiliary sanding member includes an auxiliary sanding surface configured to receive an auxiliary sanding material. The auxiliary sanding member is constructed such that the auxiliary sanding surface is either circular or triangular in shape. Any of the first sanding member and the second sanding member are preferably constructed from a rubber material, and the auxiliary sanding member includes a compressible foam material. The handle includes the first sanding member having a first sanding surface. The first sanding member is configured to be removably coupled to the second sanding member such that a channel in the second sanding member is constructed to receive the first sanding member. When the second sanding member and the first sanding member are coupled, the second sanding member substantially covers the first sanding surface. When the second sanding member and the first sanding member are uncoupled, a first sanding material is affixed to the first sanding surface such that the first sanding material substantially covers the first sanding surface. The first sanding material is removably affixed to the first sanding surface. In the preferred embodiment, the first sanding surface is covered with a vinyl backing layer. A surface of the first sanding material is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is removably joined to the vinyl backing layer on the first sanding surface. In an alternative embodiment, the first sanding surface is covered with one half of a hook and loop fastener. A surface of the first sanding material is provided with the other half of the hook and loop of fastener which is removably joined to the one half of a hook and loop fastener on the third sanding surface. The first sanding surface, a second sanding surface and the third sanding surface are substantially planar. The third sanding member includes a rounded end portion and an angled end portion.

In another aspect of the invention, a third sanding member includes a third sanding surface configured for sanding variously shaped surfaces. The third sanding member is formed with a channel, and the third sanding surface is provided with a third sanding material affixed thereto. A second sanding member has a second sanding surface received in the channel of the third sanding member such that the second sanding member is removably attached to the third sanding member. When the third and second sanding members are attached, the third sanding member substantially covers the second sanding surface. A first sanding member defines a handle and has a first sanding surface received in a channel of the second sanding member such that the first sanding member is removably attached to the second sanding member. When the second and first sanding members are attached, the second sanding member substantially covers the first sanding surface.

When the third and second sanding members are uncoupled, a second sanding material is affixed to the second sanding surface such that the second sanding material substantially covers a second sanding surface. When the second and first sanding members are uncoupled, a first sanding material is affixed to the first sanding surface such that the first sanding material substantially covers the first sanding surface. The second and first sanding members have substantially planar bottoms and inwardly sloping opposite end portions. The third sanding member has a substantially planar bottom, a rounded end portion and an angled end portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a sanding tool10is depicted inFIG. 1. The sanding tool10includes a generally cylindrical handle12attached to a first sanding member14. The first sanding member14has a dovetail shape and includes a first sanding surface16covered with a first vinyl backing layer18. A vinyl backing layer18runs along a substantially planar bottom of first sanding surface16and also extends upwardly for a distance along inwardly angled ends of the first sanding surface16. The sanding tool10also includes a second sanding member20having a dovetail-shaped channel22notched into the second sanding member20such that the first sanding member14fits into the channel22in order to removably couple the second sanding member20to the first sanding member14. The channel22in the second sanding member20is configured such that the first vinyl backing layer18is substantially covered by the second sanding member20when the second sanding member20is coupled to the first sanding member14.

Still referring toFIG. 1, the second sanding member20includes a second sanding surface24covered with a second vinyl backing layer26. The vinyl backing layer26runs along a substantially planar bottom of second sanding surface24and also runs upwardly for a distance along inwardly angled ends of the second sanding surface24. A third sanding member28is configured with a dovetail-shape channel30corresponding to the dovetail-shape of the second sanding member20such that the channel30in the third sanding member28is configured to receive the second sanding member20and to cover the second vinyl backing layer26when the third sanding member28is removably coupled to the second sanding member20. The third sanding member28includes a third sanding surface32covered by a vinyl backing layer34. As seen best inFIG. 1A, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)36is applied to an upper surface of a sanding material38. The PSA layer36frictionally adheres well to the vinyl backing layer34, but may be easily peeled away for replacement of the sanding material38. The vinyl backing layer34and the PSA layer36thus permit the removable attachment of the sanding material38to the third sanding surface32. The sanding member28also includes a curved end portion40and an angled end portion42. The vinyl backing layer34runs along a substantially planar bottom surface of the third sanding surface32and also runs upwardly along the entire length of curved and angled end portions40and42, respectively.

The handle12of the sanding tool10may also include first and second auxiliary members44and46secured on opposite ends for enabling removable and replaceable attachment of sanding materials48,50, respectively. First auxiliary member44includes a circular sanding face52having a compressible foam member54of similar shape and size attached thereto such as by permanent adhesive. A vinyl backing layer56corresponding to the size and shape of the foam member54is attached such as by adhesive, to the exterior of the foam member54. A pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)58may be applied to an inner surface of sanding material48. Handle12is configured with three tapered surfaces60(FIG. 3) so that second auxiliary member46includes a triangularly-shaped face62having a compressible foam member64of similar shape and size attached thereto, such as by permanent adhesive. A vinyl backing layer66corresponding to the size and shape of the foam member64is attached, such as by adhesive, to the exterior of the foam member64. A pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)68may be applied to the inner surface of sanding material50. As explained above, the PSA layers58,68will adhere to the respective vinyl backing layers56,66but may be easily peeled away for selective replacement of the respective sanding materials48,50.

It should be noted that the handle12of the sanding tool10, as well as the first, second and third sanding members14,20,28respectively, can be constructed from a variety of materials. In the preferred embodiment, sanding tool10is formed from a somewhat compressible material such as natural or synthetic rubber. Rubber materials of varying compressibility (durometer) may be used. It should also be understood that the sanding tool10may include more than three sanding members14,20,28of the preferred embodiment.

The sanding tool10inFIG. 1is shown such that the second sanding member20and the third sanding member28are not coupled to the first sanding member14and the handle12in operation. Such a configuration would allow a user of the sanding tool10desiring to perform finishing and sanding work to grip the handle12and utilize only the first sanding member14which can be covered by a sanding material70having a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)72that will removably adhere to the vinyl backing layer18. The user of the sanding tool10would also be able to utilize the auxiliary sanding members44and46and auxiliary sanding members48and50if the sanding tool were so equipped. If the user of the sanding tool10required a larger sanding surface or additional angles in order to complete the sanding or finishing work, then the user could couple the second sanding member20to the first sanding member14by sliding the first sanding member14into the channel22of the second sanding member20. The user of the sanding tool10would then be able to utilize the second sanding surface24after covering the vinyl backing layer26with a sanding material74having a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)76that will removably adhere to the vinyl backing layer26. In the preferred embodiment, the sanding material70would need to be peelably removed from the vinyl backing layer18of the first sanding member14prior to inserting the first sanding member14into the channel22of the second sanding member20.

Still referring toFIG. 1, a user of the sanding tool10may also removably couple the third sanding member28to the second sanding member20, the third sanding member28having the third sanding surface32covered by the third sanding material38. In the preferred embodiment, the third sanding member28is the last sanding member available to couple the sanding tool10. This is evident as the third sanding member28includes the curved end portion40and the angled end portion42. It should be noted that the angled end portion42and the curved end portion40are part of the third sanding surface32and can be configured in different shapes and angles to accommodate the user.

FIG. 2depicts a perspective view of the sanding tool10of the present invention. This view is intended to show how the sanding members14,20,28are configured to removably couple to and uncouple from each other. It should be understood that the sanding tool10as depicted inFIG. 2is not necessarily ideally configured for sanding and/or finishing. Rather this figure is intended to show how the sanding members14,20,28are coupled together. Still referring toFIG. 2, the first and second auxiliary sanding members44and46and the respective auxiliary sanding faces52and62are constructed in respective circular and triangular shapes. While these shapes are advantageous for sanding and/or finishing in corners, it is contemplated that alternative embodiments can include any other shapes the user may find helpful for sanding and/or finishing.

FIG. 3depicts a front view of the sanding tool10of the present invention. Here the sanding members14,20,28are coupled together such that a user of the tool10would grip the handle12and utilize the third sanding member28and the third sanding material38. Of course, the user of the sanding tool10could also utilize the curved and angled end portions40and42covered by sanding material38to sand and/or finish.

FIG. 4depicts a perspective view of the fully assembled sanding tool10. This figure is intended to illustrate how the first vinyl covered sanding surface16of first sanding member14fits into channel22of the second sanding member20, and how the second vinyl cover sanding surface24of the second sanding member20fits into the channel30of the third sanding member28which is equipped with sanding material38. It should be understood that any of the sanding surfaces described above in the present invention have a sanding material fixed to the sanding surface before sanding and/or finishing can be performed with individual members14,20,28.

FIG. 5is a view similar toFIG. 4which illustrates a sanding tool10having the cylindrical handle12deleted. In using the tool10, a user will simply grasp the opposite sides of the first sanding member14which define a handle. If desired, the first sanding member14inFIG. 5, can be removed so that the interlocked second and third sanding members20,28respectively, can be used for sanding. In this case, the sides of the second sanding member20define the handle.

FIG. 6illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention which shows an alternative means of removably attaching the sanding materials70,74,38to the respective sanding members14,20,28. In this version, any of the respective sanding surfaces16,24,32can be adhesively covered with one type of a hook and loop fastener78(e.g. Velcro). A cooperating hook and loop fastener80is attached such as by adhesive to the back face of sanding materials70,74,38respectively. In a similar manner, the foam materials54,64on the opposite ends of the handle12can be adhesively covered with hook and loop fastener78to cooperate with hook and loop fasteners80secured on the sanding materials48and50so that the sanding materials48and50may be easily removed or replaced if desired. The present invention thus discloses two separate embodiments for temporarily affixing sanding materials to various sanding surfaces.

The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of the construction and operation of the invention. Such references herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.