Abrasive sheets

Abstract: An abrasive sheet such as sandpaper (1) has standard dimensions to fit 1/3, 1/2 or 1/4 sheet sanding machines having dust extraction facilities. The sheet has perforated delineated areas (2, 2′) adapted to be removed by the user to form a pattern of holes in the sheet to correspond with the holes in the sole-plate of the particular model of sanding machine which the user is employing. This enables one sheet to be used with several different models.

Description: This invention relates to abrasive sheets for use in power sanding machines having vacuum dust extraction. Sanding machines, by their very nature, generate considerable quantities of dust and so many presently available models provide vacuum extraction facilities which minimise the spread of dust. Orbital sanding machines achieve this by sucking the dust through the sanding machine as it is being generated. For this purpose the sole plate of the sanding machine is provided with numerous holes through which the dust can be extracted. The present invention relates particularly to machines which employ this method of dust extraction. Needless to say, the sheets of abrasive used by machines of this type need to have holes which correspond with the holes in the shoe plate. Since machines made by different manufacturers tend to have a different pattern of holes in their shoe plate, each sanding machine requires its own specially adapted abrasive sheets having the appropriate matching holes. It has been suggested to provide sheets which have holes punched in them so that they match any configuration of holes in the shoe plates of different machines. However, this is not a solution, because the holes in the abrasive sheet which do not coincide with holes in the shoe plate of any given machine will expose the base of the shoe plate. Since the base of the shoe plate is normally a soft rubber like material (usually neoprene rubber) to cushion the abrasive sheet against the surface being sanded, it is not protected against the heat which would be generated during such contact, and consequently would overheat and possibly burn and leave scorch marks on the surface being sanded. Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide abrasive sheets which can be employed on a variety of different machines while allowing the dust extraction facility to be employed but not sufferings from the aforementioned problem. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a sheet of abrasive material of standard dimensions for use on a variety of different machines, said sheet having a plurality of frangible areas delineated by perforations enabling selected ones of said areas to be separated from the sheet to form holes in said sheet according to a desired pattern suitable for a particular sanding machine to which said sheet is to be fitted. Of course, where the machine in question is not of the type incorporating dust extraction or if, for any reason, the user does not wish to employ the vacuum dust extraction facility of his/her machine, then none of said areas is separated from the sheet. In that event the sheet performs as an ordinary sheet of abrasive. On the other hand, the perforated areas are provided so that they may be pushed out by the user according to the pattern of holes formed on his/her particular machine. Preferably the sheet is provided with printed information on its back surface indicating to the user which areas should be removed to suit particular machines. The term "of standard dimensions" as used herein refers to the standard sheet sizes of sandpaper in the United Kingdom as set down in BS871. Sanding machines are adapted, on the whole, to employ sheets of abrasive which conform to these standards. However, it should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention is not limited by particular standards as such, but rather by the sizes of sheets generally or widely adopted in a particular market at any given time. The invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a plan view of an abrasive sheet according to the present invention. In the drawing, the back of a sheet 1 of sandpaper is shown. The sheet is provided with a plurality of perforated delineated areas 2, 2′ such that any of such areas may be pushed out to form holes in the paper. The sheet 1 is sized to fit a particular range of orbital sanding machines, that is to say, those which employ 1/3 sheet sizes according to British Standard 871. 1/2 Sheet or 1/4 sheet sanding machines are also available. The pattern, and indeed size, of said areas 2, 2′ are arranged to correspond with a plurality of different sanding machines within the size range for that sheet. Thus the pattern of areas 2, for the 1/3 sheet machine, corresponds to the size and arrangement of holes in the sole plate of an orbital sander provided with dust extraction facilities marketed by the present applicants, while the size and pattern of areas 2′ correspond with a competitors model. Similar further patterns could be added as desired, even with such overlapping as may be necessary to accommodate further models as may be, or as may become, available. The areas 2, 2′ are separately identified on the back of the sheet 1 by printed indicia such as A and B as shown, preferably together with instructions (not shown) to the user to push out those areas marked A, B or C, etc., according to the model which the user is about to use. Thus there may also be printed on the sheet 1 a list of models together with the letter identifying which holes are to be formed. In any event, it is evident that the user need not push out any holes if desired, and the perforations are arranged so that the areas 2, 2′ are not so easily separated from the sheet 1 that they would be dislodged easily during a normal sanding operation. Thus a suitable arrangement of perforations is where they are each about one millimetre long with a similar separation between them. Those areas not pushed out can assist in the sanding operation. The front (not shown) of the sheet 1 appears as an ordinary sheet of sandpaper. Moreover, sheets may be provided ready cut into 1/3 or 1/2 or 1/4 sizes, as desired, or in full size sheets, preferably with frangible perforated delineations dividing the sheet into such 1/3, 1/2 or 1/4 sheet sizes.

Claims: A sheet of abrasive material of standard dimensions for use on a variety of different sanding machines having vacuum dust extraction, said sheet having a plurality of frangible areas delineated by perforations enabling selected ones of said areas to be separated from the sheet to form holes in said sheet according to a desired pattern suitable for a particular sanding machine to which said sheet is to be fitted. A sheet as claimed in Claim 1, in which printed information is provided on its back surface indicating to the user which of said areas should be removed to suit particular machines.

Inventors: PEARCE PHILLIP WILLIAM, PEARCE, PHILLIP WILLIAM
Applicants: BLACK & DECKER INC, BLACK & DECKER INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B24D11
IPC codes: B24D11, B24B55