Patent Publication Number: US-2004043715-A1

Title: Corner sanding pad

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to sanding pads, and more particularly, to V-shaped sanding pads for sanding corner areas of sheetrock, drywall and the like.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention entails a sanding pad adapted to the connected to a carrier for sanding a drywall corner of a building. The sanding pad includes a V-shaped sanding face having a leading edge and a pair of sanding surfaces. Extending along each side of the sanding pad is a side edge. Opposite the pair of sanding surfaces is a pair of back surfaces that form an interior corner. A reinforcing corner member substantially narrower than the V-shaped sanding surfaces is secured to the interior corner and to adjacent portions of the pair of back surfaces. The reinforcing corner member includes a pair of terminal edges that terminate inwardly of the side edges so as to leave a portion of the pair of back surfaces uncovered by the reinforcing corner member. Extending along each side of the reinforcing corner member is an array of hook or loop fasteners. The hook or loop fasteners are secured to the uncovered back surfaces such that the hook or loop fasteners disposed on each side of the corner support member are adapted to secure the sanding pad to the carrier.  
       [0003] In one particular embodiment, the reinforcing corner member comprises an elongated plastic V-shaped piece that is secured to the interior corner of the sanding pad. Secured on both sides of the reinforcing corner member is a strip of hook or loop fasteners. Thus, the corner reinforcing member in this embodiment lies between the hook or loop fasteners. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0004]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the sanding pad of the present invention and a carrier adapted to be connected to the sanding pad.  
     [0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the sanding pad.  
     [0006]FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the sanding pad.  
     [0007]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sanding pad. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0008] With further reference to the drawings, the sanding pad of the present invention is shown therein and indicated generally by the numeral  12 . As seen in FIG. 1, sanding pad  12  is adapted to be secured or connected to a carrier indicated generally by the numeral  10 . Details of the carrier  10  are not dealt with herein because such is not, per se, material to the present invention. However, for a complete and unified understanding of a typical carrier, one is referred to the disclosure found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,708, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. In any event, the carrier  10  includes a base  20 . Secured to the base  20  is a V-shaped receiver  22 . V-shaped receiver  22  includes a pair of front faces that, in the case of the embodiment illustrated herein, includes hook or loop fasteners  24 . Secured to the base  20  is a pivot pin  26 . Connected to the pivot pin  26  is a pole  28  that extends therefrom and which can be received and manipulated by a worker in the course of sanding a building corner.  
     [0009] Turning to the sanding pad  12 , the same can be constructed of various materials such as foam, rubber, or the like. Sanding pad  12 , as disclosed herein, assumes a generally V-shape and includes a pair of front sanding surfaces  30 ,  32 . Basically, the sanding surfaces  30 ,  32  include an abrasive texture that can be provided in various degrees of coursenesses. That is, the sanding surfaces  30 ,  32  could be course, medium course, fine course, etc. Defined between the sanding surfaces  30 ,  32  is a leading edge  34 . Disposed opposite the sanding surfaces  30 ,  32  is a pair of back surfaces  40 ,  42 . Back surfaces  40 ,  42  define an interior corner  44 . Extending along opposite sides of the V-shaped sanding pad  12  is a pair of side edges  36 ,  38 .  
     [0010] The sanding pad  12  of the present invention is reinforced along the central area thereof. That is, there is provided a reinforcing corner member, indicated generally by the numeral  46 , that is secured to the sanding pad. The reinforcing corner member  46  is of a V-shaped or L-shaped configuration and is secured directly by glue, adhesive, or other suitable means, to the interior corner  44 . In the design disclosed herein, the reinforcing corner member  46  is substantially more narrow than the V-shaped sanding pad  12 . In particular, the reinforcing corner member  46  includes a pair of sides  48 ,  50  with the sides being joined together to form the V-shaped or L-shaped configuration. Note that the sides  48 ,  50  that form the reinforcing corner member  46  do not extend outwardly across the entire back surfaces  40 ,  42 . The sides  48 ,  50  include an outer terminal edge  52  that is spaced inwardly from the side edges  36 ,  38  of the sanding pad  12 . Thus, while the reinforcing corner member  46  is secured to the interior corner  44 , it is noted that the reinforcing corner member  46 , when so secured, leaves portions of the back surfaces  40 ,  42  uncovered. While various materials may be used for the reinforcing corner member  46 , in the case of the present disclosure, in a preferred embodiment, the reinforcing corner member  46  is constructed of plastic.  
     [0011] Finally, the V-shaped sanding pad  12  includes a fastening structure secured to portions of the uncovered portions of the back surfaces  40 ,  42 . In the case of the embodiment illustrated herein, the fasteners provided to the sanding pad  12  are hook or loop fasteners  54 . Note that the hook or loop fasteners  54  are secured to the uncovered portions of the back surfaces  40 ,  42 . These hook or loop fasteners  54  are adapted to mate with the hook or loop fasteners  24  formed on the carrier  10 .  
     [0012] The V-shaped sanding pad  12  can be secured to the carrier  10  by simply directing the hook or loop fasteners  54  of the sanding pad  12  into engagement with the hook or loop fasteners  24  of the carrier. Thereafter, the sanding pad  12  can be utilized by a sheet rock finisher to sand sheet rock or gypsum corners of a building. It is contemplated that the sanding pad  12  would be manufactured and produced as a disposable unit. That means, once a sanding pad  12  has been sufficiently used, then the same would simply be discarded and a new sanding pad  12  secured to the carrier  10 . Of course, it is appreciated that the sanding surfaces  30 ,  32  themselves could simply be replaced on the sanding pad  12 .  
     [0013] In use, the sanding pad  12  is connected to the carrier  10  and the carrier  10  is positioned adjacent a sheet rock corner such that the V-shaped sanding surfaces  30 ,  32  are pushed flush into the sheet rock corner. The carrier  10 , via the pole  28 , is pushed up and pulled down so as to sand the sheet rock corner. The presence of the reinforcing corner member  46  tends to prevent the leading edge  34  and the sanding area adjacent the leading edge from wrinkling. More particularly, the reinforcing corner member  46  causes the leading edge  34  and the sanding areas therearound to be maintained or held in a firm and smooth sanding configuration. This results in the corner of the sheet rock, especially in the areas closely adjacent the juncture of the two walls that form the corner, being sanded in a smooth fashion. That is, the sanding pad  12  tends to provide a smooth surface adjacent the juncture area of the corner and does not tend to gap or cut the sheet rock in this area.  
     [0014] The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.