Patent ID: 7462096

Claim:
A surface-treatment wheel comprising: an inner element rotatable about an axis; and a one-piece annularly continuous outer ring centered on the axis, having a radially inwardly directed circular inner periphery fixed rotationally on the inner element, and formed unitarily entirely of rubber or a rubber-like plastic with an annular array of radially outwardly projecting teeth having angularly directed and generally radially extending flank faces defining outwardly open notches, the teeth being substantially identical and each having a predetermined radial tooth height and a predetermined axial tooth thickness, the ring being annularly continuous radially inward of the notches and radially outward of the inner periphery, and respective ridges in the notches radially outside the inner periphery, extending angularly between and unitarily joined to the faces of the respective teeth, and all being substantially identical and having a predetermined radial ridge height shorter than the tooth height and a predetermined axial ridge thickness shorter than the tooth thickness.