MXPA00004469A - Surface treatment article having a quick release fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

A surface treating article including a quick release fastener. The fastener includes a first end opposite the article, a second end adjacent the article, a tapered portion increasing in cross-sectional area in the direction from the first end to the second end, a groove located between the tapered portion and the second end, and a mating portion having a non-circular cross section. Preferably, the mating portion has a hexagonal cross section. Also disclosed is a backup pad for use with the surface treating article. The backup pad includes an opening having a cross-sectional area that corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the mating portion of the fastener. The backup pad also includes an o-ring in the opening to engage the groove in the fastener.

Description

ARTICLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SURFACES THAT HAS A FAST RELEASE CLIP TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is generally concerned with abrasive articles and more particularly with arrangements for mounting abrasive articles on a support block.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION U.S. Patent No. 3,562,968 issued to Johnson et al. Describes a tool for surface treatment that provides easy installation of the article for surface treatment. The surface treatment article has attached to it a drive button that engages a complementary cylindrical opening in a drive assembly comprising a bearing pad or block that is driven by drive means. Adhesively bonded drive button provides quick and easy attachment and separation of surface treatment elements without special mounting tools. A similar fastening system incorporated in several modalities of integrally molded brushes is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,679,067, "Molded Abrasive Brush", (Johnson et al); and IPO International Patent Application No. WO 96/33638, "Abrasive Brush and REF .: 119788 Filaments," (Johnson et al). Surface conditioning discs having a male threaded button bonded to the back side of the disc by an adhesive are commercially available as Roloc ™ surface conditioning discs from the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. Coated abrasive discs including a threaded male button attached to the back are also available. These discs for surface conditioning have on their front side a three-dimensional conformable non-woven open web or ribbon material formed of synthetic fibers and abrasive particles. This tape or fabric is linked by needle to an open weave gauze support. U.S. Patent No. 3,688,453 issued to Legacy et al discloses abrasive articles comprising a ribbon or fluffy nonwoven fabric glued by needle to a woven backing and impregnated with resin and abrasive. Although the commercial success of the Roloc ™ abrasive bonding system has been impressive, it is desirable to further improve the bonding system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention provides an article for the treatment of surfaces, the article for the treatment of surfaces comprises a surface treatment element with a fastener on the rear surface thereof. The surface treatment element includes a generally flat support including a work surface and a back surface, in which the work surface has desirable characteristics for refining a surface. The fastener includes: (i) a first end opposite the support; (ii) a second end adjacent to the support; (iii) a tapered portion that increases in cross-sectional area in the direction from the first end to the second end; (iv) a groove located between the tapered portion and the second end and a coupling portion having a non-circular cross-section. The coupling portion of the fastener may have a cross section that is a polygon, a regular polygon, a hexagonal cross section or any other non-circular cross section. The surface treatment element may be a molded brush that includes a plurality of bristles extending from the support. In this case, the fastener can be molded integrally with the molded brush. The surface treatment element may be a coated abrasive article having the fastener attached thereto. The element for surface treatment can be a conditioning article of non-woven surfaces having the fastener attached thereto. Another aspect of the present invention provides a quick release system for releasably attaching an article for surface treatment to a support pad or block. The system includes an article for the treatment of surfaces with a fastener as described above and a block or support pad. The support pad or block includes a body with a front surface and a back surface, a mounting opening provided on the front surface. The opening is formed by an internal surface generally perpendicular to the body and defining a non-circular cross section corresponding to the cross section of the coupling portion. The opening includes elastic means mounted thereon for releasably engaging the slit with the fastener. The present invention also provides a fastener for use with a rotary surface treatment element. The fastener comprises a base and a fastener element. The base includes a front surface and a back surface and a fastener element extending from the back surface. The fastener element includes a first end opposite the base support, a second end adjacent to the base, a tapered portion that increases in cross-sectional area in the direction from the first end to the second end, a groove located between the tapered portion and the second end and a coupling portion having a non-circular cross section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be further explained with reference to the attached figures, in which like structures are named by similar numbers in all the various views and where: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of an article for the treatment of surfaces that includes a fastener. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the article of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation view of a support or backrest pad or block for use with the surface treatment article of the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support pad of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the article for surface treatment of Figure 1 mounted on the support block or pad of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an article for surface treatment and Figure 7 is a side view of yet another alternative embodiment of an article for surface treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with articles for the treatment of surfaces that includes a quick release fastener on the rear surface thereof. The fastener can be integral and unitary with the items for surface treatment, such as when the article is a molded brush and the fastener is molded therewith. Alternatively, the fastener can be a separate element that is attached to the surface treatment element. Such embodiments include coated abrasive discs and non-woven surface conditioning discs having the fastener mounted on the posterior surface thereof. The molded brushes may also have the fastener formed separately and then attached thereto. With reference to figures 1 and 2, the article 10 for the treatment of surfaces in this embodiment is a molded brush. The brush 10 comprises a support 30 having a front surface 32 and a rear surface 34. A plurality of bristles 36 project outward from the front surface 32 of the support 30. Between the bristles 36 there are spaces in which the front surface 32 of the support is exposed. In one embodiment, the brush is preferably integrally molded and comprises a moldable polymer substantially free of abrasive particles. In another embodiment, the brush is preferably integrally molded and comprises a generally homogeneous composition of abrasive particles in a moldable polymer. In another embodiment, the abrasive particles can be expressed homogeneously within the bristles 36 but not in the support 30. The article 10 for surface treatment comprises the fastener 11 integral with the support 30. The fastener provides means for securing the article 10. for the treatment of surfaces to a rotary tool and / or support pads or backing block during use. It is preferred that the fastener 11 be integrally molded with the support and the bristles. It is preferred that the fastener 11 be centered in relation to the support for proper rotation. The fastener is suitable for attaching the article for surface treatment to a high speed rotary tool, such as a right angle grinder, for example. Such an arrangement allows the surface treatment article to be rotated at high speeds about an axis of rotation centered on the joining means and generally perpendicular to the support (for flat bases). In such an embodiment, each of the bristles is translated in a circular path around the axis of rotation insofar as it is oriented generally parallel to the axis of rotation. Preferably, the brush and fastener are configured to be capable of being rotated to at least 100 RPM, depending on size and configuration, preferably at least 5,000 RPM and some smaller brushes are capable of being rotated at a speed of up to 30,000 RPM. The fastener 11 can be made from the same material as the. rest of the brush 10 and may contain the optional abrasive particles. Alternatively, the fastener 11 can be made from a separate injection of moldable polymer without abrasive particles. The fastener 11 includes a first end 12 that has been configured to fit a corresponding opening in the support block or drive shaft as described hereinafter. The fastener 11 also includes a second end 14 adjacent the support of the article for surface treatment. The first adjacent end 12 is a tapered portion 16 to facilitate coupling of the fastener 11 to the opening of the support block and to facilitate coupling with the O-ring described hereinafter. Adjacent to and behind the taper 16 is a flat portion 18 defining the lower end of the slit 20. To the rear of the slit 20 there is a taper 22 which effects transitions to flat walls 24 and corners 26. Wall 24 and corners 26 are configured to fit closely with the walls and corners of the opening in a backing block. Thus, the walls 24 define a coupling portion with a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the opening in the backing block. The slit 20 is configured for an insertion coupling with the O-ring 80 in the backing block 50. Backward of the flat walls 24 is the rear surface 34 of the backing or backing 30 on the molded brush. Figure 3 illustrates a side view of a backing block 50 for use with the surface treatment articles described herein. The support block 50 includes the front surface 54 for supporting the surface treatment article and the rear surface 56 taut to the protrusion 58.

The protrusion 58 includes a first end 60 having a recess 61 therein. Mounted in the recess 61 is a mounting nut 90 having a threaded internal diameter 92 for engagement with the drive shaft on a rotary tool. The support block could instead include a quick change array for binding to a power tool. As shown in Figure 4, the backing block 50 includes an opening 64 in the front surface 54 for receiving the fastener 11 on the surface treatment article. In the preferred illustrated embodiment, the opening 64 includes flat walls 66 which are joined at the corners 68. In the preferred embodiment, the walls define an opening 64 of hexagonal cross-section. The opening also includes a slit 70 in which an O-ring 80 is retained. Depending on the material of the backing block, the slit 70 can be molded to the opening 64 or machined to the opening 64. Figure 5 illustrates the clip 11 on the surface treatment article 10 mounted on the support block 50. The fastener 11 and the opening 64 in the support block 50 are configured for close coupling to each other to minimize relative rotation between the backing block and the surface treatment article. The support block is preferably somewhat smaller in diameter than the surface treatment article. However, the support block can be significantly smaller than the surface treatment article or it can be larger than the surface treatment article. The material and size of the fastener 11 and the support block 50 in the opening 64 are selected to withstand the torque imparted during use of the backup block 10 with a power tool. Preferred materials for the fastener 11 include those preferred materials for the molded brush 10 described hereinafter and those materials described hereinafter for the fastener 11 discussed with respect to Figures 6 and 7. Preferred materials for the block 50 backup include metal,. nylon, hard rubber and combinations. The slit 20 in the fastener 11 engages the O-ring 80 to prevent inadvertent release of the surface treatment article 10 from the support block 50, while allowing the surface treatment article to be easily removed from the block. backrest without tools simply by pulling the article 10 of the backing block 50 with sufficient force to overcome the insertion fit between the O-ring 80 and the slit 20. It is seen that the distance between the back surface 34 of the backing 30 and the slit 20 on the fastener 11 can be chosen in such a way that the front surface 54 of the support block 50 engages with the rear surface 34 of the shoulder of the support 30 when the slit 20 is coupled with the O-ring 80. It is also seen that the taper 16 on the fastener 11 facilitates the engagement of the fastener with the O-ring and expands the O-ring as the fastener 11 is inserted to the opening 64 in the support block 50. Then the elastic and resilient O-ring 80 is inserted again to a small diameter and engages with the slit 20 in the fastener 11. The O-ring 80 can instead be of any type of elastic element releasably engaging with the slit 20 in the fastener 11. Suitable elastic elements include split rings, C-rings and the like. These can be made of any suitable material such as metal, rubber, vinyl or selected combinations to allow the elastic member to expand elastically without significant permanent deformation and then contract to the slit in the fastener. The dimensions of the walls 24 on the fastener 11 in relation to the opening 64 in the support block 50 must be selected to minimize the relative rotation between the surface treatment article and the support block during use, inasmuch as they allow easy assembly and disassembly of the surface treatment article of the support block. Arrangements can be chosen for the cross-sectional shape of the fastener coupling portion 11 and the opening 64 different from the hexagonal ones. Preferred arrangements include any forms of polygonal cross section. For example, 3, 4 or 7 or more walls may be on the mounting portion of the fastener 11 'and in the opening 64 in the support block 50. Preferably, a regular polygon is used, that is, all walls are of the same size, to reduce the need to grade the surface treatment article in some particular angular orientation relative to the backing block. However, a non-regular or non-symmetric arrangement can be used if desired. In addition, any non-polygonal array can be used for the cross-sectional shape of the fastener engaging portion 11 and the axis and opening 64 in the backup block, except circular, to provide an array in which the treatment article surfaces do not rotate in relation to the backup block. Accordingly, what is required is that the opening 64 and the corresponding portion of the fastener 11 are non-cylindrical, thus providing an adjustment to prevent relative rotation between the surface treatment article and the backing block. Optionally, the engaging portion can be tapered such that it is larger at the second end 14 adjacent to the surface treatment article and smaller at the end to the slot 20. The opening 64 in the backing block could be tapered to be larger in the first surface 54 of the backup block. With such an arrangement, the fastener 11 would be forced deeper into the aperture 64 during use, such that the taper causes the engaging portion to fit more closely into the slot and provide a self-centering of the fastener 11 relative to the aperture. the support block. Alternative arrangements are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, although the O-ring 80 is illustrated as being inside the groove 70 in the opening 64 in the backup block 50, the O-ring 80 can instead remain in the groove 20 on the fastener 11. In addition, the components of the mounting system can be reversed. That is, a fastener 11 can be included in the support block of the power tool for coupling with a coupling opening in the surface treatment article. Referring again to the molded brush embodiment of the surface treatment article 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment the support 30 is generally flatter. However, it is within the scope of the invention to have a contoured or curved support. For example, the support can be of a convex, concave or conical shape. In such an arrangement, the bristles may be of uniform length in which case the tips of the bristles will not be coplanar or the bristles may be of variable length in which case the tips may be coplanar. The support may be flexible or rigid and may include a reinforcing element to increase its rigidity. The support may preferably have a thickness of about 1.0 to 15.0 mm, more preferably, of about 1.5 to 10 mm, still more preferably, of about 2.0 to 6 mm and more preferably of about 2.5 to 4.0 mm. The support 30 is preferably circular as illustrated in Figure 2. The diameter of the support is preferably approximately 2.5 to 20.0 cm (1.0 to 8.0 inches), although larger and smaller supports may be used. Shapes of the support other than the circular may be used, which include, but are not limited to, oval, rectangular, square, triangular, diamond and other polygonal shapes. Preferably, the support is integrally molded with the bristles to provide a unitary brush. Thus, no adhesive or mechanical means is required to adhere the bristles to the support. It is preferred that the support and the bristles are molded simultaneously. In some instances, there may be a single mixture of abrasive particles and moldable polymer that is placed in the mold in a simple injection process. In such an embodiment, the brush 10 comprises a generally homogeneous composition from start to finish. However, due to the molding process, the mixture of abrasive particles / binder may not be perfectly homogeneous. Alternatively, there may be two or more inserts of a polymer moldable to the mold. For example, an insert could contain a mixture of moldable polymer and optional abrasive particles located mainly in the bristles. A second insert, which would be present mainly in the brush holder 30, may contain moldable polymer without abrasive particles or with less abrasive particles. The bristles 36 extend from the front surface 32 of the support 30. The bristles can have any cross-sectional area in which they are included, but not limited to, circular, star, crescent, quarter moon, oval, rectangular, square, triangular, diamond or polygonal. In a preferred embodiment, the bristles comprise a constant circular cross section along the length of the bristles. In other preferred embodiments, the bristles have a non-constant or variable cross-section along all or a portion of the length of the bristles. It is preferred to have tapered bristles such that the cross-sectional area of the bristle decreases in the direction away from the support 30. The tapered bristles can have any cross-section as described above and preferably have a circular cross-section. The tapered bristles tend to be easier to remove from the mold during the manufacture of the cells than the bristles of constant cross-sectional area. In addition, the bristles are subjected to bending stresses as the brush 10 is rotated against a workpiece. These bending stresses are higher in the root of the sows. Accordingly, a tapered bristle as illustrated in FIG. 15 is more apt to reduce the bending stresses than a cylindrical bristle. In addition, the bristles preferably include a fillet radius at the transition between the root of the bristle and the front surface 32 of the support. The bristles 36 comprise a proportion or aspect ratio defined as the length of the bristle measured from root to tip, divided by the width of the bristle. In the case of a tapered bristle, the width is defined as the average width along the length for the purpose of determining the ratio or aspect ratio. In the case of a non-circular cross section, the width is taken as the longest width in a given plane, such as the diagonal from corner to corner of a square cross section. The aspect ratio of the bristles 36 is preferably at least 1, more preferably from about 4 to 18 and still more preferably from about 6 to 16. The size of the bristles can be selected for the particular application of the brush. 10. The length of the bristles is preferably from about 5 to 80 mm, more preferably from about 5 to 50 mm, still more preferably from about 5 to 25 mm and more preferably from about 10 to 20 mm. The width of the bristles is preferably from about 0.25 to 10 mm, more preferably from about 0.5 to 5.0 mm, still more preferably from about 0.75 to 3.0 mm and more preferably from about 1.0 to 2.0 mm. In a preferred embodiment, all the bristles have the same dimensions. Alternatively, the bristles in a single brush may have different dimensions such as lengths, widths or different cross-sectional areas. The lengths of the bristles and the contour of the support are preferably chosen in such a way that the tips are generally coplanar, although other arrangements are also within the scope of the present invention. The density and arrangement of the bristles 18 can be chosen for the particular application of the brush 10. The bristles 18 can be arranged on the base 12 in a random or disordered or ordered configuration. Preferably, the bristles are perpendicular to the flat support 30. This makes it easier to separate the molded brush 10 from the mold. However, it is also within the scope of the present invention that the bristles are oblique to the support. The moldable polymeric material is preferably an organic binder material that is capable of being molded, that is, it is able to deform under heat to form a desired shape or shape. The moldable polymer can be a thermoplastic polymer, a thermosetting polymer or a thermoplastic elastomer. In the case of a thermoplastic polymer, the organic binder is heated above its melting point which causes the polymer to flow. This results in the thermoplastic polymer flowing into the mold cavities to form the brush 10. The brush is then cooled to solidify the thermoplastic binder. Examples of suitable thermoplastic polymers include polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyester, polyethylene, polysulfone, polystyrene, polybutylene, block copolymer of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polypropylene, acetal polymers, polyurethanes, polyamides and combinations thereof. In general, preferred thermoplastic polymers of the invention are those having a high melting temperature and good thermal resistance properties. The thermoplastic polymers can preferably be used for low speed applications of the brush 10, in which the stress during the operation is relatively low. Examples of commercially available thermoplastic polymers suitable for use with the present invention include 6.9 CR9 Grilon ™ nylon copolymer available from EMS-American Grilon, Inc., Sumter South Carolina; Profax ™ and KS057 polypropylene thermoplastic available from Himont USA, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware; and Duraflex ™ polybutylene-based thermoplastic available from Shell Chemical Co., Houston, Texas. In some instances, such as high-speed, high-stress applications, it is preferred that the moldable polymer be a thermoplastic elastomer ("TPE") or include a thermoplastic elastomer. Commercially available thermoplastic elastomers include segmented polyester thermoplastic elastomers, segmented polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers, segmented polyamide thermoplastic elastomers, combinations of thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastic polymers and ionomer thermoplastic elastomers. The segmented thermoplastic elastomers useful in the present invention include polyester TPE, polyurethane TPE and polyamide TPE and silicone / polyimide elastomer block copolymer TPE, with polyfunctional monomers of high and low equivalent weight appropriately selected to produce the respective TPE . "Thermoplastic polymer" or "TP" as used herein, has a more limiting definition than the general definition, which is "a material that softens and flows in the application of pressure and heat". Of course it will be noted that the TPEs meet the general definition of TP, since the TPE will also flow in the application of pressure and heat. Thus, it is necessary to be more specific in the definition of "thermoplastic" for the purposes of this invention. "Thermoplastic" as used herein means a material that flows in the application of pressure and heat but does not possess the elastic properties of an elastomer when it is at a temperature lower than its melting temperature. The combination of TPE and TP materials are also within the invention, allowing even greater flexibility in adjusting the mechanical properties of the filaments of the invention. the commercially available and preferred segmented polyesters include those known under the trade designations "Hytrel ™ 4056", "Hytrel ™ 5526", "HytrelT ™ M 5c5c5 c r6z n", 6356", Hytr ~ .el? T1M" 7246"and" Hytrel ™ 8238"available from El Du Pont of Nemours and Company, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, most preferred include Hytrel ™ 5526, Hytrel ™ 5556 and Hytrel ™ 6356. A similar family of thermoplastic polyesters is available under the trade name" Still other TPEs of additional useful polyesters are those known under the trade designations "Ecdel", from Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., Kingsport, Tennessee; "Lomad", from General Electric Company, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.; "Arnitel" by DSM Engineered Plastics; and "Bexloy" by Du Pont. Additional useful polyester TPE include those available as "Lubricomp" from LNP Engineering Plastics, Exton, Pennsylvania and is available commercially incorporating lubricant, fiberglass reinforcement and carbon fiber reinforcement. Preferred commercially available segmented polyamides include those known under the trade designation "Pebax" and "Rilsan," both available from Atochem Inc., Glen Rock, New Jersey. The commercially available and preferred segmented polyurethanes include those known under the trade designation "Tin" available from B.F. Goodrich, Cleveland, Ohio. Other preferred segmented polyurethanes include those known under the trade designations "Pellethane" and "Isoplast" from The Dow Corning Company, Midland, Michigan and those known under the trade designation "Morthane" from Morton Chemical Division, Morton Thiokol, Inc .; and those known under the trade designation "Elastollan" from BASF Corporation, Wyandotte, Michigan. Thermoplastic elastomers are further described in U.S. Patent No. 5,443,906 (Phil et al). In modalities that include optional abrasive particles, the abrasive particles normally have a particle size ranging from about 0.1 to 1500 microns, usually from about 1 to 1000 microns, and preferably between 50 and 500 microns. The optional abrasive particles can be organic or inorganic. Examples of abrasive particles include molten aluminum oxide, ceramic aluminum oxide, thermally treated aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, titanium diboride, alumina zirconia, diamond, boron carbide, ceria, aluminum silicates, cubic boron nitride, garnet and silica. Still other examples of abrasive particles include solid glass spheres, hollow glass spheres, calcium carbonate, polymer bubbles, silicates, aluminum trihydrate and mullite. As used herein, the term "abrasive particles" also encompasses individual abrasive particles that are individually bonded to form an abrasive agglomerate. Abrasive agglomerates are further described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,311,489; 4,652,275 and 4,799,939 in U.S. Patent No. 5,443,906 (Phil et al). The abrasive particles may also contain a surface coating. It is known that surface coatings improve the adhesion between the abrasive particle and the binder in the abrasive article. The organic abrasive particles suitable for use with the brush of the present invention are preferably formed from a thermoplastic polymer and / or a thermosetting polymer. The organic particles can also be manufactured from natural organic materials such as walnut shells, wheat starch and the like. The organic abrasive particles useful in the present invention may be individual particles or agglomerates of individual particles. The agglomerates may comprise a plurality of the organic abrasive particles bonded together by a binder to form a formed dough. When organic abrasive particles are used in the molded brush of the present invention, the particles are preferably present in the moldable polymer at one weight percent (by total weight of moldable polymer and organic abrasive particles) ranging from about 0.1 to about 80% by weight, more preferably from about 3 to about 60% by weight. The percentage by weight depends in part on the particular abrasion or brush applications. The organic abrasive articles can be formed from a thermoplastic material such as polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, polyethylene, polysulfone, polystyrene, block copolymer of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polypropylene, acetal polymers , polyurethanes, polyamide and combinations thereof. In general, the preferred thermoplastic polymers of the invention are those having a high melting temperature, for example, greater than 200 ° C, more preferably 300 ° C and good thermal resistance properties. The organic abrasive particles should have a higher melting or softening point than the thermoplastic matrix, so that the organic particles are not substantially affected by the filament manufacturing process. The organic particles must be able to maintain a general state of particles during the segmentation process of the filament or brush and therefore must be selected so as not to melt or soften substantially during the manufacturing process of the filament. A preferred organic abrasive particle is a bursting medium of metal cleaning plastic and mold commercially available as "MC" blasting media from Maxi Blast Inc., South Bend, Indiana, available with an antistatic coating, but preferably without treatment. The "MC" media consist of 99% melamine formaldehyde cellulose, a thermosetting amine plastic. The average Knoop hardness ("KNH") of the organic abrasive particle is generally less than about 80 KNH and preferably less than about 65 KNH. It is also within the scope of this invention to incorporate abrasive particles based on inorganic components together with the organic abrasive particles. When present, the optional abrasive particles are preferably from about 5 to 60% by weight of the mixture of particles and polymer and more preferably about 30 to 40%, although more or less can be used as desired. The moldable polymeric material may further include optional additives, such as for example fillers (in which grinding aids are included), fibers, antistatic agents, antioxidants, processing aids, UV stabilizers, flame retardants, lubricants, wetting agents, surfactants, pigments, dyes, coupling agents, plasticizers and suspending agents. The amounts of these materials are selected to provide the desired properties. For some refining applications, it is preferred that the molded polymer include a lubricant. The presence of a lubricant in the moldable polymer reduces the friction of the bristle which comes into contact with the surface of the workpiece. This reduces the heat generated when the workpiece is refined. Excessive heat can cause the brush to leave residue on the workpiece or otherwise damage the workpiece. Suitable lubricants include lithium stearate, zinc stearate, calcium stearate, aluminum stearate, ethylene bis stearamide, graphite, molybdenum disulfide, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and silicone compounds, for example, useful with thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers. An example of a preferred silicone material is a high molecular weight polysiloxane described in WIPO International Patent Publication No. WO 96/33841; Entitled "Abrasive Article Having a Bond System Comprising a Polysiloxane" (Barber).

The polysiloxanes are available in many different forms, for example, as the compound itself or as a concentrate. Examples of the polymers to which the polysiloxane can be combined include polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyamides, polyacetal, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polyester elastomer, all of which are commercially available. Hytrel ™ modified by silicone is commercially available as BY27-010 (or MB50-010), and nylon 6,6 modified by silicone is available as BY27-005 (or MB50-005) both from Dow Corning Company, Midland, Michigan. Typically, commercially available concentrates may contain a polysiloxane at a weight percent ranging from 40 to 50; however, any weight percent is acceptable for purposes of the invention, so long as the desired weight percent in the final product can be obtained. The lubricants can preferably be present in the moldable polymer in amounts of up to about 20% by weight (exclusive of the content of abrasive particles) and preferably in an amount of about 1 to 10%, although more or less can be used as want. The moldable polymeric material can include any or all of the following as is well known in the art: coupling agents; fillers or reinforcers and grinding aids. The brush 10 and fastener 11 of the present invention are preferably injection molded as is well known in the art. The mold will contain cavities that are the inverse of the desired brush and fastener configuration. Thus, the design of the mold must take into account the brush configuration including the size and configuration of the support 30, the bristles 36 and the fastener 11. Further details regarding molded articles and preferred processing methods are described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,067, "Molded Abrasive Brush," (Johnson et al); and WIPO International Patent Application No. WO 96/33638, "Abrasive Brush and Filaments," (Johnson et al). It is also possible for the surface treatment article of the present invention to be a coated abrasive disk, a non-woven abrasive surface conditioning disk, a polishing block, a brush or similar surface treatment elements. The fastener 11 can be attached to such a surface treatment article by any appropriate means, such as by adhesive. One such embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6 as the surface treatment article 110 comprising the fastener 1-1 mounted on the coated abrasive disc 130. Another embodiment is shown in Figure 7 as the surface treatment article 210 comprising the fastener 11 mounted on the non-woven surface conditioning disc 330. The surface treatment elements 130, 230 have a front working surface 132, 232 and a rear surface 134, 234. The fastener 11 is centrally joined to the rear surface of the article. Such a separate fastener 11 can also be attached to the molded brushes described herein, instead of being integrally molded with the brush. In any of the embodiments in which the fastener 11 is a separate element, a preferred embodiment of the fastener 11 is as follows. As seen in figures 6 and 7, the fastener 11 includes a base 27 in general flat. The base 27 includes a front surface 28 which is attached to the coated abrasive disc 130 or surface conditioning disc 230. The front surface 28 of the base of the fastener is preferably smooth and flat to provide a sufficient surface area to obtain the desired strength of attachment to the surface treatment article. It is also preferred that the base 27 of the fastener 11 be circular, although other shapes may be used. In a preferred embodiment, the base 27 of the fastener 11 has a diameter of about 3 cm (1.2 inches) although larger and smaller fasteners are within the scope of the invention, opposite the front surface 28 of the base 27 is the rear surface 29. As illustrated, the rear surface 29 tapers toward the outer edge of the base 27 of the fastener. Extending from the center of the rear surface 29 is the male element of the fastening system as described above with respect to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-2. The fastener 11 can comprise any polymeric material having the appropriate characteristics of melting, flow and adhesion to join the surface treatment article. Commonly, the useful polymeric materials will be thermoplastic in nature. Additionally, thermosetting polymeric materials can be employed if they are only lightly crosslinked or have a stable intermediate state or "stage B" and therefore can be caused to flow under heat and pressure. Examples of such thermoplastic polymeric materials include polyamides, polyester, copolyamides, copolyesters, polyimides, polysulfone and polyolefins.An example of a suitable thermosetting polymeric material is a novolak molding powder.Of these, thermoplastics are preferred and thermoplastics, polyamides are preferred, poly (hexamethylene adipamide) (nylon 6,6) is most preferred.The polymeric material may optionally include colorants, fillers, process aids and reinforcing agents.Examples of dyes include pigments and dyes Examples of fillers include bubbles or glass spheres, particulate calcium carbonate, mica and the like Processing aids can be materials such as lithium stearate, zinc stearate and fluoropolymer materials that are known to improve the flow characteristics of polymeric materials The reinforcing agents may include fiberglass, carbon fiber and metal fiber, all at levels up to about 50% by weight. If a reinforcing agent is used, the preferred filler or reinforcing content is 30 to 45% by weight of glass fiber. The fastener 11 can be manufactured by any process known to those skilled in the art. These include but are not limited to injection molding, reaction injection molding and conventional machining. The preferred one is injection molding. A preferred embodiment of a surface treatment article with a separate fastener 11 mounted thereon is the surface treatment article 110 illustrated in Figure 6. The surface treatment element is a coated abrasive disk 130 having a front surface or work 132 and a rear surface 134. The fastener 11 is mounted on the center of the back surface 134 as by an adhesive. Suitable examples of coated abrasive discs 130 include any known abrasive article, such as conventional coated abrasive articles including those available under the trade names Regal ™, Regalloy ™, Regalite ™, Green Corps ™, and Trizact ™ all available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. Another preferred embodiment of a surface treatment article 210 of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 7. The surface treatment article 210 includes the surface conditioning disk 230 having the fastener 11 attached thereto. The fastener 11 is attached to the rear surface 234 of the surface conditioning disc 230. A preferred surface treatment article is an abrasive, non-woven surface conditioning disk 230, such as is commercially available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota., under the commercial designation "SCOTCH-BRITE" surface conditioning discs A-CRS; surface conditioning disc A-Med or surface conditioning disc A-VFN. The front or working surface 232 of such discs preferably comprises a spongy nonwoven web of standard nylon 6,6 fiber which has been sewn by needle through a reinforcing woven nylon gauze support. Preferably, about 40% of the standard fibers of the tape protrude through interstices formed by the warp yarns and weft yarns of the woven gauze to join the non-woven tape and the woven gauze together. The remaining fibers remain on the side of the front surface of the surface conditioning disc 230. In addition, there are coatings of hard resins, thermosetting and abrasive particles on the spongy nonwoven tape. A preferred surface conditioning article is described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 3,688,453, "Abrasive Articles," Legacy et al. It is preferable that the woven gauze comprises at least 5 warp yarns per inch and 5 weft yarns per inch and more preferably about 16 warp yarns and weft yarns per inch. Preferred yarns are at least 100 denier and more preferably about 840 denier. A yarn may consist of one or more fibers that act or are treated as a unit. A thread can be a continuous filament or "spun" (aligned and braided) fiber to a unified beam. A thread can be multifilaments (more than one continuous filament) or monofilament. The open area between the warp and weft fibers is preferably at least 5% of the total stencil area and more preferably about 30%. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the surface treatment article 210 illustrated in Figure 7, the fastener 11 preferably has a base 27 of 3 cm in diameter and is injection molded of nylon 6,6 having up to 45% by weight of reinforcing glass fibers. The gauze preferably includes 16 warp yarns per inch and 16 weft yarns per inch. The yarns are preferably 840 denier multifilament nylon yarns. Woven gauze preferably includes a PVC coating to hold the fabric. The non-woven tape comprises standard nylon 6,6 fibers needle-bonded to the woven screen in such a way that about 40% of the fibers extend through the interstices of the woven gauze. In addition, there are thermosetting hard resin coatings and abrasive particles applied to the side 31 of the front surface of the fluffy nonwoven tape. Resins such as polyurethane can be exposed to the back surface 234 of the surface conditioning article. After the article is cured, it is converted to individual surface conditioning discs. The present invention has now been described with reference to various embodiments thereof. The above detailed description has been provided for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitation of them will be understood. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the fastener described herein can be used on any type of rotary tool such as preparation bits. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the exact details and structures described herein, but rather by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures. It is noted that, in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. An article for the treatment of surfaces, characterized in that it comprises: (a) an element for the treatment of surfaces that includes a support in general flat , the support includes a work surface and a back surface, the work surface has desired characteristics for refining a surface and (b) a fastener located on the back surface, the fastener includes: (i) a first end opposite the support; (ü) a second end adjacent to the support; (iii) a tapered portion, the tapered portion increases in cross-sectional area in the direction from the first end to the second end; (iv) a groove located between the tapered portion and the second end and (v) a coupling portion having a non-circular cross-section.
2. 2. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling portion has a polygonal cross section.
3. 3. The article for surface treatment according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling portion has a regular polygon cross section.
4. 4. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 3, characterized in that the coupling portion has a hexagonal cross section.
5. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastener has a cross-sectional area in the groove that is smaller than the largest cross-sectional area of the tapered portion.
6. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastener has a circular cross section in the groove.
7. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 6, characterized in that the fastener has a circular cross section in the tapered portion.
8. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling portion is between the slit and the second end of the fastener.
9. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface treatment element comprises a molded brush that includes a plurality of bristles extending from the support.
10. 10. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 9, characterized in that the fastener is molded integrally with the molded brush.
11. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface treatment element comprises a coated abrasive article having the fastener attached thereto.
12. 12. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the element for the treatment of surfaces comprises an article for the conditioning of non-woven surfaces having the fastener attached thereto.
13. The article for the treatment of surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling portion of the fastener is tapered to make it larger at the second end of the fastener.
14. 14. A quick release system for releasably attaching a surface treatment article according to any of the preceding claims 1-13 to a support block or backup block, the system is characterized in that it comprises: (a) an article for surface treatment according to any of claims 1-13 and (b) a support or backrest pad or block including: (i) a body comprising a front surface and a back surface and (ii) a mounting opening provided on the front surface, the opening is formed by an internal surface generally perpendicular to the body and defining a non-circular cross section corresponding to the cross section of the coupling section, the opening includes elastic means mounted thereon to releasably engage the slit with the bra.
15. 15. A fastener for joining a rotating surface treatment element, the fastener is characterized in that it comprises a base including a front surface and a rear surface and a fastener element extending from the rear surface; the fastener element includes a first end opposite the base, a second end adjacent to the base, a tapered portion, the tapered portion is increased in cross-sectional area in the direction from the first end to the second end, a slot located between the tapered portion and the second end and a coupling portion having a non-circular cross section.
16. The fastener according to claim 15, characterized in that the coupling portion has a polygonal cross section.
17. The fastener according to claim 16, characterized in that the coupling portion has a regular polygon cross section.
18. The fastener according to claim 17, characterized in that the coupling portion has a hexagonal cross section.
19. 19. The fastener according to claim 18, characterized in that the fastener element has a cross-sectional area in the groove that is smaller than the larger cross-sectional area of the tapered portion.
20. The fastener according to claim 19, characterized in that the fastener element has a circular cross section in the slit.
21. 21. The fastener according to claim 20, characterized in that the fastener element has a circular cross section in the tapered portion. FAST RELEASE BRAKE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An article for the treatment of surfaces that includes a quick release fastener is described. The fastener includes a first end opposite the article, a second end adjacent to the article, a tapered portion that increases in cross-sectional area in the direction from the first end to the second end, a slot located between the tapered portion and the second end and a coupling portion having a non-circular cross section. Preferably, the coupling portion has a hexagonal cross section. A support or backrest pad or bearing for use with the surface treatment article is also disclosed. The support or back block includes an opening having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the fastener engaging portion. The support or backrest block or pad also includes an O-ring in the opening for engaging the slit in the fastener.