GB2114028A

GB2114028A - Improvements in or relating to abrasive hand tools

Info

Publication number: GB2114028A
Application number: GB08203278A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Samuel James; Paul Steabben Hepworth
Original assignee: Plasplugs Ltd
Current assignee: Plasplugs Ltd
Priority date: 1982-02-04
Filing date: 1982-02-04
Publication date: 1983-08-17

Abstract

An abrasive hand tool is described which comprises a body portion (2) adapted to be held in the user's hand, a flexible support member (4) extending therefrom and adapted to receive a replaceable abrasive strip (8), and a strap member (12) capable of linking a free end of said flexible support (4) to said body portion (2), wherein the effective length of said strap member (12) is adjustable to impart various degrees of flexure to the support member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to abrasive hand tools The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to abrasive hand tools, particularly tools having the facility of adjustment to cope with non-planar surfaces.

The invention provides an abrasive hand tool comprising a body portion adapted to be held in the user's hand, a flexible support member extending therefrom and adapted to receive a replacable abrasive strip, and a strap member capable of linking a free end of said flexible support to said body portion, wherein the effective length of said strap member is adjustable to impart various degrees of flexure to the support member.

Advantageously, the tool is moulded in a single piece from stiffly resilient plastics material, an upper end-portion of the body portion being provided with an integrally moulded recess into which may be fitted one of a series of protuberances provided along an end portion of said strap member.

Conveniently, replaceable abrasive strips may be provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing capable of adhesion to the flexible support member. It will be found advantageous to provide a shield member for leading and/or trailing edges of said abrasive strips to prevent inadvertent dislodgement in use.

There will now be described an example of a tool according to the invention. It will be understood that the description which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool; Figure 2 is a side view of the tool, showing the attachment of an abrasive strip; and Figures 3 and 4 show two of the possible degrees of flexure obtainable in the tool.

The tool comprises a body portion 2 forming a handle.

A flexible support member 4 extends from the portion 2 and is provided on a lower face thereof, as viewed in the Figures, with a roughened surface 6 to assist in the adhesion of an adhesive-backed abrasive strip 8 (Figure 2). At the right-hand free, end of the support member 4 is a forward member 10 integrally linking the member 4 with a strap member 12.

The strap member 12 is provided with a plurality, in the present example six, of protuberances 14 in the form of integrally moulded ridges projecting in pairs from opposite sides of the strap member 12 at spaced intervals therealong. At an upper end portion of the body portion 2 is a recess 1 6 including a pair of opposed grooves 1 8 adapted to receive a selected one of the pairs of said ridges 14 in a sliding fit so as to link the strap member 12 therewith.

To prepare the tool for use, a strip of adhesivebacked abrasive material is selected from a range of particle sizes, coarse, medium or fine, a protective coating layer (not shown) is removed from the adhesive backing, and one end of the strip is placed under a shield or flange 20 provided on the handle body portion 2. The strip is then progressively adhered to the surface 6 until as shown in Figure 2, the end of the strip is in a position to be inserted beneath a second shield or flange 22, which flanges serve to protect the leading and trailing edges of the strip 8 in use.

If the surface of the workpiece to be abraded is flat then the arrangement of the protuberances 14 in the grooves 1 8 of the recess 1 6 is as shown in Figures 1 and 2, that is, so as the support member 4 is straight. If however, the surface to be abraded is convex in at least one direction, then a pair of protuberances nearer the free end of the strap member 12 may be selected as shown in Figure 3 to flex the support member into a concave condition. If, on the other hand, the surface is concave, then a pair of protuberances nearer the member 10 will be placed in the grooves 18 of the recess 16 to flex the support member into a convex condition (Figure 4).

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

1. An abrasive hand tool comprising a body portion adapted to be held in the user's hand, a flexible support member extending therefrom and adapted to receive a replaceable abrasive strip, and a strap member capable of linking a free end of said flexible support to said body portion, wherein the effective length of said strap member is adjustable to impart various degrees of flexure to the support member, 2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper end-portion of the body portion is provided with an integrally moulded recess into which may be fitted one of a series of protuberances provided along an end portion of said strap member.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 21/1/83.

Superseded claims: 1 and 2.

New or amended claims: 1. An abrasive hand tool comprising a body portion adapted to be held in the user's hand, a stiffly flexible support member extending therefrom and adapted to receive a replaceable abrasive strip, and a strap member capable of linking a free end of said flexible support to said body portion, wherein the effective length of said strap member is adjustable to impart various degrees of flexure to the support member.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper end-portion of the body portion is provided with a recess into which may be fitted one of a series of protuberances provided along an end portion of said strap member.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the protuberances are provided by a plurality of transverse ridges projecting in pairs from opposite

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to abrasive hand tools The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to abrasive hand tools, particularly tools having the facility of adjustment to cope with non-planar surfaces. The invention provides an abrasive hand tool comprising a body portion adapted to be held in the user's hand, a flexible support member extending therefrom and adapted to receive a replacable abrasive strip, and a strap member capable of linking a free end of said flexible support to said body portion, wherein the effective length of said strap member is adjustable to impart various degrees of flexure to the support member. Advantageously, the tool is moulded in a single piece from stiffly resilient plastics material, an upper end-portion of the body portion being provided with an integrally moulded recess into which may be fitted one of a series of protuberances provided along an end portion of said strap member. Conveniently, replaceable abrasive strips may be provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing capable of adhesion to the flexible support member. It will be found advantageous to provide a shield member for leading and/or trailing edges of said abrasive strips to prevent inadvertent dislodgement in use. There will now be described an example of a tool according to the invention. It will be understood that the description which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool; Figure 2 is a side view of the tool, showing the attachment of an abrasive strip; and Figures 3 and 4 show two of the possible degrees of flexure obtainable in the tool. The tool comprises a body portion 2 forming a handle. A flexible support member 4 extends from the portion 2 and is provided on a lower face thereof, as viewed in the Figures, with a roughened surface 6 to assist in the adhesion of an adhesive-backed abrasive strip 8 (Figure 2). At the right-hand free, end of the support member 4 is a forward member 10 integrally linking the member 4 with a strap member 12. The strap member 12 is provided with a plurality, in the present example six, of protuberances 14 in the form of integrally moulded ridges projecting in pairs from opposite sides of the strap member 12 at spaced intervals therealong. At an upper end portion of the body portion 2 is a recess 1 6 including a pair of opposed grooves 1 8 adapted to receive a selected one of the pairs of said ridges 14 in a sliding fit so as to link the strap member 12 therewith. To prepare the tool for use, a strip of adhesivebacked abrasive material is selected from a range of particle sizes, coarse, medium or fine, a protective coating layer (not shown) is removed from the adhesive backing, and one end of the strip is placed under a shield or flange 20 provided on the handle body portion 2. The strip is then progressively adhered to the surface 6 until as shown in Figure 2, the end of the strip is in a position to be inserted beneath a second shield or flange 22, which flanges serve to protect the leading and trailing edges of the strip 8 in use. If the surface of the workpiece to be abraded is flat then the arrangement of the protuberances 14 in the grooves 1 8 of the recess 1 6 is as shown in Figures 1 and 2, that is, so as the support member 4 is straight. If however, the surface to be abraded is convex in at least one direction, then a pair of protuberances nearer the free end of the strap member 12 may be selected as shown in Figure 3 to flex the support member into a concave condition. If, on the other hand, the surface is concave, then a pair of protuberances nearer the member 10 will be placed in the grooves 18 of the recess 16 to flex the support member into a convex condition (Figure 4). Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS 1. An abrasive hand tool comprising a body portion adapted to be held in the user's hand, a flexible support member extending therefrom and adapted to receive a replaceable abrasive strip, and a strap member capable of linking a free end of said flexible support to said body portion, wherein the effective length of said strap member is adjustable to impart various degrees of flexure to the support member, 2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper end-portion of the body portion is provided with an integrally moulded recess into which may be fitted one of a series of protuberances provided along an end portion of said strap member. New claims or amendments to claims filed on 21/1/83. Superseded claims: 1 and 2. New or amended claims:

1. An abrasive hand tool comprising a body portion adapted to be held in the user's hand, a stiffly flexible support member extending therefrom and adapted to receive a replaceable abrasive strip, and a strap member capable of linking a free end of said flexible support to said body portion, wherein the effective length of said strap member is adjustable to impart various degrees of flexure to the support member.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the protuberances are provided by a plurality of transverse ridges projecting in pairs from opposite surfaces of the strap member at spaced intervals therealong.

4. A tool as claimed in claim 3 wherein the recess formed at one side of the body portion and comprises two opposite wall portions each provided with one of a pair of opposed grooves adapted to receive a selected one of said pairs of ridges in a sliding fit therein.

5. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion, the flexible support member and the strap portion are integrally moulded from stiffly resilient plastics material.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the replaceable abrasive strip is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing capable of adhesion to the flexible support member.

7. A tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein a shield member is provided on at least one end portion of the flexible support member to provide a protection against inadvertent dislodgement of the strip in use.

8. A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein there are provided two shield members one at the leading end portion of the flexible support member and one at a trailing end portion.

9. A tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flexible support member is provided with a roughened surface between said leading and trailing end portions to assist in adhesion of the abrasive strip thereto.

10. An abrasive hand tool constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.