US20020022444A1 - Sanding screen element holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A two-layer screening element holder replacing the screening pad of the prior art. The upper layer is comprised of a simulated turf material. The bottom layer is comprised of felt.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to finishing wood floors, and more particularly to an apparatus for holding a sanding screen element to a buffing machine. [0001]
• As part of the process of finishing floors to withstand wear and tear, and also to make it beautiful in appearance, the floor's raw wood must be treated to smoothing steps and finishing steps. These steps include sanding, scraping and screening to smooth the surface. The screening step involves the attachment of a round screen element to a buffing machine. [0002]
• The conventional screening step of finishing floors involves the attachment of a round screen element to a buffing machine. A conventional buffing machine is an upright apparatus with handles near or at its top, a circular drive element at its bottom, and a motor (typically electric-driven) within a housing interconnecting said top and bottom, said apparatus adapted to provide a rotating torque to the circular drive element from said motor. [0003]
• In the prior art, a screening pad made of stiffened fiber is generally used to interconnect the round screen element to the buffing machine circular drive element. However, the rotational force of the circular drive element's holding teeth tends to shred prior art screening pads. This shredding requires frequent replacement of screening pads. If not replaced, the screen element may become unbalanced providing an uneven screening effect on the targeted floor. In other cases, the shredding of the screening pad substantially reduces the rotational effect of the buffing machine circular drive element on the screen element because of slippage. In some cases, the screen element becomes damaged by the buffing machine circular drive element as the screen pad disintegrates. [0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved means for interconnecting the screen element to a buffing machine circular drive element. The sanding screen element holder of the present invention provides a two-layer replacement for the screening pad of the prior art. The present invention provides a tougher and improved gripping surface for direct engagement of the circular drive element's holding teeth. The present invention also provides a tougher, surer gripping means for the screen element. Actual testing of the present invention versus prior art screening pads has demonstrated greater than an order of magnitude improvement in the useful life of the present invention over prior art screening pads. [0005]
• These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.[0006]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention. [0007]
• FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the present invention.[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a sanding [0009] screen element holder 10. The holder 10 in this embodiment of the invention is generally round and is comprised of an upper layer 11 and a bottom layer 12. Applicant has found than an upper layer 11 made from vinyl and nylon fibers and resembling a simulated grass or turf material, such as sold under the trademark Astroturf (tm), or other synthetic material, joined to a bottom layer 12 made from a matted fabric or material, such as felt, is preferred. The roughness of the upper layer 11 provides an excellent gripping means for the teeth 21 of the circular drive element 20. The resilience and high strength of the lower layer 12 provide an excellent grasping means for the screen element 2. The bottom layer 12 also provides a cushioning and smoothing effect for the screen element 2 as it engages the targeted floor area 4. Apertures 13 may be formed in the holder 10 to provide means for a vacuum draw. A central aperture 14 may also be formed in the holder 10 to provide a further vacuum draw and to provide clearance over any central protrusions on the drive element 20.
• It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the invention thereof. [0010]

Claims (4)

I claim:

1. In a conventional upright buffing machine having a top and a bottom, and having handles near or at said top, a circular drive element at said bottom, and a motor within a housing interconnecting said top and bottom, said motor adapted to provide a rotating torque to the circular drive element, a sanding screen element holder, comprising:

an upper layer made from synthetic material, said upper layer adapted to being grasped by said circular drive element;

a bottom layer joined to said upper layer, said lower layer being made from a matted material, said bottom layer adapted to grasp a screen element.

2. A sanding screen element holder as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said upper layer synthetic material is comprised of vinyl and nylon fibers and resembling a simulated turf material.

3. A sanding screen element holder as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said bottom layer matted material is comprised of felt.

4. A sanding screen element holder as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed therein.

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