Claims
- 1. An apparatus for supporting an abrasive material comprising:
a flexible base defined by a first end and a second end, the flexible base further defined by a lower surface configured to support the abrasive material and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, and wherein the flexible base is fabricated from a resilient material so as to assume an essentially flat shape when the ends of the flexible base are not acted on by external forces; a front frame member attached to the flexible base proximate the first end; a rear frame member attached to the flexible base proximate the second end; and an adjustable connecting link having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the front frame member in relatively fixed relation thereto, and the second end being connected to the rear frame member by a variably positionable connection.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein:
the rear frame member defines a hole there through for receiving the second end of the adjustable connecting link, the hole being defined by a first side which faces in a general direction towards the front frame member, and a second side which faces in a general direction way from the front frame member; the second end of the adjustable link comprises a threaded rod; and the variably positionable connection comprises a first nut and a second nut threadably mounted on the threaded rod, the first nut being adjacent the first side of the hole, and the second nut being adjacent the second side of the hole.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein:
the rear frame member defines a hole there through for receiving the second end of the adjustable connecting link, the hole being defined by a first side which faces in a general direction towards the front frame member, and a second side which faces in a general direction way from the front frame member; the second end of the adjustable connecting link comprises a rod disposed through the hole; and the variably positionable connection comprises: a release device hingedly attached to the rear frame member and facing the second side of the hole in the rear frame member, the release device having an opening disposed therein, the rod being disposed through the opening; and a spring disposed between the rear frame member and the release device to bias the release device against the rod to arrest movement of the rod in the hole.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the variably positionable connection comprises an intermediate link having a first end and a second end, the first end of the intermediate link being pivotally connected to the rear frame member, and the second end of the connecting link being pivotally connected to the intermediate link at a point distal from the first end of the intermediate link.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, and further comprising a guide link, the guide link being an elongated, generally curved member pivotally connected to the flexible base proximate the rear frame member at a first end of the guide link, and wherein the guide link defines an elongated slot, the apparatus further comprising a guide pin connecting the second end of the intermediate link to the elongated slot to allow the second end of the intermediate link to move along a path defined by the elongated slot.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 4, and further comprising a lock device to secure the second end of the connecting link to the intermediate link in a fixed position.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 5, and further comprising:
a first lock device to secure the second end of the connecting link to the intermediate link in a fixed position; and a second lock device to secure the second end of the intermediate link to the guide link in a fixed position.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 4, and wherein first end of the adjustable connecting link is pivotally connected to the front frame member.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the front frame member forms a first handle.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 4, 9, and wherein the rear frame member forms a second handle.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the rear frame member forms a handle.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the flexible base is fabricated from a material comprising one of nylon or polypropylene.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the flexible base is fabricated from a material comprising glass fibers.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:
a first roller connected to the first end of the flexible base, and a second roller connected to the second end of the flexible base; and a drive motor configured to drive the second roller.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 14, and further comprising an intermediate roller connected to the flexible base and positioned proximate to the upper surface of the flexible base.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, and wherein the flexible base is configured to support a piece of continuous medium supporting an abrasive material, and further wherein the second roller is configured to cause the piece of continuous medium to rotate about the flexible base when the second roller is driven by the motor.
- 17. An apparatus for supporting an abrasive material comprising:
a flexible base defined by a first end and a second end, the flexible base further defined by a lower surface configured to support the abrasive material and an upper surface opposite the lower surface; a front frame member attached to the flexible base proximate the first end; a rear frame member attached to the flexible base proximate the second end; an adjustable connecting link having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected to the front frame member; an intermediate link having a first end and a second end, the first end of the intermediate link being pivotally connected to the rear frame member at a rear hinge point, and the second end of the connecting link being pivotally connected to the intermediate link at an intermediate hinge point distal from the first end of the intermediate link; and wherein the rear hinge point and the intermediate hinge point are located along an axis which is variably about 40 degrees from either side of normal to the upper surface of the flexible base.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 17, and further comprising a guide link comprising an elongated, generally curved member pivotally connected to the flexible base at a first end of the guide link such that the guide link is generally concave with respect to the upper surface of the flexible base, and wherein the guide link defines an elongated slot, the apparatus further comprising a guide pin connecting the second end of the intermediate link to the elongated slot to allow the second end of the intermediate link to move along a path defined by the elongated slot.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 18, and further comprising:
a first lock device to secure the second end of the connecting link to the intermediate link in a fixed position; and a second lock device to secure the second end of the intermediate link to the guide link in a fixed position.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 17, and further comprising:
a first roller connected to the first end of the flexible base, and a second roller connected to the second end of the flexible base; and a drive motor configured to drive the second roller.
- 21. A method of contouring an abrasive medium to generally conform to a surface to be finished by the abrasive medium, comprising:
providing a flexible base defined by a first end and a second end; providing an adjustable connecting link; connecting the first end of the flexible base to the second end of the flexible base using the adjustable connecting link; supporting the abrasive medium on the flexible base; moving one end of the flexible base with respect to the adjustable connecting link while holding the other end of the flexible base stationary with respect to the adjustable connecting link to thereby cause the flexible base to shape into a contoured position; and securing the one end of the flexible base with respect to the adjustable connecting link to hold the flexible base in the contoured position.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/649,287, filed Aug. 26, 2000, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/151,287, filed Aug. 28, 2000.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09649287 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
09746935 |
Dec 2000 |
US |