DETAILING AND POLISHING PAD

• US 20140325781A1
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lamb's Innovative Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lamb's Innovative Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: SAUZEK, LEE R.
• Application Number:
  US14/267,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20140325781A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/209.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 11/02 Backings, e.g. foils, webs, mesh fabrics

Abstract

A polishing pad is adapted for use on a polishing tool. The polishing tool has a support surface for receiving the polishing pad. The polishing pad comprises a polishing layer comprising a fabric polishing surface and a backing layer, the backing layer having an inner and outer surface. The outer surface of the backing layer is adapted to mechanically or adhesively attach in removable fashion to the support surface of the polishing tool. The polishing pad includes a middle layer made from a non-foam, solid thermoplastic polymer in the form of a flexible sheet. The middle layer self-bonds bonded to the polishing layer and the inner surface of the backing layer to form a three-layer polishing pad.

Claims

1. A polishing pad for use on a polishing tool, the polishing tool having a support surface for receiving the pad, the polishing pad comprising:

a polishing layer comprising a fabric polishing surface;

a backing layer, the backing layer having an inner surface and outer surface;

the outer surface of the backing layer adapted to mechanically or adhesively attach in removable fashion to the support surface of the polishing tool; and

a non-foam, solid thermoplastic polymer middle layer in the form of a flexible sheet, the middle layer bonded to the polishing layer and the inner surface of the backing layer.

2. The polishing pad of claim 1 wherein the middle layer is bonded to both the polishing layer and the backing layer by melding of the thermoplastic polymer into the polishing layer and backing layer.

3. The polishing pad of claim 1 wherein the fabric polishing surface of the polishing layer is or comprises a microfiber fabric, a cotton fabric, a non-microfiber polyester fabric, a wool fabric or a non-woven fabric.

4. The polishing pad of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the backing layer comprises a plurality of loops for releasably attaching the polishing pad to a support surface having a plurality of hooks.

5. The polishing pad of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the backing layer comprises a plurality of hooks for releasably attaching the polishing pad to a support surface having a plurality of loops.

6. The polishing pad of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the backing layer comprises an adhesive film covered by a release layer for releasably attaching the polishing pad to the support surface of the polishing tool.

7. A method of manufacturing a polishing pad adapted for releasable attachment to a polishing tool, the method comprising:

providing a polishing layer comprising a fabric polishing surface, a backing layer and a thermoplastic polymer working material;

melting the thermoplastic polymer working material;

applying the melted thermoplastic polymer working material to either of the polishing or backing layer;

applying the previously unapplied polishing or backing layer to the melted and applied thermoplastic polymer working material such that the melted thermoplastic polymer working material forms a middle layer of melted thermoplastic polymer between the polishing layer and the backing layer and the polishing layer, the melted thermoplastic polymer middle layer and the backing layer form a stack; and

cooling the stack such that the melted thermoplastic polymer of the middle layer recrystallizes and that upon the melted thermoplastic polymer recrystallizing;

the melted thermoplastic polymer forms into a solid, flexible, non-foam thermoplastic polymer middle layer bonded to the polishing layer and backing layer; and

the stack is a flexible, three-layer laminated sheet.

9. A polishing pad for use on a polishing tool, the polishing tool having a support surface for receiving the pad, the polishing pad comprising:

a polishing layer comprising a fabric polishing surface;

a backing layer, the backing layer having an inner surface and outer surface;

the outer surface of the backing layer adapted to mechanically or adhesively attach in removable fashion to the support surface of the polishing tool; and

a non-foam, solid thermoset polymer middle layer in the form of a flexible sheet, the middle layer bonded to the polishing layer and the inner surface of the backing layer.