Adjustable length finishing pad

• US 4,653,135 A
• Filed: 08/05/1985
• Issued: 03/31/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gaylord J. Clark
• Original Assignee: Gaylord J. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Gaylord J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US06/762,650
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 15/97 B, 15/DIG. 2, 15/230.16, 15/230.19, 15/230.14, 15/230.17, 15/183, 15/195, 15/199, 15/204, 15/205, 51/334, 51/337
• US Class Current: 15/230.16
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3046 Brushes for cleaning cars or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/10 as a rotating cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 13/06 the flaps or strips being individually attached
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/063 the axis of rotation being approximately vertical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/02 Car cleaning plants
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 451/901 Super finish

Abstract

A vehicle finishing apparatus having a rotary support, and a plurality of finishing units mounted on the support in spaced relationship therearound. Each finishing unit includes a thin sheetlike pad structure of flexible material having an outer free edge adapted to contact a vehicle, and an inner edge positioned adjacent the periphery of the support. Mounting structure cooperates between the support and the pad structure for releasably securing the pad structure to the support and for selectively varying the point of attachment thereof to the support to vary the length of the pad structure which projects outwardly from the support. The mounting structure includes a plurality of identical mounting parts fixedly associated with the pad structure in substantially parallel but closely spaced relationship in the vicinity of the inner edge but progressively spaced therefrom.

Claims

1. In a vehicle finishing apparatus having a rotary support, and a plurality of finishing units mounted on said support in spaced relationship therearound, each finishing unit including a thin sheetlike pad structure of flexible material having an outer free edge adapted to contact a vehicle, said pad structure having an inner edge positioned adjacent the periphery of the support, the improvement comprising mounting means cooperating between said support and said pad structure for releasably securing said pad structure to said support and for selectively varying the point of attachment thereof to said support to vary the length of said pad structure which projects outwardly from said support, said mounting means including a plurality of identical first mounting parts fixedly associated with said pad structure in substantially parallel but closely spaced relationship in the vicinity of said inner edge but progressively spaced therefrom, each said first part comprising a rodlike structure which is fixed to said pad structure and elongated substantially parallel with said inner edge, and said mounting means including a plurality of second mounting parts provided on and disposed around said rotary support, said second mounting part being releasably engaged with a selected one of said first mounting parts for attaching said pad structure to said rotary support.

2. A finishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rodlike structure comprises a solid rodlike element of substantially cylindrical cross section, said rodlike element being fixedly secured to said pad structure and projecting outwardly from one side thereof.

3. A finishing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pad structure includes a thin and flexible sheetlike outer portion constructed of a clothlike material, and a thin and flexible sheetlike inner portion which is fixed to and effectively constitutes an extension of said outer portion, said inner portion being of a dissimilar material, and said plurality of first mounting parts being fixedly associated with said inner portion.

4. A finishing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sheetlike inner portion is constructed of a plastics material and has said first mounting parts integrally formed therewith.

5. A finishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said rodlike structure comprises an elongated rodlike element which extends substantially parallel with said inner edge and projects outwardly beyond one side surface of said pad structure for attachment with the rotary support.

6. A finishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pad structure includes a thin and flexible sheetlike outer portion constructed of a clothlike material, and a thin and flexible sheetlike inner portion which is fixed to and effectively constitutes an extension of said outer portion, said inner portion being of a dissimilar material, and said plurality of first mounting parts being fixedly associated with said inner portion.

7. A finishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sheetlike inner portion is of a plastics material and has said first mounting parts integrally formed thereon.

8. A finishing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each said rodlike structure comprises an elongated rodlike element which extends substantially parallel with said inner edge and projects outwardly beyond one side surface of said sheetlike inner portion for attachment with the rotary support.

9. A finishing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second mounting part includes a wall arrangement fixedly related to said rotary support and which defines therein a groove which is elongated axially and opens radially of said rotary support, one of the first mounting parts as associated with a respective pad structure being stationarily but removably confined within said groove.