Abrading – Abrading process
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-10
2001-06-05
Rose, Robert A. (Department: 3723)
Abrading
Abrading process
C451S507000, C451S524000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241579
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for use in removing and/or polishing a stain and/or protrusion from a surface, especially a surface of an automobile.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
When rolling stocks (e.g., automobiles) are placed in parking lots near railways and iron works, or in places close to construction sites where a coating operation is conducted, iron powder and paint mist tend to gather on the coated surface of the rolling stocks and adhere thereto to form minute protrusions. Such unfavorable protrusions may be difficult to see with a human eye. Conventionally, such protrusions were removed by polishing the surface using a compound or a sand paper.
When a compound or sand paper is applied to a surface to remove protrusions, not only are the protrusions brought into contact with the abrasive, but the coated surface is brought into contact with the abrasive as well. Thus, scratches or flaws may be formed on the coated surface. As illustrated schematically in FIG.
3
(
a
); it can be seen that this conventional method of polishing tends to suffer from poor operability, because the abrasive force tends to be fully exerted on the coated surface as well as the protrusions if and when the abrasive force is fully applied to the protrusions.
With a view toward ameliorating the poor operability of the conventional method, practitioners have previously proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,416, a plastic flexible tool including a plastic flexible material having mixed therewith fine abrasives such as silica sand and calcium carbonate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,416 matured from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/102,972 and is incorporated hereby by reference as if fully set forth herein.
As noted previously, some surface imperfections may be minute and/or “blend” with the surface in certain light. Thus, some stains and/or protrusions may be relatively difficult to see with a human eye. Since a plastic flexible tool tends to be selectively applied by a practitioner, the practitioner may not readily see a surface imperfection when applying the plastic flexible tool. Thus, some surface imperfections may not be treated by the practitioner with the plastic flexible tool. For instance, a practitioner may apply the plastic flexible tool to an automobile on a cloudy day and not treat surface imperfections which are more visible on a sunny day. Costly and/or tedious repeat treatments may be necessitated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An advantage of the present invention is obtaining a relatively smooth and/or clean coated surface by polishing and/or removing a stain or protrusion from the surface. Accordingly, the present invention includes locating a stain or protrusion and then controlling both the polishing force being exerted to the protrusion or stain and the polishing force being applied to the planar surface.
A method of the invention may include:
covering at least a portion of a human hand with a plastic film;
determining the location of a stain or protrusion on the surface by touching the surface with at least a portion of the covered human hand, wherein plastic film is between the portion of the human hand and the surface while the surface is being touched;
applying a plastic flexible tool to the stain or protrusion, the plastic flexible tool including a plastic flexible material having an abrasive mixed therewith; and
applying a force to the plastic flexible tool such that a polishing force is applied by the plastic flexible tool to the stain or protrusion on the surface.
One system of the invention may include:
a plastic film sized and adapted to cover at least a portion of a human hand, the plastic film having a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.75 mm; and
a plastic flexible tool including a plastic flexible material having an abrasive mixed therewith.
The abrasive may include grains from about 3 to 50 &mgr;m in diameter.
The ability of the human hand to feel a stain or protrusion on the surface is enhanced by the plastic film If properly made and applied, the plastic film tends to exaggerate and accent the feel of such protrusions.
The vehicle may be an automobile, motorcycle, boat, truck, plane, or train. The surface may be coated or painted.
The plastic film is preferably substantially transparent. In this manner the practitioner can see the area in which poorly visible protrusions are located by feel. The plastic film may include a polyolefin, polystyrene, parafilm, and polyethylene. The plastic film may include elastomer material and/or an acrylic or methacrylic material.
The plastic film is preferably not too thin or too thick. If the film is too thin, then its strength and durability may be reduced If the film is too thick, then the sense of touch may be reduced. Preferably the plastic film is less than about 1.0 mm thick, more preferably between about 0.1 mm and less than about 0.75 mm thick, and more preferably still at a thickness of 0.5 mm. The plastic film is preferably sufficiently thin such that tactile sensitivity of the covered portion of the human hand to a surface protrusion is increased.
The plastic film preferably covers at least a portion of a human finger. The plastic film may be in the following shapes: flat and/or substantially planar, glove, mitten, envelope, sleeve, bowl, or finger cot.
One method may include checking the amount of removal of the stain or protrusion on the surface after the flexible plastic tool has been applied. The checking may be accomplished by touching at least a portion of a partially and/or totally covered human hand onto the surface, wherein plastic film is between the portion of the human hand and the surface while the surface is being touched.
One method may include pressing the plastic flexible tool against the surface, thereby deforming the plastic flexible tool to form a substantially flat surface on the plastic flexible tool. The plastic flexible tool may preferably be pressed against the surface such that the protrusion substantially embeds itself into the substantially flat surface of the plastic flexible tool. One preferred method includes reciprocating the substantially flat surface of the plastic flexible tool on the surface such that the protrusion protrudes into the plastic flexible tool and is brought into contact with abrasive inside the plastic flexible tool. Preferably the abrasive is substantially buried inside the plastic flexible tool such that the abrasive does not substantially protrude from the substantially flat surface of the plastic flexible tool.
Preferably the surface is not forcefully contacted with abrasive. Preferably the amount of force applied to the surface is about {fraction (1/30)} to {fraction (1/200)} (or, more preferably still, {fraction (1/80)} to {fraction (1/100)}) of the amount of force applied to the protrusion. In one embodiment about 0.5 to 3.0 percent of force applied to the protrusion is substantially simultaneously applied to the surface.
A lubricant and/or water may be added to the surface such that the lubricant and/or water is between the plastic flexible tool and the surface while the plastic flexible tool is being applied to the surface.
Preferably the stain or protrusion is removed from the surface without substantially scratching the surface.
In an embodiment, an applicator is preferably used to guide the plastic flexible tool during polishing. The applicator may include a body having a top section and a bottom section. The bottom section preferably includes a substantially compressible material, and the top section may be constructed of a material that is more rigid than the compressible material of the bottom section. The top and bottom sections of the applicator may be secured together with glue or with a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed between the sections.
A cavity for containing the plastic flexible tool is preferably formed in the bottom section. The cavity may have an inner surface that adheres to the plastic flexible tool to maintain it within the cavity while the applicator is recipro
Dehn Dennis L.
Miller, III Paul D.
Auto Wax Company, Inc.
Conley Rose & Tayon PC
Meyertons Eric B.
Rose Robert A.
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