Abrasive articles and methods for making them

Abstract

An abrasive article for personal grooming includes an abrasive layer attached to a foam or other base layer. The abrasive layer includes abrasive material, binder material, pigment, and/or a blowing agent, e.g., to provide a three-dimensional decorative pattern extending from the base layer. In another embodiment, the abrasive article includes a translucent or transparent abrasive layer, an adhesive layer for attaching the abrasive layer to a base layer, and a decorative pattern printed between the adhesive layer and the base layer, e.g., on a lower surface of the adhesive layer and/or on an upper surface of the base layer. Alternatively, a decorative pattern may be printed within the abrasive layer, e.g., on a plastic sheet to which abrasive material and binder material are attached over the decorative pattern. The abrasive and adhesive layers are translucent or transparent such that the decorative pattern is visible through the abrasive material.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to abrasive and / or foam articles, and, more particularly, to nail files, pumice stones, and other abrasive articles for personal grooming having a decorative and / or colored pattern on and / or underlying one or more surfaces of the article. BACKGROUND [0002] Many people groom their fingernails and toenails by filing and buffing them. The top surface of a nail is filed and polished using emery boards, nail files, and other similar tools, to produce a surface that shines or that can be decorated with a design and / or color. [0003] A typical tool for filing nails includes a core or base sheet having at least one abrasive surface. The core is typically a flat, substantially rigid sheet, such as paper, wood, plastic, or foam having two sides. A layer of abrasive is attached to one or both sides to provide filing or buffing surfaces for the tool. Optionally, one or more layers of foam or other flexible material may be provided...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention is directed generally to abrasive and / or foam articles, e.g., nail files, pumice stones and / or other abrasive articles for personal grooming, and more particularly to abrasive articles having a decorative and / or colored pattern on and / or underlying one or more outer surfaces of the article.

Problems solved by technology

One problem with printing on the back side of the abrasive layer is that they generally include polyester or other films to which abrasive material is attached.

Consequently, printing on such films may result in the dyes bleeding or beading, thereby impairing the quality of any image that is applied to the films.

Images