Detailing and polishing pad

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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 819,160 that was filed on May 3, 2013, the entirety of which application is hereby incorporated by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM ON COMPACT DISC[0003]Not applicable.FIELD OF INVENTION[0004]This invention relates to automotive, marine, aeronautical, household and building maintenance polishing and detail pads.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]It is known to use manual hand polishing tools or electric rotary or dual action (orbital) polishing tools to polish or detail automobiles, boats, planes, solid surfaces, marble and granite. As used herein, the term “polishing tool” includes both manual and electric polishing tools. When employed to polish or detail a car's paint surface, the prior art polishing tool is outfitted with a polishing...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]The present invention polishing pad thus comprises three layers that utilizes a middle sheet of thermoplastic solid, non-foam polymer (“non-foam thermoplastic polymer”) bonded to the polishing layer and the backing layer. In a preferred embodiment, the non-foam thermoplastic polymer layer is melted into the polishing and backing layers during manufacturing and thus serves as a bonding agent between the polishing layer and the backing layer. The middle layer may even be a non-foam, thermosetting plastic (a / k / a thermoset plastic). In contrast to the prior art, the non-foam thermoplastic polymer sheet layer of the present invention polishing pad is much thinner than the foam core layer of the prior art polishing pad. This thermoplastic polymer layer helps to control the heat in the pad when in use and prevents the pad from breaking down and delaminating during use.

[0017]The present invention provides a polishing pad with a fabric polishing layer (preferably polyester microfiber) for finishing and polishing surfaces like automotive paint, paint on a plane, gel coats on boats, solid surfaces, marble and granite. The polishing pad is intended to be machine driven via a rotary or dual action polishing tool. It can be used with hand polishing tools. It can be used with commercially available waxes, sealants and polishing compounds. When compared to the wool, foam and microfiber pads of the prior art, the present invention pad withstands heat, and with little effort, removes fine scratches, swirls and holograms. In addition, with current foam and microfiber pads, consumers must use several different densities of foam to, achieve the finish achievable through the present invention pad. Even then, current foam and microfiber pads cannot remove swirls, holograms or even very fine scratches with the same ease as the present invention pad. The present invention polishing pad provides an environmentally friendly pad that will quickly and efficiently remove swirls, holograms and scratches from surfaces and leave a high gloss finish.

Problems solved by technology

Because of their mechanism of operation, if not used properly wool pads can cause damage like swirls and holograms to a paint's finish.

The three-layer microfiber pad of the prior art does however suffer from a significant deficit.

In this respect, heat generated by polishing action causes the foam core to degrade and the pad to delaminate.

Images