Back-up plate for double-sided buffing pad

Abstract

A back-up plate is provided for a reversible double-sided rotary buffing pad. The back-up plate is attached directly to the output shaft of the power buffer and the buffing pad is attached to the back-up plate and, when attached, circumferentially spaced fingers on the outer edge of the back-up plate bear on the unused buffing face and prevent excess flexing and premature fracture and failure of the backing disk on the interior of the pad that supports the oppositely disposed buffing faces.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A back-up plate for a reversible double-sided rotary buffing pad, said pad having a center hub adapted for attachment to the drive shaft of a power buffer, said back-up plate comprising: 
 a plate body mounted on a center plate hub, said plate hub including an upper fastener attachable to the drive shaft and a lower fastener attachable to the center hub of the pad; and    said plate body having a generally circular shape when viewed in plan, including a center body portion extending radially outward from and generally perpendicular to the plate hub axis, the radial outer peripheral edge of the body portion terminating in a plurality of circumferentially spaced downturned fingers, the distal ends of which engage one side of the pad when attached to the plate body.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in  claim 1  wherein the plate hub comprises a generally tubular sleeve, said upper fasteners comprising a threaded ID in said sleeve, and said lower fasteners comprising a threaded stud.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in  claim 1  wherein said plate body in rotatably mounted on said plate hub.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus in  claim 3  wherein said plate hub is metal and said plate body is a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus in  claim 3  wherein said plate body includes a cylindrical axial through bore, and the OD of the plate hub is received in the through bore with a slip fit.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus in  claim 1  wherein the outer peripheral edge of said center body portion is rounded to define a downwardly facing continuous edge comprising convergent curved edge portion defining fingers, the distal ends of which define flat contact edge surfaces.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in  claim 6  including an integral reinforcing rib extending from the distal and of each finger into the body portion and terminating adjacent the plate hub.