Decorative applique remover

Abstract

A decorative applique remover for removing an applique which has been relatively permanently applied, usually by an adhesive, to a substrate as, for example, an enlarged emblem or a pin stripping or other applique on an automotive vehicle or other substrate. The applique remover preferably exists in the form of an abrading disc which is specifically designed to physically engage, lift and remove the applique from the surface of the substrate, such as the surface of an automotive vehicle. The abrading disc is designed with a rubber-like surface capable of literally rubbing the applique from the surface of the substrate without marring or otherwise deleteriously affecting the surface of the substrate, such as the paint of an automotive vehicle surface.

Having thus described the invention, what we desire to claim and secure by letters patent is:  
     
         1 . An abrading disc for removal of an applique on a finished surface of a substrate without marring the surface finish of that substrate, said abrading disc comprising: 
 a) a relatively rigid structural plate having a top side and a bottom side as well as a peripheral edge;    b) a hub extending upwardly from said plate and having means for attachment to a rotatable drive shaft for causing rotation of the abrading disc;    c) an elastomeric material covering both sides of said plate and the edge of said plate so as to preclude contact of the rigid plate with the finished surface of said substrate; and    d) said elastomeric material being sufficiently soft so as to engage a plastic film applique and effectively rub same from the surface of said substrate and which is yet sufficiently rigid so as to be relatively durable and not quickly worn in applique removing operations.    
     
     
         2 . The abrading disc of  claim 1  further characterized in that said plate is initially provided with a plurality of openings on the surface thereof to allow the elastomeric material to adhere to both sides of said plate and form an integral bond with elastomeric material on both sides of said plate.  
     
     
         3 . The abrading disc of  claim 2  further characterized in that said plate initially is provided with a plurality of additional openings in said plate extending between the top side and the bottom side thereof and surrounding said hub so that elastomeric material can also extend over a portion of said hub in proximity to the top side of said plate.  
     
     
         4 . The abrading disc of  claim 1  further characterized in that said plate is somewhat pentagonal in shape and the elastomeric material and said hub is circular in shape.  
     
     
         5 . The abrading disc of  claim 1  further characterized in that the means for allowing attachment to a rotating shaft comprises an insert adapted to receive a shaft from an electric motor.  
     
     
         6 . The abrading disc of  claim 1  further characterized in that an enlarged elastomeric protrusion is formed on a surface of said disc on the side thereof opposite said hub.  
     
     
         7 . The abrading disc of  claim 6  further characterized in that said protrusion is formed essentially only of elastomeric material and constitutes the primary abrading component of said abrading disc.  
     
     
         8 . An abrading disc for removal of an applique on a finished surface of a substrate without marring the surface finish of that substrate, said abrading disc comprising: 
 a) a relatively rigid structural plate having a top side and a bottom side as well as a peripheral edge;    b) a hub extending upwardly from said plate and having means for attachment to a rotatable drive shaft for causing rotation to the abrading disc;    c) an elastomeric material formed on said plate and being sufficiently flexible so as to effectively lift and erase a plastic film applique from a surface of said substrate without substantially marring the surface finish of that substrate and which is yet sufficiently rigid to withstand several applique removal abrading operations; and    d) an enlarged section of elastomeric material extending outwardly from said plate on a surface thereof opposite said hub for engaging the plastic applique film and abrading same from the surface of said substrate when said disc is rotated.    
     
     
         9 . The abrading disc of  claim 8  further characterized in that said enlarged section is somewhat conically shaped and has a substantial depth with respect to the surface of the plate from which it extends at least greater than the thickness of said plate.  
     
     
         10 . The abrading disc of  claim 9  further characterized in that said enlarged section has a truncated surface and a bottom surface and said truncated surface is used to engage and abrade the plastic applique from the surface of said substrate.  
     
     
         11 . The abrading disc of  claim 8  further characterized in that said substrate is a portion of an automotive vehicle.  
     
     
         12 . The abrading disc of  claim 11  further characterized in that said portion of the automotive vehicle has a surface finish which is a paint finish.  
     
     
         13 . The abrading disc of  claim 8  further characterized in that said elastomeric material is a polyurethane.  
     
     
         14 . A method for removing a plastic applique from a finished surface of a substrate without otherwise marring the substrate, said method comprising: 
 a) applying to said substrate an abrading disc having a surface formed of an elastomeric material and rotating said buffing wheel at a speed sufficient to cause an abrading of the applique without substantially marring the surface of said substrate, said elastomeric material being comprised primarily of a polyurethane.    
     
     
         15 . The method of removing a plastic applique of  claim 14  further characterized in that said method comprises engaging said applique with a portion of an extended section on said abrading disc to cause the abrading and removal of said applique.  
     
     
         16 . The method of removing a plastic applique of  claim 14  further characterized in that said elastomeric material is formulated with a urethane resin in a polyether polyol.  
     
     
         17 . A method of making an abrading disc for removal of an applique on a substrate having a surface finish without otherwise substantially marring the surface finish, said method comprising: 
 a) providing a relatively flat plate having an outwardly projecting hub thereon;    b) forming in said plate apertures in the plate surrounding the hub;    c) forming apertures in said plate within a relatively flat portion of said plate located radially outwardly from the apertures surrounding said hub; and    d) applying to said plate an elastomeric compound while the latter is in a liquid or semi-liquid form and causing the elastomeric compound to bond to both of the opposite sides of said plate through said aperture.    
     
     
         18 . The method of making the abrading disc of  claim 17  further characterized in that said method comprises forming an elastomeric layer on said plate in a die with introduction of said elastomeric compound when said plate is in said die.