Pad, system and method for polishing, buffing, compounding and glazing

Abstract

An pad for polishing, buffing, compounding, and glazing comprises: a working pad of open-cell foam or absorbent natural padding; an insert affixed to said rear surface of said working pad, said insert having a coupling disposed in the center thereof for engaging a corresponding coupling of a drive shaft of a driving device; a first carrier layer disposed between said rear surface of said working pad and said insert; a first affixing layer disposed between said carrier layer and said rear surface of said working pad; a second affixing layer disposed between said insert and said first carrier layer so as to fix said insert to said first carrier layer; a second carrier layer disposed upon the side of said insert opposite said working pad; a third affixing layer disposed between said second carrier layer and said insert wherein said insert has an aperture passing therethrough to allow for material to pass therethrough to secure said insert to one or more of said first carrier layer and said second carrier layer.

1 . An article of manufacture, comprising:
 a working pad, said working pad having a generally planar front surface and a generally planar rear surface, and said working pad being a portion of polishing material selected from one of the following classes of materials: open-cell foam and absorbent natural padding;   an insert affixed to said rear surface of said working pad, said insert having a front surface facing said front surface of said working pad and a rear surface facing said rear surface of said working pad, and said insert having a coupling disposed in the center thereof for engaging a corresponding coupling of a drive shaft of a driving device, and said insert being formed from flexible material;   a first carrier layer disposed between said rear surface of said working pad and said insert;   a first affixing layer disposed between said carrier layer and said rear surface of said working pad;   a second affixing layer disposed between said insert and said first carrier layer so as to fix said insert to said first carrier layer;   a second carrier layer disposed upon the side of said insert opposite said working pad;   a third affixing layer disposed between said second carrier layer and said insert   wherein said insert has an aperture passing therethrough to allow for material to pass therethrough to secure said insert to one or more of said first carrier layer and said second carrier layer.   
   
   
       2 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first carrier layer and said second carrier layer covers an area of the rear surface of the working pad equal to about 50 to 90 percent of the area of the rear surface of the working pad. 
   
   
       3 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first carrier layer and said second carrier layer covers an area of the rear surface of the working pad equal to about 50 to 90 percent of the area of the front surface of the working pad. 
   
   
       4 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein said insert is constructed from one of the following materials: aluminum and plastic. 
   
   
       5 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein said insert has a threaded coupling. 
   
   
       6 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 5 , wherein of said insert is a threaded coupling having between one and three internal threads. 
   
   
       8 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein said first carrier layer is made of fabric and said second carrier layer is made of fabric. 
   
   
       9 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein first affixing layer is a hot-melt adhesive and said second affixing layer is a hot-melt adhesive and said third affixing layer is a hot-melt adhesive. 
   
   
       10 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein said working surface of said surface-treatment pad does not have a central aperture passing therethrough. 
   
   
       11 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein said working surface of said surface-treatment pad has surface levels disposed at least two different elevations with respect to said insert. 
   
   
       12 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein said working surface has an outer edge, said outer edge of said working having one of the following edge profiles: beveled, rounded, curved, or down up edges. 
   
   
       13 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein said second carrier layer is formed of fabric, adhesive, paper, or plastic. 
   
   
       14 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 1 , wherein said article of manufacture weights less than about 15 grams per square inch of working surface nominal area, computed based upon the diameter of the working surface. 
   
   
       15 . A system for treating a surface, comprising:
 a surface-treatment pad, said surface-treatment pad being an article of manufacture according to  claim 1 ; and   a spacer for placing onto said drive shaft, said spacer being a generally tubular member adapted to maintain spacing between said drive device and said surface-treatment pad.   
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein said spacer has a threaded coupling for coupling to a threaded coupling of said drive shaft. 
   
   
       17 . A method for treating a surface, comprising:
 providing a system according to  claim 15 ;   placing said spacer upon said drive shaft of said drive motor so that said spacer is positioned to maintain spacing between said surface-treatment pad and said drive motor;   coupling said surface-treatment pad to said drive shaft by means of said threaded coupling of said surface-treatment pad and said threaded coupling of said drive shaft;   driving said surface-treatment pad in rotational motion by means of said drive shaft;   placing the working surface of said surface-treatment pad in contact with a surface to be treated.   
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 applying polish, wax, compound, or glaze to said working surface of said surface-treatment pad.   
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 applying polish, wax, compound, or glaze to said surface to be treated.