Sanding implement

Abstract

A sanding implement for filing nails or for general sanding purposes includes a readily compressible elongated body having contoured sides, with a sheet of sand paper bonded to at least one of a pair of planar surfaces defined between the sides, the sides of a substantial thickness to provide smooth side surfaces able to be comfortably gripped by a user during use. The body sides converge at either end to form rounded tips useful for sanding small confined surfaces

1 . A sanding implement comprising:
 a contoured body having sides of a substantial thickness and made of a readily compressive material;   a sheet having an abrasive bottom surface having an upper surface bonded to a planar surface of said body with said abrasive surface facing outwardly from said body, said sheet having sufficient tensile strength to substantially strengthen said body against bending across directions parallel to said planar surface to resist bending of said body during sanding, said body being easily compressible allowing limited deformation of said sheet into said planar area to be somewhat conformable to a surface being sanded.   
     
     
         2 . The sanding implement according to  claim 1  wherein one side of said body is curved along an edge of said planar surface extending between opposite ends of said body. 
     
     
         3 . The sanding implement according to  claim 2  wherein said opposite ends are each shaped as a narrow rounded tip, said planar surface and abrasive sheet extending over said opposite tips. 
     
     
         4 . The sanding implement according to  claim 3  wherein an opposite side of said body has a pair of straight segments which extend in from a respective tip and are inclined away from said curved side of said body. 
     
     
         5 . The sanding implement according to  claim 4  wherein a curved recess is located between said straight segments and forms a thumb grip. 
     
     
         6 . The sanding implement according to  claim 1  wherein said body and sheet are several inches long. 
     
     
         7 . The sanding implement according to  claim 6  wherein said body is approximately at least ½ inch deep beneath said planar surface to form said grippable sides. 
     
     
         8 . The sanding implement according to  claim 7  wherein said planar surface is approximately at least one inch wide at a maximum width thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The sanding implement according to  claim 1  wherein said abrasive sheet comprises a sheet of wet or dry sand paper. 
     
     
         10 . A sanding implement according to  claim 1  wherein said body is comprised of polymeric foam. 
     
     
         11 . A sanding implement comprising a contoured body having opposite sides converging to tips at either end of said body, with opposite planar areas defined between said sides, and wherein at least one planar top or bottom area extending between said sides defines an abrasive surface, said body sides defining a substantial thickness of at least about one half inch, said body being readily compressible. 
     
     
         12 . The sanding implement according to  claim 11  wherein at least one side is curved. 
     
     
         13 . The sanding implement according to  claim 11  wherein a sheet of sand paper is bonded to said at least one planar area to provide said abrasive surface. 
     
     
         14 . The sanding implement of  claim 13  wherein an abrasive sheet is bonded to both planar areas.