Button for a attaching an abrasive article to a back-up pad

Abstract

A button for attaching an abrasive article to a back-up pad can include a body having a lower plate, and a hub extending from the lower plate. The hub is configured to engage an abrasive article installed over the hub at least partially along the height of the hub to prevent the abrasive article from rotating relative to the hub. The body can also include a post extending from the hub. The post can include at least one helical thread extending outwardly along the post. Further, the post can include a height, HP, and the at least one helical thread includes a thread lead, L, that is ≧0.5 H P .

1 .- 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . An abrasive tool comprising:
 a back-up pad comprising a central bore having at least one internal thread extending inwardly from an inner wall of the central bore;   at least one abrasive article formed with a central bore; and   a button for removably attaching the abrasive article to the back-up pad, wherein the button comprises:
 a body, comprising: 
 a lower plate; 
 a hub extending from the lower plate, wherein the hub includes a center portion and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the center portion, wherein the fins are configured to extend at least partially through the at least one abrasive article installed on the hub and to prevent the at least one abrasive article from rotating relative to the hub; and 
 a post extending from the hub, wherein the post includes at least one helical thread extending outwardly along the post, wherein the post is configured to threadably engage the back-up pad and wherein the button is configured to compress the abrasive article between the lower plate and the button when the post is engaged with the back-up pad. 
   
     
     
         5 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The abrasive tool of claim wherein the hub comprises at least three fins. 
     
     
         9 . The abrasive tool of  claim 8 , wherein each fin is twisted along the height of the fin so that a distal end of the fin is rotated with respect to a proximal end of the fin by an angle, B, that is ≧5.0°. 
     
     
         10 . The abrasive tool of  claim 9 , wherein B≦30°. 
     
     
         11 . The abrasive tool of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one post extending from each fin and an upper plate, wherein the upper plate includes a central bore and a plurality of lateral bores, wherein the upper plate is configured to be installed over the post and each the lateral bores is configured to receive and engage a respective post. 
     
     
         12 . The abrasive tool of  claim 11 , wherein each lateral bore engages a respective post in a snap fit. 
     
     
         13 . The abrasive tool of  claim 11 , wherein the upper plate is configured to be installed between the at least one abrasive article and the backup plate, wherein the upper plate is configured to compress the at least one abrasive article when the post is engaged with the backup plate. 
     
     
         14 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The abrasive tool of  claim 4 , wherein the lower plate is disc shaped and comprises an outer diameter, O LP , and the abrasive article comprises an outer diameter O AA , and O LP  is ≦50% O AA . 
     
     
         23 . The tool of  claim 22 , wherein O LP  is ≧10% O AA . 
     
     
         24 . The abrasive tool of  claim 4 , wherein a distal end of the hub includes a surface area, A HDE , and an upper surface of the abrasive article comprises a surface area A USA , and A HDE  is ≦10% A USA . 
     
     
         25 . The abrasive tool of  claim 24 , wherein A HDE  is ≧0.5% A USA . 
     
     
         26 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The abrasive tool of  claim 4 , wherein the hub is configured to impart a force on the at least one abrasive article during use in order to cause the at least one abrasive article to rotate over an angle, A, and move linearly toward the lower plate over a distance, D. 
     
     
         29 . The abrasive tool of  claim 28 , wherein A is ≦5°. 
     
     
         30 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The abrasive tool of  claim 4 , wherein the hub is twisted along the height of the hub so that a distal end of the hub is rotated with respect to a proximal end of the hub by an angle, α, that is ≧5.0°. 
     
     
         34 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The abrasive tool of  claim 4 , wherein the lower plate comprises a series of regularly spaced undulations extending from the lower plate toward the hub. 
     
     
         37 . The abrasive tool of  claim 36 , wherein the undulations are configured to impart pleats in the at least one abrasive article installed on the hub of the button when the button is engaged with a back-up pad. 
     
     
         38 .- 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A button for attaching an abrasive article to a backup pad, the button comprising:
 a body, comprising:   a lower plate;   a hub extending from the lower plate, wherein the hub includes a center portion and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the center portion, wherein the fins are configured to extend at least partially through the at least one abrasive article installed on the hub and to prevent the at least one abrasive article from rotating relative to the hub; and   a post extending from the hub, wherein the post includes at least one helical thread extending along the post.   
     
     
         41 . The button of  claim 40 , wherein the hub comprises at least three fins. 
     
     
         42 . The button of  claim 41 , wherein each fin is twisted along the height of the fin so that a distal end of the fin is rotated with respect to a proximal end of the fin by an angle, B, that is ≧5.0°. 
     
     
         43 . The button of  claim 40 , wherein the lower plate comprises a series of regularly spaced undulations extending from the lower plate toward the hub.