Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to sanding devices having curved supporting surfaces, specifically but not exclusively to devices used to assist with sanding cornices. Although it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to cornices, it is to be understood that this is not to be taken as a limitation of the scope of the invention.

Background to the Invention

Known devices to assist with sanding have generally flat faces or are in the form of rectangular prisms so that a sanding element, generally having abrasive material embedded in sheets of paper, may be mounted to one or more of the flat faces for sanding a flat surface. These devices are not suitable for sanding a curved surface.

The present invention seeks to alleviate one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device suitable for use in sanding a non-planar surface, the device including: an elongated support for supporting a sanding element, the support having a support surface having a non-planar transverse profile adapted to co-operate with a selected non-planar profile; retaining means for retaining the sanding element, wherein in use the support surface substantially conforms to the non-planar profile so as to facilitate sanding of the non-planar profile. The support surface is arranged so that the sanding element when in sanding operation, sands the surface while reciprocating along a longitudinal axis extending between its ends.

The transverse profile may take any suitable form, however in a preferred embodiment the profile cooperates with that of a cornice in common usage, the cornice having a curved hollow having a fairly shallow radius.

The retaining means may be any suitable means, including clamps to clamp the sanding element to the device, including being in the form of a clamp disposed at each end of the support, the clamp being operable by a threaded device to provide sufficient clamping force to the sanding element. The retaining means are provided at the ends of the support so that the retaining means "drags" the sanding element, so that sanding element tears are minimised.

In a preferred form, however, the retaining means is a hook-and-loop assembly with one part of the assembly disposed on at least part of the support surface while the other part is disposed on at least part of a rear face of the sanding element.

Preferably a mounting means is provided for mounting an extension pole. The mounting means is disposed on a rear face of the elongated support, which is disposed opposite to the support surface.

The mounting means preferably includes a mounting bracket which mounts a joint which allows pivoting of the extension pole about one or more axes. The joint may be in the form of a ball joint or universal joint, or similar device. However, in a preferred form, the joint includes a pivoting bracket pivotally mounted by an axle to the mounting bracket. The axle preferably is disposed laterally across the elongated support. The joint preferably also includes a pole mount, pivotally mounted by an axle to the pivoting bracket. The pivot on the pivoting bracket allows pivoting about an axis normal to that about which the pivoting bracket pivots, in one preferred form being about a longitudinal axis. Preferably a saddle is provided to securely fasten an axle at both ends thereof. The pole mount is connected at the other, or inside end of the saddle. The mounting means allows an extension pole to be mounted to the device, so that ladders are not required to access higher cornices located at high ceilings.

The mounting means is disposed to receive the extension pole, hi one form the pole mount includes a threaded internal bore to threadably engage with a threaded external shaft on an end of the extension pole.

Preferably a stop is provided, disposed to maintain the rotation of the longitudinal support within a selected angular range relative to the pole mount and/or extension pole. In one form, the stop is an extension or wings on one or more ends of the pivoting bracket, so that the pole mount or saddle abuts the extrusion at the extent of the selected angular range.

Preferably a bevel is provided on one or more ends of the support, so that the device may enter internal corners and allow sanding right into the join between cornices lengths.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

In order to enable a clearer understanding of the invention, drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment are attached, and in those drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sanding device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation detail view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3 - 5 are perspective views of the device shown in Figs 1 and 2 while mounted to an extension pole and in use, sanding a cornice; Figure 6 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the device, showing hooks of a hook and loop assembly disposed across the face of a support surface for supporting a sanding element;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the device, shown from below;

Figure 8 is similar view to that shown in Figure 7, but with a sanding element being peeled away to show direct mounting to the support surface.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a device suitable for use in preparation or sanding of a curved surface indicated at 10, the device including an elongated support 12 for supporting a sanding element 25. The elongated support 12 has a support surface 14 which is profiled to cooperate with a hollowed surface such as those commonly found in cornices 60.

The profile 16 of the support surface 14 is a bulbous rounded profile, developed about a longitudinal axis extending between the ends of the elongated support 12. A resilient mat 85 is laid on the support surface, for protection of, and facilitation of preparation of a cornice 60.

The elongated support 12 has bevelled ends 18, 20 so that in plan view the elongated support has a somewhat trapezoidal shape. The bevels 18, 20 are provided so that the device can enter an internal join between two cornices and prepare the cornice surface for painting up to and into the internal join region.

Retaining means 22 are provided, mounted on the resilient mat 85, in the form of a hook and loop fastener assembly. The hooks 24 are disposed on the surface 14 while loops 29 are disposed on a rear face 27 of the sanding element 25. Of course, it is possible to use clamps, disposed at ends or sides of the elongate support, to retain the sanding element on the support surface.

The direction of sanding is intended to be generally along the length of the device, in a reciprocating motion along the longitudinal axis.

Mounting means 30 are provided so that an extension pole 50 may be mounted to the support 12. The mounting means 30 is in the form of a mounting assembly 31 and may actually be conveniently mounted at the bevelled ends of the device via pivots, but a preferred embodiment shown herein had the mounting assembly 31 mounted on a back face of the support 12. The mounting assembly 31 includes a pole mount 52 having a threaded internal bore 32 to receive a threaded shaft 54 on one end of the extension pole 50. When mounted, the extension pole 50 allows sanding of cornices not easily accessible when simply standing on the ground (those that are, say, more than two metres above floor level).

A joint 35 is provided to allow the pole mount 52 to pivot about at least one axis. The joint 35 is in the form of a pivoting pivot bracket 37, having an axle 39 mounted on a mounting bracket 41. The pole mount 52 is pivotally connected by an axle 43 to the pivoting bracket 37 to complete the joint 35 and so that rotation about two mutually perpendicular axes is effected. The axle 39 is disposed laterally across the support 12 and the axle 43 is disposed longitudinally along the support 12. This allows a user to stand below the cornice 60, address the extension pole, and sand the cornice 60 in a reciprocating motion.

A stop 70 is provided which inhibits pivoting of the pole mount 52 to a selected angular range. The stop 70 is in the form of extensions 72, 74 in the form of wings 73, 75 of the pivoting bracket 37 so that the pole mount 52 abuts the wings 73, 75 when the limit of rotation has been reached. This sets the support 12 to a convenient angle when the support 12 is held upward to begin cornice sanding.

In operation, sandpaper is mounted on the support surface 14, and the extension pole is mounted on the threaded bore 32. The cornice may now be sanded back and forth, right up into internal joins due to the bevel 18 and 20. As it cooperates with the hollow in the cornice, the device prepares substantially the entire width of the cornice in each pass.

Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.