Device for supporting a coated abrasive

Claim 1

The combination with a flexible sheet of a coated abrasive having an obverse side covered with an abrasive and a reverse side treated with a sealant to close the pores thereof, said coated abrasive including first and second portions, of a device for releasably supporting said flexible sheet of coated abrasive while performing abrading work therewith, said device comprising a main body member having a substantially planar surface, a plurality of outwardly projecting miniature suction cups fixedly attached to said substantially planar surface for engaging and gripping said first portion of said coated abrasive and for releasably gripping the non-porous reverse side of said sheet of coated abrasive and for firmly supporting said sheet of coated abrasive while engaging the obverse side thereof against a work piece as said device is moved about to perform abrading work therewith, a plurality of resilient leg members for respectively supporting said miniature suction cups, the inner ends of said leg members being fixedly attached to said substantially planar surface of said main body member with said suction cups respectively being fixedly attached to the outer ends thereof, and said resilient leg members being individually compressible to shorter lengths as pressure is applied to urge said device towards the work piece whereby the entire area of said first portion of said coated abrasive is urged against the work piece with substantially equal pressure irrespective of minor irregularities within limits that may exist on the surface of the work piece, and a protuberant member for contiguously engaging and selectively urging said second portion of said coated abrasive firmly against the work piece, said protuberant member being fixedly attached to said substantially planar surface of said main body member and projecting a predetermined distance outwardly therefrom, said resilient leg members having predetermined uniform lengths thereto when being slightly compressed to normally urge said first portion of said coated abrasive to effectively engage the work piece with ever increasing vigor as the pressure being applied to saiD device is increased.