US5897424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Renewable polishing lap
Assignee: COMMERCE United States, AS REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY
•
Filing: 1995-07-10
•
Granted: 1999-04-27
•
Expires: 2015-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A polishing lap which is resistant to attack from corrosive and reactive ishing media and which has a surface which is sufficiently resilient to provide good finishes without hindering dimensional controlling and accuracy of the texturing comprises: a lap substrate wherein the surface of the lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture; and a replaceable lap film applied to the lap substrate surface and which is deformed to correspond to the localized texture of the lap substrate surface. The polishing lap can be easily reconditioned if contaminated or easily modified for use with different abrasives and polishing media.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher James Evans
- 👤 Robert Edson Parks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:57
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B37/00; B24B37/11; B24B37/20; B24B37/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A lap comprising: a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture wherein said localized texture exhibits a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, the peaks of said localized texture providing the overall shape of said lap substrate; and a replaceable lap film applied to the lap substrate surface, said replaceable lap film having a front surface, wherein said replaceable lap film is deformed to exhibit a plurality of deformations which extend into said plurality of valleys, whereby said front surface partially or completely corresponds to said plurality of peaks and said plurality of valleys of said localized texture of said lap substrate surface, wherein said deformations are not induced by contact with a workpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A lap comprising: a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture wherein said localized texture exhibits a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, the peaks of said localized texture providing the overall shape of said lap substrate; and a replaceable lap film applied to the lap substrate surface, said replaceable lap film having a front surface, wherein said replaceable lap film is deformed to exhibit a plurality of deformations which extend into said plurality of valleys, whereby said front surface partially or completely corresponds to said plurality of peaks and said plurality of valleys of said localized texture of said lap substrate surface, wherein said deformations are not induced by contact with a workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between said lap substrate and said replaceable lap film to secure said lap film to said lap substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein deformation of said replaceable lap film is performed by application of vacuum, pressure, heat, an electrostatic field, a magnetic field or mechanical force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lap according to claim 3, wherein deformation of said replaceable lap film is performed by application of vacuum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein deformation of said replaceable lap film is performed by application of heat and vacuum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein deformation of said replaceable lap film is performed by application of heat and mechanical force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said lap substrate is made of metal, porous ceramic, crystalline material, glass-ceramic or glass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said lap substrate is made of polymeric material or composite material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said lap substrate is made of foamed silicon carbide, porous silicon carbide, foamed alumina, porous alumina, porous carbon, porous graphite, solid metals, porous metals, crystalline silicon, glass-ceramic, fiber reinforced polymeric material, metal matrix composite or whisker reinforced ceramic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is a polymer film or a thin metal foil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is waxed paper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lap according to claim 10, wherein said replaceable lap film is made of polyethylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, polymethylmethacrylate, polyether ether ketone, polytetrafluoroethylene or derivatives thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is made of thermally deformable shrink-wrap film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is made of aluminum, lead, zinc or tin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film has a thickness of 10 μm-500 μm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A lap comprising: a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture; and a replaceable lap film applied to the lap substrate surface and which is deformed to partially or completely correspond to said localized texture of said lap substrate surface; wherein said localized texture is machined or etched into the surface of said lap substrate to define a pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A lap comprising: a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture; and a replaceable lap film applied to the lap substrate surface and which is deformed to partially or completely correspond to said localized texture of said lap substrate surface; wherein said localized texture is machined or etched into the surface of said lap substrate to define a pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of said replaceable lap film has a texture of different spatial scale than the localized texture of said lap substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of said replaceable lap film has abrasives embedded therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of said replaceable lap film produces permanent deformations in said replaceable lap film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of said replaceable lap film produces temporary deformations in said replaceable lap film.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is applied directly to said lap substrate surface without the use of an intervening adhesive layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A lap according to claim 15, wherein said replaceable lap film has a thickness of 20-75 μm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between said lap substrate and said replaceable lap film to maintain the deformation of said lap film.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lap according to claim 2, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between said lap substrate and said replaceable lap film to maintain the deformation of said lap film.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein deformation is performed by application of chemicals to said lap film.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said localized texture is machined or etched into the surface of said lap substrate to define a pattern.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is chemically resistant.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is impermeable.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
135 words
A method comprising: grinding and/or polishing at least one surface of a substrate using at least one lap device, wherein said lap device comprises: a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture; and a replaceable lap film applied to said lap substrate surface and which is deformed to correspond to said localized texture of said lap substrate surface; wherein said lap film is deformed to correspond partially or completely to said localized texture of lap substrate surface prior to said device contacting at least one surface to be ground and/or polished; wherein deforming of said lap film results in said lap film exhibiting a plurality of deformations and said deformations extend into a plurality of valleys within said localized texture of said lap substrate surface.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
135 words
A method comprising: grinding and/or polishing at least one surface of a substrate using at least one lap device, wherein said lap device comprises: a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture; and a replaceable lap film applied to said lap substrate surface and which is deformed to correspond to said localized texture of said lap substrate surface; wherein said lap film is deformed to correspond partially or completely to said localized texture of lap substrate surface prior to said device contacting at least one surface to be ground and/or polished; wherein deforming of said lap film results in said lap film exhibiting a plurality of deformations and said deformations extend into a plurality of valleys within said localized texture of said lap substrate surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 29, further comprising applying a deforming force to said lap film continuously during said grinding and/or polishing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 30, wherein said deforming force is vacuum.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein said vacuum is continuously monitored.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 29, wherein said replaceable lap film extends over the edge of said lap substrate and is attached to the side of said lap substrate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 29, wherein said replaceable lap film is deformed by application of vacuum, heat, electrostatic field, magnetic field or combinations thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4274232A
Cited
US4625463A
Cited
US4527358A
Cited
US4979337A
Cited
US4980995A
Cited
US4954141A
Cited
US5095660A
Cited
US5157880A
Cited
US5205083A
Cited
US5403228A
Cited
US5503590A
Cited
US5329734A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-26 | 2002-10-26 | 2003-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-26 | 2006-10-26 | 2007-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-26 | 2010-10-26 | 2011-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |