Process and apparatus for restoring the luster to the surface of factory finished wooden floors

Abstract

A floor abrading machine is used to abrade the surface of a factory finished wooden floor so the abraded surface may be recoated with a fresh coat of wooden floor finish. Abrasion of the surface provides anchor sites to achieve a strong bond between the pre-existing abraded finish and the fresh coat of wooden floor finish. The process requires abrading, not removing the factory finish down to bare wood, and recoating to restore the luster to a factory finished wooden floor. Conventional sanders remove the finish down to bare wood to refinish a wooden floor that has been installed and finished in place.

1 . A portable floor abrading machine for abrading the surface of an installed, factory finished wooden floor comprising: 
 at least one wheel mounted on the machine and in contact with the surface of the factory finished floor;    a drive shaft to rotate a replaceable cylindrical abrading brush with protruding filaments;    a motor mounted on the machine and operatively connected to the drive shaft;    a handle to move the abrading machine about during operation; and    the filaments of the replaceable cylindrical abrading brush being impregnated with at least one abrasive suitable for abrading the surface of the factory finished wooden floor to receive and secure a fresh coat of wood floor finish.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a dust collection system to control dust during operation of the portable floor abrading machine.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the abrasive is about 180 grit.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the filaments have a length of about 1″ to about 1¼″ and a population per square inch of brush surface of between 90-95.  
   
   
       5 . A portable floor abrading machine for abrading the surface of an installed, factory finished wooden floor comprising: 
 a frame;    at least one wheel mounted on the frame and in contact with the surface of the factory finished floor;    a drive shaft to rotate a replaceable cylindrical abrading brush with protruding filaments;    a motor mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the drive shaft;    a handle to move the abrading machine about during operation; and    the filaments being impregnated with an abrasive selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, aluminum oxide and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further including a dust collection system to control dust during operation of the portable floor abrading machine.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the abrasive particles are about 180 grit.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the filaments have a length of about  1 ″ to about 1¼″ and a population from about 90 to about 95 per square inch of brush surface  
   
   
       9 . A method for restoring the luster to the surface of an installed, factory finished wooden floor, using a portable floor abrading machine with a replaceable cylindrical brush with protruding filaments impregnated with abrasive particles comprising: 
 contacting the floor surface with the brush filaments to create an abraded substrate of finish to receive and bond with a fresh coat of wooden floor finish.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the abrasive particles are about 160 grit to about 220 grit.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the abrasive particles are optimally about 180 grit.  
   
   
       12 . A method for restoring the luster to the surface of an installed, factory finished wooden floor, using a portable floor abrading machine with a replaceable cylindrical abrading brush with protruding filaments impregnated with aluminum oxide particles of about 180 grit comprising: contacting the topcoat of an installed factory finished wooden floor with the brush filaments to improve the adhesion of a fresh coat of wooden floor finish to the abraded topcoat on the installed factory finished wooden floor.  
   
   
       13 . A process for manufacturing a floor abrading machine for abrading the surface of an installed, factory finished wooden floor comprising: 
 mounting a motor, having a drive shaft, to a frame, wherein the frame includes a handle for moving the abrading machine about during operation;    attaching at least one rotatable wheel to the frame; and    attaching a cylindrical abrading brush with protruding filaments to the drive shaft, wherein the protruding filaments are impregnated with an abrasive selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, aluminum oxide and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       14 . A process for recoating the surface of an installed, factory finished wooden floor comprising the following steps: 
 cleaning the surface of the factory finished wooden floor;    abrading the surface of one section of the factory finished wooden floor using a portable floor abrading machine with a dust control system;    abrading the surface of another section of the factory finished wooden floor by hand;    cleaning the abraded surface of the factory finished wooden floor; and    applying a fresh coat of a wood floor finish to the clean, abraded surface of the installed, factory finished wooden floor.    
   
   
       15 . A process for recoating the surface of a wear-resistant finish on an installed, factory finished wooden floor comprising the following steps: 
 abrading the surface of the wear-resistant finish of a portion of the factory finished wooden floor using a portable floor abrading machine;    abrading by hand other portions of the surface of the factory finished wooden floor that were not abraded by the portable floor abrading machine;    cleaning the abraded surface of the wear-resistant finish; and    applying a new finish to the abraded wear-resistant surface of the factory finished wooden floor.    
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the first step is cleaning the surface of the wear-resistant finish of the factory finished wooden floor.  
   
   
       17 . A process for restoring luster to the surface of an installed, factory finished wooden floor comprising the following steps: 
 scratching the surface of a portion of the factory finished wooden floor using a portable abrading machine;    scratching by hand other portions of the surface of the factory finished wooden floor that were not scratched by the portable abrading machine;    cleaning the scratched surface; and    applying wood floor finish to the clean, scratched surface of the factory finished wooden floor.    
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 17  wherein the first step is cleaning the topcoat of the factory finished wooden floor.  
   
   
       19 . A process for restoring luster to the surface of an installed, factory finished wooden floor comprising the following steps: 
 forming microscopic scratches in the surface of the wear-resistant finish of the factory finished wooden floor using a portable abrading machine for portions of the floor and by hand for other portions of the surface of the floor that were not abraded by the machine;    cleaning the scratched surface; and    applying wood floor finish to the clean, scratched surface of the factory finished wooden floor.    
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 19  wherein the first step is cleaning the surface of the wear-resistant finish of the factory finished wooden floor.