Abrasives products with edges

Abstract

A coated abrasive includes a substrate, where the substrate has a first edge and a first plurality of flaps defining a first edge. The flaps can be manufactured with different shapes and spacing between the flaps to improve the conformability of the coated abrasive.

1 . A coated abrasive comprising a substrate, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of abrasive particles affixed to the first surface by at least one binder, the substrate further having a first edge and a second edge, and a first plurality of flaps defining the first edge, each flap of the first plurality of flaps having an outer contour extending to a distal end, a line intersecting the distal ends of the first plurality of flaps defining a first outer periphery of the coated abrasive, wherein a reference axis extending normal to the first outer periphery intersects a flap of the first plurality of flaps at two or more discrete locations along the outer contour of the flap of the first plurality of flaps. 
     
     
         2 . The coated abrasive of  claim 1  where the coated abrasive product is selected from the group consisting of sheets, discs, belts and rolls. 
     
     
         3 . The coated abrasive of  claim 1  wherein the substrate further includes a second plurality of flaps defining the second edge, each flap of the second plurality of flaps having an outer contour extending to a distal end, a line intersecting the distal ends of the second plurality of flaps defining a second outer periphery of the coated abrasive, wherein the reference axis intersects a flap of the second plurality of flaps at two or more discrete locations along an outer contour of the flap of the second plurality of flaps. 
     
     
         4 . A coated abrasive comprising a substrate, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of abrasive particles affixed to the first surface by at least one binder, the substrate further having a first edge, and a plurality of flaps defining the first edge, wherein a first flap from the first plurality of flaps has a first straight lateral edge projecting from a first proximal flat to a first distal flat at an angle A relative to a first reference axis extending normal to the first distal flat at the intersection of the first straight lateral edge and the first distal flat, and a second straight lateral edge projecting from the first distal flat to a second proximal flat at an angle B relative to a second reference axis extending normal to the first distal flat at the intersection of the second straight lateral edge and the first distal flat. 
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The coated abrasive of  claim 4  wherein the first straight lateral edge meets the second straight lateral edge. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The coated abrasive of  claim 4  wherein the second straight lateral edge of the first flap meets a first straight lateral edge of a second flap from the first plurality of flaps. 
     
     
         10 . The coated abrasive of  claim 4  wherein angle A and angle B are equal. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The coated abrasive of  claim 4  wherein angle A and angle B equal zero. 
     
     
         13 . The coated abrasive of  claim 12  wherein the first proximal flat is longer than 10% of the first distal flat length. 
     
     
         14 . The coated abrasive of  claim 12  wherein the amount of material removed between the first flap and a second flap from the first plurality of flaps is greater than 10% of a first flap width. 
     
     
         15 . The coated abrasive of  claim 4  further comprising a second edge, and a plurality of flaps defining the second edge, wherein a first flap from the second plurality of flaps has a first straight lateral edge projecting from a first proximal flat on the second edge to a first distal flat on the second edge at an angle C relative to a third reference axis extending normal to the first distal flat on the second edge at the intersection of the first straight lateral edge and the first distal flat on the second edge, and a second straight lateral edge projecting from the first distal flat on the second edge to a second proximal flat on the second edge at an angle D relative to a fourth reference axis extending normal to the first distal flat on the second edge at the intersection of the second straight lateral edge and the first distal flat of the second edge. 
     
     
         16 . The coated abrasive of  claim 15  where angles A, B, C and D are equal. 
     
     
         17 . The coated abrasive of  claim 15  where angles A, B, C and D are not equal. 
     
     
         18 . The coated abrasive of  claim 15  where angles A, B, C and D equal zero. 
     
     
         19 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A coated abrasive comprising a substrate, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of abrasive particles affixed to the first surface by at least one binder, the substrate further having a first edge and a second edge and a first plurality of flaps defining the first edge, wherein the first plurality of flaps have different shapes. 
     
     
         28 . The coated abrasive of  claim 27  wherein the first plurality of flaps have at least two different shapes. 
     
     
         29 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The coated abrasive of  claim 27  further comprising a second plurality of flaps defining the second edge, wherein the second plurality of flaps have different shapes. 
     
     
         36 . The coated abrasive of  claim 1  wherein the distal end of the flaps is wider than the proximal end of the flaps. 
     
     
         37 . The coated abrasive of  claim 36  where a width of the distal end of the flap is at least 10% wider than a width of the proximal end of the flap. 
     
     
         38 . The coated abrasive of  claim 36  where a width of the distal end of the flap is at least 20% wider than a width of the proximal end of the flap. 
     
     
         39 - 42 . (canceled)