Sanding Pad For An Oscillatory Drive

Abstract

A sanding pad is disclosed having a socket for connection to a drive shaft of an oscillatory drive, wherein the socket is configured for positive connection to the drive shaft of the oscillatory drive, wherein the socket is connected to a support element, and a cushion element of flexible material, on which a sanding surface is formed, is mounted on the support element, wherein the sanding pad has a rim area, a socket area, which surrounds the socket, and an intermediate area between the rim area and the socket area, and wherein the rim area is materially reinforced relative to the intermediate area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sanding pad comprising:
 a socket being configured for connection to a drive shaft of an oscillatory drive for oscillation with said drive shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof;   a support element being connected to said socket;   a cushion element made of flexible material being mounted on said support element;   a sanding surface being formed on said cushion element;   a rim area delimiting said sanding pad;   a socket area surrounding said socket; and   an intermediate area extending between said rim area and said socket area;   wherein said rim area is reinforced relative to said intermediate area;   wherein said sanding surface defines a first surface level;   wherein said intermediate area defines a second surface level; and   wherein said rim area defines a third surface level, which is further away from said first surface level than said second surface level in said intermediate area.   
     
     
         2 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said rim area has a greater material thickness than said intermediate area. 
     
     
         3 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said rim area comprises a peripheral wall completely surrounding said intermediate area. 
     
     
         4 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said socket is made of metal, wherein said support element is made of plastic, and wherein said support element is fixed directly to said socket. 
     
     
         5 . The sanding pad of  claim 4 , wherein said socket is fixed positively to said socket. 
     
     
         6 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said cushion element is made of a foam having a lower strength than said support element. 
     
     
         7 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said cushion element is molded to said support element. 
     
     
         8 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said sanding pad tapers outwards at least partially in said intermediate area on a rear side facing away from said sanding surface. 
     
     
         9 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said sanding pad comprises at least one corner area, and wherein said support element comprises a wall surrounding said corner area and said rim area, said wall having an increased slope in said corner area relative to said longitudinal axis as compared with a remainder of said wall outside said corner area. 
     
     
         10 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said cushion element projects outwards from said support element within said rim area, and wherein said rim area further comprises reinforcing ribs arranged around a circumference of said rim area, wherein a depression extends between each pair of adjacent reinforcing ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said sanding surface further comprises extraction openings being configured for coupling to an extraction means on said oscillatory drive. 
     
     
         12 . The sanding pad of  claim 11 , further comprising a first annular web arranged on a side facing away from said sanding surface, said annular web projecting in a direction of said oscillatory drive, surrounding said extraction channels on the outside, and being configured for coupling to an extraction hood of said oscillatory drive. 
     
     
         13 . The sanding pad of  claim 12 , further comprising a second annular web arranged on a side facing away from said sanding surface, projecting in the direction of said oscillatory drive and delimiting said intermediate area with respect to said socket area. 
     
     
         14 . The sanding pad of  claim 1 , wherein said sanding surface comprises a gripping element configured for releasable fastening of a sanding or polishing element. 
     
     
         15 . The sanding pad of  claim 14 , wherein said gripping element is configured as a hook and loop material. 
     
     
         16 . A sanding pad comprising:
 a socket being configured for connection to a drive shaft of an oscillatory drive for oscillation with said drive shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof;   a support element being connected to said socket;   a cushion element made of flexible material being mounted on said support element;   a sanding surface being formed on said cushion element;   a rim area delimiting said sanding pad;   a socket area surrounding said socket;   an intermediate area extending between said rim area and said socket area;   wherein said rim area around a circumference thereof is reinforced relative to said intermediate area; and   wherein said cushion element projects outwards from said support element within said rim area, and wherein said rim area further comprises reinforcing ribs arranged around a circumference of said rim area, wherein a depression extends between each pair of adjacent reinforcing ribs.   
     
     
         17 . A sanding pad comprising:
 a socket being configured for connection to a drive shaft of an oscillatory drive for oscillation with said drive shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof;   a support element being connected to said socket;   a cushion element made of flexible material being mounted on said support element;   a sanding surface being formed on said cushion element;   a rim area delimiting said sanding pad;   a socket area surrounding said socket;   an intermediate area extending between said rim area and said socket area;   wherein said rim area around a circumference thereof is reinforced relative to said intermediate area.   
     
     
         18 . A sanding machine comprising an oscillatory drive having a drive shaft oscillatingly driven about a longitudinal axis thereof, and further comprising a sanding pad attached to an outer end of said drive shaft, said sanding pad comprising:
 a socket being configured for connection to a drive shaft of an oscillatory drive for oscillation with said drive shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof;   a support element being connected to said socket;   a cushion element made of flexible material being mounted on said support element;   a sanding surface being formed on said cushion element;   a rim area delimiting said sanding pad;   a socket area surrounding said socket;   an intermediate area extending between said rim area and said socket area;   wherein said rim area around a circumference thereof is reinforced relative to said intermediate area.   
     
     
         19 . The sanding machine of  claim 18 , wherein said oscillatory drive further comprises an extraction hood being configured for coupling to said sanding pad. 
     
     
         20 . The sanding machine of  claim 18 , wherein said sanding surface defines a first surface level, in that said intermediate area defines a second surface level and in that said rim area defines a third surface level, which is further away from said first surface level than said second surface level in said intermediate area.