Triangular sanding appliance

An improved hand sanding appliance comprising,

• a sanding pad having a flat lower sandpaper supporting surface of triangular outline;
• three linear edges defining the periphery of said pad, said three linear edges being joined at three intersections;
• at least two upwardly facing beveled surfaces that are inclined at an oblique angle extending from each of the linear peripheral edges of the pad centrally thereof and intersecting the lower surface at an acute angle;
• a sheet of sandpaper having a triangularly-shaped central portion with three linear edges corresponding to the linear edges of the pad and flaps at the linear edges of the sheet;
• each of the flaps being folded with respect to the central portion along one edge of the central portion;
• the beveled surfaces being distributed around at least two linear edges of the pad so as to provide an inclined support for each of said flaps during use and the beveled surfaces present a sharp linear edge over which the sandpaper is folded;
• a handle connected to the appliance for supporting and controlling the movement of said appliance;
• at least one point with a triangularly-shaped cross-section at the intersection between the linear edges of the pad, at least two points being less than 90.degree. as seen in plan view;
• each triangularly-shaped point providing an acute projection on the linear periphery of the pad;
• each triangularly-shaped point being bounded on the sides by portions of the beveled surfaces, said portions of the beveled surfaces being inclined upwardly proceeding toward the center of the point;
• the beveled surfaces intersect at the top of each triangularly-shaped point along an inclined line of intersection proceeding outwardly and downwardly toward a tip portion of the point and at an acute angle to the lower surface;
• the sandpaper sheet includes a flat bottom portion contacting the bottom surface of the point and a pair of said flaps being folded upwardly and extending obliquely up the sides of the triangularly-shaped point and having upper free edges that are proximate to one another along said inclined line of intersection between the beveled surfaces, whereby the sandpaper flaps provide support and stability for the portion of the sheet below the point;
• and
• a rigid backing plate for supporting the pad, wherein the pad is constructed from a slightly resilient material having a flat upper surface, said backing plate being connected to said flat upper surface with the triangularly-shaped points and the linear edges extending unsupported outwardly beyond the rigid backing plate at least a distance equal to the beveled surfaces that are inclined at an oblique angle from each of the linear peripheral edges such that the elasticity of the points and linear edges permits the points and the linear edges to yield when the appliance is tilted with respect to a surface being sanded.