Disk package and retainer

1. A disk package and retainer for a disk having an open surface therethrough, which includes:

a plurality of fiber based disks, each said disk having an open surface therethrough and susceptible to curl and wherein said open surfaces of said disks are coaxially aligned to form a plurality of co-aligned open surfaces having a first axial length;

a first member having a laterally extending retention surface of a first radial length disposed adjacent a first side of one of said disks and adjacent said open surface of said one disk having a connecting surface generally normal to said laterally extending retention surface which is of a size and length to extend through said open surface a distance less than said first axial length and wherein said connecting surface of said first member includes a female threaded surface extending entirely through said first member;

a second member having a laterally extending retention surface of a radial length substantially that of said first radial length disposed adjacent another side of one of said disks and adjacent said open surface of said disk and having a connecting surface generally normal to said laterally extending retention surface which is of a size and length to extend from said another side through said open surface of said disk and cooperatively connect to said connecting surface of said first member through said open surface such that a distance between said first member and second member can be adjustably maintained in a manner to apply force from opposite sides of each said disk in a manner with generally equally distributed radial force on a central area of each said disk to substantially maintain each said disk in a relatively flat condition and wherein said connecting surface of said second member is a male threaded surface; and

which includes a package panel having an open surface which can be generally co-axially aligned with said open surface of one or more of said disks and disposed adjacent one or more of said disks between said first and second members and wherein said panel is paper based with a printable surface.

2. A disk package and retainer of claim 1 , wherein said disks are circular abrasive disks.

3. A disk package and retainer of claim 1 , wherein said retention surface of said first member includes a flange formed about said female threaded surface and said retention surface of said second member includes a flange formed about said male threaded surface.

4. A disk package and retainer of claim 3 , wherein each said flange includes a protruding surface upon which to grip for purposes of tightening and loosening said members.

5. A disk package and retainer of claim 1 , wherein each said disk is further characterized to have a nonworking side and a working side and said package panel is disposed adjacent a nonworking side of said disk.

6. A disk package and retainer of claim 1 , wherein at least two of said disks have nonworking surfaces disposed toward one another with working surfaces disposed away from one another.

7. A disk package and retainer of claim 1 , wherein said panel is of a size and rigidity to counteract forces of curl of said disks.

8. A method of preventing curl in a disk having an open surface therethrough wherein said disk is susceptible to curl to cause a working surface to orient convexly, including the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of fiber disks, each said fiber based disk having an open surface therethrough and susceptible to curl and wherein said open surfaces of said disks are coaxially aligned to form a plurality of co-aligned open surfaces having a first axial length;

(b) providing a first member having a laterally extending retention surface of a first radial length disposed adjacent a first side of one of said disks and adjacent said open surface of said disk having a connecting surface generally normal to said laterally extending retention surface which is of a size and length to extend through said open surface of a distance less than said first axial length and wherein said connecting surface of said first member includes a female threaded surface extending entirely through said first member, a second member having a laterally extending retention surface of a radial length substantially that of said first radial length disposed adjacent another side of one of said disks and adjacent said open surface of said disk having a connecting surface generally normal to said laterally extending retention surface which is of a size and length to extend from said another side through said open surface of said disk and wherein said connecting surface of said second member is a male threaded surface cooperatively connect to said connecting surface of said first member through said open surface such that a distance between said first member and second member can be adjustably maintained in a manner to apply force from opposite sides of each said disk in a manner with generally equally distributed radial force on a central area of each said disk to substantially maintain each said disk in a relatively flat condition;

(c) providing a paper based package panel with a printable surface between said first and second members, said package panel having an open surface and orienting said package panel adjacent a nonworking side of said one disk and generally co-axially aligning said open surfaces of said one or more disks and panel prior to adjustably connecting said members; and

(d) adjustably connecting said first and second members to apply said force to maintain each said disk relatively flat.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least two of said disks have nonworking surfaces disposed toward one another with working surfaces disposed away from one another and connecting said first and second members about outermost disposed of said disks.

10. A disk package and retainer for a disk having an open surface therethrough, which includes:

a plurality of fiber based disks, each said disk having an open surface therethrough and susceptible to curl and wherein said open surfaces of said disks are coaxially aligned to form a plurality of co-aligned open surfaces having a first axial length;

a first member having a laterally extending flat flange retention surface of a first radial length disposed adjacent a first side of one of said disks and adjacent said open surface of said one disk having a connecting surface generally normal to said laterally extending retention surface which is of a size and length to extend through said open surface a distance less than said first axial length and wherein said connecting surface of said first member includes a female threaded surface extending entirely through said first member; and

a second member having a laterally extending flat flange retention surface of a radial length substantially that of said first radial length disposed adjacent another side of one of said disks and adjacent said open surface of said disk and having a connecting surface generally normal to said laterally extending retention surface which is of a size and length to extend from said another side through said open surface of said disk and cooperatively connect to said connecting surface of said first member through said open surface such that a distance between said first member and second member can be adjustably maintained in a manner to apply force from opposite sides of each said disk in a manner with generally equally distributed radial force on a central area of each said disk to substantially maintain each said disk in a relatively flat condition and wherein said connecting surface of said second member is a male threaded surface.

11. A disk package and retainer of claim 10 , which includes a package panel having an open surface which can be generally co-axially aligned with said open surface of said disks and disposed adjacent one of said disks between said first and second members and wherein said panel is paper based with a printable surface.

12. A disk package and retainer of claim 11 , wherein each said disk is further characterized to have a nonworking side and a working side and said package panel is disposed adjacent a nonworking side of said disk.

13. A disk package and retainer of claim 11 , wherein said panel is of a size and rigidity to counteract forces of curl of said disks.

14. A disk package and retainer of claim 10 , wherein said disks are circular abrasive disks.

15. A disk package and retainer of claim 10 , wherein each said flange includes a protruding surface upon which to grip for purposes of tightening and loosening said members.

16. A disk package and retainer of claim 10 , wherein at least two of said disks have nonworking surfaces disposed toward one another with working surfaces disposed away from one another.