US2550377A - Carpenter's readily cleanable hand plane - Google Patents

Description

April 24, 1951 E. PRATT CARPENTERS READILY CLEANABLE HAND PLANE v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 2, 194'( INVENTOR.

BY M l 5 f MM w ce 4 x W MM,

April 24, 1951 L, E, PRATT 2,550,377

FiledJune 2, 1947 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 24 1951 AIl.) NITED y #STAT EIS O FFICE j `CARPENTanis READILy *C'LEANABLE s y HAND PLANE VLawrence E. Pratt, eaforaaohimfninber derart,

A executrix ofLawrencehE; :Bram deceased,- assignorto Amber C. Pratt,` B'elford,Ohio

:Applicationiune 2, 19421,.-:seriailNo-i `v51-,1668A zThis `invention :frelates `to carpenters readily Acleanable hand planes-'for` planing wood.

AOrdinary hand planes While; in use tendtofplug kor loadnp with -shavings Vand do not do the work yfor which they are designed. This pluggingiforloadinggup'occurs inthe space-between the blade and the :adjacent'iorward edge of the' opening, slit or throat in the baseffor the blade. In many .instances-thav cutting-blade assembly must be removed inforder to clean out the plugged@` shavings. f The `planeinust then be reassembled and generally thel blade readjusted so as to make the proper cut. This mayoccur time and time again throughoutthe days work,thus taking up and wasting'considerable of the-carpenters 4or;`

-=operators time. K

It is `an `object of i this invention to produce a hand plane having provisiony for readily cleaning i, the sa-me oftheshavings caughttherein and any Adust or particles remain-ingina moments time and-.Without disturbance of theblades adjustment or possibility of damage thereto.

A further Objectis the provisionof a -plane of conventional form :and appearance which has been so-satisfactory to the artisans for so many years, and of substantially-the .same triedv and proven construction or `the planing operations,

Y but having lmeansvfor readily 'vcleaningthevsame `of thercaught shavings without .annoyance `to the user and practically withoutinterruption of the work and without detracting .from .the form, appearance, strength or structural-qualities of thev conventional plane.

A yfurther Vobject .isatheprovision `of `a plane in which the portion `of thebase` in .front loflthe blade may be .substantially instantly` removed .c and reinserted for cleaning .out thev shavings without fdisturbance offv the .blade assembly or `possibility .of Vdamage thereto.

A still furtherobject is theprovision of` such a plane inwhich the front .operating knob of the two-.hand vplane is Lcarried .bythe Vremovable plate Land serves'as a handle therefor in such removal and insertion, whereby' .the cleaning Vout of plugged shavings may be accomplishedwith ease, celerity andsaety, and Without the necessity of removal of the hands from the operating knobs or substantialV interference with the'planing` op-r eration. l Y

'Still further objects .and `advantages will =ap pear from the descriptionand claims to follow, in connectionfwith the accompanyingdrawing which li1lustrates,"by way of example and not of 'limitation;embodiments of the' invention;` and in which. -f

v1.4 claims. (rc1. V14s- 5) Fig.' ,1.1 a: slide elevation "of a f conventional aitwoghandyplane with the-'fore partfbrokenoaway l to.; show .this invention in longtudinal fcentral section;

- Fig. 2` is aibottom plane view. of thefnsame. and

showing 'the opening in z .the base in` aadvance` of `thea/:bladefand theremovable section orfl plate thereof; Y

Fig... 3-'is a side vievvof` the fron-tendini the'plane ,with the near side @member .broken` away "and the plane in section-iand the removablebasefsec- #tion or plate tipped up substantially asrit-iwould be-in yinserting it' into the plane body .oi-in re- :moving it-therefrom:

4 Fig. 4 is a cross section of the planeA onthe -plane,showingl: the: cross brace, thea-side members -lof the planeandfthe Vremovable plate-.in rrelation thereto when theaplateisv in the-plane readyzvfor Figi '8i is a `detailed perspectiveiview of thellockingl cam and its upper Iside constrluctionby which it' is securedein thefremovable plate andto vthe kno-b or `'handle' thereof;

Fig. 9 is a vsideview ofthe same; l'Figs. 10 and -llare` respectively vperspective .viewsof theplanebody and the removable plate,

the L two being `separated as-"they lwould*v be' `for cleaning out the cloggingshavingsj'the'plane libody Abeing `held-in one Lhand by its handleV "and ithe: `removable plate in the f 'otherd hand by its Aknob korhandlewhich. is the otherfh-andle bf the plane, whereby the obstructions :mayberrernoved i and the cleaning accomplished almost linstantaneously, withpractically no interruptioninathe work of `planing' andfwithmentiresafety tovthe cutting-edge of the' blade` and with noreadjustment of the latter for cutting inthe `use of the lane; and

Fig. 12 isa view similar-to Fig. 1 butshowi-ng :the removable vcleaning platev applied to a `small vone-hand'p-lane, that is, one that Adoes not-have 3 Y a front knob or handle for the use of the plane in planing.

Referring to these drawings, the plane shown is preferably of conventional type having a metal elongated narrow body 20 which may be cast and comprises the flat bottom or bottom member 2| and sides or side members 22 extending along the long opposite edges of the bottom. A wooden or equivalent handle 23 is secured to the top of the base or bottom 2| at the rear end and midway of the sides 22, and is grasped by the hand to manipulate the plane. The usual blade assembly is provided between the sides, including the blade 24, the guard plate 25 and clamp 26, the sheet metal triangular form 21 secured to a slightly raised part of the upper side of the base, on the sloping front side of which the blade rests and is carried, and the nut and lever adjustment 28 of the blade as well as its lateral adjusting lever 29 carried by said form 21 and by which the posi- 'tion of the blade and its cutting edge in the mouth or throat of the plane may be accurately adjusted. All of this may be, and as shown is, of

the usual construction in conventional planes.

' Such planes also have the cross brace 30 extending between the sides of the plane in advance of the blade, which strengthens the sides and body structure of the plane.

.In all planes the adjustment of the blade to vproduce the desired cut is important and so far 1 as possible, once set, should not'be tampered with. `The protection of the cutting edge of the blade .is most essential, since any injury thereto spoils -v`the work and makes it necessary to remove and resharpen or replace the blade and adjust it all over again. i

But such planes while in use .will plug or load up with shavings and prevent them from doing the work for which they were designed. This plugging or loading up occurs in the space between the blade and the edge of the base in front of the same in the opening through which the blade projects. This opening in the base is varii ously called the mouth or throat and the front edge thereof is usually slightly slanted upwardly and forwardly to provide room for the movement of the shavings as formed in the use of the plane.

In many instances the cutting blade assembly must be removed in order to clean out these plugged-in shavings. The plane then must be reassembled and generally the blade must bereadjusted so that it will again cut properly; and this may occur ,time and time again throughout the days work, thus taking up and wasting considerable of the carpenters time, aside from the annoyance to him or the operator.'`

In order ysimply and instantly to clean out r remove these plugged shavings from the plane f without disturbing the cutter blade assembly in thisinvention, a section of the working base of the plane in advance of the blade is made readily removable and replaceable, whereby the shavings may be freed and shaken or blown out and most Thus, as indicated in the drawings, a

of the plane and forwardly from the blade underneath the cross brace 30 to a point in advance of said vbrace and forming the edge 3| across the original or normal base of the plane which ex- -tends to the front end of the plane. The front end 0f the plane body is thus left substantially intact and not appreciably weakened by the base opening.

The removable section 32 of the base, which is relatively thick and heavy, accurately fits the said opening from said edge 3| rearwardly and substantially to the blade, the rearward edge of which section forms the front edge of the throat opening for the blade and is bevelled upward accordingly, as at 33. This section thus forms a rigid part of the working flat base or bottom of the plane when itis in position therein, and its lower surface is ground in assembly with the entire base of the plane body, so that it may be used with the greatest elciency therein.

This removable section 32 of the base, as shown, forms an offset end of a plate, the other end 35 of which is adapted to overlap or overle the forward end of the base plate of the plane when the base section is in place therein, the shoulder connecting the two lower surfaces forming edge 36 which abuts base edge 3|, as in Figs. 1 and 2, at such time. The forward edge of the plate 35 may extend to the forward edge of the base plate of the plane and be curved to conform thereto and bevelled or curved rearwardly at the edge to produce a rounded edge on the front of the plane when the plate is in place therein.

This offset plate is provided with a knob or handle 3l on its forward part and is adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from the plane through the space between said base edge 3| and the cross brace 36 when tipped up transversely to the plane, as indicated in Fig. 3. The two may be entirely separated and are intended so to be in normal cleaning, as shown in Figs. l0 and ll combined. The handle 37 serves as a means not only to manipulate this removable plate but as la front handle for the plane itself. It is preferably of similar size, shape and appearance as the conventional front handle of such planes and is used naturally in the same way by the carpenter in planing.

When the removable plate is in nal position I' lin the plane, the upper side of the rear end enrgages the lower edge of the cross brace 30 and is pressed up against the same as a stop, as later explained, andV such engagement preferably includes the slightly raised lug 38 on the upper side of the plate end 32'. This is a manufacturing convenience, since it renders unnecessary the acvcurate tting across the full width of the top of viding a slight space between the lower side of the end 35 ofthe plate and the upper face of the base plate 2| forward of said edge 3|. This may be Conveniently done by inclining the plane of said lower face of the end 35 slightly upward so as 't0 provide a slight clearance, as at 40, Fig. l, from the top of the base. The lower faces of the Vends 32 and 35 are therefore not in exact `parallelism. Accordingly, when the plate is in V,final position and the end 35 is pressed toward the base or clamped in that position, it acts like a lever fulcrumed at the edge 3| and stopped by the cross brace on the top of end 32, and the end 32,-the base sectionis exactly and rmly held in place. The plate is thus subjected to a bending moment or stress, and thus the base section is at' all times firmly and exa-ctly placed and held in position, acting practically as an integral use Y S """pi'tion-'ffthefbasefsd far `asf*-"c"onc':erns' the* and workingpffthe'plane:in planing.

rBesidesglsuch; a tclearance fand poised L-rnethod of holding the `platefbetween bearingsrenders nnecessary Vthe machining bf the upper vface of the "base (Whifchiinay- Ibe V`of cast metal) `v`at the 'frontend ofthe plane toprovidea-suitable seat for the end 35 of the plate, or tofmake-itatfthe exactangleto' be inparallelism withA thefbottom planebf fthe" base in' order to make the removable: sectionlfittfiush therewith.

' lWith such/ a"'1: oisecl plat means is 'provided 4^ct'mstaritly- 'to exert pressure ""orl pulliupon ltl'ietend'fSEi to force'iittdwardthe. I""'base' 2| beneath `it. This-may 'take -`the forml of springpress'ed balls 4I seated in 'the-fopposite `"si'de` edgesof theend -35of said plate. V"These Aballs areseated in holes in said edges ori-relatively Vstrong coil springstl'ierein,I the metalbf the edges jbeing' upset toward the balls `outsidethe medial Vplanes"thereof so U'as to preventth-e balls 'from being sprungout' the holes when the `plate vor its end 35 is outsidethe side members 22 of the "iplane body. At :the same timethe'balls project 4`"appreciably Vbeyond'the saidl edges'when'not 'comi 'pres'sed. "Co-operatin `p ssionsor receses42'in'the inside faceslof the '"sides "'22M of 'the'bodywhich are so located with f 'referenceftoV the 'balls whenthe end plate'35 Vis in nalposition' that 4-thefb'alls constantly tend to """forceir pullthe'f'end 35' ofthe plate toward ythe 'base' plate "2 I; whereby the said removable plate "is placedun'der abending stress and isV exactly "held"imposition'overtheedge 3|' as a fu'lorum and 'under `the"ero'ss'brace as 'aston This" method of holding I'therernovable section A.of the base in working position suffices for small blockor nefh'andf'planes vsuch as'that'of "Fig, 12, Where thereis no" front `knob to begrasped by the hand ofi the operator during planing' or in vv-hijch` the' front knob maybe' supported other- "Wise-'than on"'the"`f"r'ont `end of therernovable "platefb'ut' Where, ashere; "the front knob is lo- `atedon the'front "end 'ofthe said platefit is preferredth'at'a vspecial'or 'positive lock orretainingfinean's be'pr'ovided for"s aid' 'plate' when in" its vrhonie position! Thus, 'inl its present preferredform, a otary'm'ir dSc-likformis lo'c'atedin a Shallow recess-in the under side of said end35 'of the .-p1ate"a`1d`i"s` S'eollid Vtothe handlhS'l brthe handleis' seci'iredfto'it,` as will be explained; so that "the cam may be rotated thrugh its clamping and locking arc by the handle. This cam is arranged to'engagef'or disengage, Yin such rotation, a clamping Yand locking lug Tor boss on the base, whereby the handle not onlyserves for the manipulation `of the removable plate andthe operation of the plane but'also as a lock operating'means foi' the plate.

` Ilhedvic'e itself is comparativelysimple. The cam member/and its ,handle-engaging means is `1 .shoivmyin perspective finmFg. 8,infside View in ``Eig.` 9, inac'rosssection of the assembly in Fig. l,

g with saidjbaus are su-itabiedeand in" therelation -of the locking `carri-to `the 6 "Ickng1ugi'tigs- 5 and l6.

` As seen infFigs'. Sand 9`,`the locking'ni'e'mber 4hasV an enlarged disc-likeflower 'end 43 with a sloping cam edge "44 'extending substantially' half way 'around the 'same and a bearing `po1'1tion'45 4and sleeve Ior 'shaft portion' 46, an"int'ernally "threaded" hole""xtending axiallythro'ugh the 'memberi 'and the'stem or" shaftportion, as indicated; being externanyffluted er 'straight knunea.

e, -suitabletension v base. The' cam 44fon the disc `43 is'wifde'enoughl Ato reach into thejund'ercut l53 ofthe'boss" 152 and '4` under the? overhangingthead of theboss.

The Yresult A`is vthatyvhen the lock'is turned by ithe handlegsayftoithe"leftyuntil it 'strikeslthe pin 41' '(Fig. '5); theend '3 5 of 'the removable plate "maybe raised 'or' lowered 'freeof theboss' 5 2; and "'Whe`n`the said'end "ofthe plate is' down on'the "ba'se, bythe" turning of "the handleto the right "the'thin edge of'the 'sloping 'cam 44J is caused to '"enter" beneath "the"'overhanging 4head of boss '52 "and asthe'turning' cntinues the head rides up 45 on the camjtheextreme positi'onbeing indicated "inFigL '6; andthe "said 'end of the removable plate p is .'r'mly A"clamped and ldck'ed to the planejthe base "section 'of the plate being ir'mly'heldin position by thbendinginoment orstress'therecnfolf'the* damping action.' This wakingand unlocking of the plate 'lis' by a simple"fractional turn of'the" handle '6r 'knObV 3'l"a"ndmay be readily"aic'd'rrnfli'shed by aslight 'twist `of the Wrist vvhile holding the knob in the hand "forthe 55. purpose'of removing or insertingthe pliate'in the plane. Itlisthus practically automatic andvery effective. y

As heretfore'stated," the cutting edge "of the blade is protected Ve'igain'st contact Vwith theremovable plate in the-manipulation of the latter" in being taken out .of'and insertedin 'the' plane body' in'order to clean out the plugged 'shavings andfdebris. This is preferabl'y` provided 'fo-r by the "curved 'cam'surface AEll on the uppenside of thefplatebackffof the handle or knob"31 and in -front of the cross brace"3ll when the plateis in position. N"This curved' surface is adapted toV l"strike agair'istv the. "cross brace and pushes' the Tsaid plate "forwardly 'agaii 1s1 ;V the` edge 3|'as`the plate'ls rotated `forwardly after being inserted' in theiplane.This/keeps the plate out of Contact AWith or'str'iking againstjtheblade edge; Similailymvvheri"rtatingthe" platetoward the" open position toft'a'ke i't outfthasame "cam" surface 7 keeps it back and away from the cutting edge of the blade.

The spring balls, though not necessary in this two-handed plane for `holding the removable plate under stress in its final position during planing, do have a beneficial effect in tending to urge the plate to its final position in which the lock can be operated by the handle, in centralizing the plate between the side rails 22 of the plane when the plate after being dropped into the plane is rotated about the edge 3| by pressing forwardly on the handle 31, and also in riding forwardly for a short distance along the top edges of the side rails in the first part of the rotative movement of the plate resulting from the forward pressure on the handle' to seat the plate, this riding along insuring the lifting and pulling of the shouldered edge 36 of the plate up and forwardly against the fulcrum edge 3| of the base and keeping it there in the initial forward rotative movement of the plate and handle toward seating position. Fig. 3 illustrates what is meant, the balls 4| resting on the tops of side rails 22 when the plate is rst inserted in the plane. They may act as stops to prevent the plate from passing too far through the opening when inserted therein transversely of the plane, and then, if it hangs loosely therein, ride along the tops of the rails at the rst forward pressure on the handle and thus keep the shoulder 36 up against the edge 3|. This makes for ease and certainty of operation without care or attention on the part of the operator.

The lower corner edges along the raised end 35 of the plate are preferably slightly curved, as at 6| (Figs. 5, 6 and 11), for ease vof entrance of said end between the sides 22 of the body when being turned down to final Position and to avoid obstruction by the corner fillets in the casting, as at 62 (Fig. 10). The corners at the juncture of the cross brace 36 with the side rails 22 of the plane are usually rounded or have fillets, and the corners of the cam 66 on the upper side of the removable plate are likewise rounded, as indicated in'dotted lines at 63 in Fig. 2.

The Voperation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing. With the removable section in place, the plane is used in the usual manner of the conventional two-hand plane, the main handle 23 being grasped in one hand, usually the right hand, and the other handle or knob 31 being held in the other hand. Although this knob 31 is located on the removable section or plate, it serves in the normal way as the front handle of the plane in working. So far as this is concerned, the knob or handle 31 is substantially the same and located in substantially the same place at the front end of the plane as in the conventional plane with which the carpenter is familiar.

When the plane plugs up with shavings, `all the carpenter has to do is to give the front handle a little twist and lift the removable plate free from the plane. This he may do without letting go of the handles of the plane; the partial twist of the handle 31 unlocking the cam 44 inthe removable plate from the lug 52 on the base, and the assembly is `not touched or removed or its adjust- 8 ment interferred with and does not have to be replaced, reassembled or readjusted.

The removal of the plate from the plane, as stated, permits the shavings to fall free and any dust or particles may be easily removed from the plane or plate by a quick shake of either or both while still holding them in the hands, or by blowing upon them.

The plate is then inserted in the space in advance of the cross brace by tipping it up relatively to the plane and inserting it transversely therethrough, which may readily be done without releasing either part of the plane from the hands, and then pushing forwardly on the handle 31 and giving it a slight twist when the end 35 is seated. The operator need exercise no especial care in doing this. The spring balls 4|, the cam 60 and the cross brace 30 all prevent things going wrong, and the removable base section 32 is snugly landed in its proper position as a part of the working base of the plane and is firmly held therein in a state of stress between the cross brace and the fulcrum edge 3| of the base.

This is all done in a few seconds of time and the Iwork of planning is scarcely interrupted, and is all accomplished without any interference with or readjustment of the plane blade assembly or injury to the cutting edge of the blade. Moreover, the plane body is not weakened practically by the short removable section of the base, since the fore part of the base, the sides and cross brace remain intact, the same as. in the usual plane. The front handle is sturdily applied, the removable plate as a whole is of relatively heavy construction, and is rmly held in place so that the removable section of the base forms a part vof the plane base for all normal working and purposes. Y

For small one-hand planes such as that indicated in Fig. 12, where there is no front working handle of the planer, the same construction of removable plate may be employed as in the twohand plane described, with the exception that the spring balls alone may be relied on to hold the plate in position under tension over the edge of the base plate as a fulcrum and under the cross brace as a stop, and a small knob or nger piece is attached to the plate to assist in its removal and replacement. No other lock need be provided.

Thus, as indicated in said Fig. 12,v the spring balls 1B, corresponding to and the same as balls 4| in the rst form, are provided and they oper- 4ate in the same way as described for balls 4|. The cam disc lock and handle on the plate are omitted and a small knob, as linger piece 1|, may be attached to the upper side of the forward end of said removable plate. The cross brace 12 is indicated in dotted lines and corresponds to the cross brace 30 of the first form. The construction, arrangement and operation are the same as in the first form except for absence of lock and handle. In use, when the plane becomes clogged with shavings, it may be readily cleaned by pulling the plate by the knob or finger piece 1| into its tipped-up position, the oifset shoulder and base plate edge acting as a fulcrum lfor such rocking of the plate. The plate is then withdrawn from the plane by the fingers grasping the knob, the shavings shaken or blown out, and the plate returned to the plane by rst inserting it transversely in advance of the cross brace and then pressing its upper end forwardly to rock it over the fulcrum edge and shoulder into position. The spring'balls and their recesses in the side memunder Y stressl overl` he" iulcrum-e and under the bersfof the-planegga'siy eXplainedinl-connection withV 1 the rstliormrs holdthe plate in inal position;

the-l 1plane,=apositive-locklike= or corresponding to thatofthe ii-rst. form is -`not needed, although one could be suppliedg'ii' desi-red,-an-d suitably:

operated-by the finger-piece -Tl Y Further description of this type of pla-ne of diierence Yfrom Vthat described"-v in detail above; save for size, is in the omissionof the'positive lcamlock` and! the handle; which forms-` the frontl operating handley of the plane;`

- 1ig.-12Y is deemedunnecessary',` sinceyas stated, the c Having thus described theinvention, what.v is claimed and desiredto Abe Ysecured by Letters'V Patent is: Y

1v; A lhand 'plane comprising' an elongated trough-"likeA` Vmetal body having a 'f planing" base with an openingrtherein and side members along the base, acutting blade` assembly, andI operating handle mounted on the' bodyvvith they blade pro*- jecting through ther-saidl opening,` a--relatively heavyv removableV pla-te having; transversely offset rend portions lyingV in 4diiiferent planes; one' end portion of which'plateis adapted to' ftand ll irl-*saidopeningirrthebaseiorward of the-blade toform aportion of thesaidplaningbase',.a back stop abutted by Vthe-upperside of said one end portion of said plate whenftherlatter is in planing position int said openingpinA thebaseythe other endA portion 'of-which-plate is adapted toV overlie thebasein advar-icefofjzsaidlY opening and rocl ably to bear *upon the yedge ,of the base at said opening,H landclamping-means to press the said overlying-end `portion of: said plate -towardfthe base and therebytheother"endeportion of said plate lip/againstmsaid-back-stop inl planing position in said opening,y Ythe widths of saidopeningr in thef'baseand of said plate enabling-thefsaid plate when unclamped to be inserted into the l plane or withdrawn therefrom from the top side of theeplane and to 4rock about` saidforward edgeI offsaid opening asa fulcruminv being inserted and positioned in or withdrawnfrom the plane.

2."]E.'he\deviceroi` claim 1 in which'theforward overlying-end portionof-4 said removable `plate when in planing position is slightly spacedv from`A the base-in-'advancef-of the said fulcrum edge,` A

and the clamping means places said plate in a state- `of` stress overithe said'iulcru-m and underv the said back-stop accurately' andflrmlyfto holdv thesaid one-end portion ofy said plate in planing position in theeaidopening'in the base.

3. -A hand Aplane comprising an elongated trough-like metal body Vhaving a planing base with an openingl therein andV side members along thesrbase, a cutting bladerassembly andoperating handle mounted on the body With-:atheablade pro-` i jecting through-@the sa-idfopening, a cross brace between the side members spaced in front of the cutting# blade, lsaid opening-extending forwardly ofsaidbrace; a relatively heavy removable -platew having l transversely` off-setend portions lying ine different planes, one end portion of which plate is adapted to fit and ll in said opening in the base forwardly of the blade to form a portion of the said planing base, the other end portion `of which plate is adapted to overlie the base in advance of said` opening and rockably to bear upon theedge of the kbase at said opening,l and clamping` means to press the said overlying end portion of said plate toward the base and the said oneend portiorr up against .said bracevin, planing position', .the widths of saidlopening in the base;`

and of said plate' enabling the said-plate ,to

be inserted into the plane `orxwithdrawn there-1 from-:through thetop sidefof the -planefvand-to rock about, saidforward vedge of saidopening; as

a fulcrumin beingfinserted andrpositioned inor withdrawn fromthe plane. Y

4. The device ofclairn 3 in which the forward overlying end portion of said removable plate when in planingpositiony is slightly tilted up. from .the base in advance of said fulcrum edge,pwhereby the clamping means whentight-l ened stressestlie said plate over said fulcrum` edge andgund'er saidl braceto hold thesaid one end portion of. said plate irmly and laccurately in said opening in thezbase.

5. A `hand plane comprising an *Y elongated@` trough-like metal bodyV withta planingbaseand; opening therein and side members. along the base, y

a cutting blade assembly and operating handle;

mounted on the bodyV with theblade: projecting; i through 4the saidopening and a cross bracecbetween the side members suitably spaced in front of. the blade; said opening extending fromthe blade to a point forwardly of said cross brace,V

a relatively heavy removable plate having laterally oisetend portions lying indifferent planesiy oneend portion of whichplate isradapted. to.'

fit and ill insaidA opening in the base forwardly of the blade to formga portion ofthe planing base'and .thefrontuedge of.a blade ,throatfthe other and forward end portio-n of which plate is adapted to overlie theI base: in advanceof said opening and to bear upon the vfront edge of said opening, said forward portion :of'saidplate being slightly spaced Vfrom?.thepbaseziorward of; saidff:

edge of the/openingwhen the plate isinY planing position .in saidxopeningg. said plate being; adapted;

to be inserted transverselyinthe plane from the top throughltne spaceebetweenthe cross brace and.. the front `.edge of said opening and then Ltoi-'y `beV rockable about saidledge-V into planing posi-:ifv tion andto be wthdrawni from Athe plane in they :l

same wayffor cleaningzpurposes butin the revers-e:

order, said plate having vacam portionron its; upper side engaging the...said. brace during such: rocking movement to guide theplate into and out;

of` its planing position and: prevent contact of the plate with thevsaidyblade, said plate vwhen in planing position bearingi against: saidy brace as a back stop' and upon saidedge of the opening in. the bas-e as a fulcrum,pand clamping means toL` urge.. the overlying end of said `plate toward. thel lloase to placesaidlplate.under. bending `Astressv.. overfsaidz fulcrum edge aridv under said bracetightly to hold said one end portionof, the plate L in planing. positioninfthe` said opening. .inrthe base;

platessaid knob servinglas a handle for themanipulation of the. plate in its removal from the y plane for cleaning purposes-and its reinsertion in the plane .for planing, said knob also Yservin asranv operating front k-nob lof 1 the `Vplane linie.

6.The device oflclaim 5 having a knobicarried' i by said overlying end portion of said removable to be engaged by said 'cam to press and clamp the said overlying end portion toward the base.

9. A hand plane comprising an elongated trough-like metal body with a planing base having an opening and side members along the base, a cutting blade assembly and operating handle mounted in the plane with the blade projecting through the said opening and a cross brace between the said sides suitably spaced in front of the blade, said opening extending between the sides and from the blade to a point forwardly of saidcross brace, a relatively heavy removable plate having laterally offset end portions lying in different planes, one end portion of which plate is adapted to t and ll in said opening in the base in front of the blade to form a portion of the plane base and the other end portion of which plate is adapted to overlie the base in advance of said opening and rockably bearing upon the edge of the base at said opening, said plate being adapted to be inserted transversely into the plane from the top through the space between the cross brace and the front edge of said opening in the base and to be withdrawn therefrom, said plate being rockable over said edge as a fulcrum to position the said one end portion in said opening for planing, said plate when in planing'position bearing against said brace as a stop on theone side and upon said edge of the base as a fulcrum on the other side, and spring-pressed balls in the edges of said overlying end portion of the said plate engaging sockets therefor in the adjacent sides of the plane to hold the plate tightly in its planing position.

10. A plane having the features of construction set forth in claim 9 in which said balls are adapted to engage the top edges of the side members of the plane when the said plate is inserted transversely into the plane, thereby tending to limit the extent of such insertion and then to ride along said top edges when the plate is initially rocked toward planing position whereby to tend to hold the said plate in rocking position over said fulcrum edge, said balls being depressed by said side members in the further rocking of said plate to planing position, the said sockets and the bores containing the spring-pressed balls being out of axial alignment to produce a camming action of the balls in the sockets to hold the said plate under tension in planing position.

11. A hand plane having a planing base, a blade assembly in the plane, the base having an opening forming a throat for the blade, a removable section of the base lling in a portion of said opening' in advance of the blade, a rigid holding member rigidly attached to said section and extending forwardly over the base in advance of said section, a hand knob carried by and secured to said member, said holding member and base section being rockable as a unit over the edge portion of the base at the forward end of said opening to swing the section down out of the base to free impacted shavings or the like in the plane and to swing the said section back into place in the base for planing after such cleaning,

andguiding means for preventing contact ofthe section with the blade in such movements.

` 12. A hand plane having a planing base, ablade assembly in the plane, the Abase having an opening forming a throat for the blade, a removable section of the base filling in a portion of said opening, a holding member rigidly attached to said section and extending forwardly over the base in advance of 'said section, said holding member and base section being rockable as a unit over an edge of the base at the said opening to swing the section down out of the base to free impacted shavings or the like in the plane and to swing the said section back into place in the base for planing after such cleaning, a stop member in the plane over said section against which the section abuts when in planing position in the base, and means to clampingly press the said holding member toward the base to hold the said base section tightly in planing position against said stop. Y

13. A hand plane having a planing base, a blade assembly in the plane, the base having an opening forming a throat for the blade, a removable section of the base filling in a portion of said opening, a holding member rigidly attached to said section and extending forwardly over the base in advance of said section, said holding member and base section being rockable as a unit over an edge of the base at the said opening to swing the section down out of the base to free impacted shavings or the like in the plane and to swing the said section back into place in the base for planing after such cleaning, a stoprmember over said section, and a cam portion on the top of said section and holding member adapted to engage said stop member to prevent contact of said section with the blade in the manipulation of the section and holding member with respect to the plane and longitudinally to position the said section in the base for planing.

14. A hand plane having a planing base, a blade assembly in the plane, the said base having an opening forming a throat for the blade, a removable section of the base filling in a portion of said opening, a forwardly extending holding member rigidly secured to said' section by a jogged connection, said member adapted to overlie the base forwardly of said opening, a cross brace above said section, saidV jogged connection forming a cam on the upper side of said section and member adapted to engage said brace and prevent contact of the section with the blade in the insertion and withdrawal of the section to and from its planing position in the base.

LAWRENCE E. PRATT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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