Cutlery – Bench plane
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-03-27
Payer, Hwei-Siu (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Bench plane
C030S286000, C144S251100, C206S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205668
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to construction tools, and more particularly to a protective cover for a carpenter's hand plane which allows the plane to be stored without retracting the cutting iron into the plane.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Carpenter's hand planes are used quite frequently for a large number of different projects. Generally, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a carpenter's hand plane, generally indicated at
10
, includes a sole
12
, including a smooth bottom surface, a tote
14
and a front knob
16
for handling the plane
10
, and a cutting assembly, including a cutting iron
18
, a cap iron
20
, a lever cap
22
, an adjustment knob
24
and an adjustment lever
26
. Adjustment knob
24
and lever
26
operate to adjust the position of the cutting iron
18
through a throat or slot (not shown) in the sole
12
of the plane
10
.
In use, the cutting iron is positioned so that it protrudes outwardly from the sole approximately {fraction (1/32)}″ to {fraction (1/16)}″. When the plane is not in use, the cutting iron
18
is retracted into the sole
12
in order to protect the cutting iron
18
. In order for the plane to work properly, the cutting iron must be kept extremely sharp. This is the reason that the cutting iron
18
must be retracted into the sole
12
when the plane is not in use. However, due the precise tolerances necessary for proper operation of the plane
10
, it can become tedious and time-consuming to have to re-measure and adjust the extension of the cutting iron
18
every time the plane is to be used. Furthermore, even with the cutting iron
18
fully retracted, the possibility of damage to the cutting iron
18
still exists, especially when the plane
10
is stored with other tools, as the other tools could still damage the cutting iron by extending through the throat of the sole
12
and into contact with the cutting iron
18
. These other tools could also damage the bottom surface of the sole
12
, which can adversely affect the operation of the plane
10
.
What is needed therefore is a device which eliminates the need for retracting the cutting iron after every use and which also protects the cutting iron and the sole of the plane from damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a protective cover for a carpenter's hand plane. The protective cover comprises a rectangular base plate having dimensions which are substantially similar to the dimensions of the sole of a standard hand plane. Located along each of the long sides of the base plate are side walls which taper inwardly as they extend from the base plate. In use, the sole of the plane is aligned with the end of the protective cover and is then slid onto the base plate between the side walls of the cover. Due to the tapering of the side walls, the sole of the plane is wedged between the side walls, thereby holding the cover on the plane due to the friction between the side walls and the sole. The cover may include a recess in which the cutting iron resides when the cover is installed on the plane and the recess may include a number of ridges with which the blade interfaces in order to keep the cover from sliding off of the sole of the plane. The protective cover eliminates the need to retract the cutting iron and also protects the bottom of the sole.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a protective cover for a carpenter's plane is disclosed. The cover includes a base plate having an upper surface and a width which is substantially similar to a width of the carpenter's plane and opposing side walls having a lower portion attached to opposing edges of the base plate and which extend away from the opposing edges of the base plate to an upper portion of the side walls, the side walls tapering inwardly, toward each other, as they extend away from the base plate. The cover is constructed such that when the cover is in an installed position on the plane, the upper portions of the side walls are flexed outwardly by the plane, resulting in an inward force being applied to the plane by the upper portions of the side walls, the inward force thereby holding the cover in place on the plane. When the cover is in the installed position on the plane, the base plate is operative for covering a cutting iron of the plane.
The base plate includes a recess formed in the upper surface thereof, the recess being constructed and arranged for receiving the cutting iron of the plane when the protective cover is in the installed position. The base plate further includes a number of ridges disposed on a lower surface of the recess, the number of ridges lying transverse to the opposing side walls and being constructed and arranged for engaging the cutting iron when the cover is in the installed position.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the combination of a carpenter's hand plane and a protective cover for the carpenter's hand plane is disclosed, the carpenter's hand plane comprising a sole having a cutting iron protruding through a throat in the sole. The protective cover comprises a base plate having an upper surface and a width which is substantially similar to a width of the carpenter's plane and opposing side walls having a lower portion attached to opposing edges of the base plate and which extend away from the opposing edges of the base plate to an upper portion of the side walls.
Other features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1958600 (1934-05-01), Wright
patent: 2049718 (1936-08-01), Pearson
patent: 2232409 (1941-02-01), Salzsieder
patent: 3172202 (1965-03-01), Sooter
patent: 4373628 (1983-02-01), Dantes
patent: 4476630 (1984-10-01), Byrne
patent: 4777722 (1988-10-01), Trotta
Payer Hwei-Siu
Salter & Michaelson
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