Foam plane

A foam plane apparatus for planing foam includes a frame, a cutting element mounted rotatably on the frame, and a motor on the frame for rotating the cutting element as a user moves the cutting element across a body of foam for purposes of planing the foam. The cutting element includes a drum that is directly coupled to the motor, and a plurality of longitudinally extending rows of radially protruding teeth on the drum that are accomplished with elongated blades mounted in slots in the drum. A retainer collar engages the blades in order to removably retain the blades in the slots while facilitating blade replacement. The motor is arranged on the frame to serve as one of two handles for the apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for planing foam, comprising:

a frame;

a cutting element mounted rotatably on the frame; and

means in the form of a motor on the frame for rotating the cutting element as a user moves the cutting element across a body of foam for purposes of planing the foam;

wherein the cutting element includes a drum rotatable mounted on the frame and a plurality of longitudinally extending rows of radially protruding teeth on the drum;

wherein the drum extends along an axis of rotation of the drum between first and second end portions of the drum, and the drum defines at least one longitudinally extending slot in the drum that extends between the first and second end portions of the drum;

wherein the cutting element includes at least one elongated blade having opposite first and second marginal edge portions extending between opposite first and second end portions of the blade, the blade is disposed within the slot in the drum, and the first marginal edge portion of the blade includes a plurality of teeth such that with the blade mounted in the slot in the drum, the teeth protrude radially outward from the drum; and

wherein the cutting element includes means in the form of at least a first collar on the first end portion of the drum for engaging the first end portion of the blade in order to removably retain the blade in the slot while facilitating blade replacement.

2. An apparatus for planing foam, comprising:

a frame;

a cutting element mounted rotatably on the frame; and

means in the form of a motor on the frame for rotating the cutting element as a user moves the cutting element across a body of foam for purposes of planing the foam;

wherein the cutting element includes a drum extending along an axis of rotation of the drum between first and second end portions of the drum, the drum defining at least one longitudinally extending slot in the drum that extends between the first and second end portions of the drum;

wherein the cutting element includes at least one elongated blade having opposite first and second marginal edge portions extending between opposite first and second end portions of the blade, said blade being disposed within the slot in the drum and the first marginal edge portion of the blade including a plurality of teeth such that with the blade mounted in the slot in the drum, the teeth protrude radially outward from the drum; and

wherein the cutting element includes means in the form of at least a first collar on the first end portion of the drum for engaging the first end portion of the blade in order to removably retain the blade in the slot while facilitating blade replacement.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the drum has six longitudinally extending slots at circumferentially spaced apart intervals on the drum, which slots are adapted to receive six blades.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the frame includes a handle adapted to function as a first handle for the apparatus; and

the motor is mounted on the frame in a position such that the motor is adapted to function as a second handle for the apparatus.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the drum includes means in the form of a second collar on the second end portion of the drum for engaging the second end portion of the blade.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the blade takes the form of a section of band saw blade.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the motor is a pneumatically powered motor.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the motor includes a threaded shaft that rotates when the motor is activated; and

the second end portion of the drum includes a threaded bore adapted to receive the threaded shaft of the motor in order to couple the drum to the motor.