Cutlery – Cutting tools – Saw
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-04
2001-05-22
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Cutting tools
Saw
C030S337000, C083S699210, C279S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233833
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to saws and more particularly relates to reciprocating saws that are used typically for rough cutting applications and relates to clamps for clamping the blade in the saw.
Reciprocating saws are used by variety of tradesmen such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters for both remodeling and new construction. Many of the applications require the saw to be used in confined locations that restrict the maneuverability of the saw. Conventionally such saws have an elongated, integral housing and have the blade fixed for reciprocation in a single plane. One known way for increasing the maneuverability of the saw is to make the blade clamp and drive rotatable about the axis of reciprocation of the output shaft of the saw. As a result the blade can be rotated into any angular orientation about the axis of reciprocation permitting the blade to more easily positioned for cutting in a corner or adjacent to the vertex of an angular workpiece. Examples of such saws are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,281 and PCT application WO94/00264. These approaches requiring the drive shaft to be rotatable about its axis of reciprocation are complex and have not proved to be practical.
Another approach is to make the blade holder capable of receiving the blade in a plurality of cutting planes parallel to the axis of reciprocation. An example of this approach is disclosed in European patent application 0,072,282. The clamp has a plate connected to the output shaft with screws. To change blade orientation between 90° offset cutting planes requires removing the plates by unscrewing the screws, changing the blade orientation, rotating the plate 180° and then reattaching the plate to the shaft. While simpler and more practical, this approach still fails to achieve the desired level of simplicity.
A further strong design preference in power tools today is to develop keyless chucks and clamps which do not require tools for clamping and unclamping an accessory bit or blade in the power tool. A keyless clamp is desirable because it is normally easier to use and can be used without auxiliary tools which frequently become misplaced or lost. As used herein, a keyless clamp means a clamp that can be opened and closed without the aid of an auxiliary tool by manual adjustment of the clamp segments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has multiple aspects. According to one aspect of the present invention, a clamp for a reciprocating saw comprises a clamp body for connection to an output shaft of the saw. A channel is formed in the body for receiving a blade oriented relative to the channel alternatively in first and second, intersecting cutting planes.
Preferably the channel has a pair of intersecting slots for slidably receiving the blade in first and second cutting planes. The blade may be oriented in the first cutting plane with the teeth facing in the same direction as the bottom or top of the clamp body and may be oriented in the second cutting plane with the teeth facing in the same direction as the right or left sidewall of the clamp body.
Preferably the clamp has a retainer located in a track of the clamp body and manually movable between clamp engaged and disengaged positions. The clamp may also comprise a manual release for moving the retainer between the clamp engaged and disengaged positions. The release is preferably U-shaped with a pair of legs which are pivotally connected to the clamp body and receive opposed tips of the retainer.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a reciprocating saw comprises a housing, a motor in the housing, a gear train driven by the motor and an output shaft driven by the gear train. A blade clamp, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention described above, is connected to and driven by the output shaft.
Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from reviewing the appended claims.
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Grant Jeffrey P.
Melvin Jason R.
Black & Decker Inc.
Leary Michael P.
Rachuba M.
Shapiro Bruce S.
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