U.S. patent application number 11/282096 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-20 for chop saw.
Invention is credited to Maria I. Kenyon, Dary S. Meredith, Gregg L. Sheddy, Steven A. Shull.
Application Number | 20060156883 11/282096 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29735293 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060156883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kenyon; Maria I. ; et
al. |
July 20, 2006 |
Chop saw
Abstract
A saw including a base, a trunnion pivotally attached to the
base, a pivot arm pivotally attached to the trunnion, a saw
assembly supported by the pivot arm, the saw assembly including a
motor, a blade driven by the motor, an upper blade guard for
covering an upper part of the blade, and at least one of a lower
blade guard pivotally attached to the upper blade guard for
covering a lower part of the blade and a rear blade guard attached
to the upper blade guard, and a fence assembly comprising a fixed
fence attached to the base, and a movable fence movably attached to
the fixed fence, wherein the movable fence has a stepped portion
for limiting lateral movement of the at least one of the lower
blade guard and the rear blade guard.
Inventors: |
Kenyon; Maria I.;
(Taneytown, MD) ; Meredith; Dary S.; (Hampstead,
MD) ; Shull; Steven A.; (Parkville, MD) ;
Sheddy; Gregg L.; (Shrewsbury, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION
701 EAST JOPPA ROAD, TW199
TOWSON
MD
21286
US
|
Family ID: |
29735293 |
Appl. No.: |
11/282096 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10191681 |
Jul 9, 2002 |
6994007 |
|
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11282096 |
Nov 17, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
83/468.7 ;
83/471.3; 83/473; 83/478; 83/490; 83/581 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 83/7705 20150401;
B27B 27/04 20130101; B23D 45/044 20130101; Y10T 83/7788 20150401;
Y10T 83/7734 20150401; Y10T 83/8773 20150401; Y10T 83/7697
20150401; B23D 59/005 20130101; Y10T 83/7647 20150401; B27G 19/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
083/468.7 ;
083/471.3; 083/473; 083/478; 083/490; 083/581 |
International
Class: |
B26D 7/02 20060101
B26D007/02; B26D 5/08 20060101 B26D005/08 |
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. A saw comprising: a base; a pivot arm pivotally attached to the
base; a saw assembly supported by the pivot arm, the saw assembly
including a motor, a blade driven by the motor, an upper blade
guard for covering an upper part of the blade, and a lower blade
guard pivotally attached to the upper blade guard for covering a
lower part of the blade; and a guard lock mechanism comprising a
body pivotally connected to the upper blade guard, the body being
movable between a first position contacting the lower blade guard
and a second position bypassing the lower blade guard; wherein at
least one of the body and the lower blade guard has teeth for
contacting the other of the body and the lower blade guard.
10. The saw of claim 9, wherein the other of the body and lower
blade guard has teeth for contacting the one of the body and the
lower blade guard.
11. The saw of claim 9, further comprising a spring for biasing the
body towards the first position.
12. The saw of claim 9, wherein the body is pivoted about an axis
substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the blade.
13. The saw of claim 9, further comprising a fixed fence attached
to the base, and a movable fence movably connected to the fixed
fence, the movable fence having a stepped portion.
14. A saw comprising: a base; a pivot arm pivotally attached to the
base; a saw assembly supported by the pivot arm, the saw assembly
including a motor, a blade having an axis of rotation and being
driven by the motor, an upper blade guard for covering an upper
part of the blade, and a lower blade guard pivotally attached to
the upper blade guard for covering a lower part of the blade; and a
guard lock mechanism comprising a body pivotally connected to the
upper blade guard, the body being movable between a first position
contacting the lower blade guard and a second position bypassing
the lower blade guard; wherein the body is pivoted about an axis
substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the blade.
15. The saw of claim 14, wherein the other of the body and lower
blade guard has teeth for contacting the one of the body and the
lower blade guard.
16. The saw of claim 14, further comprising a spring for biasing
the body towards the first position.
17. The saw of claim 14, wherein at least one of the body and the
lower blade guard has teeth for contacting the other of the body
and the lower blade guard.
18. The saw of claim 14, further comprising a fixed fence attached
to the base, and a movable fence movably connected to the fixed
fence, the movable fence having a stepped portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE SPECIFICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/191,681, filed Jul. 9, 2002, now
pending.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to chop saws and
specifically to miter saws.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Chop saws and miter saws designed for cutting a workpiece
are well known in the art. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a miter saw 10
typically has a base 11, which may include a rotatable table 12
rotatably attached to base 11. A pivot arm 14 is pivotally attached
to a trunnion 13, to allow a chopping function. Trunnion 13 in turn
may be pivotally attached to the base 111 and/or table 12, to allow
the trunnion 13 and pivot arm 14 to pivot relative to the base
11.
[0004] The pivot arm 14 carries a saw assembly which includes motor
housing 20H, a motor 20M disposed in motor housing 20H, a blade 17
driven by motor 20M, an upper blade guard 15 covering an upper part
of the blade 17, and a lower blade guard 16 pivotally attached to
upper blade guard 15 for covering a lower part of the blade 17. A
link 16L may connect lower blade guard 16 to trunnion 13 so that,
as the saw assembly is pivoted downwardly to cut a workpiece
disposed on base 11 and/or table 12, the lower blade guard 16
rotates and exposes the blade 17, as is well known in the art.
[0005] The pivot arm 14 may also carry a rear blade guard 21, which
is typically made of metal.
[0006] A fence assembly 19 may be provided on both sides of blade
17. Persons skilled in the art are referred to the fence assemblies
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,297,463 and 5,733,148, which are
wholly incorporated herein by reference. Fence assembly 19 has a
fixed fence 19F disposed on base 11, a movable fence 19M slidably
disposed on fixed fence 19F, and a screw 19S for fixing the
position of movable fence 19M relative to fixed fence 19F.
[0007] It is possible that when the user has beveled the saw
assembly, i.e., pivoted the trunnion 13 relative to table 12, and
pivots the saw assembly downwardly, the lower blade guard 16 or
rear guard 21 may contact the movable fence 19M. Because the
movable fence 19M typically has an inclined edge 19ME, the lower
blade guard 16 and/or rear guard 21 may be forced into contact with
blade 17, which could ultimately cut the lower blade guard 16
and/or rear guard 21.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, an improved chop
saw is employed. The saw includes a base, a trunnion pivotally
attached to the base, a pivot arm pivotally attached to the
trunnion, a saw assembly supported by the pivot arm, the saw
assembly including a motor, a blade driven by the motor, an upper
blade guard for covering an upper part of the blade, and at least
one of a lower blade guard pivotally attached to the upper blade
guard for covering a lower part of the blade and a rear blade guard
attached to the upper blade guard, and a fence assembly comprising
a fixed fence attached to the base, and a movable fence movably
attached to the fixed fence, wherein the movable fence has a
stepped portion for limiting lateral movement of the at least one
of the lower blade guard and the rear blade guard.
[0009] Additional features and benefits of the present invention
are described, and will be apparent from, the accompanying drawings
and the detailed description below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments
of the invention according to the practical application of the
principles thereof, and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art miter saw;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the prior art miter saw of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a movable fence according to the
invention, where FIGS. 3A-3B show two embodiments of the movable
fence; and
[0014] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the saw assembly, including a
guard lock mechanism according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The invention is now described with reference to the
accompanying figures, wherein like numerals designate like parts.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an improved fence assembly according to the
invention comprises a fixed fence 19F disposed on base 1, a movable
fence 19M' slidably disposed on fixed fence 19F, and a screw 19S
for fixing the position of movable fence 19M' relative to fixed
fence 19F. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that other
means may be used to fix the position of movable fence 19M'
relative to fixed fence 19F, as discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,297,463 and 5,733,148, which are wholly incorporated herein by
reference.
[0016] Movable fence 19M' may have an inclined edge 19ME. In
addition, movable fence 19M' may have a stepped portion 19S
disposed in front or behind of inclined edge 19ME. Persons skilled
in the art will also recognize that stepped portion 19S may replace
inclined edge 19ME.
[0017] Stepped portion 19S preferably has multiple steps 19SS which
are substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. 3A. Alternatively,
the steps 19SS may be inclined as shown in FIG. 3B. Preferably, a
horizontal line HL and a step 19SS form an angle A which between
0.degree. and about 45.degree.. In other words, the steps 19SS will
form a right angle or an obtuse angle relative to a vertical line
VL, which is preferably substantially perpendicular to the base 11
and/or table 12. Preferably the angle A for all steps 19SS will be
substantially equal.
[0018] When lower blade guard 16 and/or rear guard 21 contact one
of the steps 19SS, the lateral movement of lower blade guard 16
and/or rear guard 21 is limited, so that lower blade guard 16
and/or rear guard 21 will not contact blade 17.
[0019] It is also preferable to provide a guard lock mechanism 30
to prevent unwanted exposure of blade 17. Referring to FIG. 4,
guard lock mechanism 30 preferably includes a body 31 pivotally
attached to upper blade guard 15 via pivot 32. A handle 33 is
provided on body 31 for pivoting body 31. Body 31 may have teeth
34, which contact lower blade guard 16. Preferably, lower blade
guard 16 has teeth 16T, which mesh with teeth 34.
[0020] With such arrangement, when the saw assembly is in the
upward position, teeth 34 contact lower blade guard 16 and/or teeth
16T. If a user attempts to move the saw assembly downwardly, the
user will be prevented from doing so, since teeth 34 will prevent
lower blade guard 16 from moving upwardly. The user can only move
the saw assembly downwardly if the user pivots body 31 upwardly,
disengaging teeth 34 and clearing the lower blade guard 16 and/or
teeth 16T.
[0021] When the user releases the body 31, body 31 will pivot
downwardly because of gravity. Alternatively, a spring (not shown)
may bias body 31 towards the downward position.
[0022] Persons skilled in the art will recognize that body 31 is
pivoted about an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis
of rotation of blade 17.
[0023] Persons skilled in the art may recognize other additions or
alternatives to the means disclosed herein. However, all these
additions and/or alterations are considered to be equivalents of
the present invention.
* * * * *