Table saw guard assembly

• US 20040255745A1
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: One World Technologies (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: One World Technologies (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Buck, William C., Peot, David G.
• Application Number:
  US10/601,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255745A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/102.1
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/02 for circular saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/08 Accessories for keeping open the saw kerf, e.g. riving knives or wedge plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2077 By kerf entering guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/773 Work-support includes passageway for tool [e.g., slotted table]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7734 With guard for tool

Abstract

An improved riving knife/guard assembly for a table saw allows the guard to be removed and attached without the use of any tools, provides a clear view of the work zone, blade and workpiece, and is easily adjustable to accommodate different size workpieces and cutting angle.

Claims

1. A table saw comprising:

a frame having a table top, said table top including a blade slot;

a saw blade extending through said blade slot;

a riving knife connected to said frame and aligned with said saw blade, said riving knife having a top and a bottom, said top having at least one slot; and

a guard releasably attached to said riving knife, said guard having a guard top plate, a multi-position pin mounted to said housing, said pin being moveable to a first position to attach securely said guard to said riving knife and moveable to a second position to allow for removal of said guard from said riving knife.

2. The table saw in claim 1 wherein said guard can be removed from said riving knife without the use of any tools.

3. The table saw in claim 1 wherein said guard further includes a second pin disposed on the lower half of said guard top plate;

said riving knife further includes a second slot;

said riving knife slots being dogleg shaped slots which are in opposing directions;

said multi-position pin securely fitting in one riving knife slot and said second pin securely fitting in said other riving knife slot when said multi-position pin is in said first position; and

said multi-position pin and said second pin being removable from said slots when said multi-position pin is in said second position.

4. The table saw in claim 1 wherein said guard further includes a bail, said bail being pivotably mounted to said guard top plate so that said bail can be raised or lowered.

5. The table saw in claim 4 wherein said bail is arc-shaped.

6. The table saw in claim 1 wherein said guard further includes a viewing slot formed in said guard top plate, said viewing slot providing visible access to said saw blade, or a workpiece to be cut, or a scale on said table top.

7. The table saw in claim 1 wherein said guard further includes a magnifying lens, said lens being slidably attached to said guard top plate.

8. The table saw in claim 1 wherein said guard further includes a light source mounted to said guard top plate and oriented so that said light source illuminates one or more of said saw blade, a workpiece, or a cutting zone.

9. The table saw in claim 8 wherein said light source is mounted in a viewing slot formed in said guard top plate.

10. The table saw in claim 9 wherein said viewing slot in said guard top plate includes chamfered interior edges.

11. The table saw in claim 1 wherein said riving knife raises and lowers in unison with the saw blade.

12. A combination riving knife/guard for use with a table saw comprising:

a riving knife having at least one slot;

a guard having a guard top plate and at least one pin, said guard being releasably attachable to said riving knife by securing said pin to one of said slots;

said guard top plate having a viewing slot extending through the entire depth of said guard top plate; and

a bail pivotally attached to said guard top plate.

13. The combination riving knife/guard in claim 12 further comprising a magnifying lens slidably attached to the top portion of said guard top plate.

14. The combination riving knife/guard in claim 12 wherein said bail is a two-piece bail having a distinct left side bail portion and a distinct right side bail portion.

15. The combination riving knife/guard in claim 12 further comprising a second pin and a second slot;

said first pin being a multi-position pin;

said first and second slots receiving said multi-position pin and said second pin for securely mounting said guard to said riving knife when said multi-position pin is in a first position; and

said multi-position pin and second pin being removable from said first and second slots when said multi-position pin is in a second position.

16. The combination riving knife/guard in claim 12 wherein said guard can be attached or removed from said riving knife without using any tools.

17. A table saw comprising:

a frame having a table top, said table top including a blade slot;

a saw blade mounted to said frame and protruding above said blade slot;

a riving knife located rearward of and aligned with said blade and being fixedly adjustable with said blade height, said riving knife having at least two slots;

a guard mounted to said riving knife, said guard having a guard top plate, a first pin and a second pin, said first pin having a lever for providing a secured position for said first pin wherein said first and second pins are attached securely in said slots and a release position wherein said first and second pins are not secured in said slots and can be removed from said slots.

18. The table saw of claim 17 wherein said guard further includes a bail pivotally mounted to said guard top plate and capable of being positioned in an up or a down position, said bail extending forward from the guard top plate when in said down position.

19. The table saw of claim 17 wherein said guard further includes a light, said guard top plate has a viewing slot, and said light being oriented to illuminate said saw blade.

20. The table saw of claim 17 wherein said guard further includes a magnifying lens adjustable mounted to guard top plate.