Undercut saw

• US 5,974,674 A
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Crain Cutter Co Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel E. Kelley
• Inventors: Kelly, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU
• Application Number:
  US09/109,317
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 30/276, 30/388, 30/390, 30/391, 30/373, 451/455, 451/352, 451/353, 451/344, 451/451, 451/454, 451/358, 144/136.95, 144/154.5, 144/371
• US Class Current: 30/391
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/08 for sawing with the saw blade abutting parallel against a surface of the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 9/02 Arrangements for adjusting the cutting depth or the amount of tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B27F 5/023 Portable plate joiners
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/04 for manually-operated power-driven circular saws

Abstract

A saw assembly for a floor installer to use in undercutting baseboards, doors, and the like includes an electric motor subassembly having an electric motor and a spindle rotatably powered by the electric motor, a circular blade mounted on the spindle, and a blade guard subassembly. The blade guard assembly includes a moveable component adapted for movement to a retracted position that exposes more than 180 degrees of the circumference of the circular blade in order to facilitate the undercutting of a ninety degree inside corner. One embodiment uses a conventional handheld 11,000 rpm high speed grinder motor assembly with a right angle drive to power a high speed 4-inch blade in place of a grinder wheel. Carrying the undercut saw with a grinder wheel, sanding wheel, and a tile cutting blade adds functionality.

Claims

1. A saw assembly, comprising:

an electric motor subassembly, the electric motor subassembly having an electric motor adapted to produce rotational movement about a first axis of rotation and a spindle rotatably powered by the electric motor for rotation about a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation;

a circular blade mounted on the spindle, the blade having teeth that extend to an outer circumference of the circular blade; and

a blade guard subassembly mounted on the electric motor subassembly, the blade guard subassembly including a fixed component intersecting a plane formed by said first and second axes of rotation and a movable component that combine operatively to provide a protective cover over at least a portion of the circumference of the circular blade, and said movable component adapted for movement by a user to a retracted position of the movable component that exposes more than 180°

of the outer circumference of the circular blade.

2. A saw assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric motor is adapted to operate at rotational speeds greater than 7,000 revolutions per minute.

3. A saw assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the circular blade is less than five inches.

4. A saw assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the moveable component of the blade guard subassembly is adapted for movement by a user to a retracted position of the moveable component that exposes at least 190 degrees of the circumference of the circular blade.