Saw blade clamp system

• US 6,662,698 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Thomas J., Gaffney, Thomas M., Achterberg, Nicholas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALIE, GHASSEM
• Application Number:
  US10/038,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 303/92, 303/93, 303/94, 836/992.1, 836/993.1, 206/372
• US Class Current: 83/699.21
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 51/10 for hand-held or hand-operated devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9473 For rectilinearly reciprocating tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9481 Tool is single element reciprocable along elongate cutting edge [e.g., saw blade, etc.]

Abstract

A saw blade retaining apparatus is provided for selectively retaining one in a series of saw blades having unique thicknesses. The retaining apparatus includes a rocker arm supported by a pair of lateral walls. The rocker arm includes a contoured contact surface which cooperates with a contoured stop segment extending between the lateral walls to securely retain one of a series of saw blades having unique thicknesses.

Claims

1. A blade retaining apparatus for selectively retaining a saw blade, the apparatus comprising:

a support structure including a pair of lateral walls and a base portion extending between said pair of lateral walls;

a rocker arm having a first contact surface, said rocker arm supported between said pair of lateral walls;

a stop extending from said base portion and having a second contact surface, said second contact surface of said stop extends at an acute angle relative to said base portion; and

wherein the rocker arm is operable toward the saw blade whereby said first contact surface interfaces with an aperture of the saw blade and said second contact surface interfaces with a trailing edge of the saw blade for securing the saw blade within the retaining apparatus with the trailing edge of the saw blade wedged between said second contact surface and said base portion.

2. The retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rocker arm is biased toward an inner edge of the aperture.

3. The retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first contact surface has a convex contour.

4. A saw blade set and clamping system for use therewith, comprising;

a support structure including a base portion;

a rocker arm having a first contact surface, the rocker arm supported by said support structure and biased toward said base portion;

a stop extending from said base portion and having a second contact surface; and

the saw blade set including a first saw blade having a rear edge for communication with said stop and a mounting aperture for communication with said rocker arm, said mounting aperture of said first saw blade disposed inboard a first predetermined distance from said rear edge of said first saw blade, and a second saw blade having a thickness greater than said first saw blade and a rear edge for communication with said stop and a mounting aperture for communication with said rocker arm, said mounting aperture of said second saw blade disposed inboard a second predetermined distance, shorter than said first predetermined distance from said rear edge of said second saw blade.

5. The clamp system according to claim 4, said first contact surface of said rocker arm is biased toward an inner edge of the mounting aperture of a blade.

6. The clamp system according to claim 5, wherein said second contact surface of said stop extends at an angle toward one of the saw blades.

7. The clamp system according to claim 6, wherein said first contact surface has a convex contour.