Claims
- 1. A power tool comprising:
a housing; a motor supported by said housing and operable to drive a tool element relative to a first axis; and a handle supported by said housing for movement relative to said housing about a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, said first axis and said second axis are fixed relative to said housing, said handle being shaped to be grasped by an operator to provide for movement of said power tool relative to a work piece.
- 2. The power tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle is pivotable relative to said housing about said first axis.
- 3. The power tool as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a switch assembly supported on said handle for movement with said handle, said switch assembly being electrically connectable to said motor and operable to selectively connect said motor to a power source.
- 4. The power tool as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising means for connecting said switch assembly to said motor to accommodate movement of said switch assembly with said handle and relative to said motor.
- 5. The power tool as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising a locking assembly operable between a locked condition, in which said handle is fixed in a position relative to said housing, and an unlocked condition, in which said handle is movable relative to said housing.
- 6. The power tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said switch assembly is operable between an unoperated condition, in which said motor is not connected to the power source, and an operated condition, in which said motor is connected to the power source, and wherein said switch assembly, in the operated condition, prevents said locking assembly from being operated from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.
- 7. The power tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the power tool is a circular saw.
- 8. A circular saw comprising:
a motor operable to rotatably drive a saw blade about an axis; a motor housing supporting said motor; and a main handle supported by said housing for movement relative to said housing, said main handle being graspable by an operator to provide for movement of said power tool relative to a work piece.
- 9. The circular saw as set forth in claim 8 wherein said main handle is pivotable relative to said housing.
- 10. The circular saw as set forth in claim 8 wherein said main handle is pivotable about said axis.
- 11. The circular saw as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising a locking assembly for locking said main handle in a position relative to said housing.
- 12. A method for assembling a circular saw, said method comprising the acts of:
providing a motor operable to rotatably drive a saw blade about an axis and connectable to a power source, a motor housing, and a handle; supporting the motor in the housing; and supporting the handle on the housing for movement relative to the housing.
- 13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said act of supporting the handle includes supporting the handle for pivoting movement relative to the housing.
- 14. The method as set forth in claim 12 and further comprising the acts of:
providing a switch assembly; supporting the switch assembly on the handle for movement with the handle relative to the housing; and electrically connecting the switch assembly to the motor so that the switch assembly is operable to selectively connect the motor to the power source.
- 15 The method as set forth in claim 12 and further comprising the acts of:
providing a locking assembly; supporting the locking assembly on at least one of the handle and the housing; and operating the locking assembly to lock the handle in a supported position relative to the housing.
- 16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said operating act includes applying a clamping force to one of the housing and the handle to lock the handle in a supported position relative to the housing.
- 17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said applying act includes applying the clamping force to the housing.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/940,222, filed Aug. 27, 2001, which is a division of patent application Ser. No. 09/618,217, filed Jul. 18, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,790, issued Oct. 16, 2001, which is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 09/134,626, filed Aug. 14, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,916, issued Aug. 29, 2000.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
09618217 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Child |
09940222 |
Aug 2001 |
US |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09940222 |
Aug 2001 |
US |
Child |
10614528 |
Jul 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09134626 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
Child |
09618217 |
Jul 2000 |
US |