Claims
- 1. A reciprocating saw comprising:
a housing including a first grip surface for an operator's first hand and a second grip surface for an operator's second hand; a motor supported by the housing; a spindle movably supported by the housing, the spindle having an end adapted to support a saw blade; a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the spindle to reciprocally drive the spindle relative to the housing upon operation of the motor; a shoe for engaging a surface of a workpiece; a shoe support member supporting the shoe, the shoe support member being movably supported by the housing; a locking assembly operable to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing; and a lever for operating the locking assembly between a locked condition, in which the shoe support member is locked in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked condition, in which the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing, the lever being supported on the first grip surface such that, during operation of said saw, the operator's first hand engages the first grip surface and the lever and thereby maintains the lever in a locked position corresponding to the locked condition of the locking assembly.
- 2. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing has an upper portion, a lower portion, and opposed side portions, and wherein the lever is operable from the lower portion of the housing.
- 3. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim I wherein the first grip surface is selectively engageable by one of the operator's first hand and the operator's second hand, and wherein the lever is operable by the one of the operator's first hand and the operator's second hand engaging the first grip surface.
- 4. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking assembly includes a locking member engageable with the shoe support member, and wherein the lever is operable to move the locking member between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the shoe support member to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing.
- 5. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 4 wherein the shoe support member defines therealong a plurality of teeth, wherein, in the locked position, the locking member engages the teeth so that the shoe support member is locked in a position relative to the housing, and wherein, in the unlocked position, the locking member does not engage the teeth and the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing.
- 6. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 4 wherein the locking member is pivotable between the locked position and the unlocked position.
- 7. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 4 wherein the locking member has a first end and a second end, and wherein the lever engages the first end and the second end of the locking member.
- 8. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 7 wherein the lever includes a first lever member formed of a moldable material and a second lever member formed of a metallic material, the second lever member being molded with the first lever member, the second lever member defining a recess, one of the first end and the second end of the locking member engaging the recess.
- 9. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 8 wherein the second lever member defines a first recess and a second recess, the first end and the second end of the locking member respectively engaging the first recess and the second recess.
- 10. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a retainer member supported by the housing and defining a channel, and wherein the shoe support member is movable in the channel.
- 11. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 10 wherein the shoe support member has a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending from the bottom wall, and wherein the retainer member supports the shoe support member along the bottom wall and along the side wall.
- 12. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 11 wherein the shoe support member has an upper surface, and wherein a portion of the retainer member engages the upper surface.
- 13. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 10 wherein the housing defines a slot, the retainer member being supported in the slot.
- 14. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 10 wherein the locking assembly includes a locking member engageable with the shoe support member to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, the locking member including a first end and a second end, and wherein the retainer member defines a first opening and a second opening respectively receiving the first end and the second end of the locking member.
- 15. A reciprocating saw comprising:
a housing; a motor supported by the housing; a spindle movably supported by the housing, the spindle having an end adapted to support a saw blade; a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the spindle to reciprocally drive the spindle relative to the housing upon operation of the motor; a shoe for engaging a surface of a workpiece; a shoe support member supporting the shoe; and a retainer member supported by the housing and defining a channel, the shoe support member being supported in the channel for movement relative to the housing.
- 16. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 15 wherein the shoe support member has a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending from the bottom wall, and wherein the retainer member supports the shoe support member along the bottom wall and the side wall.
- 17. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 16 wherein the shoe support member has an upper surface, and wherein a portion of the retainer member engages the upper surface.
- 18. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 15 wherein the housing defines a slot, the retainer member being supported in the slot.
- 19. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising a locking assembly operable to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, the locking assembly including a locking member engageable with the shoe support member to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, the locking member including a first end and a second end, and wherein the retainer member defines a first opening and a second opening respectively receiving the first end and the second end of the locking member.
- 20. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 19 and further comprising a lever operable to move the locking member between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the shoe support member to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing, the lever engaging the first end and the second end of the locking member.
- 21. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 20 wherein the lever includes a first lever member formed of a moldable material and a second lever member formed of a metallic material, the second lever member being molded with the first lever member, the second lever member defining a first recess and a second recess, the first end and the second end of the locking member respectively engaging the first recess and the second recess.
- 22. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 20 wherein the housing includes a first grip surface for an operator's first hand and a second grip surface for an operator's second hand, and wherein the lever is supported on the first grip surface such that, during operation of said saw, the operator's first hand engages the first grip surface and the lever and thereby maintains the lever in a position corresponding to the locked position of the locking member.
- 23. A reciprocating saw comprising:
a housing; a motor supported by the housing; a spindle movably supported by the housing, the spindle having an end adapted to support a saw blade; a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the spindle to reciprocally drive the spindle relative to the housing upon operation of the motor; a shoe for engaging a surface of a workpiece; a shoe support member supporting the shoe, the shoe support member being movably supported by the housing; a locking assembly operable to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, the locking assembly including a locking member engageable with the shoe support member, the locking member having a first end and a second end; and a lever operable to move the locking member between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the shoe support member to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked condition, in which the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing, the lever engaging the first end and the second end of the locking member.
- 24. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 23 wherein the locking member is pivotable between the locked position and the unlocked position.
- 25. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 23 wherein the lever includes a first lever member formed of a moldable material and a second lever member formed of a metallic material, the second lever member being molded with the first lever member, the second lever member defining a recess, one of the first end and the second end of the locking member engaging the recess.
- 26. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 25 wherein the second lever member defines a first recess and a second recess, the first end and the second end of the locking member respectively engaging the first recess and the second recess.
- 27. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 23 and further comprising a retainer member supported by the housing and defining a channel, the shoe support member being movable in the channel, wherein the retainer member defines a first opening and a second opening respectively receiving the first end and the second end of the locking member.
- 28. A reciprocating saw comprising:
a housing; a motor supported by the housing; a spindle movably supported by the housing, the spindle having an end adapted to support a saw blade; a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the spindle to reciprocally drive the spindle relative to the housing upon operation of the motor; a shoe for engaging a surface of a workpiece; a shoe support member supporting the shoe, the shoe support member being movably supported by the housing; a locking assembly operable to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, the locking assembly including a locking member engageable with the shoe support member, the locking member having a first end and a second end; and a lever operable to move the locking member between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the shoe support member to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked condition, in which the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing, the lever including a first lever member formed of a moldable material and a second lever member formed of a metallic material, the second lever member being molded with the first lever member, the second lever member defining a recess, one of the first end and the second end of the locking member engaging the recess.
- 29. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 28 wherein the second lever member defines a first recess and a second recess, the first end and the second end of the locking member respectively engaging the first recess and the second recess.
- 30. The reciprocating saw as set forth in claim 28 and further comprising a retainer member supported by the housing and defining a channel, the shoe support member being movable in the channel, wherein the retainer member defines a first opening and a second opening respectively receiving the first end and the second end of the locking member.
- 31. A shoe assembly for a reciprocating saw, the saw including a housing and being adapted to drive a saw blade, the shoe assembly comprising:
a shoe for engaging a surface of the workpiece; a shoe support member supporting the shoe, the shoe support member having a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending from the bottom wall; a retainer member supported by the housing and defining a channel, the shoe support member being supported in the channel and movable relative to the housing, the retainer member supporting the shoe support member along the bottom wall and the side wall; a locking assembly for locking the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, the locking assembly including a locking member engageable with the shoe support member, the locking member having a first end and a second end; and a lever operable to move the locking member between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the shoe support member to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing, the lever including a first lever member formed of a moldable material and a second lever member formed of a metallic material, the second lever member being molded with the first lever member, the second lever member defining a recess, one of the first end and the second end of the locking member engaging the recess; wherein, during operation of said saw, an operator's hand engages the housing and the lever and thereby maintains the lever in a locked position corresponding to the locked position of the locking member.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/133,728, filed Aug. 13, 1998.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09133728 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
Child |
09892096 |
Jun 2001 |
US |