Patent ID: 9643266
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: A01G,B23D,B25G,B26B

Claim:
1. A pole saw comprising: a saw blade having a blade proximal end, a blade distal end, a length extending between the blade proximal and distal ends, and a cutting edge, the saw blade having opposite side faces facing transversely with respect to the cutting edge, the saw blade lying in a blade plane such that the side faces are positioned on opposite sides of the blade plane and are generally parallel with the blade plane, an elongate pole having a pole proximal end, a pole distal end, and a length extending between the pole proximal and distal ends, the pole including at least first and second pole sections, the first pole section being telescopically movable in the second pole section for selectively increasing and decreasing the length of the pole, the pole defining a pole longitudinal center axis extending along the length of the pole, the pole longitudinal center axis lying in a pole plane dividing the pole longitudinally into a portion to a first side of the pole plane and another portion to a second side of the pole plane opposite the first side, and the pole including an end adaptor at the pole distal end, an elongate blade support formed separately from the saw blade, the blade support being constructed for mounting the saw blade on the pole and supporting the blade for cutting, the blade support having a blade support proximal end, a blade support distal end, and a length extending between the blade support proximal and distal ends, the length of the blade support being greater than a width of the blade support perpendicular to the length, the blade support defining a blade support longitudinal center axis extending along the length of the blade support, the blade support longitudinal center axis lying in a blade support plane dividing the blade support longitudinally into a portion to a first side of the blade support plane and another portion to a second side of the blade support plane opposite the first side, the blade support being selectively configurable in an extended use position and a pole adjacent storage position different than the extended use position, the blade support in the extended use position being positioned differently with respect to the pole distal end than when the blade support is in the pole adjacent storage position, the blade support in the extended use position being connected to the pole end adaptor and positioned for supporting the saw blade for cutting, the blade support in the pole adjacent storage position being connected to the pole end adaptor and extending alongside the pole adjacent to and outside the pole for supporting the saw blade for storage, the blade support having a first pivot connection with the saw blade, the first pivot connection defining a first pivot axis, the saw blade being selectively pivotable about the first pivot axis between a deployed position with respect to the blade support and a protected position with respect to the blade support different than the deployed position, the saw blade in the deployed position having the cutting edge exposed for cutting, and the saw blade in the protected position having the cutting edge shielded by the blade support for protecting the cutting edge, the blade support having a second pivot connection with the pole end adaptor, the second pivot connection defining a second pivot axis, the blade support together with the blade being pivotable with respect to the pole about the second pivot axis between the extended use position and the pole adjacent storage position, the second pivot connection being offset from the pole longitudinal center axis to the first side of the pole plane, the second pivot connection being offset from the blade support longitudinal center axis to the first side of the blade support plane, wherein the second pivot axis is generally perpendicular to the pole longitudinal center axis and generally perpendicular to the first pivot axis, wherein when the blade support is in the extended use position and the saw blade is in the deployed position wherein when the blade support is in the pole adjacent storage position and the saw blade is in the protected position