Patent ID: 6820340
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: B23D,B27B

Abstract:
A low profile hacksaw comprising:an elongated blade having opposing longitudinal end portions and a cutting edge between said longitudinal end portions; a hacksaw frame assembly comprising a rigid I-beam frame member with upper and lower end caps and a generally vertical web member extending therebetween, said frame member having a forward end portion, a maximum height portion, and an arcuate portion defined along at least one arc having a center of curvature located below said blade when said hacksaw is oriented in an upright position with the cutting edge of the blade facing downwardly, said arcuate portion extending substantially the entire length between said forward end portion and the maximum height portion and curving downwardly and forwardly towards said forward end portion to provide said hacksaw with a lower overall height at the forward end portion of said frame member than at the maximum height portion, said maximum height portion being defined at the point where both the distance between said blade and said lower end cap is a maximum and the arcuate portion begins its downward and forward curvature; a first blade mounting structure carried by the hacksaw frame assembly, one of said longitudinal end portions of said blade being removably mounted on said first blade mounting structure; a releasable blade tensioning device carried by the hacksaw frame assembly and providing a second blade mounting structure on which the other of said longitudinal end portions of said blade is removably mounted, said blade tensioning device being movable to (a) effect relative tensioning movement between said first and second blade mounting structures to tension said blade in the longitudinal direction thereof, and (b) to effect relative releasing movement between said first and second blade mounting structures to release the tension to allow for removal and replacement of said blade; one of said first and second blade mounting structures being provided on said forward end portion of said frame member such that the tension in said blade caused by the relative tensioning movement of said blade mounting structures applies a rearwardly directed load to said forward end portion to create a bending moment which is distributed along said arcuate portion with said upper end cap along said arcuate portion being subject to tension and said lower end cap along said arcuate portion being subject to compression so that said upper and lower end caps cooperate to resist deflection of said frame member; and said hacksaw frame assembly further comprising a manually engageable handle connected to said frame member for being manually grasped to enable performance of a cutting operation wherein the cutting edge of the tensioned blade is engaged with a work piece and moved forwardly and rearwardly to cut the work piece.