Patent ID: 8079295
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: B27B,B27G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A table saw, comprising: a table with a work surface defining a plane and having an infeed region and an outfeed region; a nominally planar, circular blade configured to extend at least partially above the work surface to cut a workpiece on the work surface as the workpiece is moved into contact with the blade, wherein the blade has a cutting region, opposed faces, and an orientation relative to the work surface; a motor to drive rotation of the blade relative to the work surface; a splitter having an orientation relative to the work surface; a blade adjustment mechanism configured to change the orientation of the blade and the splitter relative to the work surface, wherein the blade adjustment mechanism is adapted to change at least a distance that the blade projects above the work surface, with the blade adjustment mechanism defining a maximum distance that the blade projects above the work surface; a mounting mechanism configured to position the splitter adjacent the blade; a blade guard extending from the splitter generally toward the infeed region of the work surface, wherein the blade guard includes a top guard that extends generally above the blade, and further wherein the top guard and the splitter form a splitter assembly; and a lateral guard that forms a portion of the blade guard and which projects from the splitter assembly toward the work surface to at least partially obstruct contact with the blade by a user, wherein the lateral guard extends adjacent a face of the blade and is operatively coupled to the splitter assembly for movement within a range of positions relative to the top guard responsive to engagement of the lateral guard by a workpiece on the work surface, wherein the range of positions includes at least a non-cutting position, in which the lateral guard is positioned to be directly engaged by a workpiece on the infeed region of the work surface prior to engagement of the blade by the workpiece, and a plurality of cutting positions, in which the lateral guard is directly engaged by a workpiece on the work surface and in which the lateral guard is displaced from the non-cutting position, wherein the lateral guard includes a top portion and a bottom portion that both move relative to the top guard and which collectively define a vertical lateral guard distance therebetween, wherein the top portion is the portion of the lateral guard that extends a maximum distance above the work surface, wherein the bottom portion is the portion of the lateral guard that extends closest to the work surface, wherein the vertical lateral guard distance is measured normal to the plane of the work surface, wherein the lateral guard is configured such that the vertical lateral guard distance is less in the plurality of cutting positions than in the non-cutting position, wherein the plurality of cutting positions includes a maximum cutting position in which the bottom portion of the lateral guard is positioned further away from the work surface than in the rest of the plurality of cutting positions, and further wherein in the maximum cutting position the blade guard has a vertical lateral guard distance that is less than half of the maximum distance that the blade projects above the work surface.