Patent ID: 6857347
Filing Date: 2005-02-22
Classification: B27G,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A safety device for a band saw having a table defining a work support surface, a continuous band saw blade, and an upper housing through which an upper portion of the blade extends with such housing being in vertically spaced relationship from the table, the safety device comprising: a guard member having upper and lower ends, said guard member being slidably adjustably mounted to the upper housing so as to be movable from a lower position in which said lower end is adjacent to the work support surface of the table to a raised position spaced above the work support surface of the table to thereby permit a workpiece to pass beneath said lower end to be cut by a cutting edge of the band saw blade, a locking mechanism movable from a first locked position for normally retaining said guard member in said lower position to a second unlocked position to release said guard member to be movable to said raised position thereof, said locking mechanism being automatically actuated to move to said locked position upon movement of said guard member to said first lower position thereof whereby said guard member is automatically locked in said lower position to prevent accidental contact with the band saw blade, a shield pivotally mounted to said lower end of said guard member, said shield having a generally continuous outer peripheral edge extending outwardly relatively transversely with respect to said lower end of said guard member, and said shield having an opening therein through which the band saw blade passes such that said peripheral edge provides a radial guard to prevent accidental contact with the band saw blade.