Abstract:
A power tool including a motor, a housing having first and second holes, and first and second plugs disposed within the first and second holes, respectively, the first and second plugs each connectable to a belt. One of the first plug and the belt has a hole and the other of the first plug and the belt has a hook insertable into the hole.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to in general to power tools, and, in particular to a power tool with a carrying mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically, power tools are carried by a carrying handle. Sometimes, the power tools may weigh too much for carrying it comfortably by the carrying handle. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved carrying mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, an improved power tool is employed. The power tool includes a motor, a housing having first and second holes, first and second plugs disposed within the first and second holes, respectively, the first and second plugs each connectable to a belt. One of the first plug and the belt has a hole and the other of the first plug and the belt has a hook insertable into the hole. 
     Additional features and benefits of the present invention are described, and will be apparent from, the accompanying drawings and the detailed description below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention according to the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a miter saw having a first embodiment of a carrying mechanism constructed with the principles of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section of the portion circled by line II in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of a second embodiment of the carrying mechanism according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view along line IV—IV of FIG. 3, where FIGS. 4A-4B show two alternate arrangements, respectively. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals designate like parts. Persons skilled in the art shall recognize that while a miter saw has been used to illustrate the invention, the invention can be used in other power tools. 
     Miter saws designed for cutting a workpiece are well known in the art. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a miter saw  10  typically has a base  11 , which may include a rotatable table  12  rotatably attached to base  11 . A pivot arm  14  is pivotally attached to a trunnion  18  to allow a chopping function. The trunnion  18  in turn may be pivotally attached to the base  11  and/or table  12 , to allow the trunnion  18  and pivot arm  14  to pivot relative to the base  11 . 
     The pivot arm  14  carries a saw assembly which includes motor housing  20 H, a motor  20 M disposed in motor housing  20 H, a blade  17  driven by motor  20 M, an upper blade guard  15  covering an upper part of the blade  17 , and a lower blade guard  16  pivotally attached to upper blade guard  15  for covering a lower part of the blade  17 . 
     A fence assembly  19  may be provided on both sides of blade  17 . Persons skilled in the art are referred to the fence assemblies disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,297,463 and 5,733,148, which are wholly incorporated herein by reference. Fence assembly  19  has a fixed fence  19 F disposed on base  11 , and a movable fence  19 M slidably disposed on fixed fence  19 F. 
     Miter saw  10  may be provided with carrying mechanism  20 . Base  11  may have openings  11 O. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that, while openings  11 O have been disposed on base  11 , such openings may be disposed in any other part of miter saw  10 . 
     Plugs  21  may be inserted through openings  11 O. Plugs  21  are preferably made of plastic, such as nylon, rubber, etc. 
     Plugs  21  are preferably shaped as a truncated cone. However, persons skilled in the art will recognize that plugs  21  can be shaped into any shape necessary to engage openings  11 O. 
     An eyelet  22  defining a hole  22 H may be screwed unto plug  21 . Nevertheless, persons skilled in the art should recognize that eyelet  22  can be attached to plug  21  in other ways as well. In addition, hole  22 H could be formed unto plug  21  itself. 
     A belt  24  can be attached to eyelets  22  via hooks  23  disposed at each end of belt  24 . Preferably, belt  24  is made of nylon. Hooks  23  are preferably self-closing hooks. 
     With such construction, the user can push plugs  21  through openings  11 O, screw on the eyelets  22 , attach belt  24  to eyelets  22 , and carry the miter saw  10 . Preferably, openings  11 O will be disposed on both left and right sides of base  11 . However, persons skilled in the art should recognize that openings  11 O may be disposed on the same side of base  11 . Furthermore, persons skilled in the art should recognize that belt  24  may be attached to only one eyelet  22 . 
     FIGS. 3-4 disclose an alternate embodiment of carrying mechanism  20 , where like numerals refer to like parts. Persons skilled in the art should recognize that all the lessons taught by the previous embodiment are incorporated into the present embodiment by reference. 
     The main difference between the present and previous embodiments is that, instead of attaching plugs  21  to a side wall of base  11 , plugs  21  are attached to feet portions of base  11 . In particular, miter saw  10  has at least one front foot  11 FF and at least one rear foot  11 RF. Each foot preferably has at least one opening  11 OF defined by a wall  11 FW. 
     Plugs  21  may be inserted through openings  11 OF. Plugs  21  are preferably made of plastic, such as nylon, rubber, etc. Plugs  21  are preferably shaped as a truncated cone. Alternatively, plugs  21  are substantially cylindrical. However, persons skilled in the art will recognize that plugs  21  can be shaped into any shape necessary to engage openings  11 FO. 
     Referring to FIG. 4A, the user can push plugs  21 ′ through openings  11 FO from the underside of base  11 , screw on the eyelets  22 , attach belt  24  to eyelets  22 , and carry the miter saw  10 . Alternatively, referring to FIG. 4B, the user can push plugs  21 ″ through openings  11 FO from the top of base  11 , screw on the eyelets  22 , attach belt  24  to eyelets  22 , and carry the miter saw  10 . Plug  21 ″ may have split ends  21 E which expand as eyelet  22  is screwed thereon to maintain plug  21 ″ within opening  11 FO. 
     As mentioned above, openings  11 FO are preferably disposed on both front and rear feet  11 FF,  11 RF of base  11 . However, persons skilled in the art should recognize that openings  11 FO may be disposed on the same foot. Furthermore, persons skilled in the art should recognize that belt  24  may be attached to only one eyelet  22 . 
     Persons skilled in the art may recognize other additions or alternatives to the means disclosed herein. However, all these additions and/or alterations are considered to be equivalents of the present invention.