Abstract:
A band saw includes a protective device having at least one shock absorbing/reflecting member for reducing stress concentrations. The at least one shock absorbing member has a configuration adapted to follow an outer contour of at least a portion of the band saw. A mechanism secures the at least one shock absorbing member to the band saw.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to saws and, more particularly, to band saws including members for absorbing shock.  
           [0002]    Band saws include housings generally formed from a metallic material. A preferred metallic material is aluminum which has desirable lightweight characteristics, however, aluminum is somewhat brittle. During use, if the band saw is dropped or mishandled, the aluminum housing has a tendency to bend, chip, break or crack. This is due to the inability of the aluminum housing to absorb shock. When the housing becomes cracked or chipped, this exposes the blade along the band saw wheels; when it is bent it will be too close to the blade and cause rubbing. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a band saw which, if dropped, would absorb the shock and prohibit the housing from bending, cracking or chipping.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention provides the art with a band saw having shock absorbing members, to absorb shock, which, in turn, substantially eliminates bending, cracking, breaking, or chipping of the housing if the band saw is dropped or mishandled. The shock absorbing members are also very elastic so that they transfer the kinetic energy of a drop back into the floor causing the tool to bounce instead of sending all energy into the case housing. The present invention provides a band saw having shock absorbing members such as bumpers to absorb shock if the band saw is dropped. Also, the present invention provides the art with an over molded housing to absorbs shock. Further, the present invention provides the art with a shock absorbing member on the saw wheels to absorb shock if the band saw is dropped.  
           [0004]    A protective device for a band saw comprises at least one shock absorbing member to reduce stress concentrations. The at least one shock absorbing member has a configuration adapted to follow an outer contour of at least a portion of a band saw housing. A mechanism is present to secure the at least one shock absorbing member to the band saw. The shock absorbing member is manufactured from a resilient polymeric material. The shock absorbing member may include a reinforcement material. A securing member may be an adhesive or bores through the member with fasteners extending through the bores. Also, the shock absorbing member may include a foam inner core and an outer polymeric material. The surface of the member may be scored or have threads or be textured or the like to reduce stress concentrations.  
           [0005]    According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a band saw comprises a housing including a cast portion. A handle is coupled with the housing. A motor is positioned in the housing. An activation member is electrically coupled with the motor and a power source for driving an output. A blade is driven by the motor via the output mechanism. A shock absorbing mechanism is on the housing to reduce stress concentrations applied to the housing upon sudden impact. A protective device for a band saw comprises at least one shock absorbing member to reduce stress concentrations. The at least one shock absorbing member has a configuration adapted to follow an outer contour of at least a portion of a band saw housing. A mechanism is present to secure the at least one shock absorbing member to the band saw. The shock absorbing member is manufactured from a resilient polymeric material. The shock absorbing member may include a reinforcement material. A securing member may be an adhesive or bores through the member with fasteners extending through the bores. Also, the shock absorbing member may include a foam inner core and an outer polymeric material. The surface of the member may be scored or have threads or be textured or the like to reduce stress concentrations.  
           [0006]    Also, the shock absorbing mechanism may be an over molded material on the cast portion of the housing. The over mold may include bumpers on the ends.  
           [0007]    From the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings and claims, other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is perspective view of a band saw in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a cross section view of FIG. 1 along line  2 - 2  thereof.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the second embodiment of the bumpers in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 5A and B is an enlarged perspective view and a cross section view of an additional embodiment of the bumpers of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a band saw of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a cross section view of FIG. 6 along line  7 - 7  thereof.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    Turning to the Figures, a band saw is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  10 . The band saw  10  includes a housing  12  having a first wheel cover portion  14 , a second wheel cover portion  16  and a motor covering portion  18  connecting the two wheel covering portions  14  and  16 . A handle  20  is coupled with one of the wheel covering portions  16 . The handle  20  includes an activation member  22 . Also, a handle  24  is coupled with a front portion of the motor housing  18 . A gap  26  is formed between the two wheel covering portions  16  and  14 . A blade  28  is secured between the two wheels (not shown) covered by the housing portions  14  and  16 . A shock absorbing member  30  is illustrated coupled with both of the wheel housing covering portions  14  and  16 .  
         [0017]    The shock absorbing member  30  generally has an arcuate shape following the outer contour of the housing portions  14 , and  16 . The shock absorbing member generally has an overall D-shape in cross section as illustrated in FIG. 2. A body portion  32  of the shock absorbing member  30  is positioned along the peripheral side edge of the housing portions  14  and  16 . The shock absorbing member  30 , may be secured to the housing portions  14  and  16  by fasteners  38  passing through bores  40  in the shock absorbing member  30 . The fasteners  38  are secured to reciprocating mechanisms, such as threaded holes or non-threaded holes, in the housing portions  14  and  16 . Also, the shock absorbing member could be adhered to the housing portions  14  and  16 . Further, the housing portions could include an aperture or the like to receive a compressible tang on the shock absorbing member  30  and be press fit into the apertures.  
         [0018]    Turning to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the shock absorbing member  30 ′ is illustrated. Here, the shock absorbing member  30 ′ is substantially the same as that in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the internal makeup of the shock absorbing member  30 ′ is different. The shock absorbing member  30 ′ includes an inner core  50  formed from a foam material. The foam material  50  is resilient to provide a stress concentration absorber. The outer layer  52  is an elastomeric material harder than the foam core. The outer layer  52  provides a durable and resilient layer. Thus, the two layered shock absorbing members  30 ′ substantially prohibits breakage due to dropping or mishandling of the band saw.  
         [0019]    Turning to FIG. 4, an additional embodiment of the shock absorbing member is shown. Here, the shock absorbing member  30 ″ is substantially the same as that in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the internal structure has been modified.  
         [0020]    The shock absorbing member  30 ″ includes a reinforcement inner member  54 . The reinforcing member  54  may be a metallic member or a fiber material such as glass. The outer layer  56  may be formed from the same polymeric material as that in FIG. 1 or  2 . The reinforcement member  54  provides a shock absorbing stress concentration feature in this embodiment.  
         [0021]    Turning to FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , an additional embodiment is shown. FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  illustrates a shock absorbing member  30 ′″ substantially the same as that in FIG. 1, however, the surface has been modified.  
         [0022]    In FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , the surface is scored or includes threads or texture  60 . This surface modification provides spaced raised portions  64  which extend from the surface  62  of the shock absorber  30 ′″. Thus, as the tool is dropped, the raised portions  64  contacts the ground first. As this occurs, the raised portions  64  deform and spread to absorb the stress concentration due to the shock.  
         [0023]    Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7, an additional embodiment of the band saw is shown. Here, the band saw is substantially the same as that previously described above, however, an over molded covering  70  is placed on top of the housing wheel portions  14  and  16 . The over molding covering  70  may be formed from a polymeric material. Also, the over molded material may include unitary bumpers  72  on the peripheral edges of the housing portions  14  and  16 , as described above. Thus, the integral bumpers  72 , as well as the over molding, protect the housing against stress concentrations.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 illustrates an additional embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the band saw  10 . Here, the band saw wheels  74  include a resilient polymeric covering  76  adhered, glued or the like on their bottom surface. The covering  76  provides a shock absorbing feature if the band saw is dropped on the wheels.  
         [0025]    While the above detailed description describes the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will understand that alterations, modifications and variations may exist without deviating from the scope of the preferred embodiment.