Patent Publication Number: US-2005132582-A1

Title: Jigsaws

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to saws and in particular the present invention relates to jigsaws.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Many jigsaws are set up so that the user is required to lean over the saw to see where the user is cutting. Further, the grip position for many jigsaws places the user&#39;s wrist and arm in an awkward position. Leaning over a jigsaw and awkward positioning of the wrist and arm while cutting with the jigsaw can lead to difficulty in making a proper cut with the jigsaw, and can be dangerous to a user.  
      For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for alternative jigsaws.  
     SUMMARY  
      The above-mentioned problems with jigsaws and other problems are addressed by the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.  
      One embodiment of the invention provides a jigsaw that has a blade holder adapted to attach a blade to the jigsaw. The blade holder is located proximate a trailing end of the jigsaw when the jigsaw is in use. A grip is disposed substantially directly above the blade holder and proximate the trailing end.  
      Another embodiment provides a method of operating a jigsaw that includes grasping a grip of the jigsaw with one hand, and pushing on the grip to move the jigsaw over a surface of a work piece as a blade of the jigsaw cuts through the work piece. The grip is located proximate a trailing edge of the jigsaw and substantially directly above the blade.  
      Another embodiment provides a method of storing a jigsaw on a surface. The method includes placing the jigsaw in a storage position so that the jigsaw is tilted from a use position about an edge of a base of the jigsaw and so that a portion of a housing of the jigsaw rests against the surface. The portion of the housing that rests against the surface is opposite a blade holder of the jigsaw and a grip of the jigsaw that is disposed substantially directly above the blade holder.  
      Further embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus of varying scope. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate operation of a conventional jigsaw.  
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a jigsaw according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3B  illustrates a user grasping a grip of a jigsaw according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates an interior of a jigsaw according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates storing of a jigsaw according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a jigsaw according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.  
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a conventional jigsaw  100  during operation.  FIG. 1  shows that a user is required to bend over jigsaw  100  to see the position of the blade of jigsaw  100  from the front of the jigsaw along a sight line  110  during cutting.  FIG. 2  shows that the position of grip  120  of jigsaw  100  places the user&#39;s wrist and arm in an awkward position as indicated by a line  130 , especially for longer cuts as jigsaw  100  moves further away from the user&#39;s body. Moreover, as jigsaw  100  moves further away from the user&#39;s body, it is more difficult to see the position of the blade.  
       FIGS. 3-5  illustrate a jigsaw  300  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Jigsaw  300  has a grip (or handle)  302  placed above a blade holder  303  adapted to attach a blade  304  to jigsaw  300 . Specifically, for one embodiment, a base  306  of grip  302  is disposed directly above blade holder  303 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . As best seen in  FIG. 3A , blade holder  303 , blade  304 , and grip  302  are located proximate a trailing end  308  of jigsaw  300  when jigsaw  300  is cutting through a work-piece  350 .  
      For one embodiment, blade holder  303  is a collar-like clamp that receives blade  304  therein and clamps blade  304  in place. Blade holders of various types for jigsaws are known in the art and will not be described further here.  
      For one embodiment, grip  302  is formed integrally with a housing  310  of jigsaw  300 , e.g., by injection molding. Housing  310  contains an electric motor  312  attached thereto, for one embodiment, by supports  311 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . A drive  314  is contained in housing  310  and is coupled between electric motor  312  and blade holder  303 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Drive  314  is adapted to reciprocate blade holder  303 , and thus blade  304 , as indicated by arrows  316  of  FIG. 3A , in response to operation of electric motor  312 . Electric motor  312  is connectable to an electrical receptacle via electrical cord  313 , shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 3A  further shows that blade holder  303 , blade  304 , and grip  302  are located behind electric motor  312  when jigsaw  300  is cutting through work-piece  350 . It should be understood that a different power supply, such as a rechargeable battery or the like, could be used without departing from the scope of the invention.  
      Housing  310  can be made from plastic, such as ABS (a class of plastic based on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers) or the like. Housing  310  is attached to a base  320  of jigsaw  300 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A, 4 , and  5 . For one embodiment, blade holder  303  is aligned with a hole  322  that passes through base  320  so that blade  302  can extend through hole  322  when installed in blade holder  303 , as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
      For one embodiment, grip  302  is inclined at an angle  326  from a line that is substantially perpendicular to the base  320  and substantially parallel to blade  304 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . That is, grip  302  is inclined away from trailing end  308  and blade holder  303  toward motor  312  and a front end  324  opposite trailing end  308 . For another embodiment, the angle  326  is about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees. A push-button (or trigger) switch  330  is disposed within grip  302  so as to protrude from an exterior surface of grip  302 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 . Switch  330  is electrically connected to motor  312  for activating motor  312  when a user depresses switch  330  while gripping grip  302 . For one embodiment, switch  330  is biased in an extended position corresponding to the motor being in a non-activated state.  
      In operation, jigsaw  300  is located on a surface  348  of work-piece  350 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . Specifically, base  320  is placed in contact with the surface  348 . A user&#39;s hand  354  grasps grip  302 , as shown in  FIG. 3B , and depresses switch  330  to activate motor  312 , which reciprocates blade  304  via drive  314 . When the user grasps grip  302  and pushes against grip  302  in the direction of arrow  356  (i.e., substantially parallel to surface  348  and away from the user), the inclination of grip  302  causes a component of force to be exerted on the grip that is directed toward work-piece  350 , as indicated by the arrow  358  in  FIG. 3A . This force acts to press base  320  against surface  348 . Pushing against grip  302  also moves jigsaw  300  in the direction of arrow  360 , i.e., substantially parallel to surface  348  and away from the user. This feeds the reciprocating blade  304  into work-piece  350  so that the reciprocating blade  304  can cut through work-piece  350  as base  320  slides over surface  348 .  
      Trailing end  308  is closest to the eyes of the user so the user can view the position of blade  304  directly from behind jigsaw  300  without bending over jigsaw  300 , as indicated by sight-line arrow  361  in  FIG. 3A , when jigsaw  300  is in its use position. When the user&#39;s hand  354  grasps grip  302 , the user&#39;s wrist  362  is kept substantially straight, and hand  354  is in a natural position when jigsaw  300  is in its use position making a cut, as shown in  FIG. 3B . Note that grip  302  is inclined toward the direction of motion of jigsaw  300  while in use. This acts to keep the user&#39;s wrist substantially straight and the user&#39;s hand in a natural position.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates storing of jigsaw  300  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The method includes placing jigsaw  300  in a storage position so that jigsaw  300  is tilted from its use position about an edge  370  of base  320  and so that a portion  364  of housing  310  at front end  324  of jigsaw  300  rests against a surface, such as surface  368 . This allows jigsaw  300  to stand nearly upright on surface  368 , as opposed to having to be laid on its side like conventional jigsaws. Surface  368  can be any surface, e.g., flat, curved, etc., including a work piece surface, such as surface  348  of work piece  350 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a jigsaw  600  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Jigsaw  600  is substantially the same as jigsaw  300 , except that housing  610  of jigsaw  600  has a closed grip  620 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Specifically, grip  620  forms a portion of a boundary of a hole  630  that passes though housing  610 . The user&#39;s hand passes through hole  630  when grasping grip  620 . As described above for jigsaw  300 , grip  620  can be formed integrally with housing  610 , e.g., by injection molding. Elements common to  FIGS. 1-5  and  FIG. 6  are as described above.  
     CONCLUSION  
      Embodiments of the present invention provide jigsaws. For one embodiment, a jigsaw has a blade holder adapted to attach a blade to the jigsaw. The blade holder is located proximate a trailing end of the jigsaw when the jigsaw is in use. A grip is located directly above the blade holder and proximate the trailing end. For another embodiment, the grip is tilted away from the trailing end toward the direction that the jigsaw moves while cutting. The advantages of the present invention over standard jigsaws include by way of example an improved and more natural gripping position for the jigsaw, improved sight lines for cutting, improved safety due to improved sight lines, and a better control of cutting due to improved sight lines and gripping position.  
      Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Many adaptations of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. It is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.