Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a cordless reciprocating saw including a mechanical interface for attaching a removable battery pack. The mechanical interface includes a strike plate to reduce the effects of vibrational forces on the battery pack.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/352,237, filed Jun. 20, 2016, titled “Reciprocating Saw” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This application relates to a cordless reciprocating saw. In one implementation, the reciprocating saw is configured to address the effects of vibrational forces on an attached battery pack. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    As is well known, reciprocating saws produce significant vibration during operation. Certain cordless reciprocating saws rely on a removable battery pack to provide power to the motor. And certain of these cordless reciprocating saws produce significant vibrational forces in the same direction or in a direction very close to the direction that the battery pack is inserted to mate with the reciprocating saw. In these reciprocating saw/battery pack combinations sustained vibrational forces may overcome the attachment feature holding the battery pack on the reciprocating saw (typically a latch and a catch combination) and cause the battery pack to be ejected from the reciprocating saw. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An aspect of the present invention includes a reciprocating saw including mechanical interface for coupling a removable battery pack. The mechanical interface includes a strike plate for reducing the effects of vibrational forces on the battery pack and to prevent the battery from inadvertently detaching from the reciprocating saw during operation. 
         [0005]    A reciprocating saw, comprising a mechanical interface for receiving a battery pack including a latch having a forward facing surface, the mechanical interface including a catch for receiving the latch, the catch including a recess having a rearward facing surface; and a strike plate including an engagement arm attached to the rearward facing surface of the recess, the engagement arm configured at an angle of 15 degrees to the latch forward facing surface when the battery pack is fully seated in the mechanical interface. 
         [0006]    These and other advantages and features will be apparent from the description and the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a first perspective view of a reciprocating saw of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a second perspective view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a third perspective view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a fourth perspective view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1   
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a fifth perspective view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a sixth perspective view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a seventh perspective view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an eighth perspective view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a ninth perspective view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is rear elevation view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a first side elevation view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a second side elevation view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a bottom plan view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a first side view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1  coupled to a battery pack. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a section view along section line C-C of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the reciprocating saw and battery pack of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is a section view along section line A-A of  FIG. 18 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is a detail view of the reciprocating saw and battery pack of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is a detail view of the reciprocating saw and battery pack of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a strike plate of the present disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  is a side view of the strike plate of  FIG. 22 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 24  is another detail view of the reciprocating saw and battery pack of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 25  is a perspective partial section view of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a guide of the reciprocating saw of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]      FIGS. 1 through 15  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a new and improved reciprocating saw  100  of the present disclosure. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 16 through 21  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a new and improved reciprocating  100  saw coupled to a battery pack  102 . The reciprocating saw  100  and the battery pack  102  include a cooperating mating interface that enables the battery pack  102  to electromechanically mate with the reciprocating saw  100 . Mating interfaces in general in the cordless power tool industry for coupling a battery pack to a power tool are well known. An exemplary mating interface is illustrated and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/414,720, filed Jan. 25, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0035]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 19 , the battery pack  102  is moved in a mating direction (arrow A) to couple with the reciprocating saw  100 . The battery pack  102  includes a coupling button  104  and a latch  106 . The saw  100  includes a catch  108  (typically in the form of a recess or a cavity) that receives the latch  106  when the battery pack  102  is fully seated or engaged with the saw  100 . Upon sliding the battery pack  102  into engagement with the saw  100  (in direction A), a user could either depress the button  104  (downward) which in turn moves the latch  106  downward and allows the latch  106  to move past a forward shoulder  130  of the saw into the catch  108  or the simply slide the battery pack into engagement with the saw  100  and allow the shoulder  130  to force the latch  106  downward as the battery pack  102  slides into engagement and then allows the latch  106  to be received in the catch  108  when the battery pack  102  is fully seated with the saw  100 . 
         [0036]    In conventional systems, the battery pack latch includes a forward facing surface and the saw catch includes a rearward facing surface and upon full engagement of the battery pack and the saw the forward facing surface of the latch would abut the rearward facing surface of the catch to frictionally hold the battery pack on the saw. As noted above, during operation a reciprocating saw creates significant vibrational forces. In the configuration of the present reciprocating saw, a significant portion of the vibrational forces are in a direction opposite to the insertion direction A. As such, it is not uncommon for the latch to slide down rearward facing surface of the catch allowing the battery pack to eject from the saw. 
         [0037]    To address this ejection issue, the saw  102  includes a strike plate  110 . The strike plate  110  is attached to the rearward facing surface  122  of the catch  108 . In the exemplary embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 19-25 , the strike plate  110  is in the form of a J (illustrated backwards in  FIGS. 20 and 24 ). The strike plate  110  includes an engagement arm  112  having an engagement surface, a connecting arm  114 , and a catch arm  116 . The engagement arm  112  is positioned in the cavity of the catch  108  and abuts the rearward facing surface  122  of the catch  108 . The engagement surface of the engagement arm  112  abuts the forward facing surface  124  of the latch  106  when the battery pack  102  is fully seated. The catch arm  116  is received in a small cavity or recess  120  in the saw to hold the strike plate  110  in place. The connecting arm  114  connects the engagement arm  112  and the catch arm  116 . 
         [0038]    In a preferred embodiment, the engagement arm  112  is at an angle of 85 degrees from the connecting arm  114 . Alternatively, the engagement arm  112  is at an angle of 85 degrees to the insertion direction A. Alternatively, the engagement arm  112  is at an angle of 15 degrees to the rearward facing surface  124  of the catch  106 . These angles prevent the latch  106  from sliding downward along the rearward facing surface  122  of the catch  108 . 
         [0039]    In addition, the strike plate  110  having the aforementioned angles reduces wear on the battery latch  106  which would otherwise result from the sustained vibration during operation of the reciprocating saw  100 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 26  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a crankshaft guide. The guide comprises two formed pieces. The guide is typically made of a metal. The first and second guide pieces include a first flange for attaching to the other piece. The first flange of each piece include at least one hole for receiving a fastener, such as a screw for connecting the two pieces. Each piece also includes a second flange. The second flange of each piece is configured to face the second flange of the other piece in a spaced, parallel relation when the two pieces are connected. The space between the two second flanges is such that the crankshaft fits therebetween. As such, a guide for the shaft is created. 
         [0041]    This configuration enables simple manufacture of the guide, as the individual pieces are easily formed. This configuration also allows for easy repair of the saw if the guide or the crankshaft becomes damaged. 
         [0042]    Numerous modifications may be made to the exemplary implementations described above. These and other implementations are within the scope of this application.