Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to power tools, and more specifically, to table saws.

Table saws typically include a table, a saw blade extending through a slot within the table, and a removable blade guard assembly for shrouding the saw blade when the table saw is not in use. Depending upon the height of the workpiece being cut with the table saw, it might be desirable to temporarily remove the blade guard assembly from the table to expose the entire height of the saw blade. <CIT> provides a table saw according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The current invention is as defined in claim <NUM>.

Features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of features is not necessarily limited only to those features but may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive- or and not to an exclusive- or.

Terms of approximation, such as "generally," "approximately," or "substantially," include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction. For example, "generally vertical" includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems are described below with regard to specific embodiments.

<FIG> illustrates a table saw <NUM> for supporting and cutting a workpiece. The table saw <NUM> includes a stand <NUM>, a frame <NUM>, and a table <NUM>. The frame <NUM> and the table <NUM> are supported by the stand <NUM>. The stand <NUM> is adjustable such that the height of the table <NUM> may be adjusted relative to a user. The stand <NUM> may be collapsed to improve ease of transport of the table saw <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the table saw <NUM> further includes a saw unit <NUM>, a rip fence <NUM>, a combined saw blade cutting depth/bevel angle adjustment mechanism <NUM>, a user interface <NUM>, and a battery pack <NUM>. The rip fence <NUM> is positioned on the table <NUM> and may be used to guide a workpiece during a cutting operation. As further explained below, the adjustment mechanism <NUM> permits independent adjustment of the cutting depth and the bevel angle of a saw blade <NUM> relative to the table <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the user interface <NUM> and the battery pack <NUM> are positioned on a front panel <NUM> of the table saw <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> includes a main power button <NUM> to activate and deactivate the saw unit <NUM> and a battery receptacle <NUM> in which the battery pack <NUM> is received. In some embodiments, the battery pack <NUM> includes an onboard battery charge indicator <NUM> that extends through the front panel <NUM>. As such, the battery charge indicator <NUM> is visible to a user during operation of the table saw <NUM> and thus provides an indication of a charge level of the battery pack <NUM>.

The saw unit <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, includes a dust shroud <NUM>, a motor <NUM> coupled for movement with and relative to the dust shroud <NUM>, and the saw blade <NUM>, which extends from the top of the dust shroud <NUM> and through the table <NUM> (<FIG>). The dust shroud <NUM> includes an outlet <NUM> that may fluidly connect to an external vacuum for inducing a flow of suctioning air through the dust shroud <NUM> or, in an alternative embodiment, an onboard dust container in which dust and other debris created during a cutting operation is captured. The motor <NUM> receives power from the battery pack <NUM> (<FIG>) and drives rotation of the saw blade <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the saw blade <NUM> is a circular saw. A user may slide a workpiece along the table <NUM> (<FIG>) to the saw blade <NUM> while the saw blade <NUM> is rotatably driven by the motor <NUM> to perform a cutting operation on the workpiece. Debris generated during the cutting operation may then be suctioned into the dust shroud <NUM> and through the outlet <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the combined saw blade cutting depth/bevel angle adjustment mechanism <NUM> is operable to raise and lower the saw blade <NUM> relative to the table <NUM> and the dust shroud <NUM> of the saw unit <NUM>. The adjustment mechanism <NUM> includes a crank <NUM> that drives a gear train <NUM>, the output of which raises and lowers the motor <NUM> and saw blade <NUM> relative to the dust shroud <NUM> and the table <NUM> (i.e., in a vertical direction P1 perpendicular to the table <NUM>). The adjustment mechanism <NUM> also includes a bevel angle lock <NUM>, which is capable of locking the saw unit <NUM> to the front panel <NUM> in a selected bevel angle relative to the table <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the saw unit <NUM> includes a selectively removable riving knife <NUM>. The riving knife <NUM> extends from the dust shroud <NUM> and through the table <NUM> (see also <FIG>). The riving knife <NUM> is located downstream of the saw blade <NUM>. In other words, the riving knife <NUM> is located on a side of the saw blade <NUM> opposite from a user. As illustrated in <FIG>, the riving knife <NUM> includes a first mating interface <NUM> along a top edge <NUM> thereof. The first mating interface <NUM> includes a first slot 86a, a second slot 86b, and a third slot 86c. Each of the first slot 86a and the second slot 86b is formed along the top edge <NUM> of the riving knife <NUM>, whereas the third slot 86c is formed proximate a junction of the top edge <NUM> and a rear edge <NUM> of the riving knife <NUM>. The first slot 86a is substantially circular. The second slot 86b is elongated and curves roughly <NUM> degrees from the top edge <NUM> of the riving knife <NUM>. The third slot 86c is also substantially circular.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the table saw <NUM> further includes a blade guard assembly <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, the blade guard assembly <NUM> may be placed in an operating position generally adjacent the saw blade <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the blade guard assembly <NUM> may alternatively be placed in a storage position within the frame <NUM> of the table saw <NUM>. Returning reference to <FIG>, in the operating position, the blade guard assembly <NUM> is mounted to the saw unit <NUM>, and more specifically, to the riving knife <NUM>, to inhibit a user from inadvertently touching the saw blade <NUM>. As such, the blade guard assembly <NUM> generally surrounds the saw blade <NUM> in the operating position. As illustrated in <FIG>, the blade guard assembly <NUM> includes an upper blade guard <NUM> and dual side blade guards <NUM>, one positioned on each side of the upper blade guard <NUM> and pivotably coupled to the upper blade guard <NUM>. In some embodiments, the table saw <NUM> also includes an anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> positioned behind the blade guard assembly <NUM> and attachable to the riving knife <NUM>. During a cutting operation, the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> prevents "kickback" of the workpiece towards the user.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the upper blade guard <NUM> includes a guard assembly mounting interface <NUM>. The guard assembly mounting interface <NUM> includes a plurality of slots 106a-106c (e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>) and a plurality of apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, turning reference to <FIG>, the plurality of slots 106a-106c includes a first slot 106a, a second slot 106b, and a third slot 106c. The first slot 106a is smaller than the second slot 106b and the third slot 106c. The second slot 106b is smaller than the third slot 106c. The plurality of slots 106a-106c rest on an inclined portion of the top edge <NUM> of the riving knife <NUM> (<FIG>). Returning reference to <FIG>, the plurality of apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> includes, in the illustrated embodiment, a first aperture <NUM>, second apertures <NUM>, and third apertures <NUM>. The first aperture <NUM> receives a first pin <NUM> that is inserted into the first slot 86a of the riving knife <NUM> (<FIG>) when the blade guard assembly <NUM> is mounted to the riving knife <NUM> in the operating position (<FIG>). The second apertures <NUM> receive a second pin <NUM> that is inserted into the second slot 86b of the riving knife <NUM> (<FIG>) when the blade guard assembly <NUM> is mounted to the riving knife <NUM> in the operating position (<FIG>). In the illustrated embodiment, the upper blade guard <NUM> includes third apertures <NUM>, which are threaded. Each of the threaded third apertures <NUM> receives a corresponding fastener <NUM> from each of the side blade guards <NUM> to couple the guards <NUM> to the upper blade guard <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>).

Turning reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> includes two anti-kickback pawls 102a, 102b and may be independently and separately mounted to the riving knife <NUM> as the blade guard assembly <NUM>. In an operating position of the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM>, each of the anti-kickback pawls 102a, 102b is mounted to opposite sides of the riving knife <NUM> (<FIG>). The anti-kickback pawls 102a, 102b include an aperture <NUM> that receives a quick release mechanism <NUM> that is inserted into the third slot 86c of the riving knife <NUM> (<FIG>). The quick release mechanism <NUM> is spring biased and may include a button or an actuator that may allow a user to release the tension of the spring bias. In the illustrated embodiment, the quick release mechanism <NUM> does not extend through the upper blade guard <NUM> such that the anti-kickback pawls 102a, 102b are separate from the upper blade guard <NUM> and the side blade guards <NUM>. In other embodiments, the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> may be directly mounted to the upper blade guard <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the table saw <NUM> further includes a storage mount bracket <NUM> that is mounted to the dust shroud <NUM> within the frame <NUM> (<FIG>). The storage mount bracket <NUM> includes a flange portion <NUM> and a blade guard mounting portion <NUM>. The flange portion <NUM> is fastened to the dust shroud <NUM> such that the storage mount bracket <NUM> moves with the dust shroud <NUM>, for example, when a user adjusts a bevel angle of the saw blade <NUM> with the cutting depth/bevel angle adjustment mechanism <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the blade guard mounting portion <NUM> of the storage mount bracket <NUM> includes a second mating interface <NUM>. The second mating interface <NUM> mimics the first mating interface <NUM> of the riving knife <NUM>. Specifically, the second mating interface <NUM> includes a first slot 158a, a second slot 158b, and a third slot 158c. In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 158a of the second mating interface <NUM> is identical to the first slot 86a of the first interface <NUM>, the second slot 158b of the second mating interface <NUM> is identical to the second slot 86b of the first interface <NUM>, and the third slot 158c of the second mating interface <NUM> is identical to the third slot 86c of the first interface <NUM>. As such, the blade guard assembly <NUM> and/or the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> may be mounted to the storage mount bracket <NUM> to place the blade guard assembly <NUM> and/or the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> in the storage position, as illustrated in <FIG>.

As described above, the storage mount bracket <NUM> is directly mounted to the dust shroud <NUM> of the saw unit <NUM> such that the storage mount bracket <NUM> moves with the dust shroud <NUM> as the bevel angle of the saw blade <NUM> (and therefore the remainder of the saw unit <NUM>) is adjusted. Therefore, the blade guard assembly <NUM> and/or the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> may also move with the dust shroud <NUM> when the blade guard assembly <NUM> and/or the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> are mounted to the storage mount bracket <NUM> in the storage position.

Returning reference to <FIG>, the first mating interface <NUM> of the riving knife <NUM> defines a first plane A1 that extends in a vertical direction P1 that is oriented perpendicular to the table <NUM>. The second mating interface <NUM> of the storage mount bracket <NUM> defines a second plane A2 that extends in the vertical direction P1. The second plane A2 is parallel to the first plane A1. When the bevel angle of the saw unit <NUM> is adjusted, the riving knife <NUM> and the storage mount bracket <NUM> are equally adjusted such that the first plane A1 and the second plane A2 remain parallel at an angle relative to the vertical direction P1. Regardless to what bevel angle the saw unit <NUM> is adjusted, the crank <NUM> and the gear train <NUM> remain positioned between the first plane A1 and the second plane A2.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, to move the blade guard assembly <NUM> from the operating position, in which the blade guard assembly <NUM> is mounted to the riving knife <NUM>, to the storage position, in which the blade guard assembly <NUM> is mounted to the storage mount bracket <NUM>, a user may lift the upper blade guard <NUM> away from the table <NUM> (<FIG>) such that the first pin <NUM> (<FIG>) is removed from the first slot 86a (<FIG>). With the first pin <NUM> (<FIG>) removed, the upper blade guard <NUM> may be pulled such that the second pin <NUM> slides along the second slot 86b (<FIG>) towards the user interface <NUM> of <FIG>. The upper blade guard <NUM> may then be further lifted away from the table <NUM> to slide the second pin <NUM> along the <NUM>-degree curve of the second slot 86b (<FIG>) and remove the blade guard assembly <NUM> from the riving knife <NUM>. The second pin <NUM> may then be inserted along a <NUM>-degree curve of the second slot 158b on the storage mount bracket <NUM>. With the second pin <NUM> positioned in the second slot 158b, the upper blade guard <NUM> may be lowered such that first pin <NUM> (<FIG>) is inserted into the first slot 158a on the storage mount bracket <NUM> to place the blade guard assembly <NUM> in the storage position. To move the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> from the operating position to the storage position, a user may engage, or actuate, the quick-release mechanism <NUM> (e.g., by pressing a button or another similar actuation device on the quick release mechanism <NUM>) to release the spring bias acting on the quick-release mechanism <NUM>. With the spring bias released, the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> may be removed from the third slot 86c (<FIG>) on the riving knife <NUM> and inserted into the third slot 158c on the storage mount bracket <NUM>. Once the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> has been placed in the third slot 158c, the user may then disengage the quick-release mechanism <NUM> (e.g., by releasing a button or another similar actuation device on the quick release mechanism <NUM>) to secure the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> in the storage position on the storage mount bracket <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the blade guard assembly <NUM> and the anti-kickback assembly <NUM> may be moved between the operating position and the storage position independently from each other.

Therefore, the storage mount bracket <NUM> advantageously enables ease of transport of the blade guard assembly <NUM> and/or the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> between the operating position and the storage position. In other words, the storage mount bracket <NUM> enables a user to move the blade guard assembly <NUM> and/or the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> between the operating position and the storage position without the use of additional components to secure or unsecure the blade guard assembly <NUM> and/or the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> to either the riving knife <NUM> or the storage mount bracket <NUM>. Accordingly, the storage mount bracket <NUM> provides a convenient location onboard the table saw <NUM> for storing the blade guard assembly <NUM> and/or the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> when not in use.

<FIG> illustrates a storage mount bracket <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The storage mount bracket <NUM> is substantially similar to the storage mount bracket <NUM> of <FIG>. As such, the storage mount bracket <NUM> includes a flange portion <NUM> and a blade guard mounting portion <NUM>. The storage mount bracket <NUM> additionally includes a second mating interface <NUM> formed on, or disposed on, the blade guard mounting portion <NUM>. The second mating interface <NUM> of <FIG> is substantially similar to the second mating interface <NUM> of <FIG> and may receive the blade guard assembly <NUM> and the anti-kickback pawl assembly <NUM> (<FIG>) in a similar manner as the storage mount bracket <NUM> as described above with reference to <FIG>.

The storage mount bracket <NUM> of <FIG> is reduced in size relative to the storage mount bracket <NUM> of <FIG>. Specifically, each of the flange portion <NUM> and the blade guard mounting portion <NUM> may be smaller in weight, volume, and/or area than the flange portion <NUM> and the blade guard mounting portion <NUM>, respectively, of <FIG>. The reduction in size of the storage mount bracket <NUM> may advantageously reduce manufacturing costs of the storage mount bracket <NUM> and improve ease of transport for the table saw <NUM>.

Although the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the disclosure as described.

Claim 1:
A table saw (<NUM>) comprising:
a table (<NUM>);
a saw unit (<NUM>) including
a saw blade (<NUM>) extendable through a slot in the table, and
a riving knife (<NUM>) positioned behind the saw blade and having a first mating interface (<NUM>);
a storage mount bracket (<NUM>) having a second mating interface (<NUM>) complimentary to the first mating interface; and
a blade guard assembly (<NUM>) attachable to the first mating interface of the riving knife to cover at least a portion of the saw blade, the blade guard assembly being additionally attachable with the second mating interface to attach the blade guard assembly to the storage mount bracket when the blade guard assembly is removed from the riving knife;
characterized in that:
the second mating interface is identical to the first mating interface.