Patent ID: 8230607

Claim:
A reciprocating tool comprising: a housing including a sidewall that defines a cavity; a spindle mounted for reciprocating movement with respect to the housing within the cavity, the spindle including a longitudinal axis and an end configured to receive a saw blade; a blade clamp mechanism actuator including a first member positioned within the cavity of the housing and a second member extending from the first member, the second member at least partially positioned outside the cavity, the blade clamp mechanism actuator coupled to the housing for movement with respect to the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the spindle reciprocates with respect to the blade clamp mechanism actuator; and a blade clamp mechanism coupled to the spindle for reciprocating movement therewith, the blade clamp mechanism configured to attach the saw blade to the spindle, the blade clamp mechanism including, a collar mounted on the end of the spindle, the collar rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the spindle between an engaged position and a disengaged position in response to movement of the blade clamp mechanism actuator between the first position and the second position, wherein when the blade clamp mechanism actuator is in the first position, the collar is in the engaged position and is disengaged with the first member, and when the blade clamp mechanism actuator is in the second position, the collar is in the disengaged position and engaged with the first member, and a locking member movable relative to the spindle between a locked position that attaches the saw blade to the spindle and an unlocked position that releases the saw blade from the spindle, wherein rotation of the collar from the disengaged position to the engaged position moves the locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position, and wherein rotation of the collar from the engaged position to the disengaged position allows the locking member to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.