Patent ID: 7975388

Claim:
A circular power saw ( 10 ), comprising a saw assembly ( 12 ) with a housing ( 14 , 16 ) that encloses a motor and a saw blade ( 18 ) configured to be driven by the motor; a footplate ( 22 ), wherein the saw assembly ( 12 ) is pivotably supported on a swivel arm ( 36 ), wherein said saw assembly ( 12 ) is pivotable relative to the footplate ( 22 ) to be adjustable between a minimum and maximum cutting depth; a handle ( 24 ) rigidly connected to the footplate ( 22 ) independently from the saw assembly ( 12 ), such that a back end of the saw assembly has no handle for gripping by a user of said power saw; an overload coupling, wherein the saw assembly ( 12 ) is pivotably detachable relative to the footplate via the overload coupling, wherein said overload coupling is configured to fully decouple said saw assembly from an adjusted cutting depth automatically and instantaneously during sawing if kickback occurs, such that if kickback occurs, the saw assembly ( 12 ) accelerates upwardly without footplate ( 22 ) lifting away from a work piece and kicks into a position of minimum cutting depth relative to the footplate ( 22 ) and relative to the handle ( 24 ), whereby the handle remains in its prior position, said overload coupling comprising a detent piece ( 42 ) held against a locking piece ( 40 ) by a biasing force ( 46 ), said detent piece ( 42 ) disengaging from said locking piece ( 40 ) when a kickback force mechanically overcomes the biasing force ( 46 ).