Patent ID: 7926187

Claim:
A band saw having a front and a rear, the band saw comprising: a housing including a first handle, a second handle spaced from the first handle, and a bridge extending between the first handle and the second handle, the bridge including a first portion proximate the first handle, a second portion proximate the second handle, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion; a motor supported by the housing; a first wheel supported by the housing for rotation about a first wheel axis, the first wheel being coupled to the motor and driveable by the motor; a second wheel supported by the housing for rotation about a second wheel axis; a band saw blade extending around the first wheel and the second wheel and traveling in a continuous loop around the first wheel and the second wheel to cut a work piece and to define a cutting plane, the first wheel axis residing in a first wheel plane that is substantially normal to the cutting plane and the second wheel axis residing in a second wheel plane that is substantially normal to the cutting plane; and a battery including a fuel gauge, the battery removably supported by the bridge and electrically connectable to the motor for powering the motor, the entire battery being positioned between the first handle and the second handle such that the fuel gauge is visible during use of the band saw; wherein a portion of the first handle is positioned outside a space between the first wheel plane and the second wheel plane; wherein the third portion of the bridge curves toward the front of the band saw to define a recess, the battery being positioned in the recess, and outside the housing; wherein the first portion and the second portion of the bridge each define a center axis that is spaced a first distance from the cutting plane; and wherein the third portion of the bridge defines a center axis that is spaced a second distance from the cutting plane less than the first distance.