Patent ID: 8413340

Claim:
A safety guard assembly for use with a handheld power saw, the handheld power saw having a saw blade and a hood that covers a portion of the saw blade, such that the saw blade has a hooded portion and an unhooded portion, the safety guard assembly comprising: a safety guard that is adapted to cover the unhooded portion of the saw blade; a mounting means for swingably attaching the safety guard to the hood; a spring-biased locking mechanism affixed to the hood for selectively holding the safety guard in an open position in which the safety guard is moved away from the unhooded portion of the saw blade to enable a cutting operation and in a closed position in which the safety guard is moved over the unhooded portion to prevent a cutting operation; and a weight mounted on the safety guard, so as to enhance a moment of inertia that is inherently exerted on the safety guard in a kick-back situation, the moment of inertia enhanced by the weight automatically causing a release of the spring-biased locking mechanism from the open position and forcing the safety guard to swing from the open position to the closed position immediately upon kick-back.