Patent ID: 8607681

Claim:
A portable hand-held band saw capable of being fully supported and operated single-handedly for performing a one-handed cutting operation using a closed loop saw blade, comprising: a substantially planar frame having a first end and a second end for housing a first drive wheel with a first rotational axis at the first end and a second driven wheel with a second rotational axis at the second end, wherein the drive wheel and the driven wheel engage the closed loop saw blade, said substantially planar frame defining a first plane; a throat within the frame, said throat being able to receive a workpiece, wherein the throat exposes a portion of the closed loop saw blade angled within the throat; the exposed portion of the angled saw blade defining a second cutting plane which is different from, and at an angle to, the first plane of the substantially planar frame; a drive assembly mounted to the band saw; a handle assembly extending upwardly and outwardly at an angle from the plane of the frame, said handle assembly including at least a part of a hand grip portion located between the first axis of the drive wheel and the second axis of the driven wheel; said handle assembly permitting the operator to lift and operate the saw with one hand, and said handle assembly being located such that the saw is substantially weight balanced, so that the saw can be utilized in a single-handed operation for cutting the workpiece while holding the workpiece with another hand of the operator; wherein the handle assembly defines yet a third plane that is substantially parallel to the second cutting plane of the saw blade, this third handle plane being positioned outwardly from the second cutting plane; and a trigger within the hand grip portion, said trigger capable of being activated by the operator while operating the saw single-handedly, and wherein the trigger is also located between the first drive wheel axis and the second wheel axis.