Patent ID: 8641049

Claim:
A tool-less blade clamping apparatus for a reciprocating tool of the type which has a reciprocating plunger with at least one radially oriented aperture and a blade receiving slot at a forward end for receiving a blade of the type which has a shank portion with a hole and outwardly extending shoulders on opposite sides thereof between a distal end of the shank and a blade portion, the shank being configured to be inserted in the slot, the apparatus being configured to be attached to the plunger and having an opening for receiving the blade shank therein and in the slot, said apparatus comprising: an inner sleeve partially surrounding and axially fixed to the forward end of the plunger; and an outer sleeve positioned concentrically outside the inner sleeve and being axially movable in relation to the inner sleeve and the plunger, wherein the clamping apparatus has a clamped position, in which the blade is securely retained in the clamping apparatus, and an unclamped position, in which the clamping apparatus is configured to receive the blade, wherein, in the unclamped position, the clamping apparatus is locked in position so as to remain in the unclamped position without application of an external force, wherein, during insertion of the blade into the clamping apparatus, the blade shoulders engage the outer sleeve to push the outer sleeve axially in a rearward direction, away from the forward end of the plunger, to release the apparatus from the unclamped position, wherein the clamping apparatus is biased such that, once released from the unclamped position, the clamping apparatus moves to the clamped position to securely retain the blade in the clamping apparatus, and wherein, the outer sleeve is configured to be rotated in a first rotational direction to move the clamping apparatus from the clamped position to the unclamped position, and movement of the apparatus from the clamped position to the unclamped position results in the outer sleeve moving axially in a forward direction to engage the shoulders of the blade and move the blade in the forward direction to eject the blade from the clamping apparatus.