Patent ID: 8826549

Claim:
A reciprocating saw comprising: a housing; a drive shaft coupled to the housing for reciprocating motion along an axis; a clamping arrangement having a clamp support base, first and second locking members, a pivot pin, and a release lever, the clamp support base being coupled to the drive shaft for movement therewith, the clamp support base defining a first blade slot, a first cavity, a second blade slot and a second cavity, the first blade slot extending parallel to the axis and being adapted to receive a saw blade therein, the first cavity adjacent to the first blade slot, the second blade slot extending parallel to the axis and being adapted to receive the saw blade therein, the second cavity adjacent to the second blade slot, the first locking member being received in the first cavity and movable between a disengaged position, which does not inhibit withdrawal of the saw blade from the first blade slot, and an engaged position that inhibits withdrawal of the saw blade from the first blade slot, the second locking member being received in the second cavity and movable between a disengaged position, which does not inhibit withdrawal of the saw blade from the second blade slot, and an engaged position that inhibits withdrawal of the saw blade from the second blade slot, the pivot pin being coupled to the clamp support base, the release lever having a first unlocking surface, a second unlocking surface and a cam surface disposed between the first and second locking surfaces, the release lever being pivotally mounted on the pivot pin and movable between a first closed position and a second closed position, wherein when the release lever is in the first closed position, the first unlocking surface is disposed in-line with the first cavity, permitting movement of the first locking member from its engaged position to its disengaged position, and the cam surface is in-line with the second cavity preventing movement of the second locking member from its engaged position to its disengaged position, and wherein when the release lever is in the second closed position, the cam surface is in-line with the first cavity preventing movement of the first locking member from its engaged position to its disengaged position, and the second unlocking surface is disposed in-line with the second cavity, permitting movement of the second locking member from its engaged position to its disengaged position.