Patent ID: 7040023

Claim:
A reciprocating saw comprising: a housing having a forward neck portion and a handle; a motor oriented within the housing; a saw bar oriented within the housing, the saw bar having a forward end proximate to the housing neck portion, the saw bar being operably driven by the motor in a reciprocating motion; a blade holder oriented on the forward end of the saw bar such that a user may access the blade holder, the blade holder having: a generally cylindrical body having a longitudinal slot sized to receive a saw blade, and a transverse aperture extending into the longitudinal slot, a follower oriented within the body transverse aperture, a sleeve having a central bore sized to mount upon and pivot relative to the body, the sleeve central bore having a circum-axial cam groove formed therein cooperating with the follower, and a biasing member elastically biasing the sleeve to rotate in a lock direction causing the circum-axial cam groove to urge the follower inward to engage the saw blade inserted therein to removably secure the saw blade to the saw bar, and rotation of the sleeve in an unlock direction provides clearance within the circum-axial cam groove to allow the follower to retract from the saw blade and free the saw blade: and a retaining member affixed to a distal end of the body beyond the sleeve for securing the sleeve to the body; wherein the sleeve central bore is adapted to provide clearance for the follower such that the sleeve is permitted to axially translate relative to the body for assembly or disassembly of the blade holder; wherein the follower has a first end for cooperating with the circum-axial cam groove and a second end for engaging the saw blade, and the sleeve has a longitudinal channel intersecting the circum-axial cam groove and being sized relative to the follower first end so that the sleeve may axially translate relative to the body at a radial orientation of the sleeve that aligns the intersection of the channel with the follower first end; and wherein the sleeve has a limited range of rotation relative to the body, and the intersection of the circum-axial cam groove and channel aligns with the follower first end at a radial orientation of the sleeve that is outside the sleeve rotation range.