Patent ID: 6925720

Claim:
A hacksaw comprising: an elongated blade having opposing longitudinal end portions with a cutting edge between the longitudinal end portions; a frame including a forward portion providing a first blade mount, one of the longitudinal end portions of the blade being removably mounted on the first blade mount, a rearward portion including a manually engagable handle portion constructed and arranged to be manually grasped to enable performance of a cutting operation wherein the cutting edge of the blade is engaged with a workpiece and moves forwardly and rearwardly to cut the workpiece, the rearward portion providing an adjustment mechanism mounting structure, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the forward portion and the rearward portion; and a blade tension adjustment mechanism provided at the rearward end portion and including a second blade mount pivotally attached to the frame and configured to removably mount the other of the longitudinal end portions of the blade, a lever operatively connected to the second blade mount and pivotally mounted to the adjustment mechanism mounting structure of the rearward portion, the lever constructed and arranged to be pivotally moved between (1) a blade tensioning position wherein the first and second blade mounts are moved relative to one another so as to tension the blade between the first and second blade mounts, and (2) a blade releasing position wherein the first and second blade mounts are moved relative to one another so as to release the tension from the blade and thereby allow removal and replacement of the blade, and a lock slidably attached to the lever to slide between (1) a locked position wherein the lock secures the lever in the blade tensioning position, and (2) an unlocked position wherein the lock permits the lever to be pivoted relative to the rearward portion between the blade tensioning position and the blade releasing position wherein the lock pivots with the lever relative to the rearward portion.