Patent ID: 7806032

Claim:
A saw guard system for a power saw of the type which has a table top, a rotatable circular saw blade that is vertically adjustable relative to the table top, the table top having an opening through which the saw blade can extend, the blade being configured to cut a work piece as the work piece is moved from a forward position to a rearward position, said system comprising: a riving knife mounted to the saw rearwardly of the blade; a blade guard mechanism mounted to said riving knife and being configured to cover the blade and be adjustable to enable a work piece to be moved into cutting position by the blade; said blade guard mechanism comprising an elongated upper guard barrier that extends from a portion that connects to said riving knife forwardly above the blade, and two elongated side guard barriers pivotally attached to said upper guard barrier; each of said side guard barriers having a pivot connection to said upper guard barrier oriented to enable said side guard barriers to pivot upwardly away from the table top responsive to contact by a work piece moving past the blade during a cutting operation; each of said side guard barriers having an arcuate slot spaced from said pivot connection and a retaining member attached to said upper guard barrier located in said slot for limiting the amount of pivoting movement of said side guard barriers, said retaining members having a transverse end portion for contacting said side guard barriers to prevent side forces applied to said side guard barriers from being transferred solely to said pivot connection thereof, said retaining members comprising a bolt with an enlarged head, said bolt having an exposed shank with a length that extends through the thickness of said side guard barrier and said enlarged head bears against the sides of said slot; and a retention clip in said side guard barrier configured to engage said shank portion of said bolt on opposite sides thereof to releasably hold said side guard barrier in an elevated position.