Patent ID: 7188425

Claim:
A reciprocating saw comprising: a housing including a first grip surface for an operator's first hand and a second grip surface for an operator's second hand; a motor supported by the housing; a spindle movably supported by the housing, the spindle having an end adapted to support a saw blade; a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the spindle to reciprocally drive the spindle relative to the housing upon operation of the motor; a shoe for engaging a surface of a workpiece; a shoe support member supporting the shoe, the shoe support member being movably supported by the housing; a locking assembly operable to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing; and a lever for operating the locking assembly between a locked condition, in which the shoe support member is locked in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked condition, in which the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing, the lever being supported on the first grip surface such that, during operation of said saw, the operator's first hand engages the first grip surface and the lever and thereby maintains the lever in a locked position corresponding to the locked condition of the locking assembly; wherein the locking assembly includes a locking member engageable with the shoe support member, and wherein the lever is operable to move the locking member between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the shoe support member to lock the shoe support member in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the shoe support member is movable relative to the housing; wherein the locking member has a first end, a second end and a middle portion, and wherein the lever engages the first end and the second end of the locking member.