Chain saw

Claim 2

A chain saw comprising a power unit including a generally vertically extending support frame, a vertically extending cutter bar mounted on said support frame, a cutting chain carried on said cutter bar, and an engine mounted on said support frame for driving said cutting chain, a tank assembly including an integral gas tank and a generally vertical side portion juxtaposed said support frame, a longitudinally extending rear handle connected to said tank assembly, a generally transversely extending front handle connected to said tank assembly, and resilient mounting means interposed said support frame and said tank assembly for supporting said power unit from said tank assembly and for vibrationally isolating said engine and said cutter bar from said handles.

Claim 3

A chain saw according to claim 1 including a generally horizontally extending upper frame member having forward and rear end portions, the forward end of said upper frame member being connected to said tank assembly, said rear handle having an upper end which is connected to the rear end portion of said upper frame member and a lower end which is connected to said tank assembly, and said front handle having an upper end which is connected to the forward end portion of said upper frame member and a lower end which is connected to said tank assembly.

Claim 4

A chain saw according to claim 2 wherein said tank assembly is generally L-shaped, extends downwardly and rearwardly from the forward end portion of said upper frame member, and terminates in a lower rear portion which is connected to the lower end of said rear handle.

Claim 5

A chain saw according to claim 2 wherein said upper frame member, said tank assembly, and said rear handle are arranged to define an opening therebetween for accommodating said engine, said opening being larger than the outer dimensions of said engine.

Claim 6

A chain saw according to claim 4 including a generally vertical frame member extending between and rigidly connecting the rear portions of said upper frame member and said tank assembly.

Claim 7

A chain saw according to claim 2 wherein said engine includes a crankshaft drivingly connected to a drive shaft which is mounted on said support frame for rotation about a transverse axis and is drivingly connected to said cutting chain, and said mounting means includes three elastomeric mounts which are co-planar and are arranged in a generally triangular pattErn about said drive shaft axis with the center of at least one of said mounts being located forward of said drive shaft axis, the center of at least one of said mounts being located rearward of said drive shaft axis, the center of at least one of said mounts being located below said drive shaft axis, and the center of at least one of said mounts being located above said drive shaft axis.

Claim 8

A chain saw according to claim 6 wherein the center of one of said mounts is located below and rearward of said drive shaft axis, the center of another of said mounts is located above and forward of said drive shaft axis, and the center of still another of said mounts is located below and forward of said drive shaft axis.

Claim 9

A chain saw according to claim 7 wherein each of said mounts includes a pair of longitudinally spaced, elastomeric mounting elements, each of said mounting elements being secured respectively at the opposite ends to said tank assembly and said support frame.

Claim 10

A chain saw comprising a power unit including a generally vertically extending support frame, a vertically extending cutter bar mounted on said support frame, a cutting chain carried on said cutter bar, and an engine mounted on said support frame and including a crankshaft drivingly connected to a drive shaft which is mounted on said support frame for rotation about a transverse axis and is drivingly connected to said cutting chain, a generally horizontally extending upper frame member having forward and rear end portions, a generally L-shaped tank assembly including an integral gas tank and a generally vertical side portion juxtaposed said support frame, said tank assembly being connected at the upper end to the forward end portion of said upper frame member, extending downwardly and rearwardly from the forward end portion of said upper frame member, and terminating in a lower rear portion, a longitudinally extending rear handle having an upper end which is connected to the rear end portion of said upper frame member and a lower end which is connected to the lower rear portion of said tank assembly, a generally transversely extending front handle having an upper end which is connected to the forward end portion of said upper frame member and a lower end which is connected to said tank assembly, and three co-planar elastomeric mounts interposed said support frame and said tank assembly for supporting said power unit from said tank assembly and for vibrationally isolating said engine and said cutter bar from said handles, said elastomeric mounts being arranged in a generally triangular pattern about said drive shaft axis with the center of at least one of said mounts being located forward of said drive shaft axis, the center of at least one of said mounts being located rearward of said drive shaft axis, the center of at least one of said mounts being located below said drive shaft axis, and the center of at least one of said mounts being located above said drive shaft axis.

Claim 11

A chain saw comprising a power unit including a generally vertically extending support frame, a vertically extending cutter bar mounted on said support frame, a cutting chain carried on said cutter bar, and an engine mounted on said support frame and including a crankshaft drivingly connected to a drive shaft which is mounted on said support frame for rotation about a transverse axis and is drivingly connected to said cutting chain, a generally horizontally extending upper frame member having forward and rear end portions, a generally L-shaped tank assembly including an integral gas tank and a generally vertical side portion juxtaposed said support frame, said tank assembly being connected at the upper end to the forward end portion of said upper frame member, extending downwardly and rearwardly from the forward end portion of said upper frame member, and terminating in a lower rear portion, a longitudinally extending rear handle having an upper end which is connected to the rear end portion of said upper frame member and a lower end which is connected to the lower rear portion of said tank assembly, a generally transversely extending front handle having an upper end which is connected to the forward end portion of said upper frame member and a lower end which is connected to said tank assembly, and three co-planar elastomeric mounts interposed said support frame and said tank assembly for supporting said power unit from said tank assembly and for vibrationally isolating said engine and said cutter bar from said handles, said elastomeric mounts being arranged in a generally triangular pattern about said drive shaft axis with the center of at least one of said mounts being located forward of said drive shaft axis, the center of at least one of said mounts being located rearward of said drive shaft axis, the center of at least one of said mounts being located below said drive shaft axis, and the center of at least one of said mounts being located above said drive shaft axis.

Claim 12

A chain saw according to claim 9 including a generally vertical frame member extending between and rigidly connecting the rear end portion of said upper frame member and the lower rear portion of said tank assembly, said upper frame member, said tank assembly and said vertical frame member defining an opening for accommodating said engine, said opening being somewhat larger than the outer dimensions of said engine.

Claim 13

A chain saw according to claim 10 wherein the center of one of said mounts is located below and rearward of said drive shaft axis, the center of another of said mounts is located above and forward of said drive shaft axis, and the center of still another of said mounts is located below and forward of said drive shaft axis.

Claim 14

A chain saw according to claim 11 wherein each of said mounts includes a pair of longitudinally spaced, elastomeric mounting elements, each of said mounting elements being secured respectively at the opposite ends to said tank assembly and said support frame.