Lower guard assembly for power saw

Claim 2

A lower guard assembly for a power saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard members located adjacent to the saw blade and mounted for pivotal movement about first and second spaced pivot points, respectively, each guard member having an inner edge and a curved marginal edge; said guard members normally overlapping each other along said inner edges with said curved marginal edges adjacent the lower periphery of the saw blade; means for slidably connecting said first and second guard members together to permit said guard members to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either curved marginal edge of said guard members; and means for slidably connecting said second guard member to said second pivot point to permit said first and second guard members to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with said inner edge of said second guard member.

Claim 3

A lower guard assembly for a power saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates each having a straight horizontal edge, a straight vertical edge, and a curved marginal edge; said first plates normally overLapping each other along said vertical edges to provide an overlap area and to establish a substantially semi-circular lower saw guard with said curved marginal edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its curved marginal edge; said second guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its curved marginal edge; means for slidably connecting said first and second guard plates to permit said guard plates to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either curved marginal edge of said guard plates; and means for slidably connecting said second guard plate to said second pivot point to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate.

Claim 4

A lower guard assembly for a power saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates each having a straight horizontal edge, a straight vertical edge, and a curved marginal edge; said first plates normally overLapping each other along said vertical edges to provide an overlap area and to establish a substantially semi-circular lower saw guard with said curved marginal edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its curved marginal edge; said second guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its curved marginal edge; means for slidably connecting said first and second guard plates to permit said guard plates to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either curved marginal edge of said guard plates; and means for slidably connecting said second guard plate to said second pivot point to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate.

Claim 5

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates substantially in the shape of quadrants, each guard plate having a straight horizontal edge, a straight vertical edge, and an arcuate outer edge; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to provide an overlap area and to establish a substantially semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said arcuate edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; said second guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; a pin and slot connection for slidably connecting said guard plates together to permit said guard plates to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either arcuate edge of said guard plates; and said second guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot extending from said second pivot point toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate.

Claim 6

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates substantially in the shape of quadrants, each guard plate having a straight horizontal edge, a straight vertical edge, and an arcuate outer edge; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to provide an overlap area and to establish a substantially semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said arcuate edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; said second guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; a pin and slot connection for slidably connecting said guard plates together to permit said guard plates to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either arcuate edge of said guard plates; and said second guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot extending from said second pivot point toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate.

Claim 7

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates substantially in the shape of quadrants, each guard plate having a straight horizontal edge, a straight vertical edge, and an arcuate outer edge; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to provide an overlap area and to establish a substantially semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said arcuate edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; said second guard being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; each of said guard plates including an elongated arcuate slot extending from a common point located in said overlap area toward its horizontal edge; a connecting pin slidably received in said elongated arcuate slots of said guard plates to connect said guard plates together and to permit said guard plates to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either arcuate edge of said guard plates; and said second guard plate including an additional elongated arcuate slot extending from said second pivot poinT toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate.

Claim 8

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates substantially in the shape of quadrants, each guard plate having a straight horizontal edge, a straight vertical edge, and an arcuate outer edge; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to provide an overlap area and to establish a substantially semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said arcuate edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; said second guard being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; each of said guard plates including an elongated arcuate slot extending from a common point located in said overlap area toward its horizontal edge; a connecting pin slidably received in said elongated arcuate slots of said guard plates to connect said guard plates together and to permit said guard plates to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either arcuate edge of said guard plates; and said second guard plate including an additional elongated arcuate slot extending from said second pivot poinT toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate.

Claim 9

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates substantially in the shape of quadrants, each guard plate having a straight horizontal edge and a straight vertical edge which define a vertex and a circular outer edge which defines corners with said horizontal and vertical edges; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to establish a semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said circular edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point located adjacent to the corner of said first guard plate defined by its horizontal edge and its circular edge; said second guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point located adjacent to the corner of said second guard plate defined by its horizontal edge and its circular edge; said guard plates including overlapping elongated slots extending tangentially in opposite directions from a common position adjacent to said respective vertical edges of said guard plates toward said respective horizontal edges of said guard plates; a connecting pin slidably received in said tangential slots of said guard plates to connect said guard plates together and to permit said guard plates to pivot in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either of said circular edges of said guard plates; and said second guard plates including an additional elongated slot extending tangentially from said second pivot point toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate.

Claim 10

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates substantially in the shape of quadrants, each guard plate having a straight horizontal edge and a straight vertical edge which define a vertex and a circular outer edge which defines corners with said horizontal and vertical edges; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to establish a semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said circular edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point located adjacent to the corner of said first guard plate defined by its horizontal edge and its circular edge; said second guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point located adjacent to the corner of said second guard plate defined by its horizontal edge and its circular edge; said guard plates including overlapping elongated slots extending tangentially in opposite directions from a common position adjacent to said respective vertical edges of said guard plates toward said respective horizontal edges of said guard plates; a connecting pin slidably received in said tangential slots of said guard plates to connect said guard plates together and to permit said guard plates to pivot in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either of said circular edges of said guard plates; and said second guard plates including an additional elongated slot extending tangentially from said second pivot point toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate.

Claim 11

The lower saw guard assembly of claim 5, wherein: said first guard plate includes a handle projecting perpendicularly from its vertex to permit pivotal movement of said first and second guard plates by manual engagement of said handle.

Claim 12

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: a first guard plate substantially in the shape of a quadrant having a straight horizontal edge and a straight vertical edge which define a vertex and a circular outer edge which defines upper and lower corners of said guard plate with said horizontal and vertical edges, respectively; a second guard plate substantially in the shape of a quadrant having a straight horizontal edge and a straight vertical edge which define a vertex and a circular outer edge which defines upper and lower corners of said guard plate with said horizontal and vertical edges, respectively; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to establish a substantially semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said circular edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot extending tangentially relative to said vertex of said first guard plate from a point adjacent to its lower corner toward its horizontal edge; said second guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot in alignment with said elongated arcuate slot of said first guard plate and extending tangentially relative to said vertex of said second guard plate from a point adjacent to its lower corner toward its horizontal edge; a connecting pin slidably received in said elongated arcuate slots of said guard plates to connect said guard plates together; said first guard plate including an opening located adjacent to its upper corner for receiving a first pIvot pin to support said guard plate for pivotal movement about said first pivot pin; and said second guard plate including an additional elongated arcuate slot extending tangentially relative to said first pivot pin from a point adjacent to said upper corner of said second guard plate toward its vertical edge for receiving a second pivot pin to support said second guard plate for pivotal movement about said second pivot pin and to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot pin.

Claim 13

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: a first guard plate substantially in the shape of a quadrant having a straight horizontal edge and a straight vertical edge which define a vertex and a circular outer edge which defines upper and lower corners of said guard plate with said horizontal and vertical edges, respectively; a second guard plate substantially in the shape of a quadrant having a straight horizontal edge and a straight vertical edge which define a vertex and a circular outer edge which defines upper and lower corners of said guard plate with said horizontal and vertical edges, respectively; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to establish a substantially semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said circular edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot extending tangentially relative to said vertex of said first guard plate from a point adjacent to its lower corner toward its horizontal edge; said second guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot in alignment with said elongated arcuate slot of said first guard plate and extending tangentially relative to said vertex of said second guard plate from a point adjacent to its lower corner toward its horizontal edge; a connecting pin slidably received in said elongated arcuate slots of said guard plates to connect said guard plates together; said first guard plate including an opening located adjacent to its upper corner for receiving a first pIvot pin to support said guard plate for pivotal movement about said first pivot pin; and said second guard plate including an additional elongated arcuate slot extending tangentially relative to said first pivot pin from a point adjacent to said upper corner of said second guard plate toward its vertical edge for receiving a second pivot pin to support said second guard plate for pivotal movement about said second pivot pin and to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot pin.

Claim 14

The saw guard of claim 7, wherein: said first guard plate includes a handle projecting perpendicularly from its vertex to permit simultaneous pivotal movement of said first and second guard plates by manual engagement of said handle.

Claim 15

A lower guard assembly for a power saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard members located adjacent to the saw blade and mounted for pivotal movement about first and second spaced pivot points, respectively, each guard member having an inner edge and a curved marginal edge; said guard members normally overlapping each other along said inner edges with said curved marginal edges adjacent the lower periphery of the saw blade; means for slidably connecting said first and second guard members together to permit said guard members to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either curved marginal edge of said guard members; means for slidably connecting said second guard member to said second pivot point to permit said first and second guard members to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with said inner edge of said second guard member; and means for slidably connecting said first guard member to said first pivot point to permit said first and second guard members to pivot as a unit about said second pivot point.

Claim 16

A lower guard assembly for a power saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard members located adjacent to the saw blade and mounted for pivotal movement about first and second spaced pivot points, respectively, each guard member having an inner edge and a curved marginal edge; said guard members normally overlapping each other along said inner edges with said curved marginal edges adjacent the lower periphery of the saw blade; means for slidably connecting said first and second guard members together to permit said guard members to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either curved marginal edge of said guard members; means for slidably connecting said second guard member to said second pivot point to permit said first and second guard members to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with said inner edge of said second guard member; and means for slidably connecting said first guard member to said first pivot point to permit said first and second guard members to pivot as a unit about said second pivot point.

Claim 17

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates substantially in the shape of quadrants, each guard plate having a straight horizontal edge, a straight vertical edge, and an arcuate outer edge; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to provide an overlap area and to establish a substantially semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said arcuate edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a firat pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; said second guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; a pin and slot connection for slidably connecting said guard plates together to permit said guard plates to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either arcuate edge of said guard plates; said second guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot extending from said second pivot point toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate; and said first guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot extending from said first pivot point toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said second pivot point.

Claim 18

A lower saw guard assembly for a radial saw including a rotary saw blade, comprising: first and second guard plates substantially in the shape of quadrants, each guard plate having a straight horizontal edge, a straight vertical edge, and an arcuate outer edge; said guard plates normally overlapping each other along said vertical edges to provide an overlap area and to establish a substantially semi-circular lower guard for the radial saw with said arcuate edges of said guard plates encircling the lower periphery of the saw blade; said first guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a firat pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; said second guard plate being mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point located adjacent to its horizontal edge and its arcuate edge; a pin and slot connection for slidably connecting said guard plates together to permit said guard plates to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions about said first and second pivot points upon movement of a workpiece into engagement with either arcuate edge of said guard plates; said second guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot extending from said second pivot point toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said first pivot point upon movement of the workpiece into engagement with said vertical edge of said second guard plate; and said first guard plate including an elongated arcuate slot extending from said first pivot point toward its vertical edge to permit said first and second guard plates to pivot as a unit about said second pivot point.