Handle arrangement for a reciprocating saw

Abstract

A power tool, such as a reciprocating saw, including a spindle for supporting a tool element, a body defining a pivot axis and housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end, and a grip connected to the rearward end of the body for pivoting movement about the pivot axis. The reciprocating saw may include a locking assembly for locking the grip in a pivoted position relative to the body and a switch assembly at least partially supported on the grip. The switch assembly is preferably inoperable when the locking assembly is in an unlocked condition, and the locking assembly preferably cannot be moved to the unlocked condition when the switch assembly is in an operating condition. Also, the reciprocating saw may include a grip portion provided by the body and engageable by the operator's other hand. In addition, the reciprocating saw may include a pivot-limiting assembly for limiting pivoting movement of the grip relative to the body beyond a pivoted position.

1 . A reciprocating saw comprising: 
 a reciprocatable spindle for supporting a saw blade for reciprocating sawing movement;    a body defining a longitudinal axis and housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism selectively driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end;    a grip engageable by a hand of an operator, the grip being connected to the rearward end of the body for pivoting movement relative to the body about the axis; and    a locking assembly for locking the grip in a pivoted position relative to the body.    
   
   
       2 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 1 , wherein the grip is a D-shaped handle.  
   
   
       3 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch assembly operable to electrically connect the motor to a power source, at least a portion of the switch assembly being supported on the grip for pivoting movement about the axis with the grip.  
   
   
       4 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 3 , further comprising a wiring arrangement electrically connecting the switch assembly to the motor and accommodating pivoting movement of the switch assembly with the grip about the axis and relative to the motor.  
   
   
       5 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly includes a recess defined in one of the body and the grip and a protrusion supported on an other of the body and the grip, the protrusion being selectively engageable in the recess to lock the grip in the pivoted position.  
   
   
       6 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly includes a first recess and a second recess defined by one of the body and the grip, wherein an other of the body and the grip includes a protrusion, and wherein the protrusion is selectively engageable in the first recess to lock the grip in a first pivoted position relative to the body and in the second recess to lock the grip in a second pivoted position relative to the body.  
   
   
       7 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 6 , wherein, when the grip is in the second pivoted position, the hand grip is oriented at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the first pivoted position.  
   
   
       8 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot-limiting assembly for limiting movement of the grip relative to the body from a first pivoted position beyond a second pivoted position.  
   
   
       9 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 1 , wherein the grip is pivotable relative to the body at least about 180 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . A reciprocating saw comprising: 
 a reciprocatable spindle for supporting a saw blade for reciprocating sawing movement;    a body defining a longitudinal axis and housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism selectively driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end;    a grip engageable by a hand of an operator, the grip being connected to the rearward end of the body for pivoting movement relative to the body about the axis;    a switch assembly operable to electrically connect the motor to a power source, at least a portion of the switch assembly being supported on the grip for pivoting movement with the grip; and    a wiring arrangement electrically connecting the switch assembly to the motor and accommodating pivoting movement of the switch assembly with the grip relative to the motor.    
   
   
       11 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 10 , further comprising a locking assembly for locking the grip in a pivoted position relative to the body.  
   
   
       12 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 11 , wherein the locking assembly includes a recess defined in one of the body and the grip and a protrusion supported on an other of the body and the grip, the protrusion being selectively engageable in the recess to lock the grip in the pivoted position.  
   
   
       13 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 11 , wherein the locking assembly includes a first recess and a second recess defined by one of the body and the grip, wherein an other of the body and the grip includes a protrusion, and wherein the protrusion is selectively engageable in the first recess to lock the grip in a first pivoted position relative to the body and in the second recess to lock the grip in a second pivoted position relative to the body.  
   
   
       14 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 13 , wherein the second pivoted position is oriented at an angle of at least about 90 degrees with respect to the first pivoted position.  
   
   
       15 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 10 , further comprising a pivot-limiting assembly for limiting movement of the grip relative to the body from a first pivoted position beyond a second pivoted position.  
   
   
       16 . The reciprocating saw of  claim 10 , wherein the grip is pivotable relative to the body at least about 180 degrees.  
   
   
       17 . A method of operating a reciprocating saw, the reciprocating saw including a spindle and a body defining a longitudinal axis and housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism selectively driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end, and a grip pivotably connected to the rearward end of the body for pivotable movement about the axis relative to the housing and engageable by a hand of an operator, the method comprising the acts of: 
 connecting a saw blade to the spindle for sawing a workpiece;    positioning the grip in a first pivoted position relative to the body;    operating the motor to cause reciprocating sawing movement of the saw blade;    pivoting the grip toward a second configuration, in which the grip is in a second pivoted position relative to the body; and    operating the motor to cause reciprocating sawing movement of the saw blade.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reciprocating saw includes a locking assembly, the method further comprising the act of locking the grip in the second pivoted position relative to the body.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the locking assembly includes a recess defined in one of the body and the grip and a protrusion supported on an other of the body and the grip, and wherein the act of locking the grip in the second pivoted position includes selectively engaging the protrusion in the recess.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reciprocating saw includes a switch assembly on at least a portion of the grip, the switch assembly being operable to electrically connect the motor to a power source, and wherein the act of pivoting the grip toward the second configuration includes the act of pivoting the switch assembly with the grip and relative to the body.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the act of pivoting the grip toward the second pivoted position includes pivoting the hand grip at least about 90 degrees about the axis.