Variable tooth saw blade

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting materials and more specifically an improved saw blade includes a plurality of variable teeth thereon. The variable tooth saw blade cuts faster and smoother while reducing harmonic vibrations. Specifically, the teeth on the saw blade are grouped into sections with differing circumferential widths and differing spacing between the sections.

1 . A saw blade comprising: 
 a flat circular disc having a peripheral outer edge;    a center hole formed in the disc;    a plurality of circumferentially-spaced teeth projecting radially outwardly from the peripheral outer edge;    a cutting edge on each of the teeth;    a first group of the cutting edges;    a first circumferential width defined between each adjacent pair of the cutting edges in the first group;    a second group of the cutting edges;    a second circumferential width defined between each adjacent pair of the cutting edges in the second group and differing from the first circumferential width;    a third group of the cutting edges;    a third circumferential width defined between each adjacent pair of the cutting edges in the third group and differing from the first and second circumferential widths;    a fourth group comprising at least one of the cutting edges;    a fourth circumferential width defined as one of the distance between adjacent cutting edges in the fourth group and the distance between the at least one cutting edge in the fourth group and the adjacent cutting edge in the adjacent group; the fourth circumferential width differing from the first, second and third circumferential widths;    a first circumferential space between the first and second groups;    a second circumferential space between the second and third groups;    a third circumferential space between the third and fourth groups; and    a fourth circumferential space between the fourth group and the first group.    
   
   
       2 . The saw blade of  claim 1  further comprising a first group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the first group and a last of the cutting edges in the first group and ranging from 34° to 38°.  
   
   
       3 . The saw blade of  claim 2  further comprising a second group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the second group and a last of the cutting edges in the second group and ranging from 34° to 38°.  
   
   
       4 . The saw blade of  claim 3  further comprising a third group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the third group and a last of the cutting edges in the third group and ranging from 34° to 38°.  
   
   
       5 . The saw blade of  claim 4  further comprising a fourth group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the fourth group and a last of the cutting edges in the fourth group and ranging from 43° to 47°.  
   
   
       6 . The saw blade of  claim 2  further comprising a second group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the second group and a last of the cutting edges in the second group and ranging from 43° to 47°.  
   
   
       7 . The saw blade of  claim 6  wherein the first circumferential space ranges from 7° to 11°.  
   
   
       8 . The saw blade of  claim 2  wherein the first group comprises five of the cutting edges.  
   
   
       9 . The saw blade of  claim 8  wherein the first group comprises seven of the cutting edges.  
   
   
       10 . The saw blade of  claim 9  wherein the first group comprises nine of the cutting edges.  
   
   
       11 . The saw blade of  claim 3  wherein the first circumferential space ranges from 2.5° to 6.5°.  
   
   
       12 . The saw blade of  claim 11  further comprising a third group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the third group and a last of the cutting edges in the third group and ranging from 34° to 38°; and wherein the second circumferential space ranges from 4° to 8°.  
   
   
       13 . The saw blade of  claim 1  wherein the first circumferential space ranges from 2.5° to 6.5°; the second circumferential space ranges from 4° to 8°; the third circumferential space ranges from 7° to 11°; and the fourth circumferential space ranges from 5.5° to 9.5°.  
   
   
       14 . The saw blade of  claim 1  further comprising a first group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the first group and a last of the cutting edges in the first group and ranging from 43° to 47°.  
   
   
       15 . The saw blade of  claim 14  wherein the first group comprises four of the cutting edges.  
   
   
       16 . The saw blade of  claim 1  wherein the first group comprises nine of the cutting edges.  
   
   
       17 . The saw blade of  claim 16  wherein the second group comprises seven of the cutting edges; the third group comprises five of the cutting edges; and the fourth group comprises four of the cutting edges.  
   
   
       18 . The saw blade of  claim 1  further comprising a first group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the first group and a last of the cutting edges in the first group; a second group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the second group and a last of the cutting edges in the second group; a third group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the third group and a last of the cutting edges in the third group; and a fourth group circumferential width defined between a first of the cutting edges in the fourth group and a last of the cutting edges in the fourth group; and wherein each group circumferential width is greater than or equal to each circumferential space.  
   
   
       19 . The saw blade of  claim 1  wherein the number of cutting edges in each group is different from the number of cutting edges in each other group.  
   
   
       20 . The saw blade of  claim 1  wherein each circumferential space is different than the other circumferential spaces.