Chain saw mounting device

Abstract

A chain saw mounting device for mounting a chain saw on an object, such as a motor vehicle tail gate. The device includes a base, mechanism for detachably coupling the base to an object, and mechanism for detachably coupling the chain saw to the frame including a laterally opening pocket for receiving rear portion of the chain saw, and a forwardly opening pocket portion for receiving a forward portion of the chain saw.

1 . A chain saw mounting bracket for detachably mounting a chain saw to an object;
 said chain saw including
 a rearward portion including a trigger handle provided with vertically spaced upper and lower handle portions, 
 a forward longitudinally extending cutter bar, and 
 a forward portion including a transversely extending forward handle; 
   said chain saw mounting bracket comprising:
 a base having forward and rearward ends and lateral sides; 
 means for detachably coupling said base to the object; and 
 forward and rearward, laterally inclined, chain saw retaining means, provided on said base with chain saw support surfaces which are disposed in an upward and forward direction relative to said base for detachably receiving and storing the forward and rearward portions, respectively, of the chain saw. 
   
   
   
       2 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 1  wherein said means for detachably coupling said base to the object comprises longitudinally spaced apart front and rear clamp members adjustably mounted on said forward and rearward ends for movement relative to each other between remote, non-clamping positions and clamping positions detachably clamped to the object. 
   
   
       3 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 1  wherein said rearward chain saw retaining means comprises a rearward, laterally extending support surface which is upwardly inclined in a direction from one of said lateral sides toward the other of said lateral sides, and a retainer finger having
 a lower end mounted on said rearward support surface; and   an opposite, cantileverly supported, laterally offset free end spaced from said rearward support surface to form a laterally outwardly opening pocket for detachably receiving and storing the rearward portion of the chain saw.   
   
   
       4 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 3  wherein said forward chain saw retaining means comprises a forward laterally extending support surface which is upwardly inclined in a direction from said one lateral side toward said other of said lateral sides; said forward support surface being at a level higher than the level of said rearward support surface relative to said base. 
   
   
       5 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 4  wherein said forward chain saw retaining means comprises a forward finger having a lower end mounted on said forward support surface and
 an opposite cantileverly supported, longitudinally forwardly offset, free terminal end spaced from said forward support surface to define a forwardly opening, pocket for receiving the forward portion of the chain saw.   
   
   
       6 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 5  wherein said forward finger is mounted on said forward support surface adjacent said one lateral side. 
   
   
       7 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 2  wherein said means for detachably coupling said base to the object comprises at least one flaccid strap adjustably coupled to said base; and further including strap means for detachably securing the chain saw to the base. 
   
   
       8 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 4  wherein said rearward laterally extending support surface and said forward laterally extending support surface are each forwardly upwardly inclined and lie in the same plane. 
   
   
       9 . A chain saw mounting bracket for detachably mounting a chain saw to an object;
 said chain saw including
 a rearward portion including a trigger handle provided with vertically spaced upper and lower handle portions, 
 a forward longitudinally extending cutter bar, and 
 a forward portion including transversely extending forward handle; 
   
     said chain saw mounting bracket comprising:
   a base having forward and rearward ends and lateral sides;   means for detachably coupling said base to the object; and   forward and rearward chain saw mounting members which are inclined relative to said base to mount the chain saw in a plane which is
 laterally upwardly inclined relative to said base in a direction from one of said lateral sides toward the other of said lateral sides and 
 which is also upwardly inclined in a forward direction. 
   
 
   
   
       10 . A chain saw mounting bracket for detachably mounting a chain saw to an object;
 said chain saw including
 a rearward trigger handle provided with vertically spaced upper and lower handle portions, 
 a forward longitudinally extending cutter bar, and a transversely extending forward handle; 
   said chain saw mounting bracket comprising:
 a base having forward and rearward ends and lateral sides; 
 means for detachably coupling said base to the object; and 
 a rearward chain saw mounting retainer on said base for detachably receiving said lower handle portion, 
 a forwardly disposed chain saw mounting retainer on said base for detachably receiving a portion of the transversely disposed forward handle. 
   
   
   
       11 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 10  wherein said rearward chain saw mounting retainer and said forwardly disposed chain saw mounting retainer include upper support surfaces which are laterally upwardly inclined in a direction from one of said lateral sides toward the other of said lateral sides. 
   
   
       12 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 10  wherein said upper support surfaces of said forwardly disposed chain saw retainer are forwardly upwardly disposed relative to said rearward chain saw mounting retainer. 
   
   
       13 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 10  wherein said upper support surface of said forwardly disposed chain saw mounting retainer is at a higher level relative to said base than the level of said rearward chain saw mounting member relative to said base. 
   
   
       14 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 11  wherein said rearward chain saw mounting retainer includes a laterally outwardly opening pocket which laterally outwardly opens in a direction toward said other of said laterally opposite sides. 
   
   
       15 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 14  wherein said rearward chain saw mounting retainer includes a laterally extending finger having one end fixed to said upper surface of said rearward chain saw retainer and an opposite offset, cantileverly supported free end spaced from said upper of said rearward chain saw retainer surface to define a pocket for laterally receiving the lower handle portion. 
   
   
       16 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 14  wherein said forward chain saw mounting retainer includes a forwardly extending finger having a rear end fixed to said upper surface of said forward chain saw retainer and a cantileverly supported forward, terminal end cantileverly supported in spaced relation with said upper surface of said forward chain saw retainer to form a forwardly opening pocket for detachably receiving a portion of the forward handle. 
   
   
       17 . A chain saw mounting bracket for detachably mounting a chain saw to an object comprising:
 a base having forward and rearward ends spanned by lateral sides;   means for detachably coupling said base to the object;   a first rearwardly disposed, laterally extending chain saw retaining device mounted on said base and forming a laterally opening, open ended pocket for detachably receiving a rear portion of the chain saw; and   a second forwardly disposed, longitudinally extending, chain saw retaining device mounted on said base forwardly of said first chain saw retaining device and forming a forwardly opening, open ended pocket for detachably receiving a forward portion of the chain saw.   
   
   
       18 . The bracket set forth in  claim 17  wherein said first retaining device comprises a finger having one end fixed to said base and an opposite end, laterally offset relative to said one end, spaced from said base to define said laterally extending open ended pocket for detachably receiving the forward portion of the chain saw. 
   
   
       19 . The bracket set forth in  claim 17  wherein said second retaining device comprises a first end fixed to said base and a second, longitudinally forwardly offset, cantileverly supported terminal end disposed in spaced relation with said base to define said forwardly opening, open ended pocket for detachably receiving the forward portion of the chain saw. 
   
   
       20 . The bracket set forth in  claim 19  wherein said base includes a first main frame generally lying in a predetermined plane and a second sub-frame, mounted on said main frame, for mounting said one end of said finger and said first end of said second retaining device in spaced relation with said first main frame. 
   
   
       21 . The bracket set forth in  claim 20  wherein said second sub-frame includes rearward and forward saw support members which are laterally inclined relative to said base. 
   
   
       22 . The bracket set forth in  claim 17  wherein said rearward retainer member is spaced from said base a predetermined distance and said forward retainer is spaced a greater predetermined distance from said base. 
   
   
       23 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 17  wherein said first and second chain saw retaining devices comprise:
 longitudinally spaced apart, rearward and forward, generally inverted U-shaped straps, respectively, each having an upper sub-base spanning a pair of laterally spaced apart upstanding legs which are coupled to said laterally opposite sides of said base;
 said first chain saw retaining device including rear pocket forming means, fixed to said upper sub-base of said rearward strap, forming said laterally opening, open ended pocket for detachably laterally receiving the rear portion of the chain saw; 
 said second chain saw retaining device including forward pocket forming means, fixed to said upper sub-base of said forward strap, forming said forwardly opening, open ended pocket for detachably longitudinally receiving the forward portion for said chain saw. 
   
   
   
       24 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 23  wherein said upper sub-bases are each upwardly inclined relative to said base in a direction from one of said lateral sides toward the other of said lateral sides. 
   
   
       25 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 24  wherein said longitudinally forward pocket forming means is disposed on said sub-base of said forward strap adjacent said one lateral side. 
   
   
       26 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 25  wherein said rear pocket forming means comprises a finger mounted on said upper sub-base of said rearward strap;
 said finger including a laterally offset, cantileverly supported terminal end spaced from said sub-base to define said laterally opening, open-ended pocket.   
   
   
       27 . The chain saw mounting bracket set forth in  claim 26  wherein said base lies in a first predetermined plane, said sub-base of said rearward strap and said sub-base of said forward strap lie in a second plane forwardly upwardly relative to said first plane.