Guard assembly for a saw blade

Abstract

The present invention discloses a guard assembly for a saw blade, which includes an inner guard portion and an outer guard portion. The inner and outer guard portions define a containing space therebetween. A circular saw blade includes two parallel sides and a rotating axis perpendicular to the two sides. At least a portion of the saw blade is located within the containing space. The outer guard portion is pivotally connected with the inner guard portion about a pivotal axis which is substantially parallel to each side of the blade. The improved guard assembly, which can be opened laterally, is convenient to change the saw blade and to clean the inner of the guard.

1 . A guard assembly for use with a circular saw blade, comprising:
 a semicircular inner guard and a semicircular outer guard defining a space therebetween for enclosing an upper portion of the circular saw blade while exposing a lower portion of the saw blade, the semicircular inner guard having a lower opening for receiving a rotating axis of the saw blade;   a connecting means including a first connecting member, a protruding member and a second connecting member, the connecting means pivotably mounting the inner guard to the outer guard about an pivotal axis such that the outer guard can be opened from the inner guard thereby exposing the saw blade; and,   a fixing device for fastening the outer guard portion to the inner guard portion.   
     
     
         2 . The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the semicircular inner and outer guards include a curvilinear edge and a substantially horizontal lower edge segment, and wherein the connecting means is located adjacent the intersection of the curvilinear edge and lower edge segment. 
     
     
         3 . The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding member includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve, wherein the first sleeve is adapted for receiving a second cylindrical portion of the first connection member and the second sleeve is adapted for receiving a first threaded portion of the first connection member. 
     
     
         4 . The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second connecting member includes a sleeve for engagement with the first and second sleeve of the protruding member and adapted for receiving the second portion of the first connecting member. 
     
     
         5 . The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the saw blade has an inner surface oriented towards the inner guard and an outer surface oriented towards the outer guard, and wherein the opening of the outer guard exposes the outer surface of the saw blade. 
     
     
         6 . The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotal axis is substantial vertically and substantially perpendicular to the rotating axis of the saw blade. 
     
     
         7 . The guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device comprises an actuator extending outward from the outer guard, the actuator operably connected to an elongated fastener that extends through the space when the outer guard is fastened to the inner guard. 
     
     
         8 . The guard assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fixing device is located opposite the connecting means, and wherein the rotating axis is located between the fixing device and the connecting means. 
     
     
         9 . The guard assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fixing device is located proximate a front terminus of the curvilinear upper edge of the inner and outer guards and the connecting means is located proximate a rear terminus of the curvilinear upper edge of the inner and outer guards. 
     
     
         10 . The guard assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a laser device located proximate the fixing device. 
     
     
         11 . A guard assembly for use with a circular saw blade, comprising:
 an inner guard pivotally connected to an outer guard by a connecting means to define a space that receives an extent of a circular saw blade, the inner and outer guards having a curvilinear upper edge and a generally horizontal lower edge, wherein the inner guard has a lower opening that receives a rotating axis of the saw blade;   the connecting means positioned proximate a rear terminus of the curvilinear upper edge of the inner and outer guards, the connecting means including a first connecting member, a protruding member including at least one sleeve, and a second connecting member having a sleeve that interacts with the sleeve of the protruding member to receive the first connecting member; and,   a fixing device for fastening the outer guard portion to the inner guard portion.   
     
     
         12 . The guard assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the protruding member extends from the inner guard proximate the rear terminus of the curvilinear edge of the inner guard. 
     
     
         13 . The guard assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the saw blade has an inner surface oriented towards the inner guard and an outer surface oriented towards the outer guard, and wherein the opening of the outer guard exposes the outer surface of the saw blade. 
     
     
         14 . The guard assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fixing device is located in a frontal region of the guard assembly and the connecting means is located in a rear region of the guard assembly, and wherein the rotating axis is located between the fixing device and the connecting means. 
     
     
         15 . The guard assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a laser device positioned proximate a front terminus of the curvilinear upper edge of the inner and outer guards. 
     
     
         16 . The guard assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the laser device is secured to the inner guard proximate the front terminus of the curvilinear upper edge. 
     
     
         17 . The guard assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the second connecting member extends from the outer guard proximate the rear terminus of the curvilinear edge of the outer guard. 
     
     
         18 . The guard assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the fixing device is located proximate a front terminus of the curvilinear edge of the outer guard, the fixing device comprising an actuator operably connected to an elongated fastener that extends through the outer guard and into the space for reception by an opening in the inner guard. 
     
     
         19 . A guard assembly for use with a circular saw blade, comprising:
 a semicircular inner guard and a semicircular outer guard defining a space therebetween for receiving a portion of a circular saw blade, the semicircular inner guard having a lower portion with an arcuate opening for receiving a rotating axis of the saw blade;   wherein the outer guard portion is pivotably mounted to the inner guard portion about a pivotal axis substantially parallel to each side of the saw blade, wherein the outer guard portion can be pivotally moved from the inner guard portion to expose the saw blade;   a fixing device for fastening the outer guard portion to the inner guard portion; and,   a connecting means, wherein the outer guard is pivotably mounted to the inner guard portion, the connecting means comprising a first protruding member, wherein the first protruding member is disposed on one of the inner guard and the outer guard, the first protruding member including a first sleeve and a second sleeve for receiving at least a portion of a first connecting member, and wherein the connecting means further comprises a second protruding member disposed on the other of the inner guard and the outer guard, the second protruding member including a third sleeve for receiving at least a portion of the first connecting member.   
     
     
         20 . The guard assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the connecting means is located along the curvilinear periphery of one of the semicircular inner guard and the semicircular outer guard. 
     
     
         21 . The guard assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first connecting member has a first threaded portion and a second cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         22 . The guard assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the second protruding member includes an aperture for rotatably receiving the second portion of the first connecting member. 
     
     
         23 . The guard assembly of  claim 19 , wherein first connecting member is insertable through the first, second and third sleeves.