# US 10,500,754 B2 · Battery operated chain saw unit and method of constructing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,754 B2 - Document ID: US10500754B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/827,451 - Filed: 2017-11-30 - Published: 2018-03-22 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-14 - Assignees: Echo Incorporated - Applicants: Echo Incorporated - Inventors: Stephen J. Towner; Brent Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500754B2 ## CPC - B27B 17/08: Drives or gearings; Devices for swivelling or tilting the chain saw - B27B 17/00: Chain saws; Equipment therefor {(slotting or mortising machines equipped with chain cutters B27F5/06)} - B27B 17/0008: {Means for carrying the chain saw, e.g. handles (B27B17/0033 takes precedence)} - B27B: SAWS FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; COMPONENTS OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (saws specially adapted for pruning or debranching A01G3/08; sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/091; features not restricted to a particular type of wood saw B23D, e.g. attaching saw blades B23D51/00; machine tool frames, beds, pillars or like members, in general B23Q1/01) ## Abstract A chain saw unit and a method of constructing the same. The method includes the steps of obtaining: a) an endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly defining a plurality of mount locations; b) a plurality of operating components; and c) an outer housing assembly; directing one of the operating components laterally into an operative position at one of the mount locations at one of the sides of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly; placing at least one additional operating component into an operative position to define a main operating unit; and after directing the one of the operating components into its operative position, placing at least a part of the outer housing assembly in an operative position with respect to the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly wherein the at least part of the outer housing assembly overlies part of the exposed surface area of the main operating unit and blocks access to the operatively positioned one component from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of constructing a chain saw unit for a chain saw of the type including a chain bar and a cutting chain guided in movement by the chain bar, the method comprising the steps of; obtaining: a) an endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly defining a plurality of mount locations; b) a plurality of operating components including at least: i) a battery operated motor; and ii) a drive transmission assembly through which a cutting chain can be driven by the battery operated motor; and c) an outer housing assembly, wherein the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly has a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and laterally spaced sides; directing one of the operating components from a pre-assembly position into an operative position at one of the mount locations, wherein one of the sides of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly has an opening through which the operatively positioned one component is exposed to be accessed from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly; placing additional ones of the operating components in operative positions, each at one of the mount locations, to define a main operating unit to which the chain bar and cutting chain can be operatively assembled so that the cutting chain can be driven by the battery operated motor, the main operating unit having an exposed surface area, a top, a bottom, and spaces sides; and after directing the one of the operating components into its operative position, placing at least a part of the outer housing assembly in an operative position with respect to the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly wherein the at least part of the outer housing assembly overlies part of the exposed surface area of the main operating unit and blocks access to the operatively positioned one component through the opening from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein the one operating component is the battery operated motor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 2 wherein the at least part of the housing assembly in its operative position substantially fully blocks the battery operated motor as viewed in a horizontal direction from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 2 wherein the battery operated motor is moved laterally in a first direction in a horizontal path between the pre-assembly position into the operative position and the at least part of the housing assembly in its operative position blocks movement of the battery operated motor from its operative position oppositely to the first direction in the horizontal path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 2 wherein the outer housing assembly extends downwardly from the top of the main operating unit to a location closer to the bottom of the main operating unit than the top of the main operating unit and the battery operated motor is fixed to the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly independently of the outer housing assembly whereby an entirety of the outer housing assembly can be separated from the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly without changing how the battery operated motor is maintained on the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 5 wherein the outer housing assembly extends to at least adjacent the bottom of the main operating unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 6 wherein the at least part of the outer housing in its operative position fully blocks access to the operatively positioned one component from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein the opening extends to adjacent the bottom of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly comprises a unitary piece that defines at least one graspable handle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 9 wherein the unitary piece comprises a single piece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 10 wherein the single piece is a molded plastic piece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein the at least part of the housing assembly in its operative position fully blocks the opening as viewed in a horizontal direction from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein the at least part of the housing assembly in its operative position directly overlies the exposed surface area of the main operating unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein the at least part of the housing assembly in its operative position directly overlies the endo-skeletal frame assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein the main operating unit is functionally the same with and without the outer housing assembly in the operative position with respect to the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of operatively assembling the chain bar and cutting chain to the main operating unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein with the chain saw unit fully assembled the outer housing assembly overlies a majority of an exposed area of one of the sides of the main operating unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 1 wherein with the chain saw unit fully assembled the outer housing assembly extends over one half a vertical extent of the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A chain saw unit made according to the method of claim 1. ### Claim 20 A method of constructing a chain saw unit for a chain saw of the type including a chain bar and a cutting chain guided in movement by the chain bar, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining: a) an endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly defining a plurality of mount locations; b) a plurality of operating components including at least: i) a battery operated motor; and ii) a drive transmission assembly through which a cutting chain can be driven by the battery operated motor; and c) an outer housing assembly, wherein the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly has a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and laterally spaced sides; the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly defining a rear graspable handle that can be engaged by a user; directing one of the operating components laterally into an operative position at one of the mount locations at one of the sides of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly; placing additional ones of the operating components in operative positions, each at one of the mount locations, to define a main operating unit to which the chain bar and cutting chain can be operatively assembled so that the cutting chain can be driven by the battery operated motor, the main operating unit having an exposed surface area, a top, a bottom, and spaced sides; and after directing the one of the operating components into its operative position, placing at least a part of the outer housing assembly in an operative position with respect to the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly wherein the at least part of the outer housing assembly overlies part of the exposed surface area of the main operating unit and blocks access to the operatively positioned one component from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 20 wherein the one operating component is the battery operated motor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 20 wherein the outer housing assembly extends to at least adjacent the bottom of the main operating unit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of constructing a chain saw unit according to claim 20 wherein the at least part of the outer housing assembly in its operative position fully blocks access to the operatively positioned one component from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A chain saw unit made according to the method of claim 20.