Hand-held band saw

A saw for cutting a work piece using a continuous loop blade, comprising:

• a frame having a first and a second end;
• a throat defined within said frame intermediate said first end and said second end;
• a driven wheel journaled to said frame;
• a drive wheel journaled to said frame and spaced from said driven wheel, said drive wheel supporting the continuous loop blade;
• a motor mounted to said frame;
• a transmission interconnecting said motor to said drive wheel;
• and
• a handle assembly extending from said frame intermediate said first and said second ends, and substantially opposite said throat, said handle assembly oriented at an angle relative to said frame such that a section of the continuous loop blade spanning said throat lies in a plane generally parallel to said handle assembly.

A hand-held band saw, comprising:

• a frame having a first end and a second end and a length greater than a width which is greater than a height, and having a throat extending inwardly of said frame from a first longitudinal side intermediate said first and second ends;
• a tensioning assembly mounted in sliding engagement to said first end of said frame;
• a first wheel journaled to said tensioning assembly adapted to engage a portion of a continuous loop blade to be mounted thereon;
• a transmission assembly mounted to a second end of said frame;
• a second wheel journaled to said second end of said frame and coupled in drive relationship to said transmission assembly adapted to engage said portion of the continuous loop blade to be mounted thereon;
• an electric motor coupled to said transmission assembly for providing power through said transmission assembly to said second wheel;
• a handle extending from a second longitudinal side of said frame intermediate said first and second ends and at an angle relative to said frame;
• and
• a battery having a battery housing, said battery housing being removably attached to and disposed on said handle with provision for electrically coupling said battery to said electric motor.

A portable cordless band saw comprising:

• a C-shaped frame having a length greater than a width which is greater than a height and having a first and a second ends;
• a primary handle extending from a longitudinal edge of said C-shaped frame intermediate said first and second ends and disposed at an angle relative to said C-shaped frame;
• a battery pack detachably coupled to said handle;
• a drive assembly attached to one end of said C-shaped frame, and operably coupled to said battery pack;
• and
• a longitudinally translatable driven assembly attached to an opposite end of said C-shaped frame;
• wherein said drive and driven assemblies are adapted to receive a continuous loop blade thereon such that a portion of the continuous loop blade traverses across a throat area defined by said C-shaped frame.

A method for cutting a work piece, comprising the steps of:

• providing a saw body having a throat defined along one edge for receiving the work piece and a handle extending from an edge of said body at an angle relative to said body and opposite said throat area,
• providing a continuous-loop blade along one side of said saw body such that a section of said continuous-loop blade traverses said throat;
• grasping the handle of the saw with one hand such that the body of the saw lies at said angle relative to said handle;
• energizing the saw to cause the cutting blade to rotate;
• directing the saw to locate the throat adjacent the work piece;
• and
• engaging the work piece with said cutting blade along a predetermined line to be cut.