Quick release mechanism for oscillating saw blade

In an oscillating surgical tool having a head, a quick release mechanism on the head, for releasing and securing a blade to the head, the blade having a cutting edge at the end of a first portion thereof, a notch at the end of a second portion of the blade and a hole through the blade between the cutting edge and the notch, slot means extending through the head for receiving therein the end of the blade having the notch, the slot having top and bottom walls, shaft means extending through the head for receiving the notch thereagainst to prevent movement of the end of the second portion of the blade adjacent the notch relative to the head in a plane coincident with the oscillations, pin means extending partially into the slot means for receiving the hole when the notch is against the shaft for preventing movement of the portion of the blade adjacent the hole relative to the head in a plane parallel to the oscillations, the shaft and pin cooperating to prevent movement of the blade relative to the head in a direction coincident with the oscillations, cam means and means for mounting the cam means for rotation on the head for rotation from out of the slot means into the slot means for camming the hole of the blade onto the pin means and for camming the second portion of the blade against the bottom of the slot for preventing movement of the blade perpendicular to the oscillations, and locking means for locking the closing means in the slot means to lock the blade in the slot means, the improvement comprising the provision of:

• the locking means comprising stop means on the head for stopping rotation of the cam means to prevent rotation of the cam means beyond a certain point and means for mounting the stop means such that when the stop means intersects the cam means, the line of force on the cam means is directed to one side of the axis of rotation of the cam means to urge the cam means against the stop means.

In an oscillating head having a quick release mechanism for securing and releasing a blade to the oscillating head, and including slot means in the head for inserting the blade therein, the slot having top and bottom walls, shaft means extending through the slot means for preventing movement of a rear portion of the blade adjacent the shaft means in a plane coincident to the oscillations, the blade having means cooperating with the shaft means, pin means extending partially into the slot means from the bottom wall thereof for preventing movement of a central portion of the blade in the plane coincident to the oscillations and permitting insertion and removal of the blade over the end of the pin means into and out of the slot means, camming means movable into the slot means for camming the blade against the bottom wall of the slot means and for moving the central portion of the blade onto the pin means to prevent movement of the blade relative to the head, and locking means on the head for locking the camming means in the location holding the blade to the bottom of the slot means and on the pin means, the improvement comprising the provision of:

• jaw means mounted on the slot means and having an aperture therethrough for movement along the shaft means for placement over the blade when the blade is inserted in the slot means for distributing forces from the camming means on the blade.