Saw blade retention system

A saw blade retention system for a reciprocating saw comprising:

• a generally elongate saw blade having a longitudinal axis, opposite side edges, a generally planar end edge generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the saw blade, and two generally inclined edges adjacent opposite side edges of the blade and sloped in the direction away from the planar end edge;
• a shaft connected to a saw for reciprocation along an axis of reciprocation and having receiving means for receiving the saw blade;
• a chuck disposed about the shaft and having alignment means aligned with the receiving means in an unlocked position for allowing the saw blade to be disposed in the receiving means;
• and
• rotation means for allowing the chuck to rotate angularly relative to the saw blade and the shaft to a locked position to prevent the saw blade from exiting the receiving means and for allowing the chuck to move axially relative to the shaft to prevent axial movement of the saw blade between the chuck and the shaft.

A saw blade retention system for a reciprocating saw comprising:

• a saw blade comprising a blade portion having a plurality of teeth, a shank portion extending from the blade portion for connection to a reciprocating saw, and means forming a pair of recesses opposing each other from edges of the shank portion;
• the shank portion having a planar end edge, planar side edges generally perpendicular to the end edge, and planar inclined edges extending from the side edges into the recesses and away from the end edge;
• a shaft connected to a saw for reciprocation and having receiving means for receiving the saw blade;
• a chuck disposed about the shaft and having alignment means aligned with the receiving means in an unlocked position for allowing the saw blade to be disposed in the receiving means;
• and
• rotation means for allowing the chuck to rotate angularly relative to the saw blade and the shaft to a locked position to prevent the saw blade from exiting the receiving means and for allowing the chuck to move axially relative to the shaft to prevent axial movement of the saw blade between the chuck and the shaft.

A saw blade retention system for a reciprocating saw comprising:

• a saw blade, the saw blade comprising a blade portion having a plurality of teeth, a shank portion extending from the blade portion, and means forming a pair of recesses opposing each other from edges of the shank portion, the shank portion having a planar end edge, planar side edges generally perpendicular to the end edge, and planar inclined edges extending from the side edges into the recesses and away from the end edge;
• a shaft connected to a saw for reciprocation and having means forming a first slot at one end of the shaft for receiving the shank portion of the saw blade;
• a chuck disposed about the shaft and having a ledge extending radially inwardly at one end and forming a second slot extending therethrough aligned with the first slot in an unlocked position for allowing the saw blade to be disposed in the first slot;
• means forming cam slots on either one of the chuck and shaft and a pin extending from the other one of the chuck and shaft and into the cam slots for allowing the chuck to rotate angularly relative to the saw blade and the shaft to a locked position, in which the first and second slots are not aligned, and for allowing the chuck to move axially relative to the shaft to prevent axial movement of the saw blade between the chuck and the shaft;
• and
• opposed inclined surfaces on the chuck that cooperate with the inclined edges of the saw blade to center an axial/longitudinal axis of the saw blade with an axial axis of the shaft.

A saw blade retention system for a reciprocating saw, the system comprising:

• a surgical saw blade comprising a blade portion having a plurality of teeth;
• a shank portion extending from the blade portion for connection to a reciprocating saw, the blade having a longitudinal axis extending through the blade and shank portions, the shank portion being generally planar having opposite major surfaces, opposite lateral edges and an end edge, the shank portion including recess-defining edges defining a pair of recesses opposing each other extending generally laterally inwardly along the shank portion from the opposite edges of the shank portion, and the recess-defining edges including at least one inclined edge with respect to each recess extending at an inclined angle relative to the end edge;
• a shaft connected to a saw for reciprocation and having a first blade-receiving slot at one end of the shaft for receiving the shank portion of the saw blade, the blade-receiving slot having a bottom end and an open end;
• a chuck disposed about the shaft and having a annular ledge extending radially inwardly at one end to define a blade-receiving opening having a diameter at least as large as the distance between the opposing recesses of the saw blade but less than the distance between the lateral edges of the shank portion of the saw blade, the ledge having a second blade-receiving slot extending therethrough and generally radially outwardly from the opening, the chuck being mounted on the saw for rotation relative to the shaft between an unlocked position, wherein the second blade-receiving slot is aligned with the first blade-receiving slot to allow the saw blade to be inserted into the first and second blade-receiving slots, and a locked position, wherein the first and second blade-receiving slots are not aligned such that the ledge of the chuck holds the saw blade in the first blade-receiving slot;
• the ledge of the chuck having a generally frustoconical surface generally complementary to the inclined edges of the saw blade for engagement with the inclined edges of the saw blade when the chuck is moved to its locked position such that the end edge of the saw blade is held against the bottom of the first blade-receiving slot and the saw blade tends to be centered by the forces applied by the frustoconical surface and the bottom of the first blade-receiving slot.