Powered circular saw retention apparatus for retractable saw blade guard

Abstract

A retention apparatus for an electrically powered hand-held circular saw having a retractable lower saw blade guard, that holds the lower saw blade guard in the retracted position as long as the power on/off switch is activated. This lower saw blade guard holder enables the saw operator to readily manipulate the saw with one hand while using the other hand to improve the safety environment of the cutting action, such as holding the material to be cut, or keeping the power cord out of the path of the saw during the cutting activity. In one embodiment, the lower saw blade guard holder comprises an electromagnet, wired to the power on/off switch, which holds a section of ferromagnetic material on the lower saw blade guard. Another embodiment of this invention has the lower saw blade guard holder mechanically latched by a latch that is mechanically coupled to the power on/off switch. In one embodiment, the lower saw blade guard holder also contains a lamp for lighting up the material being cut.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.