Portable circular saw

A portable circular saw having front and rear sections comprising:

• a motor having an axis;
• a housing enclosing the motor therein;
• a handle fixedly attached to and carried by the housing, said handle being disposed in the rear section of the saw;
• an arbor for carrying a saw blade, said arbor being operatively connected to the motor and having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the motor axis and being disposed in the front section of the saw;
• and
• a shoe supporting the housing thereon;
• wherein respective positions of the arbor and the handle define a direction of elongation substantially parallel to the shoe, said housing is inclined at an angle relative to said direction of elongation, part of the handle is disposed between the housing and the shoe and a first plane substantially perpendicular to a second plane defined by the shoe intersects the shoe, the handle and the housing, in that order, when the saw is at a maximum depth of cut setting.

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a motor having an axis and a drive shaft disposed along said axis, said drive shaft including a first gear;
• a housing enclosing the motor therein;
• a handle fixedly attached to and carried by the housing;
• an arbor for carrying a circular saw blade, said arbor having a second gear thereon, said second gear meshing with said first gear, said arbor having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the motor axis;
• and
• a shoe supporting the housing thereon;
• wherein distance from the blade to the second gear is greater than distance from the blade to the drive shaft, part of said handle is disposed between the housing and the shoe, and
• a first plane substantially perpendicular to a second plane defined by the shoe intersects the shoes the handle and the housing, in that order, when the saw is at a maximum depth of cut setting.

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a motor having an axis and a drive shaft disposed along said axis;
• a housing enclosing the motor therein;
• a handle fixedly attached to and carried by the housing;
• an arbor for carrying a circular saw blade, said arbor having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the motor axis;
• a transmission mechanism connected to said arbor and said drive shaft, said transmission mechanism creating a torque in rotational direction opposite to rotational direction of said arbor;
• and
• a shoe supporting the housing thereon;
• wherein part of said handle is disposed between the housing and the shoe, and
• a first plane substantially perpendicular to a second plane defined by the shoe intersects the shoe, the handle and the housing, in that order, when the saw is at a maximum depth of cut setting.

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a motor having an axis and a drive shaft disposed along said axis;
• a housing enclosing the motor therein;
• a handle fixedly attached to and carried by the housing;
• an arbor for carrying a circular saw blade, said arbor having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the motor axis;
• transmission means connected to said arbor and said drive shaft, said transmission means creating a torque in rotational direction opposite to rotational direction of said arbor;
• and
• a shoe supporting the housing thereon;
• wherein part of said handle is disposed between the housing and the shoe, and
• a first plane substantially perpendicular to a second plane defined by the shoe intersects the shoe, the handle and the housing, in that order, when the saw is at a maximum depth of cut setting.

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a motor;
• a housing enclosing the motor therein;
• a handle carried by the housing, said handle having a sidewall;
• an arbor for carrying a saw blade, said arbor being operatively connected to the motor;
• a shoe supporting the housing thereon;
• and
• a folding hook assembly attached to said sidewall of said handle, the hook assembly comprising a barrel integrally attached to said handle, a hook slidably connected to said barrel, and a detent cap attached to said barrel for holding the hook in a plurality of radial positions.

A portable circular saw having a center of gravity comprising:

• a motor having an axis;
• a housing enclosing the motor therein and comprising a handle;
• an arbor for carrying a saw blade, said arbor being operatively connected to the motor;
• a shoe supporting the housing thereon;
• and
• a hook assembly attached to and extending from one side of said housing at a position relative to the center of gravity,
• wherein the center of gravity pivots about the hook assembly when the circular saw is hung from the hook assembly so that the handle pivots upward.

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a housing extending fore and aft;
• a transmission located in a forward end of the housing and having an arbor for supporting a blade for rotation about an axis transverse to the housing;
• a guard assembly for the blade attached to one side of the housing;
• a motor extending fore and aft and located in the housing rearwardly of the transmission;
• an upright handle extending rearwardly from the housing at a location rearward of the motor;
• and
• a hook assembly attached to one side of the handle and positionable in a first position for storing the hook assembly and in a second position for supporting the saw,
• wherein the hook assembly comprises a barrel integrally attached to said handle, a hook slidably connected to said barrel, and a detent cap attached to said barrel for holding the hook in a plurality of radial positions.