Reciprocating saw having compact configuration and independent stability

A power operated reciprocating tool comprising:

• a main body housing including a handle portion;
• a reciprocating shaft adapted for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis, and adapted to support a working tool;
• a motor at least partially enclosed by the main body housing;
• a drive assembly operatively associated with the motor for driving the shaft in a reciprocal motion;
• a separate drive housing enclosing,at least a portion of the shaft and the drive assembly;
• wherein the main body housing encloses the drive housing.

A power operated reciprocating tool comprising:

• a reciprocating shaft adapted for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis, and adapted to support a working tool;
• a motor;
• a drive assembly operatively coupling the motor with the reciprocating shaft;
• a sealed drive housing enclosing at least a portion of the reciprocating shaft and at least a portion of the drive assembly, the,sealed drive housing adapted to seal grease inside of the sealed drive housing;
• and
• a two-piece housing enclosing the sealed drive housing and the motor.

A battery operated reciprocating saw comprising:

• a reciprocating shaft adapted for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis, and adapted to support a working tool;
• a housing;
• a motor at least partially disposed inside the housing and including a motor shaft;
• a drive assembly operatively connecting the motor and the reciprocating shaft;
• a battery selectively attachable to the housing;
• a base upon which the reciprocating saw may rest against a flat surface with a minimum of three points of the base in contact with the flat surface, a surface of the battery forming at least part of the base;
• and
• wherein a rotational axis of the motor shaft is at an angle of about ninety degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating shaft.

A power operated reciprocating tool comprising:

• a housing including a handle portion, a motor portion, and a neck portion;
• a reciprocating shaft generally housed in the neck portion of the housing and adapted for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis, and adapted to support a working tool;
• a rotary motor generally housed in the motor portion of the housing and positioned at least partially inside the housing, wherein the rotational axis of the motor is at an angle other than approximately 180 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating shaft, the motor having an output shaft, a first end, and an opposing second end axially spaced along the rotational axis of the motor from the first end, the output shaft extending from the first end;
• a drive assembly driven by the output shaft, the drive assembly driving the reciprocating shaft in a reciprocal motion;
• and,
• a battery for powering the motor detachably mounted to the housing adjacent the handle portion and the motor portion of the housing, the battery being closer to the second end of the motor than the first end.

A power operated reciprocating tool comprising:

• a housing including a handle portion;
• a reciprocating shaft adapted for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis, and adapted to support a working tool;
• a motor positioned at least partially inside the housing;
• a battery detachably mounted to the housing for powering the motor;
• a drive assembly driven by the motor for driving the reciprocating shaft in a reciprocal motion;
• and
• a base upon which the reciprocating tool may rest against a flat surface, a surface of the battery forming at least part of the base;
• wherein when the power operated reciprocating tool is resting on the base, the handle portion is in an upright position and the working tool does not touch the surface;
• and
• wherein when the base is resting on the flat surface the power operated reciprocating tool is capable of upright, independent standing upon the base and will not rock relative to the flat surface.

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a housing;
• a reciprocating shaft supporting a saw blade and adapted for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis thereof, at least a portion of the reciprocating shaft positioned inside of the housing and another portion of the reciprocating shaft extending outside the housing during reciprocal movement thereof;
• a rotary electric motor positioned inside of the housing and having an axis of rotation positioned at approximately a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating shaft, the rotary electric motor also having a first end and an opposing second end axially spaced along the axis of rotation of the rotary electric motor from the first end, and an output shaft extending from the first end;
• a drive assembly positioned inside of the housing, the drive assembly driven by the output shaft of the rotary electric motor and driving the reciprocating shaft in its reciprocal movement;
• a battery detachably mounted to the housing for powering the rotary electric motor;
• and
• the housing comprises
• an elongated handle portion adapted to be grasped by a user's hand during operation of the saw, the handle portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a switch assembly is mounted to the first end of the handle portion for powering the rotary electric motor and the switch assembly has a button which extends from the housing, and
• an elongated neck portion adapted to be grasped by a user's hand during operation of the saw, the elongated neck portion being formed around the reciprocating shaft;
• and
• wherein the battery is detachably mounted to the housing adjacent the second end of the handle portion and closer to the second end of the rotary electric motor than to the first end thereof.

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a housing;
• a reciprocating shaft supporting a saw blade and adapted for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis thereof, at least a portion of the reciprocating shaft positioned inside of the housing and another portion of the reciprocating shaft extending outside the housing during reciprocal movement thereof;
• a rotary electric motor positioned inside of the housing and having an axis of rotation positioned at approximately a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating shaft, the rotary electric motor also having a first end and an opposing second end axially spaced along the axis of rotation of the rotary electric motor from the first end, and an output shaft extending from the first end;
• a pinion gear mounted to the output shaft;
• a crank gear driven by the pinion gear, the crank gear having an eccentric crank mounted thereto, the motion of the eccentric crank driving the reciprocating shaft in its reciprocal movement;
• a drive housing, the rotary electric motor and the crank gear each being mounted to the drive housing, the drive housing being enclosed by the housing;
• and
• wherein the housing comprises
• an elongated handle portion adapted to be grasped by a user's hand during operation of the saw, and
• an elongated neck portion adapted to be grasped by a user's hand during operation of the saw, the elongated neck portion being formed around the reciprocating shaft.

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a housing;
• a reciprocating shaft supporting a saw blade and adapted for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis thereof, at least a portion of the reciprocating shaft positioned inside of the housing and another portion of the reciprocating shaft extending outside the housing during reciprocal movement thereof;
• a rotary electric motor positioned inside of the housing and having an axis of rotation positioned at approximately a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating shaft, the rotary electric motor also having a first end and an opposing second end axially spaced along the axis of rotation of the rotary electric a motor from the first end, and an output shaft extending from the first end;
• a pinion gear driven by the output shaft;
• a crank gear driven by the pinion gear, the crank gear having an eccentric crank mounted thereto, the motion of the eccentric crank driving the reciprocating shaft in its reciprocal movement;
• a drive housing comprising a lower housing, the rotary electric motor and the crank gear each being mounted to the lower housing, the drive housing being enclosed by the housing;
• and
• wherein the housing comprises
• an elongated handle portion adapted to be grasped by a user's hand during operation of the saw, and
• an elongated neck portion adapted to be grasped by a user's hand during operation of the saw, the elongated neck portion being formed around the reciprocating shaft.