Circular saws having blade angle adjusting mechanisms

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a base arranged and constructed to contact a workpiece during a cutting operation,
• a saw unit coupled to the base and being laterally pivotable with respect to the base about a lateral pivotal axis, the saw unit comprising a circular saw blade,
• means for releasably fixing a lateral inclined position of the saw unit relative to the base,
• means for switching between a first maximum inclined angle of the saw unit relative to the base and a second maximum inclined angle of the saw unit relative to the base, the second maximum inclined angle being greater than the first maximum inclined angle, and
• means for laterally pivoting the saw unit with respect to the base from an inclined angle less than the first maximum inclined angle to the second maximum inclined angle without stopping at the first maximum inclined angle when the switching means has been set to the second maximum inclined angle.

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a base arranged and constructed to contact a workpiece during a cutting operation,
• a saw unit coupled to the base and being laterally pivotable with respect to the base about a lateral pivotal axis, the saw unit comprising a circular saw blade,
• a tightening device arranged and constructed to releasably fix a laterally inclined position of the saw unit with respect to the base, the tightening device being coupled to the saw unit and pivotable together with the saw unit relative to the base,
• a stopper coupled to the saw unit and being pivotable together with the saw unit relative to the base, the stopper defining a first maximum laterally inclined angle of the saw unit relative to the base, and
• an engaging mechanism movably coupled to the base and movable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the engaging mechanism contacts the stopper and prevents the saw unit from being pivoted past the first maximum inclined angle to a second maximum inclined angle, and in the second position, the saw unit is freely pivotable past the first maximum inclined angle to the second maximum inclined angle without stopping at the first maximum inclined angle, wherein the second maximum inclined angle is greater than the first maximum inclined angle.

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a base arranged and constructed to contact a workpiece during a cutting operation,
• a saw unit coupled to the base and being laterally pivotable with respect to the base about a lateral pivotal axis, the saw unit comprising a circular saw blade,
• a guide plate fixedly secured to the base, wherein an arc-shaped guide slot having a uniform width is defined within the guide plate and the guide slot defines a maximum lateral pivotable range of the saw unit with respect to the base,
• a first stopper coupled to the saw unit and being pivotable together with the saw unit relative to the base, the first stopper defining a first maximum laterally inclined angle of the saw unit relative to the base,
• a lock screw slidably disposed within the guide slot, wherein the lock screw is arranged and constructed to releasably fix a laterally inclined position of the saw unit with respect to the base, the lock screw being coupled to the saw unit and being pivotable together with the saw unit relative to the base, and wherein one end of the guide slot defines a second stopper, the second stopper defining a second maximum laterally inclined angle of the saw unit relative to the base, the second maximum inclined angle being greater than the first maximum inclined angle, and
• a pin movably mounted on the guide plate and being movable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the first stopper contacts the pin when the pin is disposed in the first position, thereby limiting the maximum lateral pivotable range to the first maximum inclined angle and preventing the saw unit from being pivoted to the second maximum inclined angle, and when the pin is disposed in the second position, the saw unit is pivotable past the first maximum inclined angle to the second maximum inclined angle, whereat the second stopper contacts the lock screw.