Circular saws having bevel angle setting mechanism

A hand held circular saw comprising:

• a base,
• a saw unit pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the saw unit has a circular saw blade that is adapted to laterally incline relative to the base,
• a large-angle stopper adapted to define an inclining angle of the saw unit, wherein the saw unit is adapted to selectively stop either at a first maximum angle or a second maximum angle and
• a small-angle stopper adapted to define an inclining angle of the saw unit, wherein the saw unit is adapted to selectively stop either at a first minimum angle or a second minimum angle,
• wherein the large-angle stopper comprises:
• a first stopper adapted to move with the base;
• a second stopper adapted to laterally pivot with the saw unit;
• wherein at least one of the first stopper or the second stopper is adapted to move between an operative position, in which the first stopper and the second stopper will contact each other at the first maximum angle and thereby stop the saw unit from further pivoting, and a non-operative position, in which the first stopper and the second stopper will not contact each other at the first maximum angle, thereby permitting the saw unit to pivot past the first maximum angle without interference.

A saw comprising:

• a base comprising a first pivotal support and a second pivotal support, the first and second pivotal supports defining a pivotal axis,
• a saw unit comprising a saw blade, the saw unit being pivotally supported by the first and second pivotal supports and being pivotable with respect to the base between a first pivot angle and a third pivot angle,
• a first stopper coupled to the base or the saw unit, the first stopper being movable between an operative position, in which the saw unit stops at a second pivot angle, which is between the first pivot angle and third pivot angle, and a non-operative position, in which the saw unit can freely pass through the second pivot angle without stopping,
• further comprising a second stopper coupled to the saw unit or the base, the second stopper being movable between an operative position, in which the saw unit stops at a fourth pivot angle, which is between the first pivot angle and second pivot angle, and a non-operative position, in which the saw unit can freely pass through the fourth pivot angle without stopping.

A circular saw adapted to be hand held during a cutting operation, comprising:

• a base,
• a saw unit pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the saw unit has a circular saw blade that is adapted to laterally pivot relative to the base and
• a stopper constructed and arranged to allow an operator to selectively stop the saw unit at a second pivot angle that is between a first pivot angle and a third pivot angle, wherein the stopper has a non-operative position, in which the saw unit can pivot from the first pivot angle to the third pivot angle without stopping at the second pivot angle, and an operative position, in which the saw unit stops at the second pivot angle,
• said circular saw further comprising:
• a guide plate having a guide slot, the guide slot having a first terminal end defining the first pivot angle and a second terminal end defining the third pivot angle,
• a lock screw disposed within the guide slot and adapted to contact the first and second terminal ends of the guide slot so as to define the pivotable range of the saw unit with respect to the base, and
• a second stopper constructed and arranged to allow an operator to selectively stop the saw unit at a fourth pivot angle, that is between the first pivot angle and the second pivot angle, wherein the second stopper has a non-operative position, in which the saw unit can pivot from the second pivot angle past the fourth pivot angle to the first pivot angle without stopping at the fourth pivot angle, and an operative position, in which the saw unit will stop at the fourth pivot angle.

A hand-held circular saw comprising:

• a base,
• a saw unit pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the saw unit has a circular saw blade that is adapted to laterally incline relative to the base,
• a large-angle stopper adapted to define an inclining angle of the saw unit, wherein the saw unit is adapted to selectively stop either at a first maximum angle or a second maximum angle and
• a small-angle stopper adapted to define an inclining angle of the saw unit, wherein the saw unit is adapted to selectively stop either at a first minimum angle or a second minimum angle,
• wherein the small-angle stopper comprises:
• a first stopper adapted to move with the base;
• a second stopper adapted to laterally pivot with the saw unit;
• wherein at least one of the first stopper or the second stopper is adapted to move between an operative position, in which the first stopper and the second stopper will contact each other at the first minimum angle and thereby stop the saw unit from further pivoting, and a non-operative position, in which the first stopper and the second stopper will not contact each other at the first minimum angle, thereby permitting the saw unit to pivot past the first minimum angle without interference.

A portable circular saw comprising:

• a base,
• a saw unit pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the saw unit has a circular saw blade that can be set in a variety of bevel positions with respect to the base,
• a guide plate comprising a guide slot, the guide slot having a first terminal end defining a minimum pivot angle and a second terminal end defining a maximum pivot angle,
• a lock screw disposed within the guide slot and adapted to contact the first and second terminal ends of the guide slot to define the pivotable range of the saw unit with respect to the base,
• a first stopper constructed and arranged to allow an operator to selectively stop the saw unit at a first pivot angle that is between the minimum pivot angle and the maximum pivot angle, wherein the first stopper has a non-operative position, in which the saw unit can pivot past the first pivot angle to the maximum pivot angle without stopping at the first pivot angle, and an operative position, in which the saw unit will stop at the first pivot angle, and
• a second stopper constructed and arranged to allow an operator to selectively stop the saw unit at a second pivot angle that is between the minimum pivot angle and the first pivot angle, wherein the second stopper has a non-operative position, in which the saw unit can pivot from the minimum pivot angle past the second pivot angle without stopping at the second pivot angle, and an operative position, in which the saw unit will stop at the second pivot angle.

A circular saw adapted to be hand held during a cutting operation, comprising:

• a base,
• a saw unit pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the saw unit has a circular saw blade that is adapted to laterally pivot relative to the base and
• a stopper constructed and arranged to allow an operator to selectively stop the saw unit at a second pivot angle that is between a first pivot angle and a third pivot angle, wherein the stopper has a non-operative position, in which the saw unit can pivot from the first pivot angle to the third pivot angle without stopping at the second pivot angle, and an operative position, in which the saw unit stops at the second pivot angle,
• further comprising a second stopper constructed and arranged to allow an operator to selectively stop the saw unit at a fourth pivot angle, that is between the first pivot angle and the second pivot angle, wherein the second stopper has a non-operative position, in which the saw unit can pivot from the second pivot angle past the fourth pivot angle to the first pivot angle without stopping at the fourth pivot angle, and an operative position, in which the saw unit will stop at the fourth pivot angle.