Keyless blade clamp mechanism

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a reciprocatable spindle having an end for receiving a saw blade;
• and
• a blade clamp mechanism connected to said spindle and operable to attach the saw blade to said spindle, said blade clamp mechanism including
• an actuating member mounted on said end of said spindle and rotatable relative to said spindle between an engaged position and a released position,
• a locking member operatively associated with said actuating member and moveable relative to said spindle such that, when said actuating member is in the engaged position, said locking member is engageable with the saw blade and, when said actuating member is in the released position, said locking member allows the saw blade to be released from said clamp mechanism,
• a biasing member interconnected with said actuating member for biasing said actuating member toward the engaged position, and
• a housing mounted to said actuating member.

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a reciprocatable spindle having an end for receiving a saw blade;
• and
• a blade clamp mechanism connected to said spindle and operable to attach the saw blade to said spindle, said blade clamp mechanism including
• an actuating member mounted on said end of said spindle and rotatable relative to said spindle between an engaged position and a released position,
• a locking member operatively associated with said actuating member and movable relative to said spindle such that, when said actuating member is in the engaged position, said locking member is engageable with the saw blade and, when said actuating member is in the released position, said locking member allows the saw blade to be released from said clamp mechanism,
• a biasing member interconnected with said actuating member for biasing said actuating member toward the engaged position, and
• a housing mounted to said actuating member;
• wherein said housing includes one or more splines and said actuating member includes one or more grooves, and wherein said one or more splines engage said one or more grooves.

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a reciprocatable spindle having an end adapted to receive a saw blade;
• and
• a blade clamp mechanism connected to said spindle and adapted to attach the saw blade to said spindle, said blade clamp mechanism including
• an actuating member mounted on said end of said spindle and capable of rotating relative to said spindle between an engaged position and a released position,
• a locking member operatively associated with said actuating member and moveable relative to said spindle such that, when said actuating member is in the engaged position, said locking member can engage the saw blade and, when said actuating member is in the released position, said locking member will allow the saw blade to be released from said clamp mechanism,
• a biasing member interconnected with said actuating member for biasing said actuating member toward the engaged position,
• a cover enclosing a substantial portion of said biasing member, and
• a housing enclosing a substantial portion of said actuating member,
• wherein said housing engages said cover to form a seal, said housing and said cover, when engaged, defining an integral unit.

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a reciprocatable spindle having an end for receiving a saw blade;
• and
• a blade clamp mechanism connected to said spindle and operable to attach the saw blade to said spindle, said blade clamp mechanism including
• an actuating member mounted on said spindle and rotatable relative to said spindle between an engaged position and a released position,
• a locking member operatively associated with said actuating member and movable relative to said spindle such that, when said actuating member is in the engaged position, said locking member is engageable with the saw blade and, when said actuating member is in the released position, said locking member allows the saw blade to be released from said clamp mechanism, and
• an ejecting member interconnected with said spindle and engageable with the saw blade such that the saw blade is urged away from said end of said spindle;
• and
• further comprising a biasing member interconnected with said actuating member for biasing said actuating member toward the engaged position.

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a reciprocatable spindle having an end adapted to receive a saw blade;
• a blade clamp mechanism connected to said spindle and adapted to attach the saw blade to said spindle, said blade clamp mechanism including:
• an actuating member mounted on said end of said spindle and capable of rotating relative to said spindle between an engaged position and a released position;
• a locking member operatively associated with said actuating member and moveable relative to said spindle such that, when said actuating member is in the engaged position, said locking member can engage the saw blade and, when said actuating member is in the released position, said locking member will allow the saw blade to be released from said clamp mechanism;
• a biasing member interconnected with said actuating member for biasing said actuating member toward the engaged position;
• a cover enclosing a substantial portion of said biasing member;
• and
• a housing enclosing a substantial portion of said actuating member, wherein said actuating member engages said cover at a junction and said housing encloses at least part of said junction, wherein said actuating member, said cover and said housing are movable as an integral unit.

A reciprocating saw comprising:

• a reciprocatable spindle having an end for receiving a saw blade;
• and
• a blade clamp mechanism connected to said spindle and operable to attach the saw blade to said spindle, said blade clamp mechanism including
• an actuating member mounted on said end of said spindle for reciprocation with the spindle, said actuating member being movable relative to said spindle between an engaged position and a released position,
• a locking member operatively associated with said actuating member and movable relative to said spindle such that, when said actuating member is in the engaged position, said locking member is engageable with the saw blade and, when said actuating member is in the released position, said locking member allows the saw blade to be released from said clamp mechanism,
• a biasing member interconnected with said actuating member for biasing said actuating member toward the engaged position, and
• a housing mounted to said actuating member for reciprocation with said actuating member, said housing being engageable by an operator to move said actuating member between the engaged position and the released position, said housing being formed of a thermally insulative material.