Movable handle for a power tool

Abstract

A movable handle and a power tool. The power tool comprises a housing, a motor supported by the housing and operable to drive a tool element about an axis, and a handle supported by the housing for rotation relative to the housing about the axis. Preferably, the power tool is a circular saw. The circular saw further comprises a switch assembly supported on the handle for movement with the handle and means for connecting the switch to the motor to accommodate movement of the switch relative to the motor. The switch assembly is electrically connectable to the motor and selectively connects the motor to a power source, and the connecting means includes a wiring arrangement. The circular saw further comprises a locking assembly for locking the handle in a position relative to the housing. Also, the circular saw preferably comprises means for preventing the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source when the locking assembly is in the unlocked condition and means for preventing the locking assembly from being operated from the locked condition to the unlocked condition when the switch assembly is in the operated condition.

1 . A method of operating a saw, the saw including a housing, a motor operable to drive a saw blade, a handle, and a locking assembly operable to lock the handle in a position, the locking assembly having a locked condition, in which the handle is fixed in a position, and an unlocked condition, in which the handle is movable, the method comprising the acts of: 
 positioning the handle in a first position;    operating the locking assembly to the locked condition to fix the handle in the first position;    with the handle in the first position, grasping the handle to provide for movement of the saw blade relative to a work piece;    operating the saw with the handle in the first position;    operating the locking assembly to the unlocked condition;    with the locking assembly in the unlocked condition, preventing operation of the motor;    positioning the handle in a second position;    operating the locking assembly to the locked condition to fix the handle in the second position;    with the handle in the second position, grasping the handle to provide for movement of the saw blade relative to a work piece; and    operating the saw with the handle in the second position.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saw further includes a switch assembly operable to connect the motor to a power source, and wherein the acts of operating the saw include the act of operating the switch assembly to connect the motor to the power source.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the switch assembly includes a trigger portion engageable by an operator to operate the switch assembly, and wherein the act of operating the switch assembly includes the act of engaging the trigger portion to operate the switch assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the act of preventing operation of the motor includes the act of preventing operation of the motor through cooperation between the locking assembly and the switch assembly.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the act of preventing operation of the motor through cooperation between the locking assembly and the switch assembly includes the act of preventing, with the locking assembly, the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source to thereby prevent the motor from being operated.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the switch assembly includes a trigger portion, and wherein the act of preventing, with the locking assembly, the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source includes the act of engaging a portion of the trigger portion to prevent the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the switch assembly is operable between an unoperated condition, in which the motor is not connectable to the power source, and an operated condition, in which the motor is connectable to the power source, and wherein the acts of operating the saw include the act of preventing, with the switch assembly in the operated condition, the locking assembly from being operated from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the locking assembly includes an actuating member, and wherein the act of preventing, with the switch assembly in the operated condition, the locking assembly from being operated includes the act of engaging a portion of the actuating member to prevent the locking assembly from being operated from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saw includes a circular saw, wherein the motor is operable to rotatably drive the saw blade about an axis, and wherein the acts of operating the saw include the act of rotatably drive the saw blade to cut a workpiece.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the act of positioning the handle in a first position includes the act of positioning the handle in one of a push handle position and a top handle position, and wherein the act of positioning the handle in a second position includes the act of positioning the handle in the other of a push handle position and a top handle position.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the act of moving the handle from relative to at least a portion of the housing from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1   1 , wherein the housing includes a guard covering an upper portion of the blade, and wherein the act of moving the handle includes the act of moving the handle relative to the guard.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the housing includes motor housing, and wherein the act of moving the handle includes the act of moving the handle relative to the motor housing.  
   
   
       14 . A method of operating a saw, the saw including a housing, a motor operable to drive a saw blade, a handle, a switch assembly operable to connect the motor to a power source, and a locking assembly operable to lock the handle in a position, the locking assembly having a locked condition, in which the handle is fixed in a position, and an unlocked condition, in which the handle is movable, the method comprising the acts of: 
 positioning the handle in a first position;    operating the locking assembly to the locked condition to fix the handle in the first position;    with the handle in the first position, grasping the handle to provide for movement of the saw blade relative to a work piece;    operating the saw with the handle in the first position;    operating the locking assembly to the unlocked condition;    with the locking assembly in the unlocked condition, preventing operation of the motor through cooperation between the locking assembly and the switch assembly;    positioning the handle in a second position;    operating the locking assembly to the locked condition to fix the handle in the second position;    with the handle in the second position, grasping the handle to provide for movement of the saw blade relative to a work piece; and    operating the saw with the handle in the second position.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the switch assembly includes a trigger portion engageable by an operator to operate the switch assembly, and wherein the act of operating the switch assembly includes the act of engaging the trigger portion to operate the switch assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the act of preventing operation of the motor through cooperation between the locking assembly and the switch assembly includes the act of preventing, with the locking assembly, the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source to thereby prevent the motor from being operated.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the switch assembly includes a trigger portion, and wherein the act of preventing, with the locking assembly, the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source includes the act of engaging a portion of the trigger portion to prevent the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the switch assembly is operable between an unoperated condition, in which the motor is not connectable to the power source, and an operated condition, in which the motor is connectable to the power source, and wherein the acts of operating the saw include the act of preventing, with the switch assembly in the operated condition, the locking assembly from being operated from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the locking assembly includes an actuating member, and wherein the act of preventing, with the switch assembly in the operated condition, the locking assembly from being operated includes the act of engaging a portion of the actuating member to prevent the locking assembly from being operated from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the saw includes a circular saw, wherein the motor is operable to rotatably drive the saw blade about an axis, and wherein the acts of operating the saw include the act of rotatably drive the saw blade to cut a workpiece.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the act of positioning the handle in a first position includes the act of positioning the handle in one of a push handle position and a top handle position, and wherein the act of positioning the handle in a second position includes the act of positioning the handle in the other of a push handle position and a top handle position.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , and further comprising the act of moving the handle from relative to at least a portion of the housing from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the housing includes a guard covering an upper portion of the blade, and wherein the act of moving the handle includes the act of moving the handle relative to the guard.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the housing includes motor housing, and wherein the act of moving the handle includes the act of moving the handle relative to the motor housing.  
   
   
       25 . A method of operating a circular saw, the saw including a housing, a motor operable to rotatably drive a saw blade about an axis, a handle, and a locking assembly operable to lock the handle in a position, the locking assembly having a locked condition, in which the handle is fixed in a position, and an unlocked condition, in which the handle is movable, the method comprising the acts of: 
 positioning the handle in a first position;    operating the locking assembly to the locked condition to fix the handle in the first position;    with the handle in the first position, grasping the handle to provide for movement of the saw blade relative to a work piece;    operating the saw with the handle in the first position;    operating the locking assembly to the unlocked condition;    with the locking assembly in the unlocked condition, preventing operation of the motor;    positioning the handle in a second position;    operating the locking assembly to the locked condition to fix the handle in the second position;    with the handle in the second position, grasping the handle to provide for movement of the saw blade relative to a work piece; and    operating the saw with the handle in the second position.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the saw further includes a switch assembly operable to connect the motor to a power source, and wherein the acts of operating the saw include the act of operating the switch assembly to connect the motor to the power source.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the switch assembly includes a trigger portion engageable by an operator to operate the switch assembly, and wherein the act of operating the switch assembly includes the act of engaging the trigger portion to operate the switch assembly.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the act of preventing operation of the motor includes the act of preventing operation of the motor through cooperation between the locking assembly and the switch assembly.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the act of preventing operation of the motor through cooperation between the locking assembly and the switch assembly includes the act of preventing, with the locking assembly, the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source to thereby prevent the motor from being operated.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the switch assembly includes a trigger portion, and wherein the act of preventing, with the locking assembly, the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source includes the act of engaging a portion of the trigger portion to prevent the switch assembly from connecting the motor to the power source.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the switch assembly is operable between an unoperated condition, in which the motor is not connectable to the power source, and an operated condition, in which the motor is connectable to the power source, and wherein the acts of operating the saw include the act of preventing, with the switch assembly in the operated condition, the locking assembly from being operated from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the locking assembly includes an actuating member, and wherein the act of preventing, with the switch assembly in the operated condition, the locking assembly from being operated includes the act of engaging a portion of the actuating member to prevent the locking assembly from being operated from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the act of positioning the handle in a first position includes the act of positioning the handle in one of a push handle position and a top handle position, and wherein the act of positioning the handle in a second position includes the act of positioning the handle in the other of a push handle position and a top handle position.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 25 , and further comprising the act of moving the handle from relative to at least a portion of the housing from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the housing includes a guard covering an upper portion of the blade, and wherein the act of moving the handle includes the act of moving the handle relative to the guard.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the housing includes motor housing, and wherein the act of moving the handle includes the act of moving the handle relative to the motor housing.