Reciprocating saw blade

Abstract

A saw blade for use with a reciprocating saw includes a body and an attachment portion extending from the body. The attachment portion includes a tang and an aperture configured to connect to the reciprocating saw. The saw blade also includes a cutting portion formed on the body. The cutting portion includes a plurality of cutting teeth and a floor guard tooth positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth. Each cutting tooth has a tip that defines a plane. The floor guard tooth extends from the body beyond the plane. The attachment portion is offset from the plane to reduce interference of the reciprocating saw with a surface while performing a footer cut with the saw blade. The floor guard tooth contacts the surface while performing the footer cut to inhibit the plurality of cutting teeth from contacting the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A saw blade for use with a reciprocating saw, the saw blade comprising:
 a body;   an attachment portion extending from the body, the attachment portion including a tang and an aperture configured to connect to the reciprocating saw; and   a cutting portion formed on the body, the cutting portion including a plurality of cutting teeth and a floor guard tooth positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth, each cutting tooth having a tip that defines a plane, the floor guard tooth extending from the body beyond the plane;   wherein the attachment portion is offset from the plane to reduce interference of the reciprocating saw with a surface while performing a footer cut with the saw blade, and wherein the floor guard tooth contacts the surface while performing the footer cut to inhibit the plurality of cutting teeth from contacting the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the floor guard tooth is at least twice as long as each cutting tooth. 
     
     
         3 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the floor guard tooth has a relatively flat surface that is generally parallel to the plane. 
     
     
         4 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein each cutting tooth and the floor guard tooth are separated by a gullet, wherein each cutting tooth has a first height measured generally perpendicular to the plane from a base of a corresponding gullet, wherein the floor guard tooth has a second height measured generally perpendicular to the plane from a base of a corresponding gullet, and wherein a ratio of the second height to the first height is approximately 1.1. 
     
     
         5 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the floor guard tooth extends approximately 0.01 inches beyond the plane. 
     
     
         6 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion extends from the body generally parallel to the plane at a zero degree tang angle. 
     
     
         7 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the floor guard tooth is a first floor guard tooth, wherein the cutting portion includes a second floor guard tooth spaced apart from the first floor guard tooth and positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth, and wherein the second floor guard tooth extends from the body beyond the plane to contact the surface while performing the footer cut. 
     
     
         8 . The saw blade of  claim 7 , wherein the first floor guard tooth is positioned between two cutting teeth and the second floor guard tooth is positioned at an end of the cutting portion adjacent a single cutting tooth. 
     
     
         9 . The saw blade of  claim 7 , wherein the first floor guard tooth is spaced at least 6.5 inches from the second floor guard tooth. 
     
     
         10 . The saw blade of  claim 9 , wherein the first floor guard tooth is spaced approximately 7.25 inches from the second floor guard tooth. 
     
     
         11 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a back edge opposite the cutting portion and a height measured generally perpendicularly from the back edge to the plane, wherein the attachment portion is spaced an offset distance from the plane, and wherein a ratio of the offset distance to the height is between approximately 0.6 and approximately 0.8. 
     
     
         12 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is offset approximately 1.5 inches from the plane. 
     
     
         13 . The saw blade of  claim 1 , further comprising a tip portion formed on the body opposite the attachment portion, wherein a first group of cutting teeth is positioned between the floor guard tooth and the tip portion, and wherein all of the first group of cutting teeth are unset. 
     
     
         14 . The saw blade of  claim 13 , wherein the floor guard tooth is positioned between the tip portion and a second group of cutting teeth, and wherein at least some of the second group of cutting teeth are set. 
     
     
         15 . A saw blade for use with a reciprocating saw, the saw blade comprising:
 a body having a back edge and defining an opening;   an attachment portion extending from the body, the attachment portion including a tang and an aperture configured to connect to the reciprocating saw; and   a cutting portion formed on the body opposite the back edge, the cutting portion including a plurality of cutting teeth, each cutting tooth having a tip that defines a plane;   wherein the body has a first height measured generally perpendicularly from the back edge to the plane, wherein the attachment portion has a second height measured generally perpendicular to the plane, and wherein a ratio of the first height to the second height is between approximately 4 and approximately 5; and   wherein the opening facilitates flexing the body while performing a flush cut with the saw blade.   
     
     
         16 . The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the ratio of the first height to the second height is approximately 4.2. 
     
     
         17 . The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the first height of the body is at least 2 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The saw blade of  claim 17 , wherein the first height of the body is approximately 2.1 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the opening is completely bounded by the body. 
     
     
         20 . The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the opening is a first opening, wherein the body defines a second opening spaced apart from the first opening, and wherein the second opening further facilitates flexing the body while performing the flush cut. 
     
     
         21 . The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment portion defines a first end of the body, and further comprising a tip portion formed at a second end of the body opposite the attachment portion, wherein the cutting portion extends from the tip portion to a third end of the body; and
 wherein the body has a length measured generally parallel to the plane from the first end to the second end, wherein the third end of the body is spaced from the first end of the body such that the attachment portion is offset from the cutting portion by an offset distance measured generally parallel to the plane, and wherein a ratio of the offset distance to the length is between approximately 0.2 and approximately 0.4.   
     
     
         22 . The saw blade of  claim 21 , wherein the offset distance is approximately 2.8 inches. 
     
     
         23 . The saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment portion defines a first end of the body, and further comprising a tip portion formed at a second end of the body opposite the attachment portion; and
 wherein the body has length measured generally parallel to the plane from the first end to the second end, and wherein a ratio of the first height to the length is between approximately 0.17 and approximately 0.31.   
     
     
         24 . The saw blade of  claim 23 , wherein the ratio of the first height to the length is approximately 0.18. 
     
     
         25 . A saw blade for use with a reciprocating saw, the saw blade comprising:
 a body having a back edge and defining an opening;   an attachment portion extending from the body, the attachment portion including a tang and an aperture configured to connect to the reciprocating saw; and   a cutting portion formed on the body opposite the back edge, the cutting portion including a plurality of cutting teeth, a first floor guard tooth positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth, and a second floor guard tooth spaced apart from the first floor guard tooth and positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth, each cutting tooth having a tip that defines a plane, the first floor guard tooth and the second floor guard tooth extending from the body beyond the plane;   wherein the body has a first height measured generally perpendicularly from the back edge to the plane, wherein the attachment portion has a second height measured generally perpendicular to the plane, and wherein a ratio of the first height to the second height is between approximately 4 and approximately 5;   wherein the opening facilitates flexing the body while performing a flush cut with the saw blade; and   wherein the attachment portion is offset from the plane to reduce interference of the reciprocating saw with a surface while performing a footer cut with the saw blade, and wherein the first floor guard tooth and the second floor guard tooth contact the surface while performing the footer cut to inhibit the plurality of cutting teeth from contacting the surface.   
     
     
         26 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the first floor guard tooth and the second floor guard tooth are each approximately twice as long as each cutting tooth, and wherein each floor guard tooth has a relatively flat surface that is generally parallel to the plane. 
     
     
         27 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein each cutting tooth, the first floor guard tooth, and the second floor guard tooth are separated by a gullet, wherein each cutting tooth has a third height measured generally perpendicular to the plane from a base of a corresponding gullet, wherein each of the first floor guard tooth and the second floor guard tooth has a fourth height measured generally perpendicular to the plane from a base of a corresponding gullet, and wherein a ratio of the fourth height to the third height is approximately 1.1. 
     
     
         28 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the first floor guard tooth and the second floor guard tooth both extend approximately 0.01 inches beyond the plane. 
     
     
         29 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the attachment portion extends from the body generally parallel to the plane at a zero degree tang angle. 
     
     
         30 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the first height of the body is at least 2 inches. 
     
     
         31 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the attachment portion is spaced an offset distance from the plane, and wherein a ratio of the offset distance to the first height is between approximately 0.6 and approximately 0.8. 
     
     
         32 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the attachment portion is offset approximately 1.5 inches from the plane. 
     
     
         33 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the attachment portion defines a first end of the body, and further comprising a tip portion formed at a second end of the body opposite the attachment portion, wherein the cutting portion extends from the tip portion to a third end of the body; and
 wherein the body has a length measured generally parallel to the plane from the first end and the second end, wherein the third end of the body is spaced from the first end of the body such that the attachment portion is offset from the cutting portion by an offset distance measured generally parallel to the plane, and wherein a ratio of the offset distance to the length is between approximately 0.2 and approximately 0.4.   
     
     
         34 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the attachment portion extends from a first end of the body, and further comprising a tip portion formed at a second end of the body opposite the attachment portion; and
 wherein the body has a length measured generally parallel to the plane from the first end to the second end, and wherein a ratio of the first height to the length is between approximately 0.17 and approximately 0.31.   
     
     
         35 . The saw blade of  claim 25 , wherein the first floor guard tooth is spaced approximately 7.25 inches from the second floor guard tooth.