Reciprocating saw blade

Abstract

A reciprocating saw blade that includes an elongated blade body defining an inner end and a distal end, a cutting edge located on one side of the blade body and extending between the inner and distal ends thereof and a tang located at the inner end of the blade body. The tang projects from the blade body at an acute angle relative to a line tangent to an inner end of the cutting edge. The cutting edge includes a portion defining a substantially curved contour and optionally can include at least one further portion defining a non-curved contour.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reciprocating saw blade comprising:
 an elongated blade body defining an inner end and a distal end;   a tang coupled to the inner end of the blade body and projecting therefrom, the tang defining an elongated bottom edge;   a non-cutting edge located on one side of the blade body, extending between the inner end and the distal end;   a cutting edge located on an opposite side of the blade body from the non-cutting edge, the cutting edge starting at the inner end and extending to the distal end, the cutting edge having a linear first section extending from the distal end to a first point between the inner end and the distal end and a non-linear second section extending toward the inner end from the first intermediate point to a second point;   wherein the second section includes a first portion extending from the second point toward the distal end and a second portion extending from the first point toward the first portion, and   wherein a first tangent line to the first portion is angled downward from the elongated bottom edge at an acute first angle, a second tangent line to the second portion is angled downward from the elongated edge at an acute second angle, the second angle greater than the first angle, and an entirety of the cutting edge is angled downwardly relative to the elongated bottom edge.   
     
     
         2 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the second section is concavely curved toward the non-cutting edge. 
     
     
         3 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the second section further comprises a third portion between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion at a maximum distance toward the non-cutting edge of the second section. 
     
     
         4 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 3 , wherein the maximum distance toward the non-cutting edge is 0.030 inches to 0.200 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 3 , wherein the third portion is disposed approximately at a midpoint of the second section. 
     
     
         6 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge further comprises a linear third section extending from the inner end to the second point. 
     
     
         7 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the first section has a first length and the second section has a second length that is greater than the first length. 
     
     
         8 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle is at least 3°. 
     
     
         9 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 8 , wherein the first angle is at most 6°. 
     
     
         10 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the second angle defines an effective cutting angle at the first point that is equal to a sum of the first angle and an angle of curvature of the blade at the first point. 
     
     
         11 . A reciprocating saw blade comprising:
 an elongated blade body defining an inner end and a distal end;   a tang coupled to the inner end of the blade body and projecting therefrom, the tang defining an elongated bottom edge and configured to couple the blade body to a powered reciprocating saw;   a cutting edge located on one side of the blade body, the cutting edge starting at the inner end and extending to the distal end, the cutting edge defining a non-curved first portion extending from the distal end to a first point between the inner end and the distal end and a curved second portion extending from the first point toward the inner end; and   a non-cutting edge located on an opposite side of the blade body relative to the cutting edge and extending between the inner end and the distal end,   wherein the curved second portion is concavely curved toward the non-cutting edge and an entirety of the cutting edge is angled downwardly relative to the elongated bottom edge.   
     
     
         12 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion extends along a first straight line at an acute first angle relative to the elongated bottom edge of the tang. 
     
     
         13 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 12 , wherein the first angle is at least 3°. 
     
     
         14 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 13 , wherein the first angle is at most 6°. 
     
     
         15 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 12 , wherein a second line tangent to the curved second portion of the cutting edge at an intermediate point between the first point and the inner end is at an acute second angle relative to the elongated bottom edge of the tang, the second angle greater than the first angle. 
     
     
         16 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 15 , wherein the second angle defines an effective cutting angle at the intermediate point that is equal to a sum of the first angle and an angle of curvature of the blade at the intermediate point. 
     
     
         17 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion has a first length and the second portion has a second length that is greater than the first length. 
     
     
         18 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion extends from the first point to a second point that is closer to the inner end than the first point. 
     
     
         19 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 11 , wherein the curved portion is curved at a maximum distance toward the non-cutting edge of 0.030 inches to 0.200 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 19 , wherein the maximum distance is located at an approximately middle point of the curved portion.