TRIGGER LOCK FOR A MITER SAW
A miter saw includes a base assembly and a saw unit pivotably coupled to the base assembly. The saw unit includes a motor for driving a saw blade about a rotational axis, a handle, a trigger coupled to the handle and moveable between a first position in which the motor is deactivated, and a second position in which the motor is activated to drive the saw blade, and a trigger lock pivotably coupled to the trigger for movement therewith to prevent movement of the trigger from the first position to the second position.
The present invention relates to power tools, and more particularly to a trigger lock for miter saws.
BACKGROUNDTrigger locks are used in power tools to inhibit inadvertent activation of the power tool. In particular, a trigger lock prevents actuation of a trigger of the power tool until an operator of the power tool actuates the trigger lock. Thereafter, the operator can actuate the trigger, which activates the power tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides, in one aspect, a miter saw including a base assembly and a saw unit pivotably coupled to the base assembly. The saw unit includes a motor for driving a saw blade about a rotational axis, a handle, a trigger coupled to the handle and moveable between a first position in which the motor is deactivated and a second position in which the motor is activated to drive the saw blade, and a trigger lock pivotably coupled to the trigger for movement therewith to prevent movement of the trigger from the first position to the second position.
The invention provides, in another aspect, a trigger assembly for use in a power tool. The trigger assembly includes a handle, a trigger coupled to the handle and slidable along an actuation axis between a first position in which the power tool is deactivated and a second position in which the power tool is activated, and a trigger lock pivotably coupled to the trigger about a pivot axis for movement with the trigger along the actuation axis. The trigger lock prevents movement of the trigger from the first position to the second position.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONWith reference to
With continued reference to
As shown in
With reference to
The trigger assembly 80 also includes a trigger lock 140 pivotably coupled to the trigger 100 for movement therewith about a pin 145 between a first or locked position (
With reference to
To move the trigger lock 140 from the locked position to the unlocked position, the operator of the miter saw 10 inserts their fingers through the opening 110 in the handle 85 such that at least one finger (e.g., the index finger) of the operator engages the gripping surface 115 of the trigger 100 and the actuation arm 165. With reference to
With reference to
To stop the rotational movement of the saw blade 55, the operator of the miter saw 10 releases the trigger 100, prompting the compression spring 122 to return the trigger 100 to the deactivated position shown in
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A miter saw comprising:
- a base assembly; and
- a saw unit pivotably coupled to the base assembly, the saw unit including a motor for driving a saw blade about a rotational axis, a handle, a trigger coupled to the handle and moveable between a first position in which the motor is deactivated, and a second position in which the motor is activated to drive the saw blade, and a trigger lock pivotably coupled to the trigger for movement therewith to prevent movement of the trigger from the first position to the second position.
2. The miter saw of claim 1, further comprising a switch biased into a first state in which the motor is deactivated when the trigger is in the first position, and wherein the switch is actuated from the first state to a second state to activate the motor in response to the trigger being moved from the first position to the second position.
3. The miter saw of claim 2, wherein the trigger is directly engageable with the switch to actuate the switch from the first state to the second state.
4. The miter saw of claim 1, wherein the trigger lock is pivotable relative to the trigger about a pivot axis between a first position in which the trigger is locked in the first position, and a second position in which the trigger is movable from the first position to the second position.
5. The miter saw of claim 4, wherein the pivot axis is disposed within a periphery of the trigger.
6. The miter saw of claim 4, wherein the trigger is slidable along an actuation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the trigger lock.
7. The miter saw of claim 4, wherein the trigger includes an aperture through which an actuation arm of the trigger lock protrudes at least when the trigger lock is in the first position.
8. The miter saw of claim 7, wherein the trigger includes a gripping surface against which an operator of the miter saw presses for moving the trigger from the first position to the second position, and wherein the aperture is adjacent the gripping surface.
9. The miter saw of claim 8, wherein the actuation arm of the trigger lock is engageable by the operator of the miter saw with the same finger used for depressing the trigger from the first position to the second position.
10. The miter saw of claim 7, wherein the actuation arm of the trigger lock protrudes through the aperture when the trigger lock is in the first position and the second position.
11. The miter saw of claim 4, further comprising a spring biasing the trigger lock toward the first position.
12. The miter saw of claim 11, wherein the handle includes a wall defining a blocking surface, and wherein the spring biases an end of the trigger lock opposite the actuation arm into engagement with the blocking surface when the trigger lock is in the first position to lock the trigger in the first position.
13. The miter saw of claim 12, wherein the trigger is slidable along an actuation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the trigger lock, and wherein the blocking surface is obliquely oriented relative to the actuation axis.
14. The miter saw of claim 12, wherein the end of the trigger lock is movable past the blocking surface in response to the trigger lock being pivoted to the second position and the trigger being moved from the first position to the second position.
15. A trigger assembly for use in a power tool, the trigger assembly comprising:
- a handle;
- a trigger coupled to the handle and slidable along an actuation axis between a first position in which the power tool is deactivated, and a second position in which the power tool is activated; and
- a trigger lock pivotably coupled to the trigger about a pivot axis for movement with the trigger along the actuation axis, the trigger lock preventing movement of the trigger from the first position to the second position.
16. The trigger assembly of claim 15, wherein the pivot axis is disposed within a periphery of the trigger.
17. The trigger assembly of claim 15, wherein the pivot axis of the trigger lock is substantially perpendicular to the actuation axis of the trigger.
18. The trigger assembly of claim 15, wherein the trigger lock is pivotable relative to the trigger about the pivot axis between a first position in which the trigger is locked in the first position, and a second position in which the trigger is movable from the first position to the second position, and wherein the trigger includes an aperture through which an actuation arm of the trigger lock protrudes at least when the trigger lock is in the first position.
19. The trigger assembly of claim 18, wherein the trigger includes a gripping surface against which an operator of the power tool presses for moving the trigger from the first position to the second position, wherein the aperture is adjacent the gripping surface, and wherein the actuation arm of the trigger lock is engageable by the operator of the power tool with the same finger used for depressing the trigger from the first position to the second position.
20. The trigger assembly of claim 19, further comprising a spring biasing the trigger lock toward the first position, wherein the handle includes a wall defining a blocking surface, and wherein the spring biases an end of the trigger lock opposite the actuation arm into engagement with the blocking surface when the trigger lock is in the first position to lock the trigger in the first position.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 4, 2016
Publication Date: Apr 5, 2018
Inventor: Michael Hart (Anderson, SC)
Application Number: 15/285,154