Foldable-storable pole saw

1. A pole saw apparatus comprising:

a pole with end adapter;

a blade-holding component pivoted to the end adapter for movement between an extended use position and a handle-adjacent storage position; and

a saw blade attached to and supported by the blade-holding component;

wherein the end adapter defines a pivot axis offset from and perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the pole;

wherein the saw blade is also pivoted to the blade-holding component for movement between an extended use position and a blade-protected storage position;

wherein the blade-holding component includes a recess for receiving and protecting a cutting edge of the saw blade; and

wherein the saw blade includes a tip that extends away from the pole when the blade-holding component and saw blade are in the extended use positions, respectively, but the tip is nearer the pole when the saw blade is pivoted to the storage position.

2. A pole saw apparatus comprising:

a pole with end adapter;

a blade-holding component pivoted to the end adapter for movement between an extended use position and a handle-adjacent storage position; and

a saw blade attached to and supported by the blade-holding component;

wherein the end adapter defines a pivot axis offset from and perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the pole;

wherein the saw blade is also pivoted to the blade-holding component for movement between an extended use position and a blade-protected storage position; and

a retainer for holding the blade-holding component in the extended use position and simultaneously holding the blade-holding component away from the storage position.

3. A pole saw apparatus comprising:

a pole with end adapter;

a blade-holding component pivoted to the end adapter for movement between an extended use position and a handle-adjacent storage position; and

a saw blade attached to and supported by the blade-holding component;

wherein the end adapter defines a pivot axis offset from and perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the pole;

wherein the saw blade is also pivoted to the blade-holding component for movement between an extended use position and a blade-protected storage position; and

a retainer for holding the blade-holding component in the extended use position;

wherein the retainer includes a hook mounted to the end adapter and a pin on the blade-holding component for engaging the hook when the blade-holding component is in the extended use position.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 , wherein one of the end adapter and blade-holding component includes a resilient pad, and the other of the end adapter and blade-holding component includes an abutting surface engaging the pad when the blade-holding component is in the extended use position.

5. A pole saw apparatus comprising:

a pole with end adapter;

a blade-holding component pivoted to the end adapter for movement between an extended use position and a handle-adjacent storage position; and

a saw blade attached to and supported by the blade-holding component and pivotally movable between an extended position and a blade-protected storage position;

wherein the blade-holding component includes a pivot pin supporting the saw blade for rotation, a detent mechanism, and a set screw for abutting the blade to adjustably eliminate looseness of the blade on the pivot pin; the detent mechanism including an arcuate edge on the saw blade defining a first detent for holding the saw blade in the extended position and defining a second detent for holding the saw blade in the blade-protected storage position.

6. A pole saw apparatus comprising:

a handle with end adapter;

a blade-holding component attached to the end adapter and defining a recess; and

a saw blade pivoted to and supported by the blade-holding component for movement between a blade use position where a tip of the saw blade extends generally away from the blade-holding component and a blade protected position where the tip is generally adjacent the blade-holding component and in the recess;

wherein the blade-holding component includes the recess for receiving the saw blade when in the blade-protected position, and includes a detent for holding the blade-holding component in the blade-protected position and away from the storage position.

7. A pole saw apparatus comprising:

a handle with end adapter;

a blade-holding component attached to the end adapter and defining a recess; and

a saw blade pivoted to and supported by the blade-holding component for movement between a blade use position and a blade protected position in the recess;

wherein the end adapter defines a pivot with pivot axis offset from a centerline defined by the handle; and

a locking mechanism for holding the blade-holding component in the extended position, the locking mechanism including a resilient pad on one of the end adapter and the blade-holding component, and a surface of the other of the end adapter and the blade-holding component that abuttingly engage when in the extended use position to generate a resisting force that acts against a retaining force provided by the locking mechanism, thus causing friction to more securely retain the blade-holding component in the extended use position.

8. A pole saw apparatus comprising:

a pole with end adapter;

a blade-holding component pivoted to the end adapter for movement between an extended use position and a handle-adjacent storage position; and

a saw blade attached to and supported by the blade-holding component;

a handle on the end adapter, the handle defining a longitudinal centerline and the end adapter including first apertured flanges defining an offset pivot axis;

the blade-holding component including mating flanges pivoted to the apertured flanges on the end adapter for movement between an extended use position and a handle-adjacent storage position; and

a locking mechanism including a first part and a second part, the first part being a resilient pad on one of the end adapter and the blade-holding component and a surface of the other of the end adapter and the blade-holding component that engages when in the extended use position, the second part being a hook on one of the end adapter and the blade-holding component, and a hook-engaging pin on the other of the end adapter and blade-holding component that engages when in the extended use position, the resilient pad and the abutting surface providing a resisting force that acts against a retaining force provided by the hook and pin, thus causing friction to more securely retain the blade-holding component in the extended use position.

9. A pole saw apparatus comprising:

a pole with end adapter;

a blade-holding component pivoted to the end adapter for movement between an extended use position and a handle-adjacent storage position; and

a saw blade attached to and supported by the blade-holding component;

wherein the blade-holding component defines a recess; and the saw blade includes a blade end including a cutting edge;

a mount end including a pivot hole and an arcuate edge extending partially around the pivot hole, the arcuate edge including at least one indentation;

a pivot pin engaging the pivot hole and pivotally mounting the blade to the blade-holding component for movement between an extended use position and a handle-adjacent storage position;

a detent engaging the at least one indentation to hold the blade in one of the positions relative to the blade-holding component; and

a set screw threaded into the blade-holding component, the set screw having a shaft end abutting the edge of the blade when in the extended use position, the set screw being adjustable to eliminate looseness of the blade relative to the blade-holding component when in the one position.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 , wherein the blade-holding component is a cast material that includes threads engaging the set screw.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10 , wherein the blade-holding component includes aperture flanges defining a pivot axis offset from a plane defined by the blade.