CIRCULAR SAW BLADE WITH MULTIPLE MOUNTING HOLE PATTERNS

1 . A circular saw blade comprising:

a circular saw blade body defining a plurality of cutting teeth at a periphery thereof;

a plurality of first apertures in the body defining a first mounting hole pattern configured to receive a plurality of mounting pins of a first circular saw machine defining a first mounting pin pattern thereof for mounting the circular saw blade to said first circular saw machine; and

a plurality of second apertures in the body defining a second mounting hole pattern different than the first mounting hole pattern configured to receive a plurality of mounting pins of a second circular saw machine defining a second mounting pin pattern thereof different than the first mounting pin pattern for mounting the circular saw blade to said second circular saw machine;

wherein at least one of the first apertures and at least one of the second apertures are (i) at least one of (a) radially and (b) circumferentially displaced from each other; and (ii) at least one of (a) overlap and (b) are connected to each other.

2 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first apertures is (i) at least one of (a) radially and (b) circumferentially displaced from a respective second aperture; and (ii) at least one of (a) overlap and (b) are connected to said aperture.

3 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the first apertures and at least one of the second apertures form a contiguous slot.

4 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 3 , wherein the contiguous slot extends at least partially in at least one of (i) a radial direction and (ii) a circumferential direction.

5 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least about 90° of a circumference of the at least one first aperture at least one of (i) overlaps with and (ii) is connected to at least about 90° of a circumference of the at least one second aperture.

6 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 5 , wherein between about 90° and about 180° of the circumference of the at least one first aperture at least one of (i) overlaps and (ii) connects with the at least one second aperture.

7 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 5 , wherein about 180° of the circumference of the at least one first aperture at least one of (i) overlaps and (ii) connects with about 180° of the circumference of the at least one second aperture.

8 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of third apertures in the body defining a third mounting hole pattern configured to receive a plurality of mounting pins of a third circular saw machine defining a third mounting pin pattern thereof for mounting the circular saw blade to said third circular saw machine, wherein the third apertures are at least one of (a) radially and (b) circumferentially displaced from the first and second apertures, and do not overlap or connect with said first and second apertures.

9 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of fourth apertures in the body defining a fourth mounting hole pattern configured to receive a plurality of mounting pins of a fourth circular saw machine defining a fourth mounting pin pattern thereof for mounting the circular saw blade to said fourth circular saw machine, wherein:

the fourth apertures are at least one of (a) radially and (b) circumferentially displaced from the first and second apertures, and do not overlap or connect with said first and second apertures, and

at least one of the third apertures and at least one of the fourth apertures are (i) at least one of (a) radially and (b) circumferentially displaced from each other; and (ii) at least one of (a) overlap and (b) are connected to each other.

10 . A circular saw blade comprising:

a circular saw blade body defining first means for cutting at a periphery thereof;

the blade body having a plurality of second means for receiving a plurality of mounting pins of a first circular saw machine defining a first mounting pin pattern thereof for mounting the circular saw blade to said first circular saw machine; and

the blade body further having a plurality of third means for receiving a plurality of mounting pins of a second circular saw machine defining a second mounting pin pattern thereof different than the first mounting pin pattern for mounting the circular saw blade to said second circular saw machine;

wherein at least one of the second means and at least one of the third means are (i) at least one of (a) radially and (b) circumferentially displaced from each other; and (ii) at least one of (a) overlap and (b) are connected to each other.

11 . A circular saw blade as defined in claim 10 , wherein the first means comprises a plurality of cutting teeth, the second means comprises a first aperture, said plurality of second means defining a first mounting hole pattern, and the third means comprises a second aperture, said plurality of third means defining a second mounting hole pattern different than the first mounting hole pattern.

12 . A method of manufacturing a circular saw blade comprising the steps of:

cutting a substantially circular blade body from a metal blank;

providing a cutting edge along the a periphery of the blade body defined by a plurality of cutting teeth;

providing the blade body with a plurality of first apertures defining a first mounting hole pattern configured to receive a plurality of mounting pins of a first circular saw machine defining a first mounting pin pattern thereof for mounting the circular saw blade to said first circular saw machine; and

providing the blade body with a plurality of second apertures defining a second mounting hole pattern different than the first mounting hole pattern and configured to receive a plurality of mounting pins of a second circular saw machine defining a second mounting pin pattern thereof different than the first mounting pin pattern for mounting the circular saw blade to said second circular saw machine;

wherein the steps of providing the a plurality of first and second apertures include providing at least one of the first apertures and at least one of the second apertures (i) at least one of (a) radially and (b) circumferentially displaced from each other; and (ii) at least one of (a) overlapping and (b) connecting with each other.

13 . A method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the steps of providing a plurality of first apertures and a plurality of second apertures include at least one of laser cutting, water jet cutting and punching.

14 . A method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the step of providing a cutting edge includes machining said cutting edge.

15 . A method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the steps of providing a plurality of first and second apertures comprise providing the blade body with a plurality of contiguous slots each defined by a first aperture at least one of (a) overlapping and (b) connecting with a second aperture.

16 . A method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the step of providing the blade body with a plurality of contiguous slots comprises at least one of (i) overlapping and (ii) connecting at least about 90° of a circumference of the first aperture with at least about 90° of a circumference of the second aperture.