Reciprocating saw

1. A reciprocating saw comprising:

a housing;

a motor positioned within the housing and configured to operate in a forward mode and in a reverse mode, the forward mode corresponding to rotation of the motor in a first rotational direction, and the reverse mode corresponding to rotation of the motor in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction;

a drive mechanism positioned within the housing and coupled to the motor, the drive mechanism including

a driven gear that is rotated by the motor, the driven gear being vertically-oriented within the housing and having an upper portion and a lower portion,

a connecting rod coupled to the driven gear to translate rotary motion of the driven gear into reciprocating motion,

an output shaft coupled to the connecting rod to reciprocate relative to the housing through a cutting stroke and a return stroke, the output shaft configured to support a tool element, and

a counterweight coupled to the driven gear and rotating with the driven gear;

wherein when the motor is operated in the forward mode, the counterweight moves in a first direction through the upper portion of the driven gear during the cutting stroke of the output shaft to drive the tool element into a workpiece during a start of the cutting stroke, and moves through the lower portion of the driven gear during the return stroke of the output shaft, and

wherein when the motor is operated in the reverse mode, the counterweight moves in a second direction opposite the first direction through the lower portion of the driven gear during the cutting stroke of the output shaft to move the tool element away from the workpiece during the start of the cutting stroke, and moves through the upper portion of the driven gear during the return stroke of the output shaft.

2. The reciprocating saw of claim 1 , further comprising a rotation direction reversal switch coupled to the motor, wherein the rotation direction reversal switch is operable to selectively switch the motor between the forward mode and the reverse mode.

3. The reciprocating saw of claim 2 , wherein the rotation direction reversal switch is a manual switch supported by the housing.

4. The reciprocating saw of claim 1 , wherein the driven gear is rotated by the motor about a central axis, and wherein a rotational direction of the driven gear about the central axis is reversed when the motor is switched between the forward mode and the reverse mode.

5. The reciprocating saw of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight includes a connection portion coupled to the connecting rod and a mass portion including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a curved outer perimeter matching a circumference of the driven gear, the curved outer perimeter extending more than 90 degrees between the leading and trailing edges.

6. The reciprocating saw of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a battery support portion, wherein the motor rotates about a motor axis that extends through a center of the driven gear to divide the driven gear into the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein output shaft is located on a same side of the motor axis as the upper portion of the driven gear, and wherein the battery support portion is positioned on the same side of the motor axis as the lower portion of the driven gear.

7. A reciprocating saw comprising:

a housing;

a motor positioned within the housing, the motor including a pinion, and the motor being configured to operate in a forward mode and in a reverse mode, the forward mode corresponding to rotation of the motor in a first rotational direction, and the reverse mode corresponding to rotation of the motor in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction;

a rotation direction reversal switch supported by the housing and coupled to the motor, the rotation direction reversal switch operable to selectively switch the motor between the forward mode and the reverse mode; and

a drive mechanism positioned within the housing and coupled to the motor, the drive mechanism including

a driven gear that engages the pinion and is rotated by the motor, the driven gear being vertically-oriented within the housing,

a connecting rod coupled to the driven gear to translate rotary motion of the driven gear into reciprocating motion, an output shaft coupled to the connecting rod to reciprocate relative to the housing and configured to support a tool element, and

a counterweight coupled to the driven gear and rotating with the driven gear, the counterweight including a connection portion coupled to the connecting rod and a mass portion including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a curved outer perimeter matching a circumference of the driven gear, the curved outer perimeter extending more than 90 degrees between the leading and trailing edges, and

wherein when the motor operates in the forward mode the counterweight moves in a first direction; and

wherein when the motor operates in the reverse mode the counterweight moves in a second direction opposite the first direction.

8. The reciprocating saw of claim 7 , wherein the driven gear has an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein when the motor is operated in the forward mode, the counterweight moves through the upper portion of the driven gear during a cutting stroke of the output shaft, and moves through the lower portion of the driven gear during a return stroke of the output shaft.

9. The reciprocating saw of claim 8 , wherein when the motor is operated in the reverse mode, the counterweight moves through the lower portion of the driven gear during the cutting stroke of the output shaft, and moves through the upper portion of the driven gear during the return stroke of the output shaft.

10. The reciprocating saw of claim 7 , wherein the rotation direction reversal switch is manually operable.

11. The reciprocating saw of claim 7 , wherein the driven gear is rotated by the motor about a central axis, and wherein a rotational direction of the driven gear about the central axis is reversed when the motor is switched between the forward mode and the reverse mode.

12. The reciprocating saw of claim 7 , wherein the housing includes a battery support portion, wherein the motor rotates about a motor axis that extends through a center of the driven gear to divide the driven gear into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein output shaft is located on a same side of the motor axis as the upper portion of the driven gear, and wherein the battery support portion is positioned on the same side of the motor axis as the lower portion of the driven gear.

13. The reciprocating saw of claim 7 , wherein the pinion is positioned between the driven gear and the counterweight.

14. A method of operating a reciprocating saw, the reciprocating saw including a housing, a motor positioned within the housing and configured to operate in a forward mode and in a reverse mode, a rotation direction reversal switch supported by the housing and coupled to the motor, and a drive mechanism positioned within the housing and coupled to the motor, the drive mechanism including a driven gear that is rotated by the motor and vertically-oriented within the housing, a connecting rod coupled to the driven gear to translate rotary motion of the driven gear into reciprocating motion, an output shaft coupled to the connecting rod to reciprocate relative to the housing through a cutting stroke and a return stroke, and a counterweight coupled to the driven gear and rotating with the driven gear, the method comprising:

operating the reciprocating saw with the motor set in the forward mode such that the tool element is driven into a workpiece during a start of the cutting stroke of the output shaft and the counterweight is rotated in a first direction;

actuating the rotation direction reversal switch to set the motor in the reverse mode; and

operating the reciprocating saw with the motor set in the reverse mode such that the tool element is pulled away from the workpiece during the start of the cutting stroke of the output shaft and the counterweight is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising actuating the rotation direction reversal switch to set the motor in the forward mode.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein operating the reciprocating saw with the motor set in the forward mode includes moving the counterweight through an upper portion of the driven gear during the cutting stroke, and moving the counterweight through a lower portion of the driven gear during the return stroke.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein operating the reciprocating saw with the motor set in the reverse mode includes moving the counterweight through the lower portion of the driven gear during the cutting stroke, and moving the counterweight through the upper portion of the driven gear during the return stroke.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising cutting a wood workpiece while operating the reciprocating saw with the motor set in the forward mode, and cutting a metal workpiece while operating the reciprocating saw with the motor set in the reverse mode.