AU2002100583B4 - Power Tool - Google Patents

Description

Black Decker Incorporated

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION SPECIFICATION for the invention entitled: "Power Tool" The invention is described in the following statement: P:\OPERSH\65285-99di spe.do-22/07/02 -1- POWER TOOL The present invention relates to a power tool and more particularly to a power saw able to have its mode of operation changed.

Some power tools are capable of operating in more than one mode. For example a power drill may also be used as a screwdriver. All that is generally required is for the drill bit to be replaced by a screwdriver bit and the speed of rotation of the bit be reduced.

Conventionally, tools which may operate in more than one mode, such as the drill/driver are held by the user in the same position or orientation relative to the workpiece in whichever mode the tool is used. In the case of the drill driver, it is only the choice of tool bit which differs not the way in which the tool is held to be used.

Hitherto, because power tools have been designed to complete only one specific task or a range of common tasks, there has been no need to develop a single tool flexible enough to undertake a range of tasks but also to be operated in a different mode dependent upon the task to be undertaken. The applicants have determined that a power tool capable of acting in one mode as a panel saw and in another mode as a jigsaw, yet being held and operated by a user differently dependent upon which of these two options is required, would be a very flexible proposition. To date, no tool of such flexibility and utility is known.

According to the present invention there is provided a power saw comprising a body housing a motor and a drive system linking the motor to a blade mount such that operation of the motor causes reciprocation of the blade mount, and a plurality of interchangeable saw blades for releasable connection to the blade mount, said interchangeable saw blades comprising a first, larger, saw blade and a second, smaller, blade such that when the selected saw blade is mounted on the blade mount in a operative condition the saw blade projects forwardly from a forward end of the body and is reciprocably driven by the mount in a fore aft direction, said body having at a rear end PAOPER\RSH\65283-99-dis' sp .dmc-22A)2 -2thereof a handle to allow a user to hold and operate the saw, and a trigger carried by the handle for actuating the motor, the handle being so configured in the body of the tool that when used with the first saw blade the body can be held in the hand of the user in a first orientation of the body relative to the hand, and when used with the second blade the handle can be held by the hand of the user with the body orientated through approximately 1800 relative to the hand with respect to the first orientation such that the saw can be used in a jigsaw mode, and the trigger being so positioned that it can be operated with equal facility by the hand of the user in each of said orientations.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a power saw comprising a body housing a motor and a drive system linking the motor to a blade mount such that operation of the motor causes reciprocation of the blade mount, and a plurality of interchangeable saw blades for releasable connection to the blade mount, said interchangeable saw blades comprising a panel saw blade and a jigsaw blade such that when the selected saw blade is mounted on the blade mount in a operative condition the saw blade projects forwardly from a forward end of the body and is reciprocably driven by the mount in a fore aft direction, said body having at a rear end thereof a handle to allow a user to hold and operate the saw, and a trigger carried by the handle for actuating the motor, the handle being so configured in the body of the tool that when used with the panel saw blade the body can be held in the hand of the user in a first orientation of the body relative to the hand and in said orientation the saw can also be used in the manner of a handsaw by forwards and backwards motion of the body, and when used with the jigsaw blade the handle can be held by the hand of the user with the body orientated through approximately 1800 relative to the hand with respect to the first orientation, and means for providing a forward support surface extending transversely to the line of action of the saw blade for supporting the body from a workpiece when acting as a jigsaw, wherein the trigger is positioned substantially midway along the length of the handle so as to be readily actuable in each of said two orientations.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a power saw comprising a body housing a motor and a drive system linking the motor to a blade mount P:\OPER\RSII65285-99-diV spe.doc-221)712 -2Asuch that operation of the motor causes reciprocation of the blade mount, and a plurality of interchangeable saw blades for releasable connection to the blade mount, said interchangeable saw blades comprising a panel saw blade and a jigsaw blade such that when the selected saw blade is mounted on the blade mount in a operative condition the saw blade projects forwardly from a forward end of the body and is reciprocably driven by the mount in a fore aft direction, said body having at a rear end thereof a handle to allow a user to hold and operate the saw, and a trigger carried by the handle for actuating the motor, the handle being so configured that when used with the panel saw blade the saw is held by the hand of the user accessing the handle from one side such that the saw projects generally forwardly from the hand of the user, and when used with the jigsaw blade the body is reoriented relative to the hand of the user so that the hand accesses the handle from the opposite side whereby the saw can be used in jigsaw mode with the body projecting generally downwardly relative to the hand, and the trigger being so positioned that it is engaged by substantially the same part of the hand when gripping the handle in each of said orientations.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a power saw comprising a body housing a motor and a drive system linking the motor to a blade mount such that operation of the motor causes reciprocation of the blade mount, and a plurality of interchangeable saw blades for releasable connection to the blade mount, said interchangeable saw blades comprising a panel saw blade and a jigsaw blade such that when the selected saw blade is mounted on the blade mount in a operative condition the saw blade projects forwardly from a forward end of the body and is reciprocably driven by the mount in a fore aft direction, said body having at a rear end thereof a handle to allow a user to hold and operate the saw, and a trigger carried by the handle for actuating the motor, the handle being so configured that when used with the panel saw blade the saw is held by the hand of the user accessing the handle from one side such that the saw projects generally forwardly from the hand of the user and such that the saw can also be used in the manner of a handsaw by forwards and rearwards motion of body by means of the hand, and when used with the jigsaw blade the body is reoriented relative to the hand of the user so that the hand accesses the handle from the opposite side whereby the saw can be used in P:\OPER\RSH\6s285-99-div spedoc-22/)7/02 -2Bjigsaw mode with the body projecting generally downwardly relative to the hand, and the trigger is positioned substantially midway along the length of the handle so as to be readily actuable in each of said two orientations.

Advantageously, the jigsaw blade is of substantially uniform depth along its length and the panel saw blade progressively increases in depth from its distal end to its proximate end portion so that at its proximate end portion the depth of the blade is significantly greater than that of the jigsaw blade at the proximate end portion thereof. The blade mount is within the interior of the body at the forward end thereof and is accessible via an opening of a size sufficient to accommodate the depth of the panel saw blade adjacent the proximate end portion thereof.

The trigger may be formed integrally with the handle.

Advantageously the handle is formed integrally with the body.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 shows a reciprocable shaft of a power saw in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and on which a saw blade may be mounted; Figure 2 shows the shaft of Figure 1, but with a saw blade mounted thereon in an operating position from one side; Figure 3 shows the view of Figure 2, but from the other side of the saw blade; Figure 4 shows a side view of the reciprocable shaft of Figure 1, but with the retaining member thereof being in an unlocked position; Figure 5 shows the shaft of Figure 1 with the saw blade mounted thereon in a locked position; Figure 6 shows a sectional view along the line A-A of Figure Figure 7 shows a sectional view along the line B-B of Figure Figure 8 shows a side view of a saw blade and the reciprocable shaft of Figures 2 PAOPER\RSH\6S28-99-dv spc.doc-2210702 -2Cand 3 in an unlocked position; Figure 9 shows the view of Figure 8, but with the saw blade now retained in its stored and locked position; Figure 10 shows a schematic illustration of the motor and internal mechanisms of the power saw; Figure 11 shows a schematic side representation of Figure Figure 12 shows a side view of the power saw; and Figure 13 shows a side view of the power saw when used in an alternative sawing mode to that of Figure 12.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown a shaft formed from pressed metal, such as steel, and having in the centre thereof a yoke One end of the shaft is formed integrally with a depending retaining member, here a blade mount The blade mount comprises a restraining means, here two arms which depend from the Shaft The blade mount further includes a pin (10) which will be described in more detail below.

Referring now also to Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the shaft is arranged to drive a saw blade (12) presented thereto and which is mounted on the blade mount It can be seen that the saw blade (12) has a shank (14) which has formed therein a hole (16) (see more clearly Figures 5, 8 and 9) for mounting the blade (12) on a lug (18) of the pin Referring now to Figure 4, it can be seen that the pin (10) comprises a head formed on one side of the blade mount and a lug (18) co-operating with the head formed on the other side of the blade mount The shape of the lug (18) is the same as that of the hole (16) formed in the blade This allows for the blade (12) to be mounted snugly on the lug (18).

The pin (10) is rotatable about its axis shown as X-X in Figure 4 and it can be seen from this figure that the blade mount has a recess (21) formed therein such that the lug (18) may sit within the recess (21) when it is in one of two positions.

Because the pin (10) is rotatable about the axis X-X, then whenever the lug (18) is aligned with the recess (21) (in either of two positions 1800 apart) then it will fit within the recess In any other position, the lug (18) cannot sit within the recess (21).

In order for the lug (18) to be selectively aligned or not with the recess the head (20) of the pin (10) is spring biased. In this manner, therefore, whenever the lug (18) is aligned with the recess (21) it "pops" into the recess and is held therein until the user exerts sufficient force against the head (20) against the action of the spring (described later below) to force the lug (18) out of the recess (21) and therefore allow the pin (10) to be rotated about the axis X-X.

Referring now additionally to Figure 5, it can be seen that the saw blade (12) is held in its locked position (because the lug (18) is within the recess against the shaft Because the shaft is arranged to reciprocate, that is drive the blade (12) backwards and forwards along a linear path, then it will be understood that each of the arms is arranged to flank the shank (14) of the blade (12) to prevent the blade (12) P-AU-CS 1064 from becoming detached from the blade mount This is because the arms (8) prevent any movement of the blade (12) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of the shaft In order to understand the operation of the pin (10) and its interaction with the blade reference will now be made in particular to Figures 5, 6 and 7.

The pin (10) is spring biased, and in the case of Figure 6, it can be seen that the head (20) of the pin (10) has not been depressed and therefore under the action of the spring the head (20) is forced to the left of Figure 6 therefore allowing the lug (18) to sit within the recess This does, of course, presuppose that the lug (18) is aligned with the recess (21) as has been described here above. Assuming this to be the case, then the blade will be locked in this position. Rotation of the pin and therefore the lug (18) are not possible because the lug (18) is located within the housing Referring now to Figure 7, it will be described how the lug (18) is released from the recess (21) in order to allow rotation of the saw blade (12).

In Figure 7 the user has pushed the head (20) to the right of the figure and therefore caused compression of the spring The movement of the pin (10) to the ight of the figure releases the lug (18) from the recess (21) and therefore allows rotation of the pin (10) about its axis X-X. Because the lug (18) is now no longer located within the recess (21) then rotation of the pin (10) means that the blade (12) may be rotated as well. Referring also to Figure 8, this shows how the saw blade (12) has been rotated through 900 as compared with the locked position of Figure Whilstreferring to Figure 8, it can be seen that, because the blade (12) is now perpendicular to the shaft rather than parallel therewith as was the case in Figure 5, then the shank (14) of the saw blade (12) is no longer constrained by the arms (8) of the blade mount This means that the entire blade (12) may be removed from the lug (18) and could, for example, be replaced by an alternative saw blade.

Referring now to Figure 9, it can be seen that further rotation of the pin (10) and the blade (12) is possible (because there is no alignment between'the lug (18) and the recess The saw blade (12) as shown in Figure 9 has now been rotated through 1800 with respect to that of Figure 5. It will be appreciated that the lug (18) is now realigned with the recess (21) and therefore if the user ceases to apply any force to the P-AU-CS 1064 P:\OPER\RSHW6283.99-div spe.doc-22A)7A)2 head (20) of the pin then the lug (18) may fall back into the recess (21) and therefore lock the saw blade (12) in the position shown. This may be useful when the saw is to be carried around but the blade needs to be kept safely within the body of the saw, for example, to avoid injuring a user or damage to the saw blade.

Although only shown in dotted outline in Figure 9, it will be understood that a further pair of arms may be employed in the blade mount to retain the saw blade (12) in the position shown.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11 particularly, the internal mechanism of the power saw embodying the present invention will be described.

An electric motor (24) is operable in conventional manner to drive a motor spindle (26) coupled to a drive wheel The teeth of the drive wheel (28) mesh with the teeth of a gear wheel (30) having formed thereon an eccentric Although not shown in the drawings, the eccentric (32) must be counter-balanced and those skilled in the art will appreciate this fact.

The eccentric (32) fits into the yoke In this way, when the motor (24) is activated, it drives the drive wheel (28) which in turn causes rotation of the gear wheel The circular movement of the eccentric (32) sitting in the yoke therefore causes a linear reciprocable motion of the shaft in a right-left-right motion as the drawings are viewed. In order to ensure that the only motion of the shaft at the operative end (that is where the blade (12) and the blade mount are situated) occurs, a retaining bar (34) having linear bearings surrounds the shaft This restrains movement of the shaft only in the left-right-left linear direction.

Whilst in the above examples of Figures 10 and 11 only one drive wheel (28) is shown, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any desired gearing arrangement may be used. The choice of gearing arrangement will depend primarily on the step up/step down requirement between the rotational output speed of the motor (24) and the frequency of P:\OPERIRSH 5285-99-di spe.do-22/07/02 -6linear reciprocation needed for the shaft Figures 12 and 13 show a power saw having a body (36) housing the internal mechanism of Figures 10 and 11.

In Figure 12, the saw is used as a so-called panel saw. Panel saws are generally used for sawing large pieces of wood and the like in the form of blocks such as logs. In the present invention, it has been found desirable to be able to offer the user the facility of using the panel saw not only in its powered mode but also manually. That is, the user should be able to grip the handle (38) of the panel saw and use it as a conventional manually operated saw whether the blade is being driven by the motor (24) or not. To achieve this the saw needs to be lightweight but also it has been found that, when the saw is being driven by the motor conventional reciprocating action will prevent manually using the tool with ease, because of the combination of the frequency of reciprocation of the saw blade (12) and the length of each reciprocal stroke.

Conventionally, it has been found that the frequency of reciprocation of the blade (12) has been around 3,000 strokes per minute. Additionally, the length of each reciprocal stroke has been in the region of 20mm. The combination of this particular frequency and stroke length results in large vibrational forces being felt by the user. Additionally, this creates large interial forces which also need to be overcome in order to be able to use the saw manually. With a conventional panel saw, therefore, if the user wishes to use it manually rather than in its conventional powered mode, a degree of discomfort would be felt because the saw would be vibrating at a frequency which does not lend itself to holding the saw comfortably. Additionally, the amplitude of each reciprocal stroke of the blade (12) is so large that high inertial forces are felt by the user mean that to be able to pull and push the saw in a manual mode is not easily achievable.

It has been found that by reducing the length of each reciprocal stroke to preferably around 10mm and concomitantly increasing the reciprocal stroke frequency to preferably around 6,500 strokes per minute, that this combination of lower stroke length and higher P:\OPER\RSH\6 5285-99-div sp.dO22O7/()2 -7frequency results in less adverse vibrational and inertial forces being felt by the user. This then enables the panel saw of Figure 12 to be used as a manual saw simply by holding the handle Additionally, if the user requires a further grip on the body a recess, formed as insert (40) is available for gripping by the other hand of the user (that is the hand which does not grip the handle Although in the example described with reference to Figure 12 the preferred frequency of oscillation has been given as 6,500 strokes per minute, the present invention has been found to operate effectively with a frequency of vibration between 3,000 and 10,000 strokes per minute. Similarly, although the preferred amplitude of each reciprocal stroke is given as 10mm, it has been found that the present invention works effectively with a range of 5 to Referring now also to Figure 13, it can be seen that the same body (36) is used with a different saw blade Indeed, the saw blade (12) is that found on conventional "jigsaws". Jigsaws are tools which are used with relatively small saw blades and are used for cutting accurate shapes in a workpiece. Conventionally, jigsaws are held relative to the workpiece in a different attitude to panel saws. This can be seen by reference to the difference in attitude between Figure 12 and 13. In Figure 13, the body (36) can be seen resting on a block (42) which represents a workpiece. In use of the jigsaw, the body (36) would be held on the block (42) in the attitude shown in Figure 13.

It can be seen from Figure 13 that the handle (38) is now positioned relative to the workpiece (42) such that the body (36) may easily be used as a jigsaw. In use of the jigsaw, a user exerts a force via the handle (38) in the direction of the large arrow marked This is so that the blade (12) is driven also in the direction of the arrow to cut through the workpiece.

It can be seen by comparing Figures 12 and 13, that the handle (38) is able to be used for exerting forces in a different direction depending on which mode of use (either the panel saw of Figure 12 or the jigsaw of Figure 13) the tools are put to.

P:\OPER\RSH\65285-99-div spc.doc-22A)7A2 -8- The handle (38) carries a trigger (44) positioned approximately midway along the length of the handle (38) and is operable by user when the handle (38) is gripped.

In the example shown, the trigger (44) is formed integrally with the handle (38).

This need not necessarily be the case, and the trigger may be formed separately.

It can be seen from both Figures 12 and 13, therefore, that the position of the handle (38) and trigger (44) relative to the body (36) is such that the user may operate the saw in a plurality of positions relative to a workpiece. Thus, regardless of whether the tool is being used as a panel saw in Figure 12 or a jigsaw in Figure 13, the same handle is used for operating the saw. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that this holds true whether the panel saw of Figure 12 is being used as a powered saw by powering the motor (24) via an electricity supply cable or whether it is being used manually.

From Figures 12 and 13 it can be seen that the handle (38) is accessible from one of two sides, depending on whether the saw is to be used as a panel saw or a jigsaw. Put differently, it will be seen that when used as a panel saw as shown in Figure 12, the body (36) with handle (38) will be held in the hand of the user in one orientation whereas when used as ajigsaw as shown in Figure 13, the body (36) with handle (38) will be held in the hand of the user with the body orientated through 1800 relative to the gripping hand in relation to that in which it is held when used as a panel saw. The positioning of the trigger (44) on the handle (38) is important to this reversal of gripping orientation as in both of the possible orientations the trigger (44) will have the same accessibility for easy operation by the fingers of the gripping hand.

It can be seen from Figures 12 and 13, that the body (36) also includes a pivotable sole plate The sole plate (48) is pivotable about pivot point The pivot point includes a means (not shown) for allowing the sole plate (48) to be held at any one of a desired position around the range of possible pivotable positions about the point In the example of Figure 12, the sole plate (48) is tucked underneath the body In the P:\OPER\RSH\65285-99-div spc.do-2207102 -9example of Figure 13, the sole plate (48) is pivoted through 270° so as to act as the guide sole plate for a conventional jigsaw. In this mode, the blade (12) passes through the sole plate (48) when used in its jigsaw mode.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, conventionally, jigsaws use a sole plate (48) to act as a guide when cutting a workpiece. In the example of Figure 13, although it cannot be seen from the drawing, the sole plate (48) includes visual indicia to allow the user to see exactly where the blade (12) will cut the workpiece when viewed from above the body (36).

It can be seen by comparing Figures 12 and 13, therefore, that the body (36) defines two working surfaces (52 and 54) dependent upon which mode the tool is being used. In the examples above, working surface (52) is used for the jigsaw mode of Figure 13 and working surface (54) is used for the panel saw mode of Figure 12.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the sole plate (48) may be positioned at any suitable angle relevant to the body (36) dependent upon the use to which the tool is being put.

By referring now particularly to Figure 13 it can be seen that, when the saw is used as a jigsaw, a user may also grip the dimpled surface (56) in order to assist with guiding the saw during use. Alternatively, this surface (56) can be used to form cooling vents within the body of the saw.

Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (5)

1. A power saw comprising a body housing a motor and a drive system linking the motor to a blade mount such that operation of the motor causes reciprocation of the blade mount, and a plurality of interchangeable saw blades for releasable connection to the blade mount, said interchangeable saw blades comprising a first, larger, saw blade and a second, smaller, blade such that when the selected saw blade is mounted on the blade mount in a operative condition the saw blade projects forwardly from a forward end of the body and is reciprocably driven by the mount in a fore aft direction, said body having at a rear end thereof a handle to allow a user to hold and operate the saw, and a trigger carried by the handle for actuating the motor, the handle being so configured in the body of the tool that when used with the first saw blade the body can be held in the hand of the user in a first orientation of the body relative to the hand, and when used with the second blade the handle can be held by the hand of the user with the body orientated through approximately 1800 relative to the hand with respect to the first orientation such that the saw can be used in a jigsaw mode, and the trigger being so positioned that it can be operated with equal facility by the hand of the user in each of said orientations.

2. A power saw comprising a body housing a motor and a drive system linking the motor to a blade mount such that operation of the motor causes reciprocation of the blade mount, and a plurality of interchangeable saw blades for releasable connection to the blade mount, said interchangeable saw blades comprising a panel saw blade and a jigsaw blade such that when the selected saw blade is mounted on the blade mount in a operative condition the saw blade projects forwardly from a forward end of the body and is reciprocably driven by the mount in a fore aft direction, said body having at a rear end thereof a handle to allow a user to hold and operate the saw, and a trigger carried by the handle for actuating the motor, the handle being so configured in the body of the tool that when used with the panel saw blade the body can be held in the hand of the user in a first orientation of the body relative to the hand and in said orientation the saw can also be used in the manner of a handsaw by forwards and P:\OPER\RSHV3285.-99-div spe.doc-2207/02 -11- backwards motion of the body, and when used with the jigsaw blade the handle can be held by the hand of the user with the body orientated through approximately 1800 relative to the hand with respect to the first orientation, and means for providing a forward support surface extending transversely to the line of action of the saw blade for supporting the body from a workpiece when acting as a jigsaw, wherein the trigger is positioned substantially midway along the length of the handle so as to be readily actuable in each of said two orientations.

3. A power saw comprising a body housing a motor and a drive system linking the motor to a blade mount such that operation of the motor causes reciprocation of the blade mount, and a plurality of interchangeable saw blades for releasable connection to the blade mount, said interchangeable saw blades comprising a panel saw blade and a jigsaw blade such that when the selected saw blade is mounted on the blade mount in a operative condition the saw blade projects forwardly from a forward end of the body and is reciprocably driven by the mount in a fore aft direction, said body having at a rear end thereof a handle to allow a user to hold and operate the saw, and a trigger carried by the handle for actuating the motor, the handle being so configured that when used with the panel saw blade the saw is held by the hand of the user accessing the handle from one side such that the saw projects generally forwardly from the hand of the user, and when used with the jigsaw blade the body is reoriented relative to the hand of the user so that the hand accesses the handle from the opposite side whereby the saw can be used in jigsaw mode with the body projecting generally downwardly relative to the hand, and the trigger being so positioned that it is engaged by substantially the same part of the hand when gripping the handle in each of said orientations.

4. A power saw comprising a body housing a motor and a drive system linking the motor to a blade mount such that operation of the motor causes reciprocation of the blade mount, and a plurality of interchangeable saw blades for releasable connection to the blade mount, said interchangeable saw blades comprising a panel saw blade and a jigsaw blade such that when the selected saw blade is mounted on the blade mount in a P:\OPERRSW6285-99')-div spe.do-27i02

12- operative condition the saw blade projects forwardly from a forward end of the body and is reciprocably driven by the mount in a fore aft direction, said body having at a rear end thereof a handle to allow a user to hold and operate the saw, and a trigger carried by the handle for actuating the motor, the handle being so configured that when used with the panel saw blade the saw is held by the hand of the user accessing the handle from one side such that the saw projects generally forwardly from the hand of the user and such that the saw can also be used in the manner of a handsaw by forwards and rearwards motion of body by means of the hand, and when used with the jigsaw blade the body is reoriented relative to the hand of the user so that the hand accesses the handle from the opposite side whereby the saw can be used in jigsaw mode with the body projecting generally downwardly relative to the hand, and the trigger is positioned substantially midway along the length of the handle so as to be readily actuable in each of said two orientations. 5. A power saw according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the jigsaw blade is of substantially uniform depth along its length and the panel saw blade progressively increases in depth from its distal end to its proximate end portion so that at its proximate end portion the depth of the blade is significantly greater than that of the jigsaw blade at the proximate end portion thereof, and wherein the blade mount is within the interior of the body at the forward end thereof and is accessible via an opening of a size sufficient to accommodate the depth of the panel saw blade adjacent the proximate end portion thereof. DATED this 22 d day of JULY 2002 Black Decker Incorporated By DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant