Whatis claimedis:
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`1.
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`A hole saw comprising:
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`a substantially cylindrical body having a cutting end, a cap end, and an outer wall
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`extending from the cap end to the cutting end, the cutting end including a cutting edge having a
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`plurality of cutting teeth, the cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis extending from the cap
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`endto the cutting end; and
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`a plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body,
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`wherein:
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`each distinct aperture is configured to receive a tool for removing one or more
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`plugs from within the cylindrical body;
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`the plurality of distinct apertures include a first aperture and a secondaperture, the
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`first aperture having a geometric characteristic distinct from that of the second aperture; and
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`the first aperture and the second aperture are arranged on a samesideofat least
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`one plane that contains the longitudinal axis.
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`2.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein all of the second aperture is closer to the cap end than
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`all of the first aperture.
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`3.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein a first portion ofthe first aperture havinga first
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`distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portionsofthe first aperture, a second
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`portion of the second aperture having a second distance that is closer to the cap end than any
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`remaining portions of the second aperture,the first distance being different from the second
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`distance.
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`4.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein at least a portion ofthe first aperture and at least a
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`portion of the second aperture is aligned along a first aperture axis that forms a first acute angle
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`with respect to the longitudinalaxis.
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`5.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first aperture and at least a
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`portion of the second aperture is substantially aligned along a line that is substantially in parallel
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`with the longitudinalaxis.
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`6.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein the geometric characteristic of the second aperture
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`includes at least one of a shape anda size of the second aperture.
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`7.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, the plurality of distinct apertures including a first plurality of
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`distinct apertures, further comprising:
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`a second plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical
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`body, each of the secondplurality of distinct apertures being identical to a respective one of the
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`first plurality of distinct apertures;
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`wherein all of the second plurality of distinct apertures are arranged on a sameside ofat
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`least one secondplane that contains the longitudinal axis.
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`8.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein thefirst aperture includesa first side edge, and the
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`second aperture includes a second side edge aligned along an extension ofthe first side edge.
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`9.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein the first aperture further comprisesat least a first
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`substantially straight edge that is substantially parallel to the cutting end.
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`10.
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`The hole saw of claims 9, wherein the first aperture further comprises a second
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`substantially straight edge that opposesthefirst substantially straight edge and is substantially
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`parallel to the cutting end.
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`11.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture
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`is boundedbya first edge, a second edgethatis substantially parallel to the first edge, and a side
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`edge connecting thefirst edge to the second edge and oriented at an acute angle to the
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`longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body.
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`12.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein:
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`the plurality of cutting teeth are coated with an abrasive coating;
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`each tooth ofthe plurality of cutting teeth is defined by a leading edge anda trailing
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`edge;
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`the teeth are disposed continuously around a circumference of the cutting end; and
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`each of the first and second apertures includesa plurality of edges, and each edgeis
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`curved, curvilinear, rectilinear, or a combination thereof.
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`13.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein each ofthe first and second apertures includes a
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`plurality of rounded corners.
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`14.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are separated
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`by a first portion of the cylindrical wall, and each of the first and second apertures is separated
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`from the cap end by a respective second portion of the cylindrical wall.
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`15.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein each ofthe first aperture and the second aperture
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`defines a minimum width to allow insertion of the tool therethrough.
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`16.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein a slot width of each of the first and second apertures,
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`measuredin a direction parallel to the cap end, is between 0.305 inches and 0.805 inches.
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`17.
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`The hole saw of claim 16, wherein the slot width of each of the first and second apertures
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`is between 0.430 inches and 0.680 inches.
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`18.
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`The hole saw of claim 1, wherein the hole saw does not include any aperture other than
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`the plurality of distinct apertures, and a total area of the plurality of distinct apertures is less than
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`50% of a total surface area of the cylindrical body.
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`19.
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`A hole saw comprising:
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`a substantially cylindrical body having a cutting end, a cap end, and an outer wall
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`extending from the cap end to the cutting end, the cutting end including a cutting edge having a
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`plurality of cutting teeth, the cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis extending from the cap
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`endto the cutting end; and
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`a plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body,
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`wherein:
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`each distinct aperture is configured to receive a tool for removing one or more
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`plugs from within the cylindrical body;
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`the plurality of distinct apertures include a first aperture and a secondaperture,
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`wherein all of the second aperture is closer to the cap end thanall of the first aperture; and
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`the first aperture and the second aperture are arranged on a samesideofat least
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`one plane that contains the longitudinal axis.
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`20.
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`A hole saw comprising:
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`a substantially cylindrical body having a cutting end, a cap end, and an outer wall
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`extending from the cap end to the cutting end, the cutting end including a cutting edge having a
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`plurality of cutting teeth, the cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis extending from the cap
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`endto the cutting end; and
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`a plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body,
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`wherein:
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`each distinct aperture is configured to receive a tool for removing one or more
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`plugs from within the cylindrical body;
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`the plurality of distinct apertures include a first aperture and a secondaperture, a
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`first portion of the first aperture havingafirst distance that is closer to the cap end than any
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`remaining portionsof the first aperture, a second portion of the second aperture having a second
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`distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the second aperture, the first
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`distance being different from the second distance; and
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`the first aperture and the second aperture are arranged on a samesideofat least
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`one plane that contains the longitudinal axis.
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`010768-5019-US
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