Bevel lock assembly for miter saws

Abstract

The miter saw has a base assembly, a rotatable table rotatably disposed on the base assembly, a saw assembly rotatably supported by the table, and a bevel lock assembly for locking the rotational position of the saw assembly relative to the table.

1 . A miter saw comprising: 
 a base assembly;    a rotatable table rotatably disposed on the base assembly;    a saw assembly rotatably supported by the table, the saw assembly comprising a support housing rotatably connected to the table, a pivotable arm supported by the support housing, a motor supported by the arm and a blade driven by the motor; and    a bevel lock assembly for locking the rotational position of the saw assembly relative to the table, the bevel lock assembly comprising a handle disposed on top of the support housing, and a rod attached to the handle, the rod being movable by the handle between a first position locking the saw assembly relative to the table, and a second position not locking the saw assembly relative to the table.    
   
   
       2 . The miter saw of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is threadingly engaged to a body.  
   
   
       3 . The miter saw of  claim 2 , wherein the body contacts the table when the rod is in the first position and the body does not contact the table when the rod is in the second position.  
   
   
       4 . The miter saw of  claim 1 , wherein the rod has a cam surface.  
   
   
       5 . The miter saw of  claim 4 , wherein the cam surface urges the support housing towards the table when the rod is in the first position and the cam surface does not urge the support housing towards the table when the rod is in the second position.  
   
   
       6 . The miter saw of  claim 5 , wherein the support housing is rotatably disposed on a shaft fixedly attached to the table.  
   
   
       7 . The miter saw of  claim 6 , wherein a conical portion contacts the support housing.  
   
   
       8 . The miter saw of  claim 7 , wherein a first nut threadingly engages the shaft.  
   
   
       9 . The miter saw of  claim 8 , wherein a cupped washer is disposed on the shaft and around the first nut, the cupped washer contacting the conical portion.  
   
   
       10 . The miter saw of  claim 9 , wherein a second nut threadingly engages the shaft, the cam surface being disposed between the cupped washer and the second nut.  
   
   
       11 . A miter saw comprising: 
 a base assembly;    a rotatable table rotatably disposed on the base assembly;    a saw assembly rotatably supported by the table, the saw assembly comprising a support housing rotatably connected to the table, a pivotable arm supported by the support housing, a motor supported by the arm and a blade driven by the motor; and    a bevel stop assembly for fixing the rotational position of the saw assembly relative to the table, the bevel stop assembly comprising a handle disposed on the support housing, a member being movable by the handle, and a first plate disposed on the table, the first plate having a first notch for receiving the member, wherein the member is movable by the handle between a first position engaging the first notch, and a second position not engaging the first notch.    
   
   
       12 . The miter saw of  claim 11 , wherein the first plate is adjustable relative to the table.  
   
   
       13 . The miter saw of  claim 11 , wherein the bevel stop assembly further comprises a spring for biasing the member towards the first position.  
   
   
       14 . The miter saw of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is disposed on top of the support housing.  
   
   
       15 . The miter saw of  claim 11 , wherein the bevel stop assembly further comprises a rod that is connected to the handle, wherein the rod contacts and moves the member towards the second position when the handle is moved.  
   
   
       16 . The miter saw of  claim 11 , wherein the bevel stop assembly further comprises a cam that is connected to the handle, wherein the cam contacts and moves the member towards the second position when the handle is moved.  
   
   
       17 . The miter saw of  claim 11 , wherein the bevel stop assembly further comprises a link that is connected to the handle, wherein the link contacts and moves the member towards the second position when the handle is moved.  
   
   
       18 . The miter saw of  claim 11 , wherein the member is attached to a spring, which is attached to the support housing.  
   
   
       19 . The miter saw of  claim 11 , wherein the bevel stop assembly further comprises a second plate disposed on the table, the second plate having a second notch for receiving the member.