Power saw with miter angle adjustment

Abstract

This specification discloses a mechanism that alters the cutting angle of a motorized miter saw. The cutting angle is altered by a mechanism that deploys a member from within or behind the fence to a position in front of the fence parallel to the blade and partially within a cavity/opening in the material resting surface. When deployed in front of the fence, the angle between the blade and cutting material is altered.

1 ) A power saw comprising:
 a motor,   a motor housing,   a blade driven by said motor,   a resting surface for supporting a cutting material wherein said motor, said motor housing, and said blade are disposed above said resting surface, said resting surface including an elongated slot for passing the blade therethrough,   a fence for further positioning said cutting material,   at least one cavity or at least one opening in said resting surface disposed in the proximity of said elongated slot,   at least one elongated member being positionable from a non-operating position deposed within or behind said fence to an operating position wherein said at least one elongated member is disposed substantially parallel to said elongated slot and partially in said at least one cavity or partially in said at least one opening such that a portion of said at least one elongated member extends above said resting surface to alter an angle between said blade and said cutting material.   
     
     
         2 ) The power saw of  claim 1  wherein said at least one elongated member is defined by a bar and said at least one cavity or said at least one opening is defined by a channel allowing said bar to slide in said channel from said non-operating position to said operating position. 
     
     
         3 ) The power saw of  claim 2  where said bar is held captive in said channel by said bar and said channel having similar profiles with said bar and said channel being wider for a portion of the interior of said channel. 
     
     
         4 ) The power saw of  claim 2  wherein said channel is sloped relative to said resting surface and said bar is shaped such that the surface of said bar that interfaces with said cutting material remains parallel or approximately parallel to said resting surface as said bar slides in said channel wherein said bar slides from a position below said resting surface to a plurality of positions above said resting surface. 
     
     
         5 ) The power saw of  claim 4  wherein said bar is held captive in said channel by said bar and said channel having similar profiles with said bar and said channel being wider for a portion of the interior of said channel. 
     
     
         6 ) The power saw of  claim 1  wherein said at least one elongated member is positioned via rotating said at least one elongated member about a hinge from a said non-operating position to a said operating position. 
     
     
         7 ) The power saw of  claim 6  wherein said at least one elongated member when positioned in said operating position rests in a channel. 
     
     
         8 ) The power saw of  claim 6  wherein said hinge is positioned within or behind said fence. 
     
     
         9 ) The power saw of  claim 8  wherein said at least one elongated member when positioned in said operating position rests in a channel. 
     
     
         10 ) The power saw of  claim 1  wherein said at least one elongated member can be extended in the direction or approximate direction of said cutting material via a plurality of removable attachments comprising a plurality of thicknesses which would increase the thickness of said at least one elongated member.