Miter Saw with Cutting Alignment Device on a Dust Chute

Abstract

A miter saw with a cutting alignment device includes a base with a work surface provided thereon. A bevel support is pivotable with respect to the base and a cutting blade is supported by the bevel support. A dust chute is adjustably secured to the bevel support and pivots with respect to the base when the bevel support pivots. The dust chute includes mounts that allow lateral adjustment of the dust chute with respect to the bevel support. A laser alignment device is positioned on the dust chute and configured to emit a beam of light toward the work surface. The dust chute includes a receptacle designed and dimensioned to releasably hold the laser alignment device. Because the laser alignment device is retained on the dust chute, adjustment of the dust chute also results in adjustment of a beam of light emitted from the laser alignment device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A miter saw comprising:
 a base with a work surface provided thereon;   a cutting support assembly pivotable with respect to the base, the cutting support assembly including a bevel support and a cutting arm pivotable with respect to the bevel support;   a cutting blade supported by the cutting arm;   a dust chute secured to the cutting support assembly, wherein the dust chute pivots with respect to the base when the cutting support assembly pivots; and   a laser alignment device positioned on the dust chute and configured to emit a beam of light toward the work surface.   
     
     
         2 . The miter saw of  claim 1  wherein the dust chute is positioned on the bevel support of the cutting support assembly and includes an input port positioned on a forward side of the bevel support such that the input port is open to the cutting blade, the dust chute further including an output port positioned on a rearward side of the bevel support. 
     
     
         3 . The miter saw of  claim 2  wherein the input port is larger than the output port with funnel walls positioned between the input port and the output port. 
     
     
         4 . The miter saw of  claim 1  wherein the dust chute is adjustably mounted on the bevel support. 
     
     
         5 . The miter saw of  claim 4  wherein the dust chute includes at least one mounting tab with a slot provided in the mounting tab, and wherein a fastener extends through the slot in the at least one mounting tab. 
     
     
         6 . The miter saw of  claim 5  wherein the slot is an elongated slot such that the dust chute may be moved in a lateral direction when the fastener extends though the slot. 
     
     
         7 . The miter saw of  claim 6  wherein the fastener is a screw that threadedly engages a hole in the bevel support, the screw further including a head configured to engage the dust chute when the screw is tightened in the hole in the bevel support. 
     
     
         8 . The miter saw of  claim 1  wherein the dust chute includes a receptacle designed and dimensioned to releasably hold the laser alignment device on the dust chute. 
     
     
         9 . The miter saw of  claim 8  wherein the receptacle comprises a cup shaped member configured to receive a cartridge of the laser alignment device, the cartridge including optics and a laser generator. 
     
     
         10 . The miter saw of  claim 9  wherein the laser generator is configured to emit a beam of light along each side of the cutting blade toward the work surface. 
     
     
         11 . A miter saw comprising:
 a table;   a cutting assembly;   a cutting support arrangement configured to support the cutting assembly above the table;   a dust collection system supported by the cutting support arrangement; and   a laser alignment device supported by the dust collection system.   
     
     
         12 . The miter saw arrangement of  claim 11  further comprising a receptacle formed in an upper wall of the dust collection system, the receptacle configured to receive the laser alignment device. 
     
     
         13 . The miter saw of  claim 12  wherein the laser alignment device is configured to generate a laser beam, wherein the laser beam is directed toward the table when the laser alignment device is positioned in the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The miter saw of  claim 13  wherein the dust collection system comprises a dust collection chute including plurality of mounts configured to secure the dust collection chute to the cutting support arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The miter saw of  claim 14  wherein each of the plurality of mounts includes an elongate slot defined therein, the elongate slots configured to allow lateral adjustment of the dust collection chute in relation to a saw blade of the cutting assembly which results in lateral adjustment of the laser beam generated by the laser alignment device. 
     
     
         16 . A miter saw comprising:
 a table;   a cutting assembly;   a cutting support arrangement configured to support the cutting assembly above the table;   a dust collection member supported by the cutting support arrangement, the dust collection member including an input port, an exit port, and a receptacle; and   a laser alignment device retained within the receptacle of the dust collection member, the laser alignment device configured to emit light toward the table.   
     
     
         17 . The miter saw of  claim 16  wherein the dust collection member further includes a funnel body extending between the input port and the exit port. 
     
     
         18 . The miter saw of  claim 17  wherein the receptacle is provided on an upper portion of the dust collection member and is integrally formed with the funnel body between the input port and the exit port. 
     
     
         19 . The miter saw of  claim 16  wherein the receptacle is positioned above the input port on the dust collection member. 
     
     
         20 . The miter saw of  claim 19  wherein the receptacle comprises a cup-shaped member configured to retain the laser alignment device.