Locking assembly for a power miter saw

1. A locking assembly for a power miter saw of the type which has a base and a table that is rotatably mounted on the base about a center pivot axis, comprising:

an arcuate recess having a pair of opposing arcuate surfaces formed in said base, said recess being spaced from and being concentric with a center pivot axis;

a clamp having a pair of contact surfaces attached to said table for respectively engaging said pair of arcuate surfaces to lock the table from rotating relative to the base by applying a clamping force to said arcuate surfaces and not to the center pivot axis; and

an actuating mechanism for operating said clamp,

wherein said clamp has two clamping surfaces, each of which engage one of said arcuate surfaces when said clamp locks the table to the base, and

wherein said clamping surfaces comprise a first clamping surface on a first jaw and a second clamping surface on a second jaw, said first and second jaws being movable in a generally radial direction relative to said arcuate surfaces and said pivot axis.

2. A locking assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second jaws are operatively coupled together and are located in a housing and configured to move therein and relative to one another in a radial direction relative to said pivot axis.

3. A locking assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising a spring acting on each of said first and second jaws to bias the same out of contact with said arcuate surfaces.

4. A locking assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a threaded rod connected to said control knob at one end and that threadedly engages said first jaw and has an outer end that contacts said second jaw, whereby rotation of said rod in a first direction causes said jaws to separate from one another and to move toward one another when rotated in a second direction.

5. A locking assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second jaws are configured to nest together.

6. A locking assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second clamping surfaces face away from one another and engage opposite surfaces of said slot.

7. A locking assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said clamping surfaces are curved to conform to the curvature of said arcuate surfaces.

8. A locking assembly for a power miter saw of the type which has a base, a table that is rotatably mounted on the base about a center pivot axis, and an elongated arm extending from the table for setting a miter angle for cutting a work piece placed on the table, comprising:

an arcuate recess having a pair of opposing arcuate surfaces formed in said base, said recess being spaced from and being concentric with a center pivot axis;

a clamp having a pair of contact surfaces attached to said table for respectively engaging said pair of arcuate surfaces to lock the table from rotating relative to the base by applying a clamping force to said arcuate surfaces and not to the center pivot axis; and

an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said clamp for operating said clamp, said actuating mechanism including a rotatable control knob provided at a distal end of the elongated arm for controlling said operation of said clamp,

wherein said clamp has two clamping surfaces, each of which engage one of said arcuate surfaces when said clamp locks the table to the base, and

wherein said clamping surfaces comprise a first clamping surface on a first jaw and a second clamping surface on a second jaw, said first and second jaws being free to float in a generally radial direction relative to said arcuate surfaces and said pivot axis.

9. A locking assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and second jaws are operatively coupled together and are located in a housing and configured to move therein and relative to one another in a radial direction relative to said pivot axis.

10. A locking assembly as defined in claim 8 further comprising a spring acting on each of said first and second jaws to bias the same out of contact with said arcuate surfaces.

11. A locking assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a threaded rod connected to said control knob at one end and that threadedly engages said first jaw and has an outer end that contacts said second jaw, whereby rotation of said rod in a first direction causes said jaws to separate from one another and to move toward one another when rotated in a second direction.

12. A locking assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second jaws are configured to nest together.

13. A locking assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said first and second clamping surfaces face away from one another and engage opposite surfaces of said slot.

14. A locking assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said clamping surfaces are curved to conform to the curvature of said arcuate surfaces.

15. A locking assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said pair of opposing arcuate surfaces on said base are formed by a raised rib, and said clamping surfaces comprise a first clamping surface on a first end portion of a first arm and a second clamping surface on a first end portion of a second arm, a pivot connection pivotally connecting said first and second arms together intermediate each of their opposite end portions, said actuating mechanism comprising a threaded rod that threadedly engages the second end portion of each of said first and second arms, whereby rotation of said rod in a first direction causes said first and second clamping surfaces to move toward one another and to separate from one another when rotated in a second direction.

16. A locking assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said pair of opposing arcuate surfaces on said base are formed by a raised rib, and said clamping surfaces comprise a first clamping surface on a first end portion of a first arm and a second clamping surface on a first end portion of a second arm, a pivot connection pivotally connecting said first and second arms together intermediate each of their opposite end portions, said actuating mechanism comprising a rod having a reduced diameter end portion defining a shoulder, said reduced diameter end portion passes through the second end portion of said first arm, said reduced diameter end portion having a threaded end that threadedly engages said second end portion of said second arm, and said pivot connection being slidable in a supporting slot oriented parallel to said rod, whereby rotation of said rod in a first direction causes said first and second clamping surfaces to move toward one another and to separate from one another when rotated in a second direction.

17. A locking assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said first jaw has a cam pivotally mounted at an end adjacent said second jaw in close proximity to said second jaw and configured to move said jaws away from one another when said cam is pivoted in a first direction and to permit said jaws to move toward one another when said cam is pivoted in a second direction.

18. A locking assembly as defined in claim 17 further comprising a spring acting on each of said first and second jaws to bias said jaws toward one another.

19. A locking assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a slider crank linkage for selectively rotating said cam in said first and second directions.

20. A locking assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises an elongated rotatable cylindrical rod extending through an opening in said first jaw, said rod having a cam following pin that extends beyond an outer surface of said rod, said jaw having a cam slot located therein in which said pin slides, said cam slot being configured to cause said rod to move in its axial direction when said rod is rotated, an outer end of said rod being configured to contact said second jaw, whereby rotation of said rod in a first direction causes said jaws to separate from one another and to move toward one another when rotated in a second direction.

21. A locking assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein said first jaw comprises a hollow cylindrical cam tube in which said rod is located, said cam slot being provided in the wall of said cam tube.

22. A locking assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein said cam slot is configured to enable a full range of axial movement of said rod by rotating said rod at less than a full rotation.

23. A locking assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein said full range of axial movement of said rod is carried out by rotating said rod approximately ¼ of a full rotation.