Patent ID: 6880440

Claim:
A miter saw comprising: a base assembly defining a cutting zone and configured to support workpieces in the cutting zone; a pivot arm coupled to the base assembly and selectively moveable toward and away from the cutting zone; a tilt mechanism between the base assembly and the pivot arm, where the tilt mechanism is configured so that the pivot arm may tilt relative to the base assembly; a motor assembly; a rotatable arbor supported by the pivot arm and driven by the motor assembly; a rotatable blade mounted on the arbor and configured to cut workpieces supported within the cutting zone; a detection system configured to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the blade; and a reaction system configured to stop movement of the pivot arm toward the base assembly upon detection by the detection system of the one or more dangerous conditions, where the reaction system comprises a brace member and a locking assembly; where the brace member is coupled to the tilt mechanism and the locking assembly; where the locking assembly is coupled to the pivot arm; and where the locking assembly is configured to lock onto the brace member to prevent the pivot arm from moving toward the base assembly when the detection system detects the one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the blade.