Multi-angle miter box

A miter box adapted for use with a saw for making cuts at each of a multiplicity of angles, comprising:

• a base comprised of a table having a generally planar upper surface, structure defining an effectively circular passage extending on a axis normal to said upper surface, and means for supporting said table in an elevated position with an underlying space defined therebeneath, said table having a forward edge portion spaced from said passage;
• a generally U-shaped saw guide assembled with said base, said saw guide being comprised of a beam having forward and rearward ends, an upstanding pivot post adjacent said rearward end, and an upstanding guide piece adjacent said forward end, at least a portion of the length of said pivot post being of circular cross section and being pivotably engaged in said passage of said base, and said beam extending radially in said underlying space and being of such length as to dispose said guide piece forwardly adjacent said forward edge portion of said table, each of said pivot post and said guide piece having a slot extending longitudinally therethrough for cooperatively receiving the blade of a saw for movement, over said table upper surface, reciprocally therethrough and longitudinally therealong, said saw guide being pivotable relative to said base so as to enable a saw so mounted to be aligned on each of a multiplicity of radii extending from said passage axis;
• an upstanding fence member having portions disposed substantially diametrically to opposite sides of said circular passage and cooperatively providing a back supporting surface having elements defining a support plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said upper surface of said table lies;
• and
• means for clamping a workpiece against said fence member, said means for clamping comprising:
• channel-defining means defining at least a first channel recessed into said upper surface of said table and having a proximal end near said fence member and a distal end remote therefrom, said first channel being defined by shaped opposite sidewalls which substantially replicate one another and are characterized by a multiplicity of substantially identical structural elements spaced regularly along the length of said first channel and projecting toward a center line thereof;
• a first lug piece dimensioned and configured to seat in said first channel at each of a multiplicity of locations along the length thereof, said first lug piece having opposite ends and opposite lateral surfaces extending therebetween, said lateral surfaces being formed with fixed mating structural features that correspond to said structural elements of said shaped opposite sidewalls for engaging matingly said opposite sidewalls of said first channel when seated therein, thereby to effectively lock said lug piece against displacement along said first channel from each of said multiplicity of locations;
• and a first clamping piece mounted on said first lug piece for rotation about an axis normal to said plane of said upper surface of said table when said first lug piece is seated in said first channel, said first clamping piece having at least one projecting lobe portion with a bearing surface thereon disposed substantially at said plane of said table upper surface for being brought, by rotation of said first clamping piece, into clamping engagement with a workpiece supported against said back supporting surface of said fence member, when said first lug piece is seated in said first channel proximate to the workpiece.