FIXTURING SYSTEM FOR WOODWORKING
A device for use with a wood-based structural element having an outer surface and inner surfaces defining a T-slot, wherein the T-slot has a central section that is open at the outer surface, and has a pair of undercut sections projecting from opposite sides of the central section, and the inner surfaces of the structural element include a pair of inner surfaces facing inward, the device comprising: a T-nut having an outer portion receivable in the central section of the T-slot, a screw-threaded bore, and an inner portion with a pair of clamping surfaces projecting from opposite sides of the outer portion; wherein the bore has a nominal cross-sectional area for receiving a threaded fastener, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut have a combined surface area of about 10 times the cross-sectional area of the bore; and wherein the T-nut is configured for use with a wood-based structural element.
1 . A device for use with a wood-based structural element having an outer surface and inner surfaces defining a T-slot, wherein the T-slot has a central section that is open at the outer surface, and further has a pair of undercut sections projecting from opposite sides of the central section, and the inner surfaces of the structural element include a pair of inner surfaces facing inward across the pair of undercut sections of the T-slot, the device comprising:
a T-nut having an outer portion receivable in the central section of the T-slot, a screw-threaded bore in the outer portion, and an inner portion with a pair of clamping surfaces projecting from opposite sides of the outer portion;
wherein the bore has a nominal cross-sectional area for receiving a threaded fastener, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut have a combined surface area of at least about 10 times the nominal cross-sectional area of the bore; and
wherein the T-nut is configured for use with a wood-based structural element.
2 . A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut, and the combined surface area is the sum of areas projected from the clamping surfaces onto a plane of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface.
3 . A device as defined in claim 2 , wherein the T-nut is formed predominantly of plastic.
4 . A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination equal or substantially equal to 18 degrees.
5 . A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 5 degrees and 30 degrees.
6 . A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 10 degrees and 25 degrees.
7 . A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 15 degrees and 20 degrees.
8 . A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the T-nut is formed predominantly of plastic.
9 . A device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sockets extending vertically in the T-nut.
10 . A device as defined in claim 9 , further comprising anti-rotation pins oriented in the sockets.
11 . A device for use with a wood-based structural element having an outer surface and inner surfaces defining a T-slot, wherein the T-slot has a central section that is open at the outer surface, and further has a pair of undercut sections projecting from opposite sides of the central section, and the inner surfaces of the structural element include a pair of inner surfaces facing inward across the pair of undercut sections of the T-slot, the device comprising:
a T-nut having an outer portion receivable in the central section of the T-slot, a screw-threaded bore in the outer portion, an inner portion with a pair of clamping surfaces projecting from opposite sides of the outer portion, and a plurality of sockets extending vertically through the T-nut;
wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 5 degrees and 30 degrees.
12 . A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the clamping surfaces on the T-nut have a combined surface area of at least about 10 times the nominal cross-sectional area of the bore.
13 . A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination equal or substantially equal to 18 degrees.
14 . A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 10 degrees and 25 degrees.
15 . A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 15 degrees and 20 degrees.
16 . A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the T-nut is formed predominantly of plastic.
17 . A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination equal or substantially equal to 18 degrees.
18 . A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the T-nut is formed predominantly of plastic.
19 . A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the T-nut is configured for use with a wood-based structural element.