Machine tool t-slot protective device

Abstract

An elongated T-slot protection device comprising an elongated member having a body, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of legs. The protection device is placeable into an elongated opening of a T-slot, and covers the elongated opening to prevent debris from entering the T-slot formed in a work surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elongated T-slot protection device comprising an elongated, conformable, non-metal material, and having a cross-section profile presenting a first portion and a second portion, the first portion providing a top surface configured to not protrude above the top plane of a worksurface when the protection device is fitted into a T-slot of the worksurface, and the second portion providing a body portion configured to be received within the T-slot and conform to sidewalls of the T-slot. 
     
     
         2 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is entirely extruded. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is flexible along its length. 
     
     
         4 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the device has a device width dimension when in an uncompressed state, and the device, when fitted into the T-slot is directed through a linear opening at the top of the T-slot, the linear opening having a slot width dimension that is smaller than the device width dimension of the uncompressed device. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 4 , wherein the protection device is compressed when residing within the T-slot, and resiliently seeks to spring back to an uncompressed state, thereby securing the device within the T-slot in a friction fit manner. 
     
     
         6 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is formed entirely of a compliant material. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant material is an elastomer and is capable of being trimmed to length using a hand tool selected from the group consisting of a utility knife or scissors. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the material is one of silicone rubber, latex, natural or vulcanized rubber, neoprene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, nylon, polytetrafluorothylene, polyetheretherketone, polyoxymethylene, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the device possesses shape memory. 
     
     
         10 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the T-slot has a pair of upper surface chamfers located at the junction of the T-slot with the work surface, and the first portion provides a pair of upper radiused surfaces, each of the pair of upper radiused surfaces being configured to abut against one of the pair of upper surface chamfers, without extending above the plane of a T-slot work surface. 
     
     
         11 . The elongated T-slot protection device of  claim 10 , wherein the upper radiused surface is configured to prevent over-insertion of the device into the T-slot. 
     
     
         12 . The method of sealing a T-slot of a work surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a T-slot protection device, and a work surface having at least one T-slot having a width dimension that is smaller than a width dimension of the T-slot protection device in an uncompressed state, the T-slot protection device being an elongated shape configured to be received within the T-slot, and entirely composed of a resilient, non-metal composition;   b. inserting the T-slot protection device into the T-slot, and compressing the T-slot protection device to conform to sidewalls of the T-slot;   c. positioning the T-slot protection device such that no portion of the T-slot protection device protrudes above a top planar surface of the work surface.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of cutting the T-slot protection device to a desired length with a pair of scissors or utility knife. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of cutting the T-slot protection device to a desired end shape with a pair of scissors or utility knife, the end shape being selected from rounded terminal end, chevron end, reverse chevron end, and linear end. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the positioning step further provides that a bottom portion of the T-slot protection device extends laterally below the sidewall surface of the T-slot, beyond a plane of the sidewall of the T-slot. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the positioning step further provides the top portion of the T-slot protection device having edge portions that rest against the upper features of the T-slot within the work surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the positioning step further provides the top portion of the T-slot protection device to be substantially parallel to the top plane of the T-slot within the work surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 x. Machining a work product secured to the work surface;   y. Cleaning the work surface without removing the T-slot protection device from the T-slot.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the T-slot protection device is entirely extruded.