Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Plastic band
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-03
2001-02-13
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Plastic band
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185791
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to cable ties or elongate straps having a locking head at a first end that secures a second end of the strap to form a loop fastener. More particularly, the present invention relates to a reusable cable tie having a releasable locking mechanism that allows removal of the second end of the strap from the locking head without destroying the locking mechanism such that the cable tie can be removed and reused.
A variety of plastic cable ties have been employed in the past for supporting together, storing and/or transporting bundles of elongated elements such as elongated wires, tubes or similar members. Such ties typically include a locking-head having a toothed locking pawl pivotally mounted and extending into a strap-receiving aperture, and an elongated flexible strap having a series of transverse teeth on one surface thereof (or a ladder-type strap having two spaced side rails joined by a plurality of spaced rungs) for engagement with the pawl, thus securing the free end of the strap in bound relationship about the wires, tubes or similar members. These ties are available in both releasable and non-releasable versions with the former generally having a short release lever or extension extending from the pawl sufficiently beyond the locking head to the strap to allow user manipulation of the lever or extension to pivot the pawl out of engagement with the teeth or rungs on the cable tie and release the strap from the head. In releasing the tie, the strap typically must be pulled at least a short distance through the locking head in the strap tightening direction to allow the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the strap.
A disadvantage in the known releasable cable tie, however, is that the hinge or pivot area connecting the pawl to the head of the cable tie is typically inadequate in terms of support and strength. Known cable ties rely on the conventional idea of using the same pivot area to predict insertion and tensile force. Insertion force is high if the hinge or pivot area is too large and tensile force is low if the pivot area is too small. It is, therefore, desirous to provide a releasable cable tie that has a relatively low insertion force, yet is able to withstand higher tensile forces than conventional cable ties.
SUMMARY
The present invention addresses the above needs by adding adequate support and strength to the hinge or pivot area of the pawl or latch so that the cable tie can withstand greater forces than the conventional releasable cable tie. Specifically the present invention adds at least one extension to the pivot/hinge area that does not interfere during installation of the tie whereby insertion force remains the same. But under load, the extension engages the head of the cable tie essentially doubling the pivot area and thus increasing its potential for higher tensile force.
More specifically, the present invention provides a releasable cable tie for forming a plurality of elongate objects such as wires into a bundle which comprises an elongate strap body having a tail and first and second major surfaces wherein the first major surface includes a plurality of teeth. A head is integrally formed at one end of the strap body opposite the tail. The head includes first and second sidewalls and first and second endwalls which define a passageway or channel therethrough for receiving the tail and strap body. The first sidewall includes a slot which is in communication with the passageway, the tail being insertable into the passageway in a locking direction for forming a loop to receive the objects to be bound. In addition, first and second shoulders are integrally attached to the first sidewall on opposite sides of the slot in opposing relation. The shoulders include first and second upwardly extending reinforcing extensions, respectively, which are each spaced a predetermined distance from the first sidewall so as to create an interstice between the extensions and first sidewall. A bridging member extends between the first and second shoulders. The head further includes a latch means for releasably retaining the strap body within the head. The latch means comprises a latch pivotally mounted on the bridging member and has at least one locking tooth complementary to each of the plurality of teeth on the strap body. The latch extends into the passageway through the slot such that the locking tooth engages a selected one of the plurality of teeth for substantially preventing movement of the strap body in a release direction. When the cable tie is under load in a locked position, the first and second reinforcing extensions deflect to engage the first sidewall for adding strength to the latch which enables the tie to withstand greater tensile forces. Because the latch is pivotal about the longitudinal axis of said bridging member, it may be pivoted to release the locking tooth from engagement with the selected one of plurality of teeth to permit the strap body to be moved in the release direction, the strap body being easily releasable from the head thereby allowing the tie to be reusable.
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patent: 25 08 230 A1 (1976-09-01), None
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Hoffman & Baron LLP
Knight Anthony
Pilaud Robert L.
Thomas & Betts International Inc.
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