Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Plastic band
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2001-07-03
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Plastic band
C024S0170AP, C248S074300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253421
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to the art of plastic holding straps of the type used for looping around, fastening, and bundling cables and other tubular articles to an associated support member and, more particularly, to the art of plastic holding elements of the type including an elongate profiled strap element, a head member connected to a first end of the strap element and defining a passage opening and an elastic locking element selectively movable into the passage opening for locking the strap element relative to the head member.
Plastic holding straps of the type under consideration are commonly used to bundle cables and other elongate objects such as tubes or the like in a secured manner. Typically, the plastic holding straps are formed as a long relatively thin flexible profiled strap element including a pair of spaced apart parallel longitudinal strips that extend along the length of the strap element. A plurality of transverse rung members extend in a spaced apart relationship between the pair of parallel longitudinal strips. One end of the plastic holding element defines a passage opening adapted to accept the other free end of the holding strap therethrough. At least one locking element is disposed within the passage opening for selectively engaging the plurality of transverse rung members. The elastic locking element is typically embeddable relative to the longitudinal strips and transverse rung members.
Holding straps of the type described above are well known in the art. A number of patents including German Patent DE-GM 297 07 757.0 teach improvements to the elastic locking element wherein the element is specially designed in order to enable improved mounting of the strap within the head member.
In some teachings, namely DE OS 38 07 173 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,444, improvements are shown that are directed to the transverse rung members extending in a spaced apart relationship between the pair of longitudinal strips. More particularly, in those teachings, the transverse rung members have a circular cross section or are oval in shape.
Although holding straps formed in accordance with the above teachings have met with some success, there remains the possibility that bundled articles subjected to substantial longitudinal tension may become detached from the mounting device. Some articles are shaped in the form of a so called “corrugated tube” wherein one or more elongate grooves are provided along the longitudinal direction of the cable or tube. Even when those articles are bundled using known plastic holding straps, however, there remains the possibility of detachment due to longitudinal tension placed on the bundled articles.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a plastic holding strap that is capable of secure mounting of corrugated tubes or other elongate tubes, cables, and other articles provided with a longitudinal groove or corrugation.
Further, it is desirable to provide a plastic holding strap that is particularly well suited for mounting and axially securing tubes, cables, and other articles of the aforementioned type onto an associated support member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention provides a plastic holding strap that is particularly well suited for mounting at least one article having a corrugation or groove provided on its exterior surface. More particularly, the subject invention provides a plastic holding strap including an elongate profiled strap element including a pair of spaced apart parallel longitudinal strips and a set of transverse rung members extending between the pair of parallel longitudinal strips. A head member is connected to a first end of the elongate profiled strap element and defines at least one passage opening adapted to selectively receive a second free end of the elongate profiled strap element therethrough. An elastic locking element is carried on the head member and defines, on opposite sides thereof, an abutment surface and an engagement member. The locking element is positioned relative to the elongate profiled strap element and the head member so that as the elongate profiled strap element is tightened, the associated bundled objects contact the abutment surface and urge the engagement member into the at least one passage opening to thereby interengage and lock with the set of transverse rung members to thereby hold the elongate profiled strap element in place relative to the head member.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, at least one holding lug is disposed on the elongate profiled strap element for selective engagement with a corresponding recess formed in the associated bundled objects.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a first portion of the elongate profiled strap element defines a substantially convex region oriented towards the associated bundled objects. Preferably, the at least one holding element is disposed in the substantially convex region.
In accordance with yet a further more limited aspect of the invention, at least one secondary holding lug is carried on a second portion of the profiled strap element adjacent the substantially convex region. The at least one secondary holding lug is adapted for selective engagement with a second corresponding recess defined in the associated bundled objects.
Still further in accordance with the invention, a holding element is formed integrally with the head member as a unitary structure. The holding element adapts the subject plastic holding strap for selective connection onto an associated support member. Preferably, the holding element is adapted to be received onto an associated coarse thread bolt.
It is to be appreciated from the above that the locking element is actuated by contact on its back side with the associated bundled objects. As the strap is tightened, the back side of the locking element is contacted by the bundled objects thereby urging the locking element in a direction towards the passage opening to thereby enable an engagement member carried on an opposite side thereof to interengage with the set of transverse rung members carried on the profiled strap element.
In accordance with the invention, the at least one holding lug and the at least one secondary holding lug acts upon the outer circumference of the associated corrugated tubes or cables to fasten them in a functionally secure position relative to the subject plastic holding strap. In addition, the outer circumference of the associated corrugated tube or cable acts on the back side of the locking element as the strap is tightened to urge the engagement member into connection with the transverse rung members thereby efficiently fastening, in a closed position, the entire holding strap and bundled articles to an associated support member. This assures high functional safety of the holding strap according to the invention.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an area located between the head member and the free end of the elongate profiled strap element is formed in a substantially convex shape oriented towards the associated articles to be retained or held by the strap. Preferably, the substantially convex region has a width that is greater than the width of the remainder of the elongate profiled strap element.
Further in accordance with an aspect of the invention, a pair of holding lugs are provided in close proximity with each other and spaced apart from the substantially convex region. The pair of holding lugs are preferably located on the side of the strap defined by the closed end of the convex region.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the convex region is provided with at least one, preferably a pair, of holding lugs for engagement with a corresponding recess formed in the associated bundled objects.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, the substantially convex region of the elongate profiled strap element is disposed adjacent the head member and below the area of attachment between the locking element and the head member. In that way, an arti
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Sandy Robert J.
TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
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