AU2020104483A4

AU2020104483A4 - Fastener

Info

Publication number: AU2020104483A4
Application number: AU2020104483A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Hamlin; James Matthew Henry Whitchelo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-11-13
Filing date: 2020-03-19
Publication date: 2022-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-19
Also published as: AU2020385020A1; WO2021092643A1

Abstract

A fastener including: a housing defining an insert opening, an exit opening and a strap passage extending between the insert opening and the exit opening; and an elongate toothed strap longitudinally extending between (i) a fixed end secured to the housing, and (ii) an opposing free end, wherein the housing includes a pawl formation operatively associated with the toothed strap, the pawl formation being adapted (i) to facilitate movement of the strap from the insert opening to the exit opening, and (ii) to deter movement of the strap from the exit opening to the insert opening, and wherein the fastener includes a protective formation operatively associated with the housing and located proximate the exit opening of the housing, the protective formation operatively adapted to deter access by user to a portion of the strap located at the exit opening. WO 2021/092643 PCT/AU2020/050259 1/6 CN. NN NN CY\ Co CNJ /O ItI CNN C)C CN

Description

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[0001] The invention concerns a fastener. In one particular but non-exclusive aspect the invention concerns a fastener of the type commonly referred to as a cable tie.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A cable tie (also known as a "hose tie") is a fastener commonly employed for fastening electrical cables or wires together. A conventional cable tie comprises a flexible elongate strap having a toothed surface. The strap includes a free end and an opposing fixed end which is secured to a housing. The housing includes an insert opening though which the free end of the strap can be inserted into the housing. The housing further has an exit opening and a strap passage so that the free end of the toothed strap can pass from the insert opening, through the strap passage to exit the housing at the exit opening. When the strap passes through the housing the cable tie forms a loop in which individual cables or wires can be held.

[0003] The housing further includes a pawl formation for engaging the toothed surface of the strap and is adapted to permit movement of the strap in one direction only. The effect of this is that the pawl formation acts as a ratchet so that in pulling the strap through the housing the diameter of the loop formed by the cable tie will be reduced in order to close in on the cables

/ wires to hold them together. The strap is, however, prevented from being pulled in an opposite direction through the housing due to the operation of the pawl formation. Once the cables / wires are securely held, that part of the strap which has been pulled through the housing can be cut off from the remaining strap to provide the cable tie with a neat and finished appearance.

[0004] A typical cable tie is produced at very low cost from a plastics material, often nylon. Due to their low cost, versality and ease of use cable ties are employed in numerous applications and in a wide range of industries.

[0005] One drawback which has been encountered with conventional plastic cable ties is that when the free part of the strap is cut, the cut plastic portion can have a sharp edge which could injure an unaware user.

OBJECT

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate the above drawback associated with conventional cable ties or at least to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY

[0007] According to a first aspect there is disclosed herein a fastener including:

a housing defining an insert opening, an exit opening and a strap passage extending between the insert opening and the exit opening; and

an elongate toothed strap longitudinally extending between (i) a fixed end secured to the housing, and (ii) an opposing free end,

wherein the housing includes a pawl formation operatively associated with the toothed strap, the pawl formation being adapted (i) to facilitate movement of the strap from the insert opening to the exit opening, and (ii) to deter movement of the strap from the exit opening to the insert opening, and

wherein the fastener includes a protective formation operatively associated with the housing and located proximate the exit opening of the housing, the protective formation operatively adapted to deter access by user to a portion of the strap located at the exit opening.

[0008] Preferably the protective formation includes a first protective member and an opposing, laterally spaced apart second protective member, the first and second protective members defining a strap path between them through which the strap is operatively adapted to pass when exiting the exit opening.

[0009] Preferably the housing includes (i) an insert face which defines the insert opening, and (ii) an opposing exit face which defines the exit opening.

[0010] Preferably the first and second protective members outwardly extend from the exit face.

[0011] Preferably the fixed end of the strap is secured to the exit face of the housing.

[0012] Preferably the housing includes a roof face and an opposing base face.

[0013] Preferably the first and second protective members taper from the roof face towards the base face.

[0014] Preferably the strap includes a toothed surface and an opposing smooth surface.

[0015] Preferably the strap includes a guide formation which at least partially encloses the toothed surface.

[0016] Preferably the guide formation includes two opposing laterally spaced apart guide projections, wherein the toothed surface is located in position between the guide projections.

[0017] Preferably the strap passage includes a guide passage for receiving the guide formation and for guiding movement of the strap along the strap passage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 is a first perspective view of an embodiment fastener;

[0020] Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the fastener of Figure 1;

[0021] Figure 3 is a top view of the fastener of Figure 1;

[0022] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the fastener of Figure 1;

[0023] Figure 5 is a side view of a prior art cable tie fastener;

[0024] Figure 6 is a side view of the fastener of Figure 1 forming a loop;

[0025] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the fastener with a cutter for severing part of the strap from the fastener;

[0026] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the fastener wherein a portion of the strap has been severed from the strap; and

[0027] Figure 9 is second perspective view of the fastener of Figure 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment fastener, generally indicated with the reference numeral 10. In this embodiment the fastener 10 is of the type commonly referred to as a "cable tie" or a "hose tie". The fastener 10 firstly includes a housing 12. The housing 12 defines an insert opening 14, an exit opening 16 and a strap passage 18 which extends between the insert opening 14 and the exit opening 16. The fastener 10 further includes an elongate toothed strap 20 attached to the housing 12. The strap 20 longitudinally extends between (i) a fixed end 22 secured to the housing 12, and (ii) an opposing free end 24.

[0029] The housing 12 includes a pawl formation 26 operatively associated with serrated teeth of the strap 20. The pawl formation 26 is operatively adapted to facilitate movement of the strap 20 from the insert opening 14 towards the exit opening 16. The pawl formation 26, however, deters movement of the strap 20 from the exit opening 16 to the insert opening 14 when the pawl formation 26 engages the teeth 25. The pawl formation 26 includes a pawl projection 27 having pawl teeth 29. The pawl teeth 29 are adapted to engage the teeth 25 of the strap 20 to arrest movement of the strap 20 from the exit opening 16 to the insert opening 14 but to permit one-way movement from of the strap 20 from the insert opening 14 to the exit opening 16. In effect the strap 20 is secured to the housing 12 as a loop in a manner that is conventional for known cable ties.

[0030] The embodiment fastener 10 includes a protective formation 23 located proximate the exit opening 16 of the housing 12. In this embodiment the protective formation 23 is attached to the housing 12 and is operatively adapted to deter access by user, typically a digit of a user, to a portion of the strap 20 located at the exit. In the embodiment fastener 10 the protective formation 23 includes a first protective member 28 and an opposing, laterally spaced apart second protective member 30. The first and second protective members 28, 30 define a strap path 32 between them and through which the strap 20 is operatively adapted to pass when exiting the exit opening 16.

[0031] Referring to Figures 7 to 9, once the strap 20 has been fed to the housing 12 so that a loop 34 of appropriate diameter has been formed, the portion of the strap 20 which has been fed through the housing 12 is cut with a suitable cutter 36. Ensuring that the strap 20 is cut at an appropriate distance from the housing 12, the part of the strap 20 which remains will be located between the first and second protective members 28, 30. This will have the effect of preventing a person from inadvertently being cut by the sharp edge 19 of the strap 20 which resulted when the unwanted part of the strap 20 was severed. Cuts and other injuries which often result when persons inadvertently slid a finger across the sharp edge 19 of a cut strap 20 is thus be deterred.

[0032] The housing 12 includes (i) an insert face 38 which defines the insert opening 14, and (ii) an opposing exit face 40 defining the exit opening 16. The first and second protective members 28, 30 outwardly extend from the exit face 40. As shown the fixed end 22 of the strap is secured to the exit face 40 of the housing 12.

[0033] The housing 12 also includes a roof face 42 and an opposing base face 44. The first and second protective members 28, 30 taper from the roof face 42 towards the base face 44. In this embodiment the first and second protective members 28, 30 have a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the side.

[0034] The strap 20 includes (i) a toothed surface 46 which includes the teeth 25, and (ii) an opposing smooth surface 48. The strap 20 further includes a guide formation 50 which at least partially encloses the toothed surface 46. The guide formation 50 includes two opposing laterally spaced apart guide projections 52, wherein the toothed surface 46 is positioned between the guide projections 52. The strap passage 18 includes a guide passage 54 for receiving the guide formation and for guiding movement of the strap 20 along the strap passage 18.

[0035] The effect of having the insert opening 14 in the insert face 38 enables the free end 24 of the strap 20 to be orientated tangentially relative to a loop formed by the strap 20. This is illustrated in Figure 6. This is contrary to a prior art cable tie 58 wherein an insert opening 60 is located in a base face 62 and an exit opening 64 is located in a roof face 66. The effect of this is that a free end 68 of the strap moves perpendicular to a loop 70 formed by a strap 72.

[0036] It will be appreciated that the protective formation can be embodied in various forms which are adapted to deter access by user, typically a digit of a user, to a sharp portion of the strap located at the exit. Such alternatives include a mould of rounded plastic portion located proximate the exit of the housing and provided on the strap 72. In a further alternative a protective formation is provided which includes two opposing laterally spaced apart protective members which extend outwardly from the housing 12, but which do not taper in the manner of the protective members 28, 30 of the illustrated embodiment. Where the protective members 28, 30 are generally of triangular shape, the alternative shape may be rectangular.

[0037] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

1. A fastener including:

2. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes (i) an insert face which defines the insert opening, and (ii) an opposing exit face which defines the exit opening.

3. A fastener according to claim 2, wherein the first and second protective members outwardly extend from the exit face.

4. A fastener according to claim 3, wherein the fixed end of the strap is secured to the exit face of the housing.

5. A fastener according to claim 4, wherein the housing includes a roof face and an opposing base face.

6. A fastener according to claim 5, wherein the first and second protective members taper from the roof face towards the base face.

7. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the strap includes a toothed surface and an opposing smooth surface.

8. A fastener according to claim 7, wherein the strap includes a guide formation which at least partially encloses the toothed surface.

9. A fastener according to claim 8, wherein the guide formation includes two opposing laterally spaced apart guide projections, wherein the toothed surface is located in position between the guide projections.

10. A fastener according to claim 9, wherein the strap passage includes a guide passage for receiving the guide formation and for guiding movement of the strap along the strap passage.