EP0918021A2

EP0918021A2 - Plastics bundle tie

Info

Publication number: EP0918021A2
Application number: EP98309553A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Steven John Blanks
Original assignee: Bowthorpe PLC
Current assignee: Bowthorpe PLC
Priority date: 1997-11-21
Filing date: 1998-11-23
Publication date: 1999-05-26
Also published as: GB2331548A; EP0918021A3; GB9724572D0; GB2331548B

Abstract

A one-piece tie of plastics material comprises an elongate serrated strap 10 and a head 12 at one end of the strap 10. The tie is secured by forming the strap 10 into a primary loop 17 and passing it through an aperture 16 in the head. An L-shaped projection 18, disposed on the outer end wall 14 of the head 12, defines a passageway for receiving the length of strap 10 that is passed through the head aperture 16, when that portion of the strap 10 is further formed into a secondary loop 24, the passageway extending generally perpendicular to the head aperture 16. In use, the projecting length of strap has to be twisted about its axis before it can be engaged into the passageway lying perpendicular to the head aperture. The twist in the projecting length of strap 10 therefore exposes more of the unserrated side of the strap 10 around the secondary loop 24. Thus, any indicia 25 printed or otherwise marked on the strap 10 can easily be seen.

Description

This invention relates to a one-piece tie of plastics material, particularly for tying the neck of a bag.
It is well known to use one-piece ties for tying the necks of mail bags etc. British Patent No. 2 243 401 discloses one such tie comprising an elongate strap provided with a series of serrations on one side. The strap is connected at one end to the inner end wall of a head having an aperture which extends through the head, perpendicular to the plane of the strap. In use, the strap is looped around the neck of the bag, inserted through the head aperture and pulled tight. The serrations on the strap interlock with a pawl in the head aperture to prevent loosening.
The length of strap that has been passed through the head aperture is then formed into a secondary loop and passed through an apertured projection formed on the outer end wall of the head. In this way, the projecting length of strap is tucked away, so that it cannot cause injury to people handling the mail bags.
It is often desirable to print markings on the plain side of the strap, so that the tie or the bag to which it is applied can be identified. However, a disadvantage of ties of the above-mentioned type is that the printed side of the projecting length of strap faces inwardly around the secondary loop. Thus, it is not easy to read the identification markings.
We have now devised a plastics tie which alleviates the above-mentioned problem.
In accordance with this invention there is provided a one-piece tie of plastics material comprising an elongate strap provided with a series of serrations on one side, one end of the strap being connected to the inner end of a head having an aperture which extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the strap, a pawl disposed in the head aperture and arranged to engage the strap serrations when the strap is formed into a loop and passed through the head aperture, and a passageway disposed on the outer end of the head for receiving the length of strap passed through the head aperture when that portion of the strap is further formed with a secondary loop, said passageway extending generally perpendicular to the head aperture.
In use, the projecting length of strap has to be twisted about its axis before it can be engaged into the passageway lying perpendicular to the head aperture. The twist in the projecting length of strap therefore exposes more of the unserrated side of the strap around the secondary loop. Thus, any indicia printed or otherwise marked on the strap can easily be seen.
Preferably, the free end of the strap comprises securing means for engaging the head, so that the projecting length of strap remains securely tucked away.
The securing means on the strap may comprise a pair of stop elements which abut the head at respective opposite end walls of the passageway.
Preferably the passageway comprises a longitudinal opening in a wall thereof, so that the projecting length of strap can be inserted into the passageway by moving the strap transverse of itself through the opening.
Preferably the mouth of the opening tapers outwardly, thereby making it easier to insert the strap into the passageway.
An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a perspective view of a one-piece plastics tie in its tied condition.
Referring to the drawing, there is shown a one-piece tie moulded from plastics material. The tie comprises an elongate flat strap 10 provided with a series of ratchet serrations 11 on one side and with a head 12 at one end, the head 12 projecting from the opposite side of the strap 10.
The head 12 comprises an inner end wall 13, an outer end wall 14 and a pair of opposite side walls 15, defining an aperture 16 extending through the head 12, perpendicular to the plane of the strap 10 in its as-moulded condition. A pawl (not shown) is disposed in the head aperture 16 for engaging the strap serrations 11 when the strap 10 is formed into a primary loop 17 around the neck of the bag to be tied and inserted into the head aperture 16.
An L-shaped projection 18 extends outwardly from the upper edge of the outer end wall 14 of the head 12. An arm of the projection 18 lying parallel to the outer surface of the outer end wall 14 of the head 12, thereby defining a thin passageway therebetween which extends perpendicular to the head aperture 16.
The free end of the L-shaped projection 18 comprises a pair of extensions 23 which extend in respective opposite directions, axially of the passage 19. The L-shaped projection 18 comprises an inner surface 20 which tapers outwardly adjacent its free end.
The free end of the strap 10 comprises a first and second stop elements 21, 22 each disposed on a line which extends centrally and axially of the unserrated side of the strap 10. The stop elements 21, 22 are spaced apart by a distance which is slightly greater than the length of the passage 19. The stop elements 21, 22 comprise respective opposed walls which lie perpendicular to the plane of the strap 10 and which are arranged to abut the projection 18 at respective opposite ends of the passageway 19.
The width of the strap 10 is slightly less than the height of the passage 16 and thus the strap 10 is a close but sliding fit through the passage 19. The stop elements 21,22 comprise respective inclined camming surfaces which face in opposite directions towards respective opposite ends of the strap.
In use, once the primary loop 17 has been formed about the neck of the bag, the strap 10 is formed into a secondary loop 24 and inserted into the passageway 19 in the outer end of the head 12. In one method, the free end of the strap 10 is secured to the head 12 by inserting it into the passageway 12 and by pushing the strap 10 axially, so that the inclined camming surface of the first stop element 21 abuts the L-shaped projection 18, causing the projection 18 to pivot away from the outer end wall 14 of the head 12, thereby increasing the height of the passageway 19 sufficiently for the first stop element 21 to pass therethrough. The L-shaped projection 18 then locates between the two stop elements 21, 22.
In a second method, the free end of the strap 10 is secured to the head 12 by moving an inner portion of the strap 10 transverse itself into the passage 19: the inclined inner surface 20 of the free end of the L-shaped projection 18 forms a wide opening to the passage thereby making it easier to slide the strap 10 into the thin passage 19. The stop elements 21, 22 are then engaged with the projection 18 by pulling back on the strap 10, so that the inclined camming surface of the second stop element 22 abuts the projection 18, causing it to be pivoted away from the outer end wall 14 of the head 12, in the same manner as hereinbefore described.
In a third method, the free end of the strap 10 is secured to the head 12 by aligning the portion of the strap 10 between the stop elements 21, 22 with the end of the L-shaped projection 18 and then by moving the strap 10 transverse of itself into the passage 19. The stop elements 20, 21 slide over the inclined inner surface 20 of the free end of the L-shaped projection 18, causing the L-shaped projection 18 to pivot away from the outer end wall 14 of the head 12, thereby increasing the height of the passageway 19 sufficiently for the stop elements 20, 21 to pass under respective extensions 23 on opposite sides of the L-shaped projection 18.
It will be appreciated that the strap 10 crosses over itself, when the tie is fastened and the free end of the strap 10 is secured in the passageway 19. The overlapping portions of the strap 10 lie in parallel planes and both face in the same direction. In order to secure the free end of the strap 10 it can be seen that the strap 10 has to be twisted about its axis, causing a substantial length of the unserrated side of the strap 10 to face outwardly around the secondary loop 24: this portion of the strap 10 can be printed or marked with other indicia e.g. 25, which can serve to identify the strap or the bag to which it is applied.
The indicia e.g. 25 are easily visible since they are located on the outwardly facing portion of the secondary loop 28.

Claims

A one-piece tie of plastics material comprising an elongate strap provided with a series of serrations on one side, one end of the strap being connected to the inner end of a head having an aperture which extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the strap, a pawl disposed in the head aperture and arranged to engage the strap serrations when the strap is formed into a loop and passed through the head aperture, and a passageway disposed on the outer end of the head for receiving the length of strap passed through the head aperture when that portion of the strap is further formed with a secondary loop, said passageway extending generally perpendicular to the head aperture.
A one-piece tie of plastics material as claimed in claim 1, in which the free end of the strap comprises securing means for engaging the head, when received in said passageway.
A one-piece tie of plastics material as claimed in claim 2, in which the securing means on the strap comprises a pair of stop elements which abut the head at respective opposite end walls of the passageway.
A one-piece tie of plastics material as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the passageway comprises a longitudinal opening in a wall thereof.
A one-piece tie of plastics material as claimed in claim 4, in which the mouth of the opening tapers outwardly.