EP2583909B1

EP2583909B1 - Cable tie

Info

Publication number: EP2583909B1
Application number: EP12157398.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juei-Ching Cheng
Original assignee: KS Terminals Inc
Current assignee: KS Terminals Inc
Priority date: 2011-10-19
Filing date: 2012-02-28
Publication date: 2016-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-28
Also published as: TWM421920U; CN202301318U; US20130097814A1; EP2583909A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1.Technical Field

The present invention relates to cable ties, and more particularly, to a cable tie having engaging teeth with an improved structural configuration.

2. Description of Related Art

Cable ties commercially available may be divided into non-releasable cable ties and releasable cable ties. Both of them use one or more engaging teeth in a fastening slot to engage ribs on a band so that the looped band embraces and binds the articles to be bundled. They are convenient tools for put things in order.
A releasable cable tie has a design for allowing the band engaged in the fastening slot to be released so that the cable tie can be repeatedly used. It is commonly used for binding, for example, power cords.
On the other hand, a non-releasable cable tie is not designed for releasing the band engaged in the fastening slot. Thus, once the band of a non-releasable cable tie is engaged in the fastening slot, the loop formed by the band can only be narrowed, and its binding can only be dismissed by unrecoverable means like cutting and breaking. In other words, a non-releasable cable tie is only for single-time use and usually used in occasions where the bundle of articles are supposed not to be released easily. For an example, non-releasable cable ties are often seen in retailers for binding articles to be sold in batches. For another example, some countries use non-releasable cable ties as temporary handcuffs. Examples for such not releasable cable ties are found in the documents CH 537 844 A , US 6 044 524 A and EP 0 235 997 A1 .
However, both releasable and non-releasable cable ties face the same problem that they tend to have the fixed end of the engaging portion broken in the fastening slot when they are operated in a low-temperature environment, and which causes the cable ties to be unable to bind anymore. The reason is that when the band passes through the fastening slot, the ribs on the band successively contact the engaging teeth in the fastening slot In this way, each of the ribs necessarily impacts the engaging tooth located closest to the fixed end of the engaging portion. As more passing ribs contact the engaging tooth located closest to the fixed end of the engaging portion, the shearing forces applied to the engaging tooth located closest to the fixed end of the engaging portion by the ribs increases such that an accumulated torque acts on the fixed end of the engaging portion and is likely to break the fixed end of the engaging portion in a low-temperature environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is provided in this invention a novel cable tie which overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings that a typical cable tie is easily broken at the fixed end of the engaging portion formed in the fastening slot due to the shearing forces applied by the ribs of the band of the cable tie when it is operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius. The invention is defined in independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are subject matter of the dependent claims.
According to the present invention, a cable tie includes a strip-like flexible body and a fastening slot. The flexible body has a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other. The first surface is provided with a plurality of equidistantly arranged ribs. The fastening slot is located at one end of the flexible body, and has a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposite to each other. The third surface is adjacent to the first surface, while the fourth surface is distant from the second surface. Openings are formed respectively at the third surface and the fourth surface so that the other end of the flexible body is allowed to pass through the fastening slot. The fastening slot has an engaging portion for engaging the ribs of the flexible body when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot. The engaging portion is located between the third surface and the fourth surface and extends toward the opening of the fourth surface. The engaging portion includes a fixed end adjoining the third surface and a free end facing the opening of the fourth surface. The engaging portion has at least one engaging tooth. A distance between a tip of a first engaging tooth and the fixed end and along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body is smaller than a distance between the free end and the fixed end and along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body.
A first objective of the present invention is to provide a structural configuration of the engaging teeth for the cable tie with that a distance between a tip of the engaging tooth closest to the fixed end of the engaging portion and the fixed end and along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body is smaller than a distance between the free end and the fixed end and along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body Thereby, the ribs of the flexible body contact only partial of the upper engaging tooth when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot so that the fixed end of the engaging portion is prevented from being excessively sheared by the ribs of the flexible body . Therefore, it is unlikely that the cable tie has its engaging portion broken and loses its binding function when operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
A second objective of the present invention is to provide a structural configuration of the engaging tooth for the cable tie, which is formed in the fastening slot of the cable tie. When the flexible body passes through the fastening slot, the engaging tooth of the engaging portion in the fastening slot and each of the ribs of the flexible body are partially engaged with each other. The partial engagement between the engaging tooth and the ribs is firm enough to retain the flexible body within the fastening slot and which provides a resistance to pull out the cable tie.
A cable tie according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a strip-like flexible body and a fastening slot. The flexible body has a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other. The first surface is provided with a plurality of equidistantly arranged ribs. The fastening slot is located at one end of the flexible body, and has a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposite to each other. The third surface is adjacent to the first surface, while the fourth surface is depart from the second surface. Openings are respectively formed at the third surface and the fourth surface so that the other end of the flexible body is allowed to pass through the fastening slot. The fastening slot has an engaging portion for engaging the ribs of the flexible body when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot. The engaging portion is located between the third surface and the fourth surface and extends toward the opening of the fourth surface. The engaging portion includes a fixed end adjoining the third surface and a free end facing the opening of the fourth surface. The engaging portion has at least three engaging teeth. The tips of the engaging teeth are progressively distant from the fixed end along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body.
Hence, a third objective of the present invention is to provide a structural configuration of the engaging teeth for the cable tie with tips of the engaging teeth being progressively distant from the fixed end along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body. Thus, the engaging tooth located closest to the fixed end only has a small part or even no part contact the ribs of the flexible body when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot so that the fixed end of the engaging portion is prevented from receiving excessive shearing force. Therefore, the cable tie is unlikely to have its engaging portion broken and lose its function of binding when operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide a structural configuration of at least three engaging teeth for the cable tie that are formed in the engaging portion in the fastening slot. When the flexible body passes through the fastening slot, at least one of the engaging teeth of the engaging portion in the fastening slot is in partial engagement with the corresponding rib of the flexible body, and the engaging tooth of the engaging portion closest to the free end is in complete engagement with the corresponding rib. The partial and complete engagement between the engaging teeth and the ribs are firm enough to retain the flexible body within the fastening slot, and which thereby provides a resistance against pulling of the cable tie.
Comparing with the typical cable ties, the cable tie of the present invention is not easily to be broken when operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius, and meanwhile has enough resistance against pulling of the cable tie.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a cable tie according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a cable tie according to a first embodiment of the present invention wherein the cable tie is cut away along Line B-B of FIG. 1 for showing its band and fastening slot;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the cable tie according to the first embodiment of the present invention made along Line B-B of FIG. 1 for showing the band and the fastening slot;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the cable tie according to the first embodiment of the present invention made along Line B-B of FIG. 1 for further illustrating the cross-section of the fastening slot;.
FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the cable tie according to the first embodiment of the present invention made along Line B-B of FIG. 1 for showing the engagement between the ribs of the band and the engaging teeth of the fastening slot when the band passes through the fastening slot;
FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of a cable tie according to a second embodiment of the present invention made along Line B-B of FIG. 1 for showing its fastening slot; and
FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of a cable tie according to a third embodiment of the present invention made along Line B-B of FIG. 1 for showing its fastening slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a cable tie and a structural configuration of engaging teeth formed on the cable tie. The principles for a cable tie to provide fastening effects via these engaging teeth have been known to people of ordinary skill in the art and would not be discussed hereafter. The accompanying drawings referred by the following description are intended to show the technical features of the present invention and are not taken as limitation.
As shown in FIG. 1, a cable tie 1 according to the present invention has a strip-like flexible band 11 and a fastening slot 12. The band 11 can be any flexible body that has two ends 11a and 11b. The band 11 is provided with a plurality of ribs 113, and the fastening slot 12 is provided at the end 11a of the band 11. Referring to FIG 2, the strip-like band 11 of the cable tie 1 in a first embodiment of the present invention has an upper surface 111 and a lower surface 112 with both being opposite to each other. The upper surface 111 has a fillister 114 extending lengthwise along the band 11, and the plurality of ribs 113 are equidistantly arranged in the fillister 114. These ribs 113 jut out the upper surface 111 while inclining in the same direction.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the cable tie 1 is provided with the fastening slot 12 at the end 11a of the band 11. The fastening slot 12 has an upper surface 121 and a lower surface 122 that are opposite to each other. The upper surface 121 of the fastening slot 12 and the upper surface 111 of the band 11 are at the same side and adjacent to each other. The lower surface 122 of the fastening slot 12 and the lower surface 112 of the band 11 are at the same other side but distant from each other. Since the band 11 and the fastening slot 12 have different thicknesses, there exists a thickness difference between the lower surface 122 of the fastening slot 12 and the lower surface 112 of the band 11. In addition, the fastening slot 12 is formed with an opening extending through the fastening slot 12, and therefore an opening 121a is formed at the upper surface 121 while an opening 122a is formed at the lower surface 122. The other end 11b of the band 11 is allowed to pass through the fastening slot 12 via the opening 121a and the opening 122a. Moreover, both of the openings 121a and 122a of the fastening slot 12 have their widths greater than a distance between the base of the ribs 113 of the band 11 and the lower surface 112 of the band 11.
Referring to FIG. 2, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the fastening slot 12 of the cable tie 1 is formed with an engaging portion 13. The engaging portion 13 within the fastening slot 12 is close to the end 11a of the band 11. The engaging portion 13 is located between the upper surface 121 and the lower surface 122 of the fastening slot 12 while extending toward the opening 122a at the lower surface 122.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the engaging portion 13 inside the fastening slot 12 of the cable tie 1 has a fixed end 131 that is adjacent to the upper surface 121 of the fastening slot 12 and fixed inside the fastening slot 12. The engaging portion 13 further has a free end 133 facing toward the opening 122a at the lower surface 122 of the fastening slot 12. The free end 133 is not fixed and is slightly sway when receiving external force. The engaging portion 13 inside the fastening slot 12 has one side which is distant from the band 11 formed as an inclined surface provided with three engaging teeth 132a, 132b and 132c. The engaging portion 13 inside the fastening slot 12 has the other side which is close to the band 11 and opposite to the teeth 132a, 132b, and 132c formed as an inclined plane 134.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, in the first embodiment, a distance between a tip of the engaging tooth 132a located closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is defined as d1. A distance between a tip of the engaging tooth 132b located secondarily closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is defined as d2. A distance along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 and between a tip of the engaging tooth 132c which is the most distant from the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13, or which is closest to the free end 133, and the fixed end 131 is defined as d3. A distance along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 and between a tip of the free end 133 and the fixed end 131 is defined as d4. A relationship between d1, d2, d3 and d4 is that d1<d2<d3=d4. Particularly, the distances between the tips of the engaging teeth 132a, 132b, 132c of the engaging portion 13 and the free end 133 along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 are progressively reduced. In other words, the components along the length of the band 11 of the distances between the tips of the engaging teeth 132a, 132b, 132c and the fixed end 131 are progressively increased when a measurement is taken toward the free end 133 of the engaging portion 13. In addition, the component along the length of the band 11 of the distance between the engaging tooth 132c that is located closest to the free end 133 and the fixed end 131 is equal to the component along the length of the band 11 of the distance between the tip of the free end 133 and the fixed end 131. However, in another embodiment, the component along the length of the band 11 of the distance between the tip of the engaging tooth 132c that is located closest to the free end 133 and the fixed end 131 can be different from the component along the length of the band 11 of the distance between the tip of the free end 133 and the fixed end 131. Also, the component along the length of the band 11 of the distance between the tip of the engaging tooth 132a that is located closest to the fixed end 131 and the tip of the engaging tooth 132c that is located closest to the free end 133 is preferably 0.1∼0.25 mm. Moreover, the component along the length of the band 11 of the distance between the tip of the engaging tooth 132a that is located closest to the fixed end 131 and the tip of the free end 133 is preferably 0.1∼0.25 mm.
Referring to FIG. 5, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the ribs 113 on the upper surface 111 of the band 11 contact the engaging teeth 132a, 132b, 132c of the engaging portion 13 inside the fastening slot 12 in turn and thereby engage with these engaging teeth 132a, 132b, 132c when the band 11 of the cable tie 1 passes through the fastening slot 12.. Herein, the distances between each of the tips of the engaging teeth 132a, 132b, and 132c and the fixed end 131 are progressively increased when the measurement is taken along the direction toward the free end 133 of the engaging portion 13, and the distance between the base of the ribs 113 and the lower surface 112 of the band 11 is smaller than the width of the openings 121a and 122a of the fastening slot 12. In this way, the ribs 113 contact merely a small part at the tip of the engaging tooth 132a which is located closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13 when the band 11 is inserted into the fastening slot 12,. In other words, the engaging tooth 132a located closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13 and each of the ribs 13 are partially engaged with each other. As each of the ribs 113 advances toward the free end 133 of the engaging portion 13, the engagement between each of the ribs 13 and the following engaging teeth becomes more complete. In other words, at least one of the engaging teeth 132a, 132b and 132c, especially the engaging tooth 132a located closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13, is partially engaged with each of the ribs 113. When the band 11 passes through the fastening slot 12 and arrives at a desired position, the partial and complete engagement between the ribs 113 of the band 11 and the engaging teeth of the engaging portion 13 are firm enough to retain the band 11 in position, and which thereby provides a resistance against pulling of the cable tie.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, a cable tie 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention has a strip-like flexible band 11 and a fastening slot 12 provided at one end 11 a of the band 11. The fastening slot 12 is formed with an engaging portion 13. The band 11, the fastening slot 12 and the engaging portion 13 of the cable tie 1 are arranged in a way similar to the counterparts in the first embodiment as described above and the detailed description therefore is omitted herein. What makes the present embodiment different from the first embodiment is that, the engaging portion 13 according to the second embodiment has only one engaging tooth 132a. A distance between the tip of the engaging tooth 132a of the engaging portion 13 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is defined as d5. A distance between the tip of the free end 133 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is defined as d6. A relationship between d5 and d6 is that d6>d5. In other words, there is a distance difference between the tip of the engaging tooth 132a of the engaging portion 13 and the free end 133 along the lengthwise direction of the band 11. Preferably, the distance difference between the tip of the engaging tooth 132a and the free end 133 along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is 0.1∼0.25 mm.
Still referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the ribs 113 contact merely a small part of the tip of the engaging tooth 132a when the band 11 of the cable tie 1 passes through the fastening slot 12. In other words, the engaging tooth 132a and each of the ribs 113 are partially engaged with each other. When the band 11 passes through the fastening slot 12 and arrives at a desired position, the partial engagement between the ribs 113 of the band 11 and the engaging tooth 132a of the engaging portion 13 is firm enough to retain the band 11 in position, and which provides a resistance against pulling of the cable tie.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, a cable tie 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention has a strip-like flexible band 11 and a fastening slot 12 provided at one end 11a of the band 11. The fastening slot 12 is formed with an engaging portion 13. The band 11, the fastening slot 12 and the engaging portion 13 of the cable tie 1 are arranged in a way similar to the counterparts in the first embodiment as described above and the detailed description therefore is omitted herein. What makes the present embodiment different from the first and second embodiments is that, engaging portion 13 according to the third embodiment has two engaging teeth 132a and 132b in addition to fixed end 131 and free end 133. A distance between the tip of the engaging tooth 132a located closest to the fixed end 131 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is defined as d7. A distance between the tip of the other engaging tooth 132b located closest to the free end 133 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is defined as d8. A distance between the tip of the free end 133 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is defined as d9. A relationship between d7, d8 and d9 is that d7<d8<d9. Specifically, there are distance differences between the tips of the engaging teeth 132a and 132b of the engaging portion 13 and between the tip of the engaging teeth 132b of the engaging portion 13 and the free end 133 along the lengthwise direction of the band 11, and the distance differences are progressively reduced when measurement is taken toward the free end 133 of the band 11. In other words, the distance between the tip of the engaging teeth 132a and the fixed end 131 and the distance between the tip of the engaging teeth 132b and the fixed end 131 are progressively increased when measurement is taken toward the free end 133. In addition, the distance between the tip of the engaging tooth 132b located closest to the free end 133 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is different from the distance between the tip of the free end 133 and the fixed end 131. However, in another embodiment, the distance between the tip of the engaging tooth 132b located closest to the free end 133 and the fixed end 131 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 can be equal to the distance between the tip of the free end 133 and the fixed end 131. In all embodiments as described in the above, the distance between the tip of the engaging tooth 132a that located closest to the fixed end 131 and the tip of the free end 133 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 is preferably 0.1∼0.25 mm.
Still referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the ribs 113 contact merely a small part of the tip of the engaging tooth 132a located closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13 when the band 11 of the cable tie 1 passes through the fastening slot 12. In other words, the engaging tooth 132a and each of the ribs 113 are partially engaged with each other. As each of the ribs 113 advances toward the free end 133 of the engaging portion 13, the engagement between each of the ribs 13 and the other engaging teeth becomes more complete. In other words, at least one of the engaging teeth 132a and 132b, especially the engaging tooth 132a located closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13, is partially engaged with each of the ribs 113. When the band 11 passes through the fastening slot 12 and arrives at a desired position, the partial and complete engagement between the ribs 113 of the band 11 and the engaging teeth of the engaging portion 13 are firm enough to retain the band 11 in position, and which provides a resistance against pulling of the cable tie.
In summary, the cable tie 1 according to the present invention is designed to have engaging teeth with different structural configuration from those of the prior art. The disclosed cable tie 1 is characterized in that the distances between each of the tips of the engaging teeth of the engaging portion 13 and the free end 133 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 are progressively reduced. Therefore, the band 11 contacts only a small part of the tip of the engaging tooth 132a closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13 when the band 11 passes through the fastening slot 12, and which prevents excessive shearing impact from being applied on the tip of the engaging teeth 132a and in turn causing torque effect on the fixed end 131 such as to break the fixed end 131 and render the cable tie unusable for tying and binding. Moreover, the structural configuration of the engaging teeth of engaging portion 13 according to the present invention allows the engaging teeth closer to the free end 133 to be firmly engaged with the ribs 113 of the incoming band 11. In addition, the partial and complete engagement between the engaging teeth and the ribs 113 retain the band 11 in position within the fastening slot 12, and which provides a resistance against pulling of the cable tie 1 and in turn ensures appropriate binding function of the cable tie 1.
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and it is understood that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A cable tie (1) comprising:
a strip-like flexible body (11) having a first surface (111) and a second surface (112) being opposite to each other, the first surface (111) being provided with a plurality of equidistantly arranged ribs (113); and

a fastening slot (12) being provided at a first end (11a) of the flexible body (11) and having a third surface (121) and a fourth surface (122) being opposite to each other, the third surface (121) being adjacent to the first surface (111), the fourth surface (122) being distant from the second surface (112), and the third surface (121) and the fourth surface (122) each being formed with an opening (121a, 122a) to allow a second end (11b) of the flexible body (11) to pass through the fastening slot (12);

wherein the fastening slot (12) is formed with an engaging portion (13) for engaging the ribs (113) of the flexible body (11) when the flexible body (11) passes through the fastening slot (12); and

the engaging portion (13) is located between the third surface (121) and the fourth surface (122) and extends toward the opening (122a) of the fourth surface (122), the engaging portion (13) has a fixed end (131) adjoining the third surface (121) and a free end (133) facing the opening (122a) of the fourth surface (122), the engaging portion (13) is further provided with a first engaging tooth (132a), and the distance between the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and the fixed end (131) along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) is smaller than the distance between the free end (133) and the fixed end (131) along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) characterized in that the distance between the base of the ribs (113) and the second surface (112) of the strip-like flexible body (11) is smaller than the width of the openings of the fastening slot (12) such that the part of the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) with which the ribs (113) of the flexible body (11) are contacted is smaller than the part of the free end (133) with which the ribs (113) of the flexible body (11) are contacted when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot (12).
The cable tie of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion (13) further comprises a second engaging tooth (132b), and the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the tip of the second engaging tooth (132b) and the fixed end (131) is larger than the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and the fixed end (131) and smaller than the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the free end (133) and the fixed end (131).
The cable tie of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion (13) further comprises a second engaging tooth (132b), and the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the tip of the second engaging tooth (132b) and the fixed end (131) is larger than the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and the fixed end (131) and is equal to the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the free end (133) and the fixed end (131).
The cable tie of claim 2 or 3, wherein the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and the tip of the free end (133) is 0.1∼0.25 mm.
The cable tie of claim 2 or 3, wherein the first engaging tooth (132a) and the ribs (113) are partially engaged with each other.
The cable tie of claim 2 or 3, wherein the engaging portion (13) is formed with an inclined plane (134) on a side being opposite to the first engaging tooth (132a) and the second engaging tooth (132b).
The cable tie of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion (13) is provided with at least two further engaging teeth (132b, 132c), and the tips of the engaging teeth (132b, 132c) are progressively distant from the fixed end (131) along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11).
The cable tie of claim 7, wherein the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the tip of the engaging tooth (132c) being closest to the free end (133) fixed end (131) is equal to the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the free end (133) and the fixed end (131).
The cable tie of claim 7, wherein the distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) between the tip of the engaging tooth (132a) being closest to the fixed end (131) and the free end (133) is 0.1∼0.25 mm.
The cable tie of claim 7, wherein the engaging teeth (132a, 132b, 132c) and the ribs (113) are partially engaged with each other.