GB2105401A - Tag - Google Patents

Abstract

A weld tag for a wiring harness comprises a foot (2) by means of which the tag may be welded to a metal substrate and two arms (3, 4) extending from the foot, each arm including a slot and carrying a coating (10, 11) of plastics material which extends around the edges of the arm and the slot to protect the wiring harness from sharp edges or burrs on the arm. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Weld tag This invention relates to weld tags.

Weld tags are widely used in the construction of motor vehicles to secure cables or conduits such as wiring harnesses to substrates on the body of the vehicle. Conventional weld tags are composed of a pliable metal and comprise a foot, which may be spot-welded to a metal substrate, and an arm extending therefrom which may be wrapped around the cable or conduit to retain the harness in position.

Such tags suffer from the disadvantage that the edges of the arm may be left with burns and sharp edges which can damage the cable or conduit.

According to the present invention there is provided a weld tag comprising a foot by means of which the tag may be welded to a metal substrate, and one or more arms extending from the foot, the foot and the arm being composed of a pliable metal, characterised in that the arm includes an apertures or recess and carries a coating of flexible plastics material which extends around the edges of the arm and of the aperture or recess.

The coating of plastics material provides a smooth non-cutting edge to the arm thereby reducing the risk of the weld tag damaging a cable or conduit in use, and the edge of the aperture or recess around which the coating extends provide a key for the coating, reducing the risk of the coating becoming detached from the arm.

Preferably the or each arm includes a slot extending along the arm. This increases the flexibility of the arm and facilitates its use.

The weld tag may include a single arm, but preferably has two arms so that the tag can offer more support to the cable or conduit. The two arms preferably extend from the foot in opposite lateral directions. The two arms are conveniently longitudinally off-set from each other so that tags can be stamped from a continuous sheet of metal with a minimum of waste.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of a weld tag in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an end view of the weld tag of Figure 1, in use.

Referring to Figure 1 a weld tag 1 comprises a square foot 2 having two integral arms 3, 4 extending in opposite lateral directions therefrom and off-set from each other in the longitudinal direction at least by a distance equal to the width of the arms so that further weld tags can be stamped from a continuous strip of a pliable metal, such as galvanised steel, with minimum waste, as indicated by the broken outlines 5, 6.

Each arm 3, 4 has a slot 8, 9 extending along the length of the arm, and the end portion of each arm is coated with a flexible plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or nylon. The coating 10, 1 which may be applied by dipping or spraying, extends arounds the edge of the slot, thereby reducing the risk of the coating peeling off the arm 8, 9.

In use the foot 2 is spot welded to a metal substrate 12, as illustrated in Figure 2. A wiring harness 1 5 (or other cable or conduit) is then laid over the foot is secured by wrapping the arms 3, 4 around it. The slots 8, 9 facilitate bending of the arms 3, 4.

The plastic coating 10, 11 on the arms 3, 4 protects the wiring harness from damage by the sharp edges or burrs which would otherwise be exposed on the arms.

1. A weld tag comprising a foot by means of which the tag may be welded to a metal substrate, and one or more arms extending from the foot, the foot and the arm being composed of a pliable metal, characterised in that the arm includes an aperture or recess and carries a coating of flexible plastics material which extends around the edges of the arm and of the aperture or recess.

2. A weld tag according to Claim 1 where the or each arm includes a slot extending along the arm.

3. A weld tag according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 comprising two arms projecting from the foot in opposite lateral directions.

4. A weld tag according to Claim 3 wherein the two arms are longitudinally off-set from each other.

5. A weld tag according to any one of Ciaims 1 to 4 wherein the foot and arm are composed of galvanised steel.

6. A weld tag according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the plastics material is polyvinyl chloride.

7. A weld tage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Weld tag This invention relates to weld tags. Weld tags are widely used in the construction of motor vehicles to secure cables or conduits such as wiring harnesses to substrates on the body of the vehicle. Conventional weld tags are composed of a pliable metal and comprise a foot, which may be spot-welded to a metal substrate, and an arm extending therefrom which may be wrapped around the cable or conduit to retain the harness in position. Such tags suffer from the disadvantage that the edges of the arm may be left with burns and sharp edges which can damage the cable or conduit. According to the present invention there is provided a weld tag comprising a foot by means of which the tag may be welded to a metal substrate, and one or more arms extending from the foot, the foot and the arm being composed of a pliable metal, characterised in that the arm includes an apertures or recess and carries a coating of flexible plastics material which extends around the edges of the arm and of the aperture or recess. The coating of plastics material provides a smooth non-cutting edge to the arm thereby reducing the risk of the weld tag damaging a cable or conduit in use, and the edge of the aperture or recess around which the coating extends provide a key for the coating, reducing the risk of the coating becoming detached from the arm. Preferably the or each arm includes a slot extending along the arm. This increases the flexibility of the arm and facilitates its use. The weld tag may include a single arm, but preferably has two arms so that the tag can offer more support to the cable or conduit. The two arms preferably extend from the foot in opposite lateral directions. The two arms are conveniently longitudinally off-set from each other so that tags can be stamped from a continuous sheet of metal with a minimum of waste. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of a weld tag in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an end view of the weld tag of Figure 1, in use. Referring to Figure 1 a weld tag 1 comprises a square foot 2 having two integral arms 3, 4 extending in opposite lateral directions therefrom and off-set from each other in the longitudinal direction at least by a distance equal to the width of the arms so that further weld tags can be stamped from a continuous strip of a pliable metal, such as galvanised steel, with minimum waste, as indicated by the broken outlines 5, 6. Each arm 3, 4 has a slot 8, 9 extending along the length of the arm, and the end portion of each arm is coated with a flexible plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or nylon. The coating 10, 1 which may be applied by dipping or spraying, extends arounds the edge of the slot, thereby reducing the risk of the coating peeling off the arm 8, 9. In use the foot 2 is spot welded to a metal substrate 12, as illustrated in Figure 2. A wiring harness 1 5 (or other cable or conduit) is then laid over the foot is secured by wrapping the arms 3, 4 around it. The slots 8, 9 facilitate bending of the arms 3, 4. The plastic coating 10, 11 on the arms 3, 4 protects the wiring harness from damage by the sharp edges or burrs which would otherwise be exposed on the arms. CLAIMS

1. A weld tag comprising a foot by means of which the tag may be welded to a metal substrate, and one or more arms extending from the foot, the foot and the arm being composed of a pliable metal, characterised in that the arm includes an aperture or recess and carries a coating of flexible plastics material which extends around the edges of the arm and of the aperture or recess.

2. A weld tag according to Claim 1 where the or each arm includes a slot extending along the arm.

3. A weld tag according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 comprising two arms projecting from the foot in opposite lateral directions.

4. A weld tag according to Claim 3 wherein the two arms are longitudinally off-set from each other.

5. A weld tag according to any one of Ciaims 1 to 4 wherein the foot and arm are composed of galvanised steel.

6. A weld tag according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the plastics material is polyvinyl chloride.

7. A weld tage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.