GB2190931A - Wire - Google Patents

Abstract

A wire is formed of a flat strip of material twisted into spiral form, the axis of the spiral being coincident with the axis of the wire. The wire is preferably of metal such as aluminium or stainless steel, but may be of plastics material, and will not stretch in use. The wire is particularly suitable for use as a tie, eg, a plant tie as shown, and can also be used to reinforce materials such as cement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to wire This invention relates to wire, that is to say wire which is currently of thread or rope form or the like. Hitherto such wires have been of generally circular cross-section. There are however some circumstances for which such wires are not entirely suited and it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative form of wire which can be more satisfactorily used in these circumstances.

A wire according to the present invention is of spiral form, the axis of the spiral being coincident with the axis of the wire.

Preferably the wire is obtained by twisting a flat strip of material into a spiral. To this end it is conveniently made of stainless steel, aluminium or other suitable metal and is preferably substantially non stretchable, that is to say when tension is applied to the ends of the wire the spiral will not tend to flatten out to any appreciable extent. It may of course be made of a suitable plastics material.

Although the wire may have varying pitch and dimensions, in one construction the pitch of the turns may be between 8cm and 15cm, and of a width of approximately 5 cms.

The wire if particularly useful for a variety of applications and the accompanying diagramatic figure shows one form of wire for use as a general tie e.g. for plants or other uses. In this example the wire is looped about itself and as can be seen from the drawing the turns of the spiral tend to overlap one another at the base. This forms a particularly satisfactory tie and which cannot easily be separated.

The amount of overlap can be varied according to the amount of pull resistance required in the tie. The actual overlap may not be as shown, and can be of any form. It has been found in practice that this forms a particularly satisfactory tie.

The tie again may be of any satisfactory material and alumunium or stainless steel has found to be effective, the stainless steel being conveniently of 304 stainless steel or 316 stainless steel.

It has also been found that the wire according to the present invention makes a particularly satisfactory bird deterrent.

It may also be used as a reinforcement for cement, concrete, glass, plastics and the like, and is normally embedded therein, in strand, mat or other suitable configuration, and the invention is to be understood as including within its scope such materials reinforced in this way. It will be appreciated that this provides an effective and lightweight reinforcement.

1. A wire of spiral form, the axis of the spiral being coincident with the axis of the wire.

2. A wire as claimed in claim 1 which is obtained by twisting a flat strip of material into a spiral.

3. A wire as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which is made of stainless steel, aluminium or other metal and is non-stretchable.

4. A wire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the pitch of the turns of the wire is between 8cm and 15cm and of a width of 5cm.

5. A wire substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. A tie made from a wire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

7. A bird deterrent comprising a wire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A reinforced material in which a wire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 is embedded in the material in strand or mat form.

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to wire This invention relates to wire, that is to say wire which is currently of thread or rope form or the like. Hitherto such wires have been of generally circular cross-section. There are however some circumstances for which such wires are not entirely suited and it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative form of wire which can be more satisfactorily used in these circumstances. A wire according to the present invention is of spiral form, the axis of the spiral being coincident with the axis of the wire. Preferably the wire is obtained by twisting a flat strip of material into a spiral. To this end it is conveniently made of stainless steel, aluminium or other suitable metal and is preferably substantially non stretchable, that is to say when tension is applied to the ends of the wire the spiral will not tend to flatten out to any appreciable extent. It may of course be made of a suitable plastics material. Although the wire may have varying pitch and dimensions, in one construction the pitch of the turns may be between 8cm and 15cm, and of a width of approximately 5 cms. The wire if particularly useful for a variety of applications and the accompanying diagramatic figure shows one form of wire for use as a general tie e.g. for plants or other uses. In this example the wire is looped about itself and as can be seen from the drawing the turns of the spiral tend to overlap one another at the base. This forms a particularly satisfactory tie and which cannot easily be separated. The amount of overlap can be varied according to the amount of pull resistance required in the tie. The actual overlap may not be as shown, and can be of any form. It has been found in practice that this forms a particularly satisfactory tie. The tie again may be of any satisfactory material and alumunium or stainless steel has found to be effective, the stainless steel being conveniently of 304 stainless steel or 316 stainless steel. It has also been found that the wire according to the present invention makes a particularly satisfactory bird deterrent. It may also be used as a reinforcement for cement, concrete, glass, plastics and the like, and is normally embedded therein, in strand, mat or other suitable configuration, and the invention is to be understood as including within its scope such materials reinforced in this way. It will be appreciated that this provides an effective and lightweight reinforcement. CLAIMS

1. A wire of spiral form, the axis of the spiral being coincident with the axis of the wire.

2. A wire as claimed in claim 1 which is obtained by twisting a flat strip of material into a spiral.

3. A wire as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which is made of stainless steel, aluminium or other metal and is non-stretchable.

4. A wire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the pitch of the turns of the wire is between 8cm and 15cm and of a width of 5cm.

5. A wire substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. A tie made from a wire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

7. A bird deterrent comprising a wire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A reinforced material in which a wire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 is embedded in the material in strand or mat form.