GB2212764A - Plastics tie - Google Patents

Abstract

A one-piece plastics tie for use in tying around the neck of a cash bag is provided with a bridge section 11 in its strap 10, between its apertured head 14 and its series of serrations 12 which engage with a pawl element within the head. The tied tie can be cut through the bridge section without damaging the cash bag, by virtue of the gap provided by the bridge section between itself and the tied cash bag. The bridge section is U-shaped and includes a transverse membrane (13) for maintaining the tensile strength of the strap and preventing folds of material entering into the bridge section. <IMAGE>

Description

PLASTICS TIE This invention relates to a one-piece tie of plastics material, particularly for security uses.

It is known to use one-piece plastics ties in banking for tying the necks of cash bags when filled with money. Such ties comprise an elongate serrated strap having an apertured head at one end: in use, the strap is looped around the neck of the bag, inserted through the apertured head and pulled tight. The serrations on the strap interlock with a pawl element in the head aperture to prevent loosening. In one type of tie the pawl is a fixed but deformable projection, whilst in another type of tie the pawl is mounted on a flexible hinge for pivoting movement.

When it is required to open the cash bag; the security tie around its neck must be cut. Usually stationery scissors are used for this purpose but the exercise is not easy and risks damaging the material of the bag with the point of the scissors. Even if holes in the bag are repaired by stitching, there is still a potential security risk.

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 or more sides thereof and with an apertured head at one end thereof, and a pawl element disposed in the head aperture for engaging the strap serrations when the strap is passed through the head aperture, the strap including a bridge section between the head and the series of serrations, which bridge section in use provides a space between the strap and an article around which the tie is tied enabling the strap to be cut through at its bridge section.

In use, the tie can be cut using ordinary stationery scissors, one point of the scissors being inserted in the gap between the bridge section of the strap and the underlying tied cash bag or other article, without the scissors making contact with the bag.

In a preferred embodiment, a membrane extends across the bridge section and prevents folds of the bag material entering the gap. The membrane also maintains the tensile strength of the tie, preventing the tie strap being stretched and thereby loosening its grip on the bag. However, the membrane is relatively thin and can be pierced readily with a point of the scissors. Preferably the mem brane is tapered in section to provide a lead-in for centering the point of the scissors.

A preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through the head and adjacent strap portion of a one-piece security tie showing details of head and of the bridge section; FIGURE 2 is a similar section through the tail end portion of the tie strap; FIGURE 3 is a side view of the tie of Figures 1 and 2 in its tied condition; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the strap of the tie of Figures 1 and 2 at the location of the bridge; and FIGURES 5a - 5c are similar views of alternative bridge arrangements.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a one-piece security tie moulded from plastics material. The tie comprises a flat elongate strap 10 provided with a series of transverse ratchet serrations 12 on-one side and with a head 14 at one end, the head projecting from the opposite side of the strap. Adjacent the head, the strap is formed into a bridge section 11 projecting in the same direction as the head and of generally U-shaped.

This bridge section maintains generally the same width and thickness as the main run of the strap. A relatively thin membrane 13 extends across the bridge section 11 and tapers from the sides of the U-section bridge to a central zone 13a for a purpose which will be'described below. Between the bridge section and the series of serrations 12, and on the same side as the serrations 12, the strap is formed with a series of conical projecting spikes 15. The series of serrations 12 terminates some distance from the free end of the strap, providing a length of strap which is plain apart from the provision of a series of two co-operating teeth or stop elements 16a,16b.

The head comprises an inner end wall 17 and an outer wall 18 and a pair of opposite side walls (of which one side wall 20 can be seen in Figure 1), defining a passage 24 extending through the head from an insertion opening 26 to an outlet 28. Adjacent the insertion opening, the inner end wall 17 of the head exhibits a thickened portion 17a. A pawl element 30 has one end jointed to the inner end of the thickened portion 17a, the pawl element 30 projecting towards the outlet 28 at an inclination towards the outer end wall 18 of the head, but terminates some distance from the outlet 28. The pawl element has its side edges joined to the opposite side walls (e.g. side wall 20) of the head.

The outer end wall 18 of the head provides an abutment surface for the plain side of the strap to be pressed against by the pawl element. This abutment surface comprises a first portion 18a which is generally parallel to the end surface 17c of the inner end wall 17 and extends part way along the pawl, then a second portion 18b which curves towards the pawl element and terminates beyond the tip of the pawl element, and finally a third portion 18c generally parallel to the inner surface 17d of the inner end wall.

This defines a profile for the head aperture which commences along a straight line perpendicular to the plane of the strap, then curves towards and partially over the tip of the pawl element, and finally curves back towards a straight-line path perpendicular to the plane of the strap.

A flat projection 40 is provided from the outer end wall 18 of the head, in the same'plane as the strap.

This projection may carry identifying indicia and is provided with a rectangular, transversely-extending aperture 42 immediately adjacent the outer surface of the outer end wall 18 of the head.

Referring to Figure 3, in use of the tie, the strap 10 is formed into a first loop L1 around the neck of a cash bag CB and passed through the head aperture 24 from the insertion opening 26 to the outlet 28. This places the strap 10 with its serrations 12 and spikes 15 facing inwardly of the loop L1 and against the neck of the cash bag and, as the strap is pulled through the head, the inclined surfaces of the successive strap serrations slide on the pawl element, causing the latter to be pivoted back to allow each serration to pass. The connections of the sides of the pawl element to the opposite side walls of the head are flexible and do not significantly restrain this movement of the pawl element and it is found that the strap can be pulled through the head quite easily by hand.

Once the strap 10 has been tightened about the neck of the cash bag, the projecting length of strap can be threaded through an identification label (not shown), then formed into a second loop L2 and passed through the aperture 42 in the projection 40 of the head. The strap can be retained in position when the pair of teeth or stop elements 16a,16b are on either side of the projection 40, as shown.

The strap 10 follows a path through the head 14 which commences perpendicular to the projection 40, then curves partially over the tip of the pawl element 30 to obstruct the insertion of any implement for levering the pawl element back to release the strip.

It will be noted that the membrane 13 across the bridge section 11 maintains the tensile strength of the strap and prevents folds of material of the bag entering the Usection gap which is defined between the strap and the underlying neck. This gap enables the strap to be cut, by inserting a point of a pair of ordinary stationery- scissors through the membrane 13 and hence through the gap, the strap then being cut at or adjacent the central web of the U-section bridge. The tapering portions of the membrane act as.a leadin to centre the point of the scissors onto the central zone 13a of the membrane.

The provision of the bridge section 11 of the strap therefore enables a tie to be cut free from the neck of a cash bag with ease and without any risk of damaging the bag itself with the scissors or other implement which is used.

Figure 4 shows that the membrane 13 in the bridge 11 of the tie of Figures 1 and 2 is positioned on the longitudinal centre line of the tie strap. Figures 5a - Sc show some alternative membrane arrangements by way of examples.

In Figure 5a the membrane 31 has one side 33 parallel to the length of the strap and its other side 35 tapering from one end to a narrow web 37 at the other end. In Figure 5b, both sides 43,45 of the membrane taper inwards from one end to a narrow web 47 at the other end. In Figure 5c, there are two webs 50,51 with facing sides 52,53 parallel to the length of the strap and outer sides 54,55 tapering from one end to narrow webs 56,57 adjacent the other end. In all of these arrangements, a tapering surface is provided on an outer side of the membrane, for guiding the point of a pair of scissors onto a narrow web portion.

Claims (11)

1) A one-piece tie of plastics material, comprising an elongate strap provided with a series of serrations on one or more sides thereof and with an apertured head at one end thereof, and a pawl element disposed in the head aperture for engaging the strap serrations when the strap is passed through the head aperture, the strap including a bridge section between the head and the series of serations, which bridge section in use provides a space between the strap and an article around which the tie is tied, enabling the strap of the tied tie to be cut through at its bridge section.

2) A one-piece tie as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one membrane extending across the bridge section in the lengthwise direction of the strap.

3) A one-piece tie as claimed in claim 2, in which the or each membrane tapers in the lengthwise direction of the strap.

4) A one-piece tie as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bridge section is generally of U-shape.

5) A one-piece tie as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the apertured head and the bridge section both project from the same side of the strap.

6) A one-piece tie as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an apertured projection extending from an outer end of the head, for receiving an end portion of the strap through its aperture when said portion of the strap is formed into a secondary loop after passing around the article to be tied and through the head aperture.

7) A one-piece tie as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the strap is formed with a series of projecting spikes between the bridge section and the series of serrations, the spikes being positioned for facing inwardly against the article being tied.

8) A one-piece tie as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the pawl element has a free end for engaging the strap serrations and is pivoted at its other end to the head, and further in which the pawl element has its opposite sides flexibly connected to the opposite sides of the head.

9) A one-piece tie as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the aperture through the head commences along a straight line perpendicular to the plane of the strap, then curves towards and partially over a free end of the pawl element, and then curves back into a straight line perpendicular to the plane of the strap.

10) A one-piece tie as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the strap serrations are provided on the opposite side of the strap from which the bridge section projects and face inwardly against the article being tied.

11) A one-piece tie of plastics material substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.