GB2292769A

GB2292769A - Tie

Info

Publication number: GB2292769A
Application number: GB9516494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernardino Parise
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-02
Filing date: 1995-08-11
Publication date: 1996-03-06
Also published as: IT232472Y1; ITVI940042V0; ITVI940042U1; GB9516494D0; DE29514119U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tie for the reversible constriction of mouths of bags or of bundles or bunches of sundry objects. The tie comprises in particular a filiform body (1) ending at one end with an annular element (2) within which its opposite end is insertable. On the filiform body are a plurality of projections (3), substantially truncated conical in shape, which are capable of engaging with the edges of the portion (2") of the annular element (2), causing constriction, with the possibility of reversible action, of the tie about the desired element. <IMAGE>

Description

TIE The present model concerns a tie or lace capable of allowing the reversible constriction of mouths of bags or of bundles and bunches of sundry objects.

It is known that it is very often necessary to effect the closure of the mouths of bags containing, for example, foods, metal trinkets and other small objects.

There is also frequently the need to hold firmly together bundles and bunches of sundry objects, e.g. within the scope of gardening.

Many laces capable of allowing the constriction of such elements have in fact been devised; such laces comprise a filiform body which may be variously configured and which ends at its ends with an element of annular shape (likewise variously configured) within which the opposite end of the filiform body is insertable, together with a portion of that body.

This latter presents at regular intervals, on its surface, projections capable of engaging with the contour of the aforesaid annular element, determining in practice the dimensions of the loop formed by the portion of the filiform body not yet passed into the annular element.

The majority of such laces present projections configured such that the engagement with the annular element is irreversible in that the loop can only be tightened and not slackened; moreover, should it be desired to open the loop, the lace has necessarily to be cut in order to free the objects contained therein.

Laces have in fact been made which are capable of allowing, albeit with a certain difficulty, the slackening of the loop, permitting in practice the release of part of the portion of the lace already inserted in the annular element, by means of partial deformation of this latter element.

Such a manoeuvre is, however, rather difficult to execute and does in fact involve the presence of bulky and unaesthetic projections on the surface of the lace.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lace which is capable of allowing the reversible constriction of mouths of bags or of bundles and bunches of sundry objects, which is structurally simple and which readily permits the manoeuvres for reversibility of the constriction while guaranteeing a notable holding of the projections with respect to the annular element when it is desired to keep the lace in a well-defined position of constriction.

This is achieved by the constructional arrangement which will be explained in detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings appended, in which: Figures 1 and 2 represent two overall views of the device in a condition of rest; Figure 3 represents a detail of the device in condition of use; Figures 4 and 5 represent respectively the device in conditions which correspond respectively to the position of constriction of the mouth of a bag and to the position which allows the opening of the aforesaid; and Figures 6, 7 and 8 represent three examples of possible uses of the device.

In Figures 1 and 2 it is seen that the device according to the model comprises essentially a filiform body 1 which ends at one of its ends with an annular element 2 within which, as visible in particular in all of Figures 4 to 8, the opposite end of the filiform body is insertable.

The filiform body includes at regular intervals a plurality of projections 3, substantially truncated conical in shape, with axes coinciding with the axis of the filiform element and with the larger surface facing towards the annular element 2.

The length of the portion of the filiform body inserted within the annular element 2 determines in practice the dimensions of the loop formed by the portion of the filiform body not yet passed within the annular element.

The element 2 includes a wider tapered first portion 2' in which the opposite end and projections 3 of the filiform element are capable of being inserted; this first portion communicates with a narrower second portion 2" of shape and dimensions to accommodate the body portion but such as to prevent the passing of the larger surface of any individual projection 3 of truncated conical shape.

Portion 2" is connected to portion 2' by a construction through which the body portion 1 can pass, possibly with deformation of the construction.

As visible in Figure 3, when a pulling force is exerted on the annular element, the latter is intended clearly to become deformed so that its edges tend to move closer to one another, narrowing in particular both the portions 2' and 2".

As visible in Figure 4, when it is desired to bring about, for example, the closure of a bag 4, it is necessary to wind about the mouth of the aforesaid the loop formed by a portion of the lace according to the model so as to fasten the lace tightly about the same mouth.

Closing the lace about the bag will naturally involve disposing one of the projections 3 in line with the portion 2" of the annular element 2.

Vice versa, when it is desired to open the bag, it is sufficient to make the lace pass again into the wider portion 2' of the annular element so that the user may readily have access to the inside of the same bag from the time when the lace can run freely within the aforesaid annular element (Figure 5).

In Figures 4 and 5 it is also seen that with advantage the opposite end of the filiform element to that at which the annular element is situated presents an eyelet 5 to which two fins 6 are attached laterally; the eyelet 5 serves essentially to facilitate the user for the purpose of effecting the pulling action on the filiform element owing to the fact that he can insert a finger within the same eyelet, and it may also be used (Figure 8) as an element capable of allowing suspension of the filiform body and the element held therein.

Vice versa, the presence of the fins 6 serves to prevent complete withdrawal of the opposite end of the filiform body to that at which the latter's annular element is situated, thus determining the maximum dimensions of the loop formable with the filiform body.

In the Figures appended, it will also be noted that, with advantage, there is integral with the annular element 2 a gripping appendage 7 capable of facilitating the user in the action of grasping the aforesaid annular element in the two phases of engagement and disengagement.

Finally, there are visible in Figures 6 and 7 other examples of application of the device according to the model, which may be used, in particular, for uniting a plurality of sticks or for holding the stems of two plants together or for other similar purposes.

From the foregoing it is therefore seen that the device according to the model makes it possible to achieve with extreme simplicity the appointed purposes, guaranteeing in particular perfect reversible constriction of objects such as bags, bundles and bunches.

It is also possible to unite in succession a plurality of laces according to the model by inserting an annular element of one lace in the corresponding element of another lace, the whole for creating a single long closed or open structure.

Claims

1. A tie for reversible constriction of mouths of bags, bundles or bunches of sundry objects, comprising a filiform body which ends at one end with an annular element within which is insertable the opposite end of the filiform body and a portion of the body, which body includes at regular intervals a plurality of projections capable of engaging with the contour of the annular element so as to determine the dimensions of the loop formed by the portion of the filiform body not yet passed into the annular element, the annular element and one of the projections being arranged to engage reciprocally so as to prevent, in normal conditions, the withdrawal of the filiform body from the annular element into which it has been passed, there being the possibility of effecting a reciprocal freeing manoeuvre between the annular element and the projection so as to vary the dimensions of the loop, the projections having a substantially truncated conical shape, with axes coinciding with the axis of the filiform element, with the larger bases facing towards the annular element, the annular element including a wider first portion in which the filiform body is capable of being inserted and a second portion, of smaller dimensions than the first and communicating with the aforesaid one, which presents dimensions and shape such as to prevent the passing of the larger surface of each individual projection, the annular element being shaped such that, during a pulling phase corresponding to constriction about the elements to be embraced, the edges of the annular element are designed to move closer to one another, preventing withdrawal of the projections.

2. A tie according to claim 1, in which the annular element is made of a material having characteristics of elasticity with respect to bending, e.g.

of plastics material.

3. A tie according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the opposite end of the filiform body to that at which the annular element is situated includes means capable of preventing its disengagement from the annular element after the said end is placed in the annular element and during the phase of opening the tie.

4. A tie according to claim 3, in which the opposite end includes an eyelet with two integral fins.

5. A tie according to one or more of the foregoing claims, including an integral gripping appendage capable of facilitating the user in his action of pulling on the annular element.

6. A tie substantially as described herein with reference or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.