GB2472278A

GB2472278A - Cable tie

Info

Publication number: GB2472278A
Application number: GB0915838A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Hart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-30
Filing date: 2009-08-24
Publication date: 2011-02-02
Also published as: GB0913245D0; GB0915838D0

Abstract

A cable tie comprises a separate small open case 3 and tape 1,2. The open case is able to have either both 1,2 or a single 1 end of the tape run right through it in opposite directions. An integrated gear rack 4,5 for each end the tape is positioned within the open case such that either end of said tape can slide into the case in one direction but cannot be withdrawn from the case in opposite direction that it entered. The tape 1,2 may have a cross section of elongate hexagonal form, and the case 3 may have a single opening featuring grooves which locate the tape and ensure that a single tape engages the gear rack 4,5 when inserted.

Description

The multi-use, waste-reduced cable tie

Statement of �roblem to resolve

The Invention Is a redesign of the nylon cable tie. The present design has three main draw backs which this design aims to address. These drawbacks are 1/ Wastage Cable ties are too often only partially used as Figure la shows, the only amount of the tape not discarded is that which is wrapped around the target With this design, far more of the cable can be used. For example in figure lb this cable tie is Initially provided with two or more small open cases and is used thus: In figure ic all the small open cases can be slid off the end of the tape except one which cannot move to the left, as shown.

The loose end of the tie is wrapped around the target and fed back Into and through the small open case. The excess is then cut off for reuse with another small open case as per figure id Figure le shows the small open case with the arrows on the open case Indicating the only direction that that side of the opening in the case that the tape can run through.

2/ Sharp and jagged edges For most cable ties if the excess tie is snipped off what remains leaves a sharp plastic cut off which can prove to be, not necessarily dangerous, but certainly painful for those working with multiple ties in a confined space as figure 2a tries to show.

Figure 2b shows that any sharp cut-off will be In line with the curvature of the target and not sticking out at 90, therefore should not catch or scratch those using this design 3/ Un-aesthetically pleasing when several conventional ties are put together Figure 3a aims to show what happens when multiple ties are put together using the most common cable tie design. As the tape Is a straight piece of nylon that doesn't fit neatly around irregular shapes you will get an un-aesthetically pleasing configuration. As most cabletle targets are circular or elliptical and the tie should reflect this.

With this design of tie a far more flexible shape can be achieved as figure 3b shows

Design details and Description

The way this type of cable tie Is designed quite different from conventional tie as shown in the axonornetric view in figure 4a of the small open case (3) The tape In figure 4b which represent a cut off section of the tape is designed to fit into the slot on the small open case In figure 4a Refer to figure Sa for a fully assembled small open case from the top view, similarly figure 5b for the edge view, figure Sc for the underside view and the end view as figure Sd. The references to objects 1 and 2 In all the diagrams are the opposite end of the same cable tie with the use of yellow /green colouring just to differentiate between the two ends. Figure 6a is the cross section of the assembled unit along the line marked as BB In figure Sc. The objects 4 and 5 referenced here are the pawis of the integrated gear rack In the locked position. The pawls referred to in figure 6a, object 4 & 5 are sprung loaded by the natural qualities of nylon and are pressing against the rackets on the tape thus locking It and prevent the tape from moving along the body of the case in the opposite direction to which it entered.

Figure 6b shows a cross section along AA in figure 6a of the small open case (3) and both ends of the tape (1&2) in a locked position by the pawis (4 & 5) Figure 73 shows the tape and small open case In a partly assembled state with only one end of the tape inserted and one the pawl (4) in a rest position. Slmliariy figure 7b for the edge view, figure 7c for the underside view and the end view as figure 7d. Figure Ba is the cross section of the part assembled unit along the lines marked as BB in figure 7c. The pawl referred to in figure Ba, object 5 is sprung loaded by the natural qualities of nylon and is pressing against the rackets on the tape thus locking it and prevent the tape from moving along the body of the case In the opposite direction to which it entered Figure Bb shows a cross section along AA In figure Ba of the small open case (3) and a single end of the tape (1) In a locked position by the pawl (5) Figure 9a shows the tape and small open case without either end of the tape inserted and the pawls (objects 4 & 5) in rest positions. Similarly figure 9b for the edge view, figure 9c for the underside view and the end view as figure 9d. Figure ba is the cross section of the part assembled unit along the lines marked as BB In figure 9c Figure lOb shows a cross section along AA in figure lOa of the small open case (3) with both pawis, 4 & 5, in their rest positIon.

Figure 9c is slightly enlarged to show the grooved entrance to guide the tape Into and through the small open case to ease the use when Inserting the tape. There Is another grooved entrance at the opposite end for the other end of the tape.

The crucial elements of this whole concept is that the two ends of the tape can lie flush with each other and that they can do this independently with the use of the elongated hexagonal shaped cross sectioned tape and the corresponding shape of the opening in the case through which it passes. This locking together of shapes holds the tie against the pawl (4 or 5 depending on which opening is used) and thus prevent movement of the tape in opposite direction that it entered the case. The pawis lock In the opposite directions, the teeth on the tape are in opposite directions (one side as compared to the other), this means that once the two ends of the tapes are Inserted into the case and the teeth on the tape have passed the integrated gear rack, whatever the tape Is wrapped around Is bonded by the tape (object 1 & 2) Alternative to nonrelease A simple alternative to the small open (object 3) shown in figure 11. This represents a cross section of the small open case with integrated rack with extended tabs to the two pawls (4 & 5), if either of these are pressed whilst the tape is being held by a pawi, then the tie could be released.

Claims

Claims 1 A cable tie comprising of a single tape and a small open case into which each end of the tape can entered simultaneously or individually.
2 The tape can enter the small open case in claim 1 in one direction and can be fed right through to an integrated gear rack that catches onto the teeth on the tape and thus preventing the tape being with withdrawn In the opposite direction to which it entered from.
3 The small open case, according to claim 1, has a single opening that traverses the length of the case which can accommodate both ends of the tape at the same time but to ensure that when a single end of the tape enters the opening it is held in position against the integrated gear ra,according to claim 2, by it's cross section profile of an elongated ex, points of which slide along grooves within the small open case which also traverse the length of the small open case, therefore guiding the tape in a fixed direction along the body of the case from one opening to the one at other end.
4 The other (second) end of the tape according to claim 2, car enter the small open case, referred to in claim 1, from the opposite direction as the other (first) end of the tape will be held out of the way by the grooves that it has slid into, referred to in claim 3, the other (second) end of the tape will also have the same elongated hexagonal cross section profile and will be restricted in the same way as the first end of the tape along guides running the length of the case and so will be positioned to catch on the other integrated gear rack that allows the tape to slide through the small open case, but prevent it from being withdrawn in the opposite direction that it entered.To aid the use of the opening of the small case unit, according to claim 3, it will have a tapered edge around opening entrance so that the tape can be easily guided onto the guides that run along the length of the body.