US20080256762A1

US20080256762A1 - Wire tie

Info

Publication number: US20080256762A1
Application number: US11/788,018
Authority: US
Inventors: Ben Sutherland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-19
Filing date: 2007-04-19
Publication date: 2008-10-23

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tie for wrapping around an article, including an arcuate portion on a first portion of the tie; and a movable locking device on a second portion of the tie, the movable locking device adapted to couple to the arcuate portion.

Description

BACKGROUND

Cable ties have long been used to bundle a variety of objects such as electrical wires or cable. Early examples of such cable ties are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,186,047 and 3,486,201. Each of these cable ties includes an elongate member having a head at one end, a tail at the other and an intervening longitudinal strap body. The cable tie is used by wrapping the tie around a bundle of articles and inserting the tail through the head. The head and the body include cooperative locking elements so that when the tail is pulled tightly through the head, the locking elements secure the strap body in the head.
Cable ties come in various shapes and sizes. Often, multiple small cable ties are employed at spaced locations longitudinally along the bundle of wires. Such use can present at least one distinct problem.
Given the small size of the cable tie, it is difficult to grasp the tail and to pass it through the head. There is a tendency for the tail to slip out from between the fingers of the installer making it difficult to secure around the bundle.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a tie for wrapping around an article, including an arcuate portion at a first portion of the tie; and a movable locking means at a second portion of the tie, the movable locking means adapted to couple to the arcuate portion.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a tie for wrapping around at least one article, including a body portion having a first end and a second end, a locking means at the second end, the locking means movable relative to the body portion and configured to engage the body portion, and an arcuate portion at the first end adapted to engage the locking means, such that the tie forms a substantially closed loop around the at least one article.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of wrapping at least one article, including the steps of providing a tie having body with a first end and a second end, the tie having an arcuate portion at the first end and a locking means at the second end, wrapping the tie around the at least one article, engaging a portion of the arcuate portion with the locking means, and moving the locking means relative to the body.
Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tie according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in section of a ratchet system according to one embodiment using

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the tie of FIG. 1 wherein the loop is engaging the ratchet system; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side view in section of the tie of FIG. 1 wherein the loop is engaging the ratchet system and the tie is substantially enclosing a plurality of elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a tie 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, tie 10 includes an elongate portion 12, a loop 14 and a ratchet system or locking means 16.
Preferably the tie is a unitarily molded structure, formed from a plastic, such as nylon; however, the tie and/or any portion can be molded or formed from any suitable material. For example, the tie can be formed from any suitable plastic, metal or other suitable substance or combination of substances. The various portions of the tie can also be formed from the same or separate materials. Furthermore, the tie is not necessarily unitarily molded and can be formed in any suitable manner.
The elongate or body portion 12 is generally rectangular in cross section but can have any suitable cross section. The body portion 12 has a first end 18 and a second 20 and a central portion 22. At or generally near the second end 20 one side of the body portion 12 has indentations 24 or any other suitable structure thereon. The indentations 24 can extend at any desirable length along the body portion 12 up to an including loop 14. If desired, the body portion can have a similar or the same structure as indentations 24 located on any side or multiple sides thereof.
Loop 14 preferably is a semi-flexible structure that is molded with the body portion; however, loop 14 can be attached in a separate formation step at any suitable time. Additionally, it is not necessary for loop 14 to be a complete loop, it can be a substantially complete loop or simply an arcuate member (i.e., a hook) that would allow engagement with a device such as the ratchet system or a portion thereof.
Loop 14 can be any desired size. Loop 14 can be just large enough to allow the locking mechanism to pass through and engage therewith or it can be the entire tie itself. For example, if desired the loop 14 can extend from the first end to the second end and include the elongate portion. In this embodiment, one or both portions of the loop that passed through the locking means could have indentations thereon.
Locking member 16 is preferably a ratchet system, but can be any suitable one way or substantially one way ratcheting device. For example, the locking member can be a threaded device that is moved in one direction or any other suitable structure that would allow the locking means 16 to move in one direction (preferably away from the second end) and resist or substantially resist movement in the opposite or a second direction (preferably towards the second end).
As shown in FIG. 2, locking member 16 preferably has a substantially rectangular configuration with a first side 26, a second side 28 a top surface 30 and a bottom surface 32. Extending through the locking member from the first side to the second side is a pathway 34 that defines a first opening 36 and a second opening 38 in the first and second sides, respectively. A protrusion 39 extends into the pathway and is adapted to engage the indentations in the body portion of the tie. It is noted that such a protrusion/indentation locking means is exemplary only and the locking means can be any structure desired, including but not limited to a protrusion with a sharp end that is capable of coupling to the tie without indentations.
First side 26 preferably has an indentation or recess therein to allow the loop to fit therein; however all the sides and surfaces of the locking means can have any suitable configuration. Extending from top surface 30 is a hook, hooks or protrusion 40. Hook 40 extends outwardly from top surface 30 then doubles back at an acute angle toward bottom surface 32 and first side 26. It is noted hook 40 can have any suitable configuration and extend in any suitable direction and may extend from any suitable side or surface or may not even exist, as desired.

Operation

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tie can be positioned to encircle or surround a single element or a plurality of elements 42 (such as a group of wires). The ratchet or locking means can be “preloaded” or positioned at or near the second end of the tie. An installer now has a large target (i.e., the loop) through which he can pass the tie end (i.e., the locking means). This speeds along the installation and allows a greater ease of single handed installation. The prior art difficult ratchet loading can be now done by the tie manufacturer or by the installer before he offers the tie up to the object(s) to be secured.
Furthermore, the loop can be squeezed to pass the tie through saddle clips that are sometimes used to secure the tie and object(s) to a surface. After the loop has been passed through the saddle the loop naturally expands to its original shape thus inhibiting the loose tie from falling back out of the saddle which can occur with existing ties.
If desired, the tie 10 can be partially tightened but temporally released again by unhooking the loop from the hook. This is extremely useful when securing wiring bundles that need to temporary held before additional wires are to be added to the bundle.
Additionally, tie 10 can be designed so that the ratchet block can be slipped all the way down the toothed strip and over the loop at the far end to be free from the tie. This allows the tie to be reused by reloading it onto the other end of the strip.
Furthermore, tie 10 eliminates a protrusion after installation because the long free end exits the block at a tangent to the secured objects, so it lies flat when cut off and the sharp edge does not stick out.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tie for wrapping around an article, comprising:

an arcuate portion at a first portion of the tie; and

a movable locking means at a second portion of the tie, the movable locking means adapted to couple to the arcuate portion.

2. A tie according to claim 1, wherein

the arcuate portion is an enclosed loop.

3. A tie according to claim 1, wherein

the movable locking means is a ratchet system.

4. A tie according to claim 1, further comprising

a body, the arcuate portion located at a first end of said body and the movable locking means located at a second end of said body.

5. A tie according to claim 4, wherein

the body includes a plurality of indentations, and the locking means includes at least one protrusion adapted to engage at least one of said plurality of indentations.

6. A tie according to claim 4, wherein

said locking means is configured to be movable toward the first end and not toward the second end.

7. A tie according to claim 1, wherein

the locking means includes a protrusion adapted to engage a portion of the tie.

8. A tie according to claim 1, wherein

the locking means includes a hook configured to prevent the arcuate portion from decoupling from the locking means.

9. A tie for wrapping around at least one article, comprising:

a body portion having a first end and a second end;

a locking means at the second end, said locking means movable relative to the body portion and configured to engage the body portion; and

an arcuate portion at the first end adapted to engage the locking means, such that said tie forms a substantially closed loop around the at least one article.

10. A tie according to claim 9, wherein

the arcuate portion is an enclosed loop.

11. A tie according to claim 10, wherein

the movable locking means is a ratchet system.

12. A tie according to claim 11, wherein

the locking means includes a hook configured to prevent the enclosed loop from disengage from the locking means.

13. A tie according to claim 9, wherein

14. A tie according to claim 9, wherein

said locking means is configured to be movable toward the first end and not toward said second end.

15. A tie according to claim 9, wherein

the locking means includes a protrusion adapted to engage a portion of the tie.

16. A method of wrapping at least one article, comprising the steps of

providing a tie having body with a first end and a second end, the tie having an arcuate portion at the first end and a locking means at the second end,

wrapping the tie around the at least one article,

engaging a portion of the arcuate portion with the locking means, and

moving the locking means relative to the body.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein

the arcuate portion is an enclosed loop, and

the locking means is a ratchet system.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step

passing the ratchet system through the enclosed loop prior to the step of moving the locking means relative to the body.

19. A tie according to claim 16, wherein

20. A tie according to claim 16, wherein

the step of moving the locking means includes pulling the second end.