US20170050787A1 - Dual channel tie lock - Google Patents
Dual channel tie lock Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170050787A1 US20170050787A1 US15/221,382 US201615221382A US2017050787A1 US 20170050787 A1 US20170050787 A1 US 20170050787A1 US 201615221382 A US201615221382 A US 201615221382A US 2017050787 A1 US2017050787 A1 US 2017050787A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tie
- lock
- cable tie
- locks
- channel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D63/00—Flexible elongated elements, e.g. straps, for bundling or supporting articles
- B65D63/10—Non-metallic straps, tapes, or bands; Filamentary elements, e.g. strings, threads or wires; Joints between ends thereof
- B65D63/1018—Joints produced by application of integral securing members, e.g. buckles, wedges, tongue and slot, locking head and teeth or the like
- B65D63/1027—Joints produced by application of integral securing members, e.g. buckles, wedges, tongue and slot, locking head and teeth or the like the integral securing member being formed as a female and male locking member, e.g. locking head and locking teeth, or the like
- B65D63/1063—Joints produced by application of integral securing members, e.g. buckles, wedges, tongue and slot, locking head and teeth or the like the integral securing member being formed as a female and male locking member, e.g. locking head and locking teeth, or the like the female locking member being provided with at least one plastic barb
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D63/00—Flexible elongated elements, e.g. straps, for bundling or supporting articles
- B65D63/10—Non-metallic straps, tapes, or bands; Filamentary elements, e.g. strings, threads or wires; Joints between ends thereof
- B65D63/14—Joints produced by application of separate securing members
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2563/00—Flexible elongated elements, e.g. straps for bundling or supporting atricles
- B65D2563/10—Non-metallic straps, tapes or bands; Filamentary elements, e.g. strings, threads, wires; Joints between ends thereof
- B65D2563/101—Details of non-metallic straps, tapes or bands
Definitions
- the locking head 12 may include a body 15 that may typically be parallelepiped in shape.
- the body may be defined by an entry face 25 an exit face 23 and a peripheral wall 21 , which may extend around the body 15 of the locking head 12 between the entry face 25 and the exit face 23 .
- a channel 20 may extend through the body 15 from an entry port 17 on the entry face 25 to the exit port 16 on the exit face 23 .
- the channel 20 typically includes a pawl 22 on one side and an abutment wall 19 opposite the pawl 22 .
- the portion of the body 15 between the abutment wall 19 and the peripheral wall 21 is an abutment buttress region 18 .
- FIG. 8 shows a system of multipurpose cable tied locks 89 .
- the cable locks 30 allow two objects 88 to be held together tightly without actually being in contact. It may be desirable to keep objects 88 from being in direct contact.
- the configuration shown in FIG. 8 may result from using the tie strap 90 and a first cable lock 30 to restrain a single object by forming a loop 92 .
- An operator may simply use a second multipurpose cable tie lock 32 to form a second loop 94 and add the second object 88 to the system.
- one cable may be attached to the dual channel tie locks of row 161 , another cable may be attached to the tie locks of row 163 , and a third cable may be attached to the tie locks of row 165 .
- the horizontal necks 166 may then be broken while the vertical necks 164 are kept intact. This may result in four groups of three parallel tie locks 162 which may then be spread apart while keeping cables properly oriented relative to one another.
- FIG. 29 shows an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock 310 having a body 312 , two cylindrical channels 316 , a socket 318 and a tab 320 .
- each of the two channels 316 includes two diametrically opposed pawls 314 .
- Dual channel tie lock 310 may include many of the same functionalities of other exemplary dual channel tie locks shown in the previous drawings. Dual channel tie lock 310 may be configured to engage a tie strap such as the one shown in FIG. 28 .
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
- Package Frames And Binding Bands (AREA)
Abstract
A multipurpose cable tie lock has a body with two channels passing through it. Within each channel is a pawl or other device that allows for one-way motion and locking of a strap passing through the channel. The channels may be parallel or anti-parallel in relation to one another regarding the direction through which a tie strap may move. The locking head may also be rotatable about its center in order to change the orientation of the two channels relative to one another. The multipurpose cable tie lock may include three or more channels optionally. Multipurpose cable tied locks may be used in combination with one or more tie straps to provide systems for holding multiple objects.
Description
- Not Applicable.
- Not Applicable
- Not Applicable.
- Not Applicable
- Field of Endeavor
- The present invention relates to systems and methods for locking and interconnecting cable ties. More particularly, the invention relates to cable tie locks for common zip ties that allows for adjustment and reuse of both the locks and the zip ties and further provides methods for interlinking multiple zip ties.
- Background Information
- Flexible ties for use in bundling elongated members such as wires, cables, etc. are well known. Typically, such ties include an elongated flexible tie strap made of suitable material. The tie usually has a free end (tail) and a locking head at the opposite end. The tie strap is flexible; the free end (tail) is capable of being looped 270 degrees around back toward itself and inserted into the locking head after which the diameter of the loop formed by the tie strap can be adjusted to fit in the desired manner over the intended bundle. A normal entry tie head is a tie head wherein the insertion of the tie strap into the locking head and then its extension through the locking head is generally normal, perpendicular, or oblique to the tie strap, while the tie strap is in an unfastened, or generally planar orientation.
- Cable ties are typically single use devices. When adjustment is required, the cable tie is snipped off and discarded and a new cable tie is used. In addition, the amount of cable tie required for any given project is often significantly less than the amount of zip tie length present in a standard zip tie. The additional length is often in the way of other objects and unsightly. Thus, it is often cut off and thrown away.
- Several cable ties have been designed that provide for unlocking the tie head such that the tie strap may be removed from the head. These designs invariably result in a weaker head having a lock capable of withstanding lesser forces than a simpler locking head that may not be adjusted to allow re-versing direction of the tie strap.
- In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide a cable lock system that minimizes waste of materials and simplifies adjustments of the ties.
- Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is a multipurpose cable tie lock that allows use and reuse of otherwise wasted materials. In addition, the multipurpose cable tie locks of the invention increase the utility and functionality of standard cable ties.
- In greater detail, the locking head portion of a typical cable tie is provided but without attachment to a typical tie strap. The locking head may be permanently or removably attached to a second tie head to provide a multipurpose cable tie lock. The lock may be laterally symmetric. Optionally, several Lochhead mechanisms may be combined together to form three or more locks in a single system.
- These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
- A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
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FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a cable tie of the prior art; -
FIG. 2 is a front view of a cable tie of the prior art; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cable tie of the prior art; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a multipurpose cable tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a multipurpose cable tie lock having a tie strap and securing objects in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a multipurpose cable tie lock used in conjunction with a cable tie of the prior art in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a system of multipurpose cable tie locks in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 8 is a side view of a system of multipurpose cable tie locks in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 9 is a side view of a system of multipurpose cable tie locks and accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a multipurpose cable tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment of a multipurpose cable tie lock inFIG. 10 in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 15 is a front view of a matrix of dual channel tie locks and accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 16 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 17 is a top view of the alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock shown inFIG. 16 in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock shown inFIG. 16 in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 19 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 20 is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 21 is a front view of alternative embodiments of a dual channel tie lock connected in tandem in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 22 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock and a tied lock spacer in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 23 is a front view of a series of alternative embodiments of dual channel tie locks connected side-by-side in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 24 is a front view of a series of alternative embodiments of dual channel tie locks connected side-by-side in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a zip tie in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 26 is a front view of an another alternative embodiment of a zip tie in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 27 is a top view of a zip tie head lock ring in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 28 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a cable tie strap in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 29 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with principles of the invention; -
FIG. 30 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention; -
FIG. 31 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention. - Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The drawings are intended to show the characteristics of the present invention and are not necessarily made to scale. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
- The present invention discloses improvements related to cable ties, also known as zip ties. A zip tie usually includes a long cable or strip and a locking head and a mechanism for engaging these two components that only allows sliding movement in a single direction. The locking head generally includes a pawl inside a channel which may engage slots or teeth along the tie strap. These mechanisms are well known by those of ordinary skill in the art had need not be discussed in any length herein.
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FIGS. 1-3 show a type of cable tie often referred to as azip tie 10 that is typical of the prior art. Thezip tie 10 includes a lockinghead 12 and anelongate tie strap 14. Thetie strap 14 may include a series ofslots 24. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that theslots 24 may optionally be teeth, holes or other mechanisms commonly used on the tie strap of a zip tie. - The locking
head 12 may include abody 15 that may typically be parallelepiped in shape. The body may be defined by anentry face 25 anexit face 23 and aperipheral wall 21, which may extend around thebody 15 of the lockinghead 12 between theentry face 25 and theexit face 23. Achannel 20 may extend through thebody 15 from anentry port 17 on theentry face 25 to theexit port 16 on theexit face 23. Thechannel 20 typically includes apawl 22 on one side and anabutment wall 19 opposite thepawl 22. The portion of thebody 15 between theabutment wall 19 and theperipheral wall 21 is an abutment buttressregion 18. - In use, the
tie strap 14 forms aloop 26 by inserting it into theentry port 17 on theentry face 25 and through thechannel 20 of the lockinghead 12. Theslots 24 engage thepawl 22 and thetie strap 14 protrudes outward through theexit port 16 on theexit face 23. Theloop 26 may be tightened to securely retain cables or other objects. The use of apawl 22 or similar mechanism provides for movement of thetie strap 14 through the lockinghead 12 in asingle direction 27. - The
tie strap 14 may extend some distance from the lockinghead 12. This protrudedregion 28 may extends a substantial difference and get in the way of other objects or devices. Often, the protrudedregion 28 is clipped atlocation 25 for both practical and as aesthetic reasons. As a result, the protrudedregion 28 is wasted and is often thrown away. Thezip tie 10 may thus be used to wrap around and tightly restrained one or more objects. If one or more of the objects is removed, theloop 26 may be shrunk by pulling more oftie strap 14 through the lockinghead 12. However, it is not possible to add more objects such as cables into theloop 26 because it may not be expanded. - The abutment buttress
region 18 may typically be a relatively thick region of thebody 15. This strengthens theabutment wall 19, thereby strengthening the one-way locking of thetie strap 14 within thehead 12. Theloop 26 may on occasion be subjected to substantial force pulling thetie strap 14 in the opposite direction. By buttressing the abutment wall, the locking mechanism within the lockinghead 12 may be capable of withstanding substantial force. -
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a multipurposecable tie lock 30 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The multipurposecable tie lock 30 may include abody 31 having anentry wall 34, and exit wall (not shown) andperipheral wall 32. Twochannels body 31. Each of thechannels 36 may have anabutment wall 33 and an abutment buttressregion 35 between theabutment wall 33 and theperipheral wall 32. Thesechannels 36 may each also include a pawl or other mechanism for providing locking and one-way transition through thechannels abutment walls 33. In this embodiment, thebody 31 is latterly symmetric about agroove 38. Thegroove 38 may optionally run across the entire surface, including theentry face 34,peripheral wall 32 and exit face, not shown. -
FIG. 5 shows a multipurposecable tie lock 30 in use with atie strap 40. It may be seen here that thechannels teeth 43 for engaging theteeth 44 on thetie strap 40. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is an alternative mechanism commonly used with cable ties or zip ties. Thetie strap 14 may be the unused protruding region of a tie strap such asitem 28 inFIG. 3 after having been cut atlocation 25, thereby formingrough end 42. Optionally, thetie strap 40 may be formed without a locking head for use with a multipurposecable tie lock 30. - The
rough end 42 may be first inserted into thechannel 36 in the direction ofarrow 39 such that therough end 42 may be substantially flush with theexit face 49. The front or smooth and 50 of thetie strap 40 may then be inserted through thechannel 37 in the direction ofarrow 47, thereby forming aloop 41 that may be used to securely hold together a plurality of cords orother objects 45. Thesmooth end 50 may be pulled so that thestrap 40 andloop 41 are sufficiently tight. Optionally, all or a portion of thetie strap 40 protruding outward from theexit face 49 of thelock 30 may be clipped and removed for both as aesthetic and practical reasons. The multipurposecable tie lock 30 thus allows an otherwise unused, wasted portion of a cable tie such asregion 28 ofFIG. 3 to be used and not wasted. - If an operator wishes to disengage the
strap 40 from thelock 30, he or she may clipped thestrap 40 at the point where it enters thechannel 36. Thestrap 40 may then be pulled all the way throughchannel 37 while the relatively small portion of the strap within thechannel 36 may be similarly pushed through and discarded. As a result, only a very small portion of the strap may be wasted. The remaining portion of thestrap 40 and thelock 30 may be reengaged to secure the cords orother objects 45 plus additional objects, or may be used to secure completely different items. In this embodiment,channels -
FIGS. 6 shows a multipurposecable tie lock 52 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Here, a commoncable zip tie 10 of the prior art has formed itsloop 26 by runningtie strap 14 through lockinghead 12.Loop 26 secures and restrainsobjects 54. The protrudingregion 28 oftie strap 14 has been inserted into afirst channel 60 of themultipurpose lock 52, which allows sliding of a tie strap in the direction ofarrow 62. Thetie strap 14 may then form asecond loop 56 aboutobjects 58 and then be inserted into asecond channels 64 that allows sliding in the direction ofarrow 66. Thus,multipurpose cable lock 52 differs frommultipurpose cable lock 30 in that the two channels provide sliding in opposite directions. Thedistal end 68 of thetie strap 14 may be cut at the point where it protrudes from thesecond channels 64 or may be used with another multipurpose cable tie lock to secure additional objects. -
FIG. 7 demonstrates how a multipurposecable tie lock 30 may be used in conjunction with a multipurposecable tie lock 71 with atie strap 70 in order to accomplish the same functionality as the system shown inFIG. 6 . Multipurposecable tie lock 71 operates the same as multipurposecable tie lock 52. That is, itschannels cable tie lock 71 includes another functionality. Rotation joint 78 may allow rotation around the center of the multipurpose cable tie lock. The rotation joint 78 may optionally include a locking mechanism such that once thechannels cable tie lock 71 may be locked into place to hold the two channels in their orientation to one another. Thus, whileFIG. 7 shows thelock 71 withchannels cable tie lock 30. -
FIG. 8 shows a system of multipurpose cable tied locks 89. To cable tie locks 30 used in succession with atie strap 90. The cable locks 30 allow twoobjects 88 to be held together tightly without actually being in contact. It may be desirable to keepobjects 88 from being in direct contact. Optionally, the configuration shown inFIG. 8 may result from using thetie strap 90 and afirst cable lock 30 to restrain a single object by forming aloop 92. At a later point in time, it may be desirable to attach asecond object 88 adjacent to the first object. In this situation, no additional tie straps are required. An operator may simply use a second multipurposecable tie lock 32 to form asecond loop 94 and add thesecond object 88 to the system. -
FIG. 9 shows tocable lock systems 89 that have been combined together using another multipurposecable tie lock 95. In this embodiments, to separatecable lock systems 89 may be secured to one another using a multi-purposecable tie lock 95 to connect the tie straps 90. -
FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a multipurposecable tie lock 100. Thecable tie lock 100 has abody 102 having afront face 104, aperipheral wall 108 and a rear face not shown. The multipurposecable tie lock 100 may also include threechannels 106. The inclusion of a third channel further broadens the uses and advantages of the multipurposecable tie lock 100. -
FIG. 11 shows another alternative embodiment of a multipurposecable tie lock 110. Multipurposecable tie lock 110 includes abody 112 having afirst channel 114 and twochannels 116. The twochannels 116 are parallel to each other while thefirst channel 114 is anti-parallel to thechannels 116. The multipurpose cable tiedlock 110 may also include aridge 120 that may be formed to allow easy separation ofsections channel 120. It may be desirable in some cases to split a multipurpose cable tie lock into separate components. -
FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of a dualchannel tie lock 130 in accordance with the principles of the invention. In this embodiments, the dualchannel tie lock 130 may include twochannels 130, each having apawl 138. Thechannels 130 extend from theentry face 136 to theexit face 134. Zip tie straps engaging the dualchannel tie lock 130 may run parallel to each other. -
FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of a dualchannel tie lock 140 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Dualchannel tie lock 140 may haveanti-parallel channels 144, each containing apawl 148. Theanti-parallel channels 144 extend from afirst face 142 to asecond face 146. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that zip tie straps may engage thechannels 144 opposite to one another and inverted relative to one another. -
FIG. 14 shows another alternative embodiment of a dual channelzip tie lock 150 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Twochannels 154 may be parallel but inverted relative to one another and may extend fromentry face 158 to exitface 152.FIGS. 12-14 are exemplary of some optional configurations that a dual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention may include. -
FIG. 15 shows a grid ormatrix 160 formed from several dual channel tie locks 162 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The dual channel tie locks 162 may be connected by vertical next 164 and horizontal 166. Optionally, the next 164 and 166 may be broken relatively easily by bending and or twisting them. Amatrix 160 may be advantageous for providing several dual channel tie locks 162 in a configuration that may be easy and convenient to store prior to use. Optionally, amatrix 160 may be beneficial for configuring a plurality of cords, cables or other devices in close proximity to one another. For example, if three cables are intended to run parallel to one another over a distance, one cable may be attached to the dual channel tie locks ofrow 161, another cable may be attached to the tie locks ofrow 163, and a third cable may be attached to the tie locks ofrow 165. Thehorizontal necks 166 may then be broken while thevertical necks 164 are kept intact. This may result in four groups of three parallel tie locks 162 which may then be spread apart while keeping cables properly oriented relative to one another. -
FIG. 16 shows an alternative embodiment of a dualchannel tie lock 170 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The dualchannel tie lock 170 may have two channels 174 housed within abody 172. Thetop face 176 of thetie lock 170 may include atab 182 configured to slide and/or snap into a socket such assocket 180 on thebottom face 178 of thetie lock 170. Dual channel tie locks 170 may be connected into two or more tandem tie locks 170. -
FIGS. 17-18 show acircular tab 182 on thetop surface 176 and around socket 180 on thebottom face 178.Circular tab 182 may be inserted into and engage with thesocket 180 by pushing thetab 182 throughsocket entrance 181. When thetab 182 is snapped into thesocket 180, it may allow two tandem tie locks 170 to rotate relative to one another along a vertical axis. -
FIGS. 19-20 show alternative embodiments of a tab and socket in accordance with the principles of the invention. Atop face 184 may include atrapezoidal tab 186 which may taper downward from its top to thetop face 184. Abottom face 188 may include asocket 190 that tapers inward as it progresses toward thebottom face 188. Thetab 186 may be inserted into thesocket 190 by pushing it throughsocket entrance 194. Twoshoulders 192 hold thetab 186 securely in place within thesocket 190. -
FIG. 21 shows to dual channel tie locks 170 connected to one another using thetab 182 and thesocket 180. Additional tie locks 170 may be coupled to either of the shown tie locks. This may allow an operator to attach several dual channel tie locks together in tandem. -
FIG. 22 shows a dualchannel tie lock 170 and aspacer 200 and accordance with the principles of the invention. The spacer may include abody 202 having a desired length. Thespacer 200 may include atab 206 corresponding to asocket 180 and asocket 204 corresponding to a tab such as 182. Aspacer 200 may be used to adjust the distance between two or more tie locks. -
FIG. 23 shows an alternative embodiment of dual channel tie locks to 210 in accordance with principles of the invention. Each tie lock to 210 may include atab 212 and asocket 214. Thetab 212 and thesocket 214 may have configurations similar to those shown inFIGS. 17-20 . Tie locks 210 may be snap together side-by-side rather than top to bottom as shown inFIG. 21 . -
FIG. 24 shows a plurality of alternative embodiments of dual channel tie locks 220 and accordance with the principles of the invention. Eachtie lock 220 may include atab 222 configured to engage with asocket 224 or, optionally, asocket 226. Similarly,tabs 226 may be configured to engage with sockets to 228 and/or sockets to 224. This embodiment may be used to configure dual channel tie locks in a plurality of different ways. -
FIG. 25 shows an alternative embodiment of azip tie 230 configured to interact with dual head tie locks similar to those shown inFIGS. 16-24 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Azip tie 230 may features similar to those of the zip ties shown inFIGS. 1-3 . Thezip tie 230 may include alock head 232 and astrap 234. Thelock head 232 may include achannel 236 having apawl 238. The top in 235 of thelock head 232 may include asocket 240 configured to engage with a tab similar to those shown inFIGS. 16-24 . -
FIG. 26 shows another alternative embodiment of azip tie 250 configured to interact with dual head tie locks similar to those shown inFIGS. 16-24 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Thezip tie 250 may include alock head 252 and astrap 254. Thezip tie 250 may include achannel 256 having apawl 258. The top 255 of thelock head 252 may include atab 260 configured to engage sockets such as those shown inFIGS. 16-24 . Bothtab 260 andsocket 240 may be round and configured to allow rotation or may optionally be designed to engage a tool head lock rigidly to prevent rotation. -
FIG. 27 shows alock head ring 270 comprised of a plurality of lock heads 272 forming an annular ring. Each of the lock heads 272 includes achannel 274. Thechannels 274 may be configured parallel to each other such that straps enter thechannels 274 from the exterior of the ring and enter thecenter 278 of the ring when they exit the lock heads 272. Optionally, thechannels 274 may be configured in an opposite manner such that strapsinter-the lockets 272 from thecenter 278. Optionally, thechannels 274 may alternate between parallel and anti-parallel configurations sequentially about thering 270.Necks 276 may connect adjacent lock heads 272. Thenecks 276 may be designed to easily break or may optionally may be designed to disconnect and reconnect. -
FIG. 28 shows an alternative embodiment of atie strap 300 having an elongate cylindrical andflexible body 302.Annular flanges 304 may be evenly spaced along the longitudinal length of thebody 302.Flanges 304 may include aflat side 306 that may be substantially planar and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thebody 302.Flanges 304 may extend completely or partially about thebody 302. -
FIG. 29 shows an alternative embodiment of a dualchannel tie lock 310 having abody 312, twocylindrical channels 316, asocket 318 and atab 320. In this embodiment, each of the twochannels 316 includes two diametricallyopposed pawls 314. Dualchannel tie lock 310 may include many of the same functionalities of other exemplary dual channel tie locks shown in the previous drawings. Dualchannel tie lock 310 may be configured to engage a tie strap such as the one shown inFIG. 28 . -
FIG. 30 shows another alternative embodiment of a dualchannel tie lock 330 configured to engage a tie strap such as the one shown inFIG. 28 . Dualchannel tie lock 330 may include afirst body 332 having acylindrical channel 336 and asecond body 334 having acylindrical channel 338. Bothchannels more pawls 340 that engage a tie strap fed through it.Body 332 may include atab 348 and asocket 350. Similarly,body 334 may include atab 344 and asocket 346. In this embodiment, thebodies bodies bodies -
FIG. 31 shows an alternative embodiment of atie lock 400 and accordance with the principles of the invention.Tie lock 400 includes a dualchannel tie lock 404 having tosymmetrical components zip tie strip 410 has a tapered in 412 that may be flexed around and fed in to a channel incomponent 406. Thezip tie strip 410 also has aflat stop plate 414. Thestrip 410 passes through a channel withincomponent 408 and thestop plate 414abut component 408. Thestop plate 414 prevents the dualchannel tie lock 404 from sliding off thezip ties strip 410.Component 408 of the dualchannel tie lock 404 may only move along thestrip 410 in the direction shown byarrow 416. It may be desirable to provide dual channel tie locks and the configuration shown inFIG. 31 to facilitate easy manipulation of a tie lock mechanism and a zip tie strip. - It may also be desirable to package and organize dual channel tie locks and zip tie straps and cartridges that may be used in conjunction with a zip tie gun.
- Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated.
- As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims (17)
1.-3. (canceled)
4. A cable tie lock comprising;
a parallelepiped body defined by a first face, a peripheral wall and a second face;
two channels each extending from the first face to the second face through the body;
wherein each channel includes a pawl and an abutment wall opposite the pawl;
wherein the pawl in each channel limits motion of a cable tie through the channel to one direction only.
5. The cable tie lock of claim 4 wherein the channels both allow a cable tie to travel in the same direction.
6. The cable tie lock of claim 4 wherein each channel allows a cable tie to travel through it only in a direction opposite to the other channel.
7. The cable tie lock of claim 4 further comprising a cable tie extending from the peripheral wall.
8. The cable tie lock of claim 4 further comprising a third channel having a pawl and an abutment wall opposite the pawl.
9. The cable tie lock of claim 4 wherein the body is comprised of two modules, each module having one of the channels.
10. The cable tie lock of claim 9 wherein the modules may be rotated relative to each other.
11. The cable tie lock of claim 9 wherein the modules may be separated into two separate single channel tie locks.
12. The cable tie lock of claim 11 wherein the modules may be re-attached.
13. The cable tie lock of claim 12 wherein the modules may be reattached in only one orientation relative to each other.
14. The cable tie lock of claim 4 wherein the peripheral wall comprises four walls, wherein one wall includes a tab and an opposing wall includes a socket capable of removably engaging a tab on a second cable tie lock.
15. A system of cable tie locks comprising a plurality of cable tied locks each having:
a parallelepiped body defined by a first face, a peripheral wall and a second face; and,
two channels each extending from the first face to the second face through the body;
wherein each channel includes a pawl and an abutment wall opposite the pawl;
wherein the pawl in each channel limits motion of a cable tie through the channel to one direction only;
wherein the peripheral wall comprises four walls, wherein one wall includes a tab and an opposing wall includes a socket; and,
wherein a tab on one cable tie lock removably engages a tab on a second cable tie lock.
16. The system of cable tie locks of claim 15 wherein two removably engaged cable tie locks are rotatable relative to each other.
17. The system of cable tie locks of claim 15 wherein two removably engaged tie locks are not rotatable relative to each other.
18. The system of cable tie locks of claim 15 wherein two removably engaged tie locks have channels perpendicular to each other.
16. The system of cable tie locks of claim 14 wherein two removably engaged tie locks have channels parallel to each other.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/221,382 US20170050787A1 (en) | 2015-07-27 | 2016-07-27 | Dual channel tie lock |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201562197453P | 2015-07-27 | 2015-07-27 | |
US15/221,382 US20170050787A1 (en) | 2015-07-27 | 2016-07-27 | Dual channel tie lock |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20170050787A1 true US20170050787A1 (en) | 2017-02-23 |
Family
ID=58156972
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/221,382 Abandoned US20170050787A1 (en) | 2015-07-27 | 2016-07-27 | Dual channel tie lock |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20170050787A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD812459S1 (en) * | 2017-04-06 | 2018-03-13 | Joseph Gerald Miller | Lock for ratcheting tie system |
US11180299B1 (en) * | 2019-10-09 | 2021-11-23 | Raul E. Montejo | Rotatable multipositional fasteners |
-
2016
- 2016-07-27 US US15/221,382 patent/US20170050787A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD812459S1 (en) * | 2017-04-06 | 2018-03-13 | Joseph Gerald Miller | Lock for ratcheting tie system |
US11180299B1 (en) * | 2019-10-09 | 2021-11-23 | Raul E. Montejo | Rotatable multipositional fasteners |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |