US3147522A

US3147522A - Flexible tie

Info

Publication number: US3147522A
Application number: US113729A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schumm Erich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-06-01
Filing date: 1961-05-31
Publication date: 1964-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-08

Description

E. SCHUMM FLEXIBLE TIE Sept. 8, 1964 '2 Speets-Shet 1 Filed May 51, 1961 F/G/ 5 i 2 FIG 2 x 1 v 2 r 3 3 INVENTOR- ZzinZ. i Quad/um.

United States Patent 3,147,522 FLELE TIE Erich Schamrn, Siegelsherger trasse 17, Murrhardt, Wurtternberg, Germany Filed May 31, 1961, Ser. No. 113,729 Claims priority, application, Germany, .lune 1, 1960, Sch 27,976 15 Claims. (Cl. 2416) The present invention relates to a tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article and this tightening device may also be used as a closure member for closing, for instance, the open end of a bag.

It is one object of the present invention to provide for a tightening device which can be easily formed into a loop.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a tightening device which can be easily formed into a loop and in which the loop, when tightened about an article, will be prevented from loosening again under the influence of the longitudinal stress imparted thereto during tightening.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a tightening device which can be easily formed into a loop which does not open under the influence of the longitudinal stress imparted to the device during tightening of the loop, but which can be conveniently opened if desired, preferably without destroying any part of the tightening device, so that the latter may be reused again.

It is yet an additional object of the present invention to provide for such a tightening device which is constructed in such a manner so as to lend itself to massmanufacture at very reasonable cost.

With these objects in view the tightening device of the present invention mainly comprises an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of a given cross-section and an enlarged end portion at one end of the strip of a width and thickness greater than that of the main portion. The enlarged end portion is formed with an elongated aperture extending in longitudinal direction of the strip therethrough and having in unstressed condition a cross-section substantially equal to the cross-section of the main portion of the strip so that the other end of the strip can be drawn through the aperture to form the strip into a loop with part of the main portion of the strip extending beyond the loop.

To facilitate the forming of the elongated strip into a loop, the elongated strip is preferably formed in the region of one end of the strip with a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of the main portion and the enlarged end portion of the strip at the other end thereof is preferably formed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of the strip and having a transversely extending wide base portion of a cross-section substantially equal to the cross-section of the main portion of the strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion, but greater than that of the narrow strip portion, so that the narrow strip portion may be inserted through the narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through the base portion of the slot to form a loop with part of the main portion extending beyond the loop.

To provide for a more secure holding of the loop in tightened position, the main portion of the strip may also be provided with a plurality of saw-tooth shaped serrations or projections and the enlarged end portion of the strip may be provided with abutment means for engagement with at least one of these projections for preventing, after the main portion of the strip has been drawn through the slot and been tightened in the form of a loop about an article, looseningof the loop under the influence of longitudinal stresses imparted thereto during tightening.

The elongated strip may also be formed on the end thereof opposite the enlarged end portion with a gripping portion having a width greater than that of the main portion. The two enlarged end portions of the thus formed strip have preferably a cylindrical configuration.

Such strips are preferably molded with the elongated strips extending parallel to and spaced from each other and adjacent enlarged end portions of the strips connected by a plurality of narrow connecting portions integral with the enlarged end portions, which connecting portions may be easily severed to provide thus for a plurality of separate strips.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial top view of the tightening device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial, partially sectioned side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIIII of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the tightening device illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 applied in form of a loop to some articles;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the tightening device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along line VIVI of FIG. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a further embodiment of the tightening device according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 7 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the tightening device shown in FIGS. 7-9 to the end portion of a bag for closing the latter;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 10 and showing the tightening device tightened about the end portion of a bag;

FIG. 12 is a partially sectioned side view showing the embodiment of FIG. 7 formed into a loop and schematically illustrating the manner of opening the loop;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of yet another embodiment of the tightening device according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a partially sectional side View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV- XV of FIG. 13 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic top view illustrating a plurality of tightening strips according to the present invention connected together in the manner these strips are manufactured.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4 of the same, it will be seen that the tightening device of the present invention illustrated in these figures comprises an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material such as rubber or a suitable synthetic plastic material, which strip has a main portion 1 of preferably rectangular cross-section of a width substantially greater than the thickness thereof. Spaced from the right end of the strip, as viewed in FIG. 1, the elongated strip is formed with a narrow portion of a width smaller than the main portion 1. At the left end, as viewed in FIG. 1, the strip is provided with an enlarged end portion 2 having a width and thickness greater than that of the main portion 1 so as to project with a part thereof beyond one main face of the strip as can be clearly seen from FIG. 2. The en larged end portion 2 is formed with an elongated slot 3 of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of the strip and having a transverse wide base portion 3a of a cross-section substantially equal to the cross-section of the main portion 1 of the strip, and a narrow open central slot portion 3!) extending from the transverse base portion to the upper face of the enlarged portion 2. The narrow central slot portion 3b has a Width smaller than the width of the main portion 1, but greater than that of the narrow strip portion 5, so that the narrow strip portion 5 may be inserted through the narrow open central portion 312 of the slot and the main portion 1 then drawn in longitudinal direction through the base portion 3a of the slot to form a loop with part of the main portion extending beyond the 100p. The loop thus formed may then be tightened about one or two articles 6a and 6b as shown in FIG. 4.

This loop may be loosened again by pulling the enlarged end portion 2 towards the right, as viewed in FIG. 4, or, by gripping the end portion 5 and pulling the same in a direction transverse to its elongation away from the loop in which case, the shoulders 30 formed by the T-shaped slot 3 in the enlarged end portion 2 will flex outwardly while the main portion 1 engaged in the slot will also curve transverse to its elongation so that the engaged main portion may be pulled out in transverse direction through the slot. Of course, the shoulders 30 have to be formed strong enough so that the loop cannot accidentally open after being tightened.

The right end portion of the strip, as shown in FIG. 1 may also be provided with identification markings 4, which may, when the device of the present invention is used as an identification strip tightened about a pair of grape vines as shown in FIG. 4, for instance indicate a specific year. The markings may also consist of a plurality of successive numbers or any other symbols whereby some of the numbers or other symbols adjacent to the free end of the strip may be cut away to provide for varying identification markings at the end of the strip; These identification markings may be embossed, or integrally molded in raised form at the end of the strip, or printed thereon.

The elongated strip may also be formed in the region of the right end thereof, as viewed in FIG. 1, with a projection 4a integral with the strip to form a cross-section greater than the cross-section of the base portion 3a of the T-shaped slot 3 in the enlarged end portion 2 of the strip. In this way, two strips, at least one of which is provided with such a transverse projection 4a may be connected together by inserting the narrow portion 5 of the strip provided with the projection 4a into the T-shaped slot 3 of a second strip, pulling then the first strip toward the left as viewed in FIG. 1 until the projection 4a abuts against the enlarged end portion 2 of the second strip and finally, forming the thus combined strips into a loop by inserting the narrow end portion of the second strip into the T-shaped slot 3 of the first strip and pulling the main portion 1 of the second strip in longitudinal direction through the base portion 3a of the T-shaped slot in the end portion of the first strip.

If it is desired to provide for more secure means against accidental opening of the tightened loop, additional locking means may be provided on the main portion of the strip, and on the enlarged end portion thereof. Various modifications of such locking means are shown in FIGS. 5-15.

The modification shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the modification described above, in that the main portion 1a of the strip is formed on opposite longitudinal edges thereof with sawtooth-shaped serrations 8 and the wide base portion of the T-shaped slot 3 in the enlarged end portion 2a of the strip is provided with sawtooth-shaped projections 9 projecting from opposite side faces of the transverse slot portion toward each other. It will be noted that the serrations 8 on the main portion 1a of the strip are slanted in a direction opposite to the direction which the projections 9 are slanted, so that when the elongated strip is formed into a loop with the main portion 1a drawn in longitudinal direction through the base portion 3a of the slot, the serrations 8 and the projections 9 will slightly flex during tightening of the loop while the faces of the serrations 8 normal to the longitudinal direction of the strip will engage the corresponding faces of the projections 9 to prevent reopening of the loop after tightening. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the narrow strip portion 5 is provided at the right end of the strip, as viewed in FIG. 5, and an additional narrow strip portion 7 is provided between the main portion 1a of the strip and the enlarged end portion 2a. The enlarged end portion 2a of this modification may also be provided with a circular opening 30! extending from the base portion 3a of the T-shaped slot in a direction opposite to the direction which the central portion 3b extends therefrom.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a further embodiment of the tightening device according to the present invention, FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the application of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9, to the end portion of a bag for closing the same, and FIG. 12 schematically illustrates the opening of a loop formed by the tightening device shown in FIGS. 7-9.

The tightening device illustrated in the FIGS. 7-12 comprises also an elongated strip having a main portion 112 of substantially rectangular cross-section from which

narrow strip portions

7 and 13 extend in opposite directions. These

narrow strip portions

7 and 13 have each a width smaller than that of the main portion 1b, and the narrow strip portion 13 has a thickness greater than that of the main portion 1b. A gripping portion 14 is provided at the right end, as viewed in FIG. 7, of the narrow strip portion 13 which gripping portion has a diameter greater than the width of the main portion 1b. An enlarged end portion 2b is integrally formed with the free, or left end as viewed in FIG. 7, of the narrow strip portion 7, and the enlarged end portion 2b is formed with an elongated slot 3 of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of the strip and having a wide transverse base portion 3a of a cross-section substantially identical to the cross-section of the main portion 11b of the strip and a narrow central slot portion 3b having a width greater than that of the narrow strip portion 13, but smaller than that of the main portion 1b. A plurality of saw-tooth shaped projections 10 are arranged longitudinally spaced from each other on the face of the main portion 1b opposite the face of the enlarged end portion 2b toward which the central slot portion 3b opens. The enlarged end portion 2b is also formed with an opening 3d extending from the base portions 3a of the T-shaped slot in the direction opposite to the narrow central slot portion toward the other face of the strip. A

bridging member 11 extends transverse through the opening 3d to form an abutment face for locking engagement with at least one of the projections for preventing, after the main portion 1b of the strip has been drawn through the T-shaped slot 3 and being tightened in form of a loop about an article, loosening of the loop. A flap 12 extends to the left as viewed in FIG. 7, from the enlarged end portion 2b.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the application of the tightening device shown in FIGS. 79 to the end portion of a bag for closing the latter. As can be seen from FIG. 10 the elongated strip may be formed into a loop by inserting the narrow portion 13 of the elongated strip into the T-shaped slot of the end portion 2b. By gripping then the gripping portions 14 of the strip and pulling the same in the direction of the arrow 16, the main portion 1b of the strip will be pulled through the transverse base portion of the slot 3 until the loop is properly tightened. In the tightened position of the loop, as shown in FIG. 12, two of the projections 10 will be located at opposite sides of the bridging member 11 with one tooth engaging the right transverse face, as viewed in FIG. 12, of the bridging member 11, and the other tooth engaging the left face portion of the opening 3d.

To open the loop after tightening, the gripping portion 14 is pulled in the direction as indicated by the arrow 17 of FIG. 12 away from the loop so as to flex the strip to the position shown in dash-dotted lines whereby the part of the main strip portion 1b is pulled out of the T-shaped slot by slightly deflecting the shoulders 3c formed on the enlarged end portion 2b and by simultaneously deforming the strip portion 112 in transverse direction.

FIGS. 13-15 show a further modification of the tightening device according to the present invention. The elongated strip of elastically stretchable material of the tightening device shown in FIGS. 13-15 includes also a main portion 10 of substantially rectangular cross-section and a pair of narrow strip portions 5 and 7 extending respectively, from opposite ends of the main strip portion 10. Integral with the left end of the narrow strip portion 7, as viewed in FIG, 13, is an enlarged end portion 2c of a width and thickness greater than that of the main portion 10 so as to project with one part thereof beyond one face of the strip. The enlarged end portion is formed in the projecting part thereof with an elongated aperture 3' extending in longitudinal direction of the strip and having a cross-section substantially identical with that of the main portion 1c. The elongated aperture 3 is closed at one side thereof by a preferably circular portion 18, whereas the enlarged end portion is formed with an opening 3" extending from the aperture 3' toward the other face of the strip which opening forms at the left side thereof, as viewed in FIG. 14, a first transverse abutment face 19. A flap 12 extends from the enlarged end portion 20 substantially in the plan of the strip and in a direction opposite to the direction of the strip portion 7, and this flap is formed with a second opening 29 forming a second transverse abutment face 19' spaced from the first abutment face 19. A plurality of saw-tooth shaped projections 10 are arranged longitudinally spaced from each other and projecting from the face of the main strip portion 10 toward which the opening 3" opens. The spacing of the abutment face 19 from the abutment face 19' is substantially equal to the spacing of the teeth 10.

With the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1315 the narrow end portion 5 has to be drawn in longitudinal direc- FIGS. 13-15, the loop cannot be opened in the manner as shown in FIG. 12, and reopening of the loop can be accomplished only by tearing the portion 18 from the end portion 20. To facilitate such severing of the portion 18, this portion may be connected to the remainder of the enlarged end portion 20 by relatively weak portions. Obviously, the tightening device as shown in FIGS. 13-15 cannot be reused after the loop has been opened by tearing the portion 18 from the remainder of the enlarged end portion 20.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates a plurality of tighten ing strips as shown in FIGS. 7l2 in which the strips are arranged substantially parallel and spaced from each other and in which the enlarged end portions 2b and 14 of adjacent strips are connected by narrow connecting portions 21. A plurality of such connecting strips as shown in FIG. 16 may be conveniently molded into a single mold.

The lattice-like article thus obtained may be fed in a direction, as indicated by the arrow 22, in a stepwise manner to a packing machine in which the connecting portions 21 may be severed and in which each of the thus severed strips may automatically be formed into a loop and tightened about an end portion of a filled bag to close the same, as described in connection with FIGS. 10 and 11.

It is one of the advantages of the tightening device of the present invention, especially of the tightening device as shown in FIGS. 1-12, that threading of the main portion of the strip through the slot of the enlarged end portion is greatly facilitated so that the whole operation can be conveniently handled by relatively simple auto matic packing machines.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of tightening devices differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a tightening device adapted to be tightened in the form of a loop about an article, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reval the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of a given cross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, sa-id strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip por tion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop.

2. A tightening device as defined in claim 1 and including identification markings on said one end of said strip.

3. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped crosssection extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said crosssection of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which a short narrow strip portion is also formed between said enlarged end portion and said main strip portion.

5. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller and a thickness greater than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop.

6. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-section and having spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped crosss-ection extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop; and a projection integral with said one end of said strip having a crosssection greater than the cross-section of said base portion of said slot.

7. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wdie transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop; and a gripping portion integral with said one end of said strip and having a width greater than that of said main portion.

8. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at opposite ends thereof cylindrical end portions each having a diameter greater than the width of said main portion and at least one having a thickness greater than that of the main portion of said strip, said one end portion being formed with an elongated slot extending 1n longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a Width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop.

9. An article of manufacture comprising, in combination, a plurality of elongated strips of elastically stretchable material arranged substantially parallel to and spaced transversely from each other and each including a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at opposite ends thereof cylindrical end portions each having a diameter greater than the width of said main portion and at least one having a thickness greater than that of the main portion of said strip, said one end portion being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion; and a plurality of narrow connecting portions integral with and connecting adjacent enlarged end portions of said strips to each other.

10. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the Width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop and a flap extending from said enlarged end portion substantially in the plane of said strip and in a direction opposite to the direction of said main strip portion.

11. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular crosssection and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop; a plurality of sawtooth shaped serrations formed on said main portion of said strip; and abutment means on said enlarged end portion for locking engagement with said serrations for preventing, after said main portion has been drawn through said slot and been tightened in form of a loop about an article, loosening of said loop.

12. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular crosssection and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said crosssection of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion, said transverse base portion of said slot tapering toward said main strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop; and a plurality of saw-tooth shaped serrations formed at least along one longitudinal edge of said main portion of said strip.

13. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portion of a Width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop; a plurality of sawtooth-like projections formed in said transverse base portion of said slot and projecting from side faces of said slot portion toward each other; and a plurality of sawtooth-like serrations formed on opposite side edges of said main portion for locking engagement with said saw-tooth-like projections when said main portion is drawn through said slot and tightened in loop form about an article, whereby said serrations engaging said projections will prevent loosening of said loop.

14. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular crosssection and in the region of and spaced from one end a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion of a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion, said enlarged end portion being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T- shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transverse base portion of a cross-section substantially identical to said crosssection of said main portion of said strip and a narrow central slot portion opening toward one face of said enlarged end portion and having a width greater than that of said narrow strip portion but smaller than that of said main strip portion; a plurality of saw-tooth shaped projections longitudinally arranged on the face of said main portion of said strip opposite said one face toward which said central slot portion opens; and abutment means on said enlarged end portion of said strip for locking engagement with at least one of said projections for preventing loosening of said loop after said main portion of said strip has been drawn through said slot and has been tightened in the form of a loop about an article.

15. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article, comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangular crosssection and in the region of and spaced from one end a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion of a width and thickness greater than that of said main portion, said enlarged end portion being formed with an elongated slot extending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transverse base portion of a cross-section substantially identical to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow central slot portion opening toward one face of said enlarged end portion and having a width greater than that of said narrow strip portion but smaller than that of said main strip portion, said enlarged end portion being also formed with an opening extending from said base portion of said slot in a direction opposite to said narrow central slot portion toward the other face of said strip; a plurality of saw-tooth shaped projections longitudinally arranged on the face of said main portion of said strip opposite said one face toward which said central slot portion opens; and a bridging member extending transverse through said opening and forming an abutment face for locking engagement with one of said projections for preventing loosening of said loop after said main portion of said strip has been drawn through said slot and has been tightened in the form of a loop 2,361,506 about an article. 2,470,402 2,548,104 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,900,696 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,619,803 Behrman Mar. 8, 1927 5 1 2,142,770 Wied Jan. 3, 1939 3 049,771

2,201,139 Ivey May 21, 1940 12. Smith Oct. 31, 1944 Jobst May 17, 1949 Prison Apr. 10, 1951 Bacon Aug. 25, 1959 Wrobel Dec. 1, 1959 Rapata May 17, 1960 Rifkin Mar. 28, 1961 Litwin et a1. Aug. 21, 1962

Claims

1. A TIGHTENING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE TIGHTENED IN FORM OF A LOOP ABOUT AN ARTICLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED STRIP OF ELASTICALLY STRETCHABLE MATERIAL HAVING A MAIN PORTION OF A GIVEN CROSS-SECTION AND IN THE REGION OF AND SPACED FROM ONE END OF SAID STRIP A NARROW PORTION OF A WIDTH SMALLER THAN THAT OF SAID MAIN PORTION, SAID STRIP HAVING AT THE OTHER END THEREOF AN ENLARGED END PORTION HAVING A WIDTH AND THICKNESS GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID MAIN PORTION AND BEING FORMED WITH AN ELONGATED SLOT EXTENDING IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID STRIP AND HAVING A WIDE TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING BASE PORTION HAVING A CROSS-SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO SAID CROSS-SECTION OF SAID MAIN PORTION OF SAID STRIP AND A NARROW OPEN CENTRAL SLOT PORTION OF A WIDTH SMALLER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID MAIN PORTION BUT GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID NARROW STRIP PORTION SO THAT SAID NARROW STRIP PORTION MAY BE INSERTED THROUGH SAID NARROW OPEN CENTRAL PORTION OF THE SLOT AND THE MAIN PORTION THEN DRAWN IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION THROUGH SAID BASE PORTION THEREOF TO FORM A LOOP WITH PART OF SAID MAIN PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND SAID LOOP.