WO2002006714A1

WO2002006714A1 - Flexible locking tie

Info

Publication number: WO2002006714A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/001264
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Vincent Herbert
Original assignee: Alan Vincent Herbert
Priority date: 2000-07-18
Filing date: 2001-07-17
Publication date: 2002-01-24
Also published as: AU2001269372A1; ZA200202118B

Abstract

A tie comprises a first strap (12) and a second strap (14) which are connected to one another. The first strap comprises first and second strap elements (16.1, 16.2) connected in overlapping relationship to one another by means of a pair of eyelets (22). The first strap element has 'Velcro' type hook formations on one of the faces thereof and the second strap element (16.2) has 'Velcro' type loop formations one of the faces thereof, said one face of the first strap element facing towards said one face of the second strap element. The second strap is in the form of a conventional cable tie whose tail (26) is threaded through the eyelets.

Description

F EXIBLΞ LOCKING TIE

This invention relates to a tie.

The tie of the invention is particularly useful for keeping an electric cord or cable, when rolled or wound up, tidy when not in use, or for fastening the cord or cable releasably to another object. According to the invention there is provided a tie which comprises: a strap which comprises first and second strap elements connected in overlapping face-to-face relationship to one another, the first strap element having the hook formations of loop-and-hook astener means on one of the faces thereof and the second strap element having the loop formations of loop-and-hook fastener means on one of the faces thereof, said one face of the first strap element facing towards or opposite said one face of the second strap element; and a fastener connected to the strap, for fastening the strap to an electric cable, cord or the like.

Said strap may be a first strap, the fastener being in the form of a second strap having complementary fastener means at opposite ends thereof.

The loop-and-hook fastener means can be of the type that is available in the trade under the brand name "Velcro".

The second strap may be in the form of a cable tie of the type having a head at one end thereof and a flexible tail extending from the head, the head having an opening therein through which the tail can be threaded, and an inwardly directed pawl in the head, and the tail having ratchet teeth thereon with which the pawl engages when the tail is threaded through the opening, whereby the tail can be pulled through the opening in one direction to tighten the cable tie, whereas reverse movement of the tail through the opening is resisted by the pawl.

The first and second strap elements may be connected to one another by means of a pair of eyelets, the second strap being connected to the first strap by the tail thereof being threaded through the eyelets.

In one form of the invention the first and second strap elements may be aligned with one another, with adjacent ends of the first and second strap elements overlapping one another.

In another form of the invention the first strap element may extends beyond opposite lateral edges of the second strap element, and the second strap element may extend beyond opposite lateral edges of the first strap element.

The first strap element may be substantially longer than the second strap element. The first and second strap elements may extend transversely to one another, there being an angle between them which is greater than 0° and less than 90°.

The extent to which the second strap element extends beyond each lateral edge of the first strap element may be approximately equal to the width of the first strap element.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a tie in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, when not in use;

Figure 2 shows the tie of Figure 1 in position on an electric cord;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a tie in accordance with a second embodiment the invention, as seen from one side thereof; Figure 4 is a plan view of the tie of Figure 3, as seen from the opposite side thereof; Figure 5 is a view in the direction of arrow V in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-section through a bundle of cables, showing the tie of Figures 3 to 5 in position to hold the cables together; and Figure 7 is a view in the direction of arrow VII in Figure 6.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a tie which has a first strap 12 and a second strap 1 , the two straps being connected to one another.

The first strap 12 comprises two strap elements 16.1 and 16.2 of "Velcro" type material. The one strap element 16.1 is of the type having "Velcro" type hook formations 18 on one of the faces thereof, and the other strap element 1 6.2 is of the type having "Velcro" type loop formations 20 on one of the faces thereof. The two strap elements 16.1 and 16.2 are aligned with one another and connected end-to-end, with end portions thereof overlapping, by means of a pair of small eyelets 22 which pass through the overlapping end portions. They are connected to one another in such a manner that the side of the strap element 16.1 which has the hook formations 18 thereon faces the strap element 1 6.2, and that the side of the strap element 16.2 which has the loop formations 20 thereon faces the strap element 16.1 .

The second strap 14 is in the form of a conventional cable tie having a head 24 at one end thereof and a flexible tail 26 which extends from the head. The second strap or cable tie 14 is connected to the first strap 12 by virtue of the tail 26 being threaded through the eyelets 22.

The head 24 of the cable tie has an opening 28 therein, and an inwardly protruding pawl (not visible) inside the head, and the tail 26 has a series of ratchet teeth 30 thereon. Cable ties of this type are commercially available and commonly used in forming wiring harnesses. The tie 10 is installed on an electric cord 32 by tying the cable tie 14 to the cord, tightening it, and, if desired, cutting off the protruding end of the tail 26. This secures the tie 10 firmly to the cord. The strap 12 can now be used to secure the cord to another object or, when the cord 32 is in a rolled or wound up condition, to secure the coils of the cord neatly together.

Although the cord 32 that is shown in the drawings is of the three-core type, it will be appreciated that it will also be possible to use the tie with other kinds of cord, e.g. a two core electric cord.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 5, reference numeral 40 generally indicates a tie which comprises a first strap 42 and a second strap 44. The first strap 42 is constituted by a first strap element 42.1 and a second strap element 42.2, the first and second strap elements being connected together face to face by means of a pair of eyelets 46.

The first strap element 42.1 is in the form of a length of "Velcro" type material, of the kind having "Velcro" type loops on that face thereof which faces the second strap element 42.2. It has a width of about 15mm.

The second strap element 42.2 is also of "Velcro" type material, of the kind having "Velcro" type hooks on that face thereof which faces the first strap element 42.1 . It has a width of about 25mm. The first and second strap elements 42.1 , 42.2 extend at an angle A to one another. The angle A is greater than 0° and less than 90° . The most suitable value of the angle A will depend on various factors such as the width of the strap element 42.1 and the diameter of the bundle of cables to be tied together by the first strap. In a construction where the strap element 42.1 has a width of 15mm, an angle A of between about 70° and 75° has been found to be satisfactory.

As can be seen in the drawings, the strap element 42.1 is substantially longer than the strap element 42.2. The strap element 42.1 extends beyond opposite lateral edges of the strap element 42.2, and the ends thereof are cut parallel to the edges of the strap element 42.2. Likewise, the strap element 42.2 extends beyond the opposite lateral edges of the strap element 42.1 , and the ends thereof are cut parallel to the edges of the strap element 42.1 . The extent to which each of the ends of the strap element 42.2 extends beyond the corresponding edge of the strap element 42.1 is about equal to the width of the strap element 42.1.

The second strap 44 is in the form of a conventional cable tie having a head 50 at one end thereof and a flexible tail 52 which extends from the head. The head 50 of the cable tie has an opening 54 therein, and the tail 52 has a series of ratchet teeth 56 thereon. The second strap 44 is connected to the first strap 42 by the tail 52 thereof being threaded through the eyelets 46.

The manner in which the tie 40 is used will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. To tie a number of cables C1 , C2 together in a bundle, the tie 40 is attached to a first of the cables C1 by means of the second strap 44. Tension is applied to the tail 52, so as to tighten the cable tie onto the cable C1 . Once this has been done, the tie will not be able to slide readily along the length of the cable C1 . The protruding end of the tail 52 may be cut off at this stage. The other cables C2 are then bundled together with one another and with the cable C1 and tied in this condition by means of the strap elements 42.1 , 42.2. To do this, one end of the strap element 42.1 is wound in a helical fashion once around the bundle of cables C1 , C2 and fastened to one of the protruding ends of the strap element 42.2. Likewise, the other end of the strap element 42.1 is wound in a helical fashion around the bundle of cables C1 , C2, in the other direction, and fastened to the other protruding end of the strap element 42.2. The first strap element 42.1 will thus extend in a helical path around the bundle of cables C2. The tied bundle of cables C1 , C2 will now be in the condition illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

The tie 40 is particularly suitable for use in the home or office, to keep the cables of computer and other electrical or electronic equipment tidy.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A tie characterised in that it comprises: a strap (12) which comprises first and second strap elements (16.1 , 16.2) connected in overlapping face-to-face relationship to one another, the first strap element (16.1 ) having the hook formations (18) of loop-and-hook fastener means on one of the faces thereof and the second strap element (16.2) having the loop formations (20) of loop-and-hook fastener means on one of the faces thereof, said one face of the first strap element facing towards or opposite said one face of the second strap element; and a fastener (14) connected to the strap, for fastening the strap to an electric cable, cord or the like (32).

2. A tie as claimed in claim 1 , said strap being a first strap, characterised in that said fastener is in the form of a second strap (14) having complementary fastener means at opposite ends thereof.

3. A tie as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the second strap (14) is in the form of a cable tie of the type having a head (24) at one end thereof and a flexible tail (26) extending from the head, the head having an opening (28) therein through which the tail can be threaded, and an inwardly directed pawl in the head, and the tail having ratchet teeth (30) thereon with which the pawl engages when the tail is threaded through the opening, whereby the tail can be pulled through the opening in one direction to tighten the cable tie, whereas reverse movement of the tail through the opening is resisted by the pawl.

4. A tie as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the first and second strap elements (16.1 , 16.2) are connected to one another by means of a pair of eyelets (22), the second strap (14) being connected to the first strap (12) by the tail (26) thereof being threaded through the eyelets.

5. A tie as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first and second strap elements (1 6.1 , 16.2) are aligned with one another, with adjacent ends of the first and second strap elements overlapping one another.

6. A tie as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the first strap element (42.1 ) extends beyond opposite lateral edges of the second strap element (42.2), and that the second strap element extends beyond opposite lateral edges of the first strap element.

7. A tie as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the first strap element (42.1 ) is substantially longer than the second strap element (42.2).

8. A tie as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the first and second strap elements (42.1 , 42.2) extend transversely to one another, there being an angle (A) between them which is greater than 0° and less than 90° .

9. A tie as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the extent to which the second strap element (42.1 ) extends beyond each lateral edge of the first strap element (42.1 ) is approximately equal to the width of the first strap element.

10. A tie substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

1 1 . A tie substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 of the drawings.