WO2007116241A1

WO2007116241A1 - Quick tie strap

Info

Publication number: WO2007116241A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/003178
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Dragone; Mario Dragone
Original assignee: Antonio Dragone; Mario Dragone
Priority date: 2006-03-30
Filing date: 2006-11-13
Publication date: 2007-10-18
Also published as: ITTE20060008A1

Abstract

A quick tie strap is characterised by an open buckle (1) and a narrow portion (2) which can be inserted into the buckle, without letting go the tail end (3) of the strap, with the same movement as that for tightening the strap.

Description

Quick tie strap

Technical Field

This invention relates to a plastic strap.

Background Art Plastic bands or "straps" in a wide variety of different forms have been known and used for many years . These straps have teeth on one side, are smooth on the other and have a closed, variously shaped slotted buckle at one end and a narrower, tapered tie or "tail" at the other end. A suitably shaped buckle pin or projection protrudes into the hollow part of the slot to engage with one of the teeth on the strap in such a way as to tie groups of long thin items together.

In these prior art straps, the tail must be inserted into the slot from one side, held between finger and thumb on the other side and then pulled to the required tightness.

Tightening the strap therefore involves an irregular action of the hand between the moments the tail is inserted, let go and then pulled tight from the other side of the buckle.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a strap that overcomes the above mentioned drawback and that is, therefore, simple and practical to use and inexpensive to make.

The technical characteristics of the invention, with reference to the above aim, can be easily inferred from the appended claims, in particular claim 1, and also any of the claims that depend, whether directly or indirectly, on claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings The advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the strap according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the strap of Figure 1 in cross section;

Figures 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views of two different steps of applying the strap of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a schematic top plan view, with some parts in cross section, of another embodiment of the strap of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing the strap of Figure 5 in cross section;

Figures 7 and 8 are schematic perspective views of two different steps of applying the strap of Figures 5 and 6.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, to avoid the irregular action of applying the strap and to enable the strap to be inserted and tightened in a single, smooth movement, without letting go and pulling the tail in two separate actions, this invention provides an open, C-shaped buckle 1 and, near the tail end of the strap, a narrow portion 2 that fits into the buckle opening .

With a simple pressing action compatible with the pulling action normally performed to pull a strap tight, the narrow portion 2 can be easily inserted into the open, C-shaped buckle 1, as may be inferred from Figures 3 and 4 which illustrate the strapping sequence.

Since the tail end of the strap according to the invention does not need to be inserted into the buckle, it can have a suitably wide shape 3 to make it easy to grip between thumb and finger or any other shape that can be handled using a suitable machine .

The strap according to the invention can be applied much more quickly and easily than prior art straps and lends itself to application by a machine. The invention can be applied to fields other than that of straps, that is, can be useful in any system where a buckle is used, and also enables the use of straps to be extended to new fields of application. One example, as described below, is that of tying the crossed steel bars used for reinforced concrete.

It should be remembered that in this field, especially in small and medium construction sites, it is still common practice to tie the bars in bundles using steel wire which must be cut, pulled and tightened with pliers. Use of the strap according to the invention eliminates the need for this tool and makes tying much quicker and more economical .

The embodiment of the strap according to the invention for this specific application is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and is characterised by the following: an open C-shaped buckle 1 with two opposing projections 4; a first strap portion 5 with circular cross section, suitable for tying the crossed bars, and which may have a metal core that adapts to the shape of the bars; a second portion 6, with flat cross section, having teeth or projections along its longitudinal edges, said second portion 6 engaging with the two projections in the buckle 4; a third portion 2 , with a narrow cross section which enables it to be inserted into the buckle; a tab-like tail 3 which does not need to be inserted into the buckle and which, therefore, may be wide and flat so it is easy to grip if the strap is to be applied manually or may have any other suitable shape if the strap is to be applied by machine. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the steps of applying the strap when used specifically for tying metal bars.

Claims

1) A quick tie strap for making bundles of long thin products such as cables, tubes, bars or rods, even arranged at right angles to each other, characterised in that it essentially comprises:

- at one end, an open buckle having at least one projection on one side of its interior to provide a means of tightening the strap when it has been looped around the products;

- close to the other end, a narrow strap portion that can be inserted into the buckle through the gap located on one side of the buckle; - an intermediate portion, between the buckle and the narrow portion, designed to be inserted into the buckle without coming out of the latter, and having a series of serrations or other projections each designed to securely engage the projection or projections in the buckle when the strap has been looped and tightened around the products to be tied together;

- a tail portion, located at the end opposite the buckle and being of such size and shape that it can easily be gripped in order to loop the strap around the products and pull the intermediate section through the buckle so as to tighten the strap.

2) The strap according to claim 1, characterised in that the tail portion is larger in cross section or wider than the intermediate portion of the strap.

3) The strap according to claim 1, characterised in that the buckle has a substantially C-shaped structure whose two facing ends form a gap just large enough to enable the narrow portion of the strap to be pressed into the buckle between the facing ends of the gap and in a direction normal to the plane in which the buckle lies .

4) The strap according to claim 1 and according to claim 3, characterised in that the buckle has a projection on the inside opposite the gap and in that the intermediate portion has at least one surface with a series of serrations or projections, each designed to securely engage the projection in the buckle when the strap has been looped and tightened around the products to be tied together.

5) The strap according to claim 1 and according to claim 2, characterised in that :

- the buckle has a substantially C-shaped structure whose two facing ends form a gap just large enough to enable the narrow portion of the strap to be pressed into the buckle between the facing ends of the gap and in a direction normal to the plane in which the buckle lies;

- the buckle has on the inside of it two or more opposing projections; the edges of the intermediate portion of the strap have a series of serrations or projections, each designed to engage the projections in the buckle when the strap has been looped and tightened around the products to be tied together.

6) The strap according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that, starting from the buckle, the intermediate portion of the strap has a portion that can be plastically deformed to make it easier to loop the strap around the products to be tied together.

7) The strap according to claim 6, characterised in that the plastically deformable portion of the strap has a metal wire core.

8) The strap according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it is made by moulding a plastic material.

9) The strap according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 7, characterised in that it can be made of any material, even metal. 10) The strap according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it is made as described in the specification, as illustrated in the drawings and for the purposes stated.

11) A buckle with a gap made in it to permit rapid insertion of straps, belts and the like.

12) A strap, belt or the like, comprising a narrow portion that can be inserted into an open buckle.

13) A strap, belt or the like, comprising a wide tab-like tail that can be easily held in the hand or a tail of other suitable shape to facilitate application by a machine.