WO2010089708A1

WO2010089708A1 - Reusable bundling device for oblong objects and relative bundling process

Info

Publication number: WO2010089708A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/050518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Bortolussi
Original assignee: Mollificio Bortolussi S.R.L.
Priority date: 2009-02-04
Filing date: 2010-02-04
Publication date: 2010-08-12
Also published as: EP2393727A1; ITPN20090011A1; IT1395471B1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a reusable bundling device for oblong objects and to the relative bundling process. The bundling device for oblong objects according to the invention comprises an elongated winding element (1, 101 ) suitable to encircle a plurality of oblong objects (21 ), a securing body (2, 102) associated with a first portion of said winding element (1, 101 ) and provided with an aperture (3, 103) suitable to receive a second portion of said winding element (1, 101), said securing body (2, 102) being further provided with clamping means (15, 115) suitable for removably clamping said second portion to said securing body (2, 102). The bundling device is characterized in that said aperture (3, 103) extends in the direction of elongation of said winding element (1, 101) to allow the passage of the winding element (1, 101 ) through the aperture (3, 103) in a direction transversal to said direction of elongation and in that stopping means (4a, 4b, 104) of said winding element (1, 101 ) are arranged in proximity to said aperture (3, 103), thus at least partially obstructing the access to said winding element (1, 101).

Description

REUSABLE BUNDLING DEVICE FOR OBLONG OBJECTS AND RELATIVE

BUNDLING PROCESS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a reusable bundling device for oblong objects and to the relative bundling process.

In many fields in industry, as well as in agriculture, it may be necessary to bundle together, permanently or temporarily, a plurality of elements having a prevalently lengthwise extension, such as for example cables, tubes, tree branches or trunks, poles, etc. Bundling is carried out substantially by assembling the oblong elements in a bundle and wrapping around the bundle a wire or strip that is then fastened upon itself in a permanent or removable manner.

Numerous types of devices are known in the state of the art that allow a user to carry out a rapid bundling of the package. Naturally, such devices are built with materials and dimensions suitable for the type of oblong objects to be bundled. Bundling devices of polymeric material are known in the art for tying bundles of cables, and bundling devices are known for tying up bundles of tubes, poles or other objects having a relatively high weight. In addition, the bundling devices can be of disposable type or of reusable type. This aspect has a decisive influence in the formation of the securing body of the respective ends of the bundling wire or strip. A further aspect to be considered in making said securing body is the degree of safety desired for the bundling device to offset an involuntary loosening of the device with the consequent release of the oblong objects that it holds together. In agriculture, in particular, lengths of cables or straps of polymeric or metallic material are traditionally used as ties for tying bundles of vegetable materials, and such ties are cut and immediately discarded when their removal is necessary. In addition to the pollution and spoiling of the farmland caused by the removal of the ties, there is a considerable waste of material, labour and time when the farming activity makes it necessary to assemble and undo the bundles of vegetable materials many times in a relatively brief time, as for example when carrying out grafting, pruning and other such operations. It would therefore be necessary and beneficial to have available bundling devices that are reusable and simple to use.

Numerous types of bundling devices are currently known in the art. A device of reusable type is disclosed in the American Patent US 6,477,746. The Patent discloses a means for tying bundles of oblong elements consisting of a strip for binding together said elements and a strip fastening buckle. The buckle includes a slot arranged traπsversally with respect to the direction of elongation of the strip for inserting the strip into the buckle and a locking ball that is movably installed in a hollow portion of the buckle. The ball moves from a first clamping position in which the strip is clamped between the body of the buckle and the ball, and a second, or release, position in which the strip can slide inside the buckle. An access aperture to the hollow portion is provided on the buckle to allow the insertion of a tool suitable to shift the clamping ball from the first clamping position to the second position, in which the strip is free to move with respect to the buckle to obtain the release of the oblong elements.

A device of the type described in US 6,477,746 is rather awkward and complicated to use, since the necessity of manoeuvring a tool to release the bundling device requires on the part of a user not only the availability of a tool suitable for the purpose, but also a certain precision of insertion of the tool itself into the access aperture to the hollow portion of the buckle that houses the clamping ball. This precision may be rather low in the case in which the user needs to hold the weight of the bundle of oblong elements with one hand and to cause the release of the device with the other hand. A situation of this type is very frequent in agriculture, where the user, working in an open field, does not have available any surfaces other than the ground on which to temporarily set the bundle of oblong elements and release the bundling device without having to lean down.

A further drawback of the device described in US 6,477,746 lies in the fact that the tool required to release the bundling device must be kept within the access aperture into the hollow portion of the buckle to maintain the clamping ball in the second, or release, position during the whole release operation. In fact, an involuntary withdrawal of the tool from the aperture before having completely removed the strip from the buckle would cause a rapid movement of the ball toward the first strip clamping position. The operation of removing the bundling device is therefore particularly long and laborious. This problem is further aggravated by the fact that, as the strip loosens, the force acting on the clamping ball opposes the force exerted by the tool to maintain the ball in a strip release position, and thus the tool could accidentally come out of the buckle hollow portion access aperture with the consequences described above.

The device described in US 6,477,746 is also awkward to manoeuvre in the clamping phase because the strip must be inserted into the buckle by threading it through a slot. This operation is rather awkward and complicated if the weight of the oblong elements to be bundled together is relatively high and if this weight is to be supported by the user him/herself.

A further embodiment of a bundling device for oblong objects is disclosed in the American Patent US 5,181 ,402. In this case, the device comprises a cable provided with a plurality of stopping means that are housed and locked, in a releasable manner, within a clamping means that can close again as a fold- wise around the stopping means. A device of this type overcomes some disadvantages found in the device described in US 6,477,746, as for example the fact that it does not require the use of a tool to release the tying strip, but it presents other disadvantages.

One of said disadvantages lies in the fact that the stopping means, being arranged at very specific points on the cable, determine a selective, and therefore not continuous, adjustment of the cable around a bundle of oblong objects. Therefore, it may happen that a certain number of oblong objects cannot be firmly bundled together because the correct and suitable fastening position of the cable on the clamping means is located between two contiguous stopping means, or if in fact neither of said stopping means can be completely and correctly accommodated within the clamping means.

The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a reusable bundling device for oblong objects and a bundling process that resolve the flaws and drawbacks of known bundling devices and processes.

In the scope of the above objective, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a reusable bundling device for oblong objects that is simple to operate both during the bundling together of said objects and in the phase of release of the same device. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bundling device for oblong objects that can be used over and over.

Another important objective of the present invention is to provide a reusable bundling device for oblong objects that makes it possible to form bundles having different diameters, said device being continually adjustable around the bundle of objects between a minimum value and a maximum value.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a bundling device that can be reused for one or more oblong objects which, once installed, can itself be used as an attachment surface for a tool, a cable or any other element that may be connected to said one or more oblong objects.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a bundling process for oblong objects that reduces the effort required to achieve not only the fastening of the bundling device around the bundle of objects but also the operation of releasing the device and the consequent release of the bundle. The process will have to be simpler and easier to implement than other processes known in the art.

The above-mentioned objective and purposes will be achieved by a reusable bundling device for oblong objects and by the relative bundling process having the characteristics laid down in the enclosed claims. The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description, given by way of example and without limiting intents, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bundling device for oblong objects according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is an exploded view of the bundling device illustrated in Figure 1 ; - Figure 3 illustrates a partially see-through front view of the bundling device of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 illustrates the bundling device of Figure 1 in a fastening phase;

- Figure 5 illustrates the bundling device of Figure 1 at the end of the fastening phase;

- Figure 6 illustrates a bundle of oblong objects held together by the bundling device of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 7 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a bundling device for oblong objects according to the present invention;

- Figure δ illustrates a partially see-through side view of the bundling device of Figure 7, in which the winding element has been removed;

- Figure 9 illustrates a bundle of oblong objects around which the bundling device of Figure 7 is arranged.

With reference to the enclosed Figures 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a reusable bundling device according to the present invention includes an elongated winding element 1 such as, for example, a cable, a strip or a band, suitable to wrap around a bundle of oblong elements 21, as shown in Figure 6. A portion of the winding element 1 is removably associated with a securing body 2, which is provided with an aperture 3 adapted to receive a second portion of the winding element 1 , The fastening of the winding element 1 on the body 2 may be by a simple tie or through coupling means, such as, for example, a spring catch. The aperture 3 extends in the direction of elongation of the winding element 1 so that, as will be better described later, the winding element 1 can access into the aperture 3 through a movement made in a transversal direction with respect to the direction of elongation of the winding element 1 itself. Near the aperture 3 are provided stopping means 4a, 4b arranged so as to at least partly obstruct the access to the aperture 3. As will be shown later, the stopping means 4a, 4b have the function of preventing the accidental exit of the winding element from the aperture 3 after having been inserted. In addition, at least one of such stopping means 4a is also adapted to serve as a lead-in surface during the operation of bundling oblong objects to facilitate the entrance of the winding element 1 into the aperture 3. The stopping means 4a, 4b are preferably made in the form of walls integral to the securing body 2 arranged transversely to the direction of extension of the aperture 3. One of said stopping means 4b can be provided with an opening 5 for removably fastening the winding element 1.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the bundling device in greater detail, in particular the securing body 2 and the elements contained in it. As can be seen in said figures, the securing body 2 comprises a box-like structure, preferably made up of two half shells 6, 7 that mate with each other through conjugate coupling surfaces 8 formed on the edge of the two half shells 6, 7 and/or on facing surfaces 9 of said half shells 6, 7. Some of said coupling surfaces 8 serve not only as coupling means for the two half shells 6, 7 but also as supports for the mechanical elements of the securing body 2 that are disposed between the two half shells 6, 7. In this case, the coupling surfaces 8 dedicated to supporting the mechanical elements inside the bundling device can be made as bosses to form, for example, a coupling of shaft/bore type.

Between the two half shells 6, 7, that is within the box-like structure of the securing body 2, are housed clamping means 15 that clamp and release the winding element 1 on the securing body 2. The clamping means 15 include a body 16, preferably in the shape of a cylinder, that is mobile in rotation and translation with respect to the box-like structure of the securing body 2, that is, between the two half shells 6, 7 within such structure. The body 16 is capable of roto-translating with respect to a plane 11 provided on a block 10. This block is further provided with one or more seats 12 adapted to receive said coupling surfaces 8. The plane 11, and also the block 10, are configured in such a manner that said plane 11 is slanted with respect to the direction of extension of the aperture 3 (Figure 3). The body 16 is movable between a first damping position illustrated in Figure 3, in which the winding element 1 is clamped on the securing body 2 by the body 16 itself, and a second position, or release position, in which the winding element is free to move within the aperture 3 and translate within it.

The block 10 is provided with a cavity 13 which at least partly accommodates elastic means 14 comprising, preferably, a torsion spring 17. The elastic means 14, which are comprised between the block 10 and one of the two half shells 6, 7, oppose the movement of the body 16 when the body 16 moves from the first clamping position toward the second, or release position. During this movement, the elastic means 14 store up their potential energy. Constructively, the elastic means are arranged between the body 16 and the block 10; in particular, a torsion spring 17 includes a first end portion 18 in sliding contact with the body 16 and a second end portion 19 accommodated within the cavity 13 formed in the block 10. The winding 20 of the torsion spring 17 is arranged around one of the coupling surfaces 8.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate, respectively, the bundling device according to the invention in a fastening phase and after the completion of fastening. Figure 1 shows how the winding element 1 is arranged with respect to the stopping means 4a, 4b provided in the securing body 2 during a phase of fastening the device around a bundle of oblong objects 21 (Figure 6).

The process of bundling a bundle of oblong objects 21 (Figure 6) by means of a device constructed according to the invention involves encircling the bundle of oblong objects 21 with the winding element 1 , the length of which will naturally have to be greater than the circumference of the bundle of oblong objects packed against each other. One portion of the winding element 1 is inserted into the aperture 3 with a movement, or shifting trajectory, in itself simple and intuitive but deliberately defined in space so that it is hardly reproducible by accidental causes. More in detail, the stopping means 4a, 4b are arranged near the aperture 3 so as to obstruct the access to it by the winding element 1 if the winding element is moved toward the aperture 3 in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of elongation of the aperture 3 itself, or a transversal movement with respect to the direction of elongation of the winding element 1. The insertion of the winding element 1 into the aperture 3 is on the other hand made possible by imparting to the element 1 a movement to clear it around the stopping means 4a, 4b, or a movement having substantially two components at right angles to each other and both substantially at right angles to the direction of elongation of the aperture 3. In this sense, the stopping means 4a, 4b obstruct the free access of the winding element 1 into the aperture 3. At least one of the stopping means 4a, 4b may include a surface shaped in such a way as to form a lead-in surface to facilitate the access of the winding element 1 into the aperture 3 when it is set down on such surface. The same considerations as above apply for the exit of the element 1 from the aperture 3.

With the arrangements as illustrated above the winding element is prevented from falling out of the aperture 3 both during the fastening procedure of the bundling device and after the completion of such procedure. At the moment when the winding element 1 is inserted into the aperture 3, the body 16 is in the locking position shown with the broken line in Figure 4 owing to the pushing force exerted on it by the preloaded elastic means 14. While the securing body 2 is maintained substantially fixed with respect to the bundle of oblong objects 21, by the application of a manual traction on the winding element 1 in the direction of the arrow P the element 1 is caused to slide within the aperture 3 and to rotate or roto-translate the body 16 on the slanted plane 11. At the same time, the elastic means 14 increase their potential energy. The arrows shown with the letters R and T indicate, respectively, the direction of rotation of the body 16 and its translation, or direction of movement, on the slanted plane 11. Since the body 16 moves toward the release position, the manual action to exert on the winding element 1 is fairly limited, at least until the circumferential dimension of the winding element 1 remains greater than or the same as the circumference of the bundle of oblong elements 21, as shown in Figure 6.

When it is no longer possible to move the winding element 1 further in the direction of the arrow P, the pulling action exerted on it can be stopped. At this point, the elastic means 14 release the potential energy stored up during the fastening of the bundling device and move the body 16 from the release position to the first position, the clamping position, as shown by the arrow C in Figure 5. In other words, the body 16 is pushed by the elastic means 14 and rotates and translates in the directions shown, respectively, by the arrows S and C in Figure 5, thus backing up along the slanted plane 11. When the body 16 reaches the clamping position, the winding element 1 is clamped in the securing body 2, and any further movement or force acting in the direction indicated by the arrow C in Figure 5, or in the direction of widening the circumference formed by the winding element 1 around the oblong objects 21, will be neutralized and hindered by the friction between the contact surfaces of the body 16, the winding element 1 and the securing body 2 that delimit the aperture 3, The final bundling condition is the one illustrated in Figure 6.

It is evident that when wishing to release the oblong elements 21 by loosening the clamping force exerted by the bundling device it wili not be necessary, as instead is typical in the bundling devices of the known art, to apply a traction on the winding element 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow P in Figure 4, but it will be sufficient to simply grip the free end portion 22 of the winding element 1 and to move it in a direction transversal to its longitudinal direction of elongation, moving it clear around the stopping means 4a, 4b and extracting the winding element 1 , with a relatively reduced force and however such as to overcome the sliding friction between the contact surfaces of the body 16, of the winding element 1 and of the walls of the securing body 2 that delimit the aperture 3.

With the operation as described above, it is not necessary to apply traction on the winding element 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow P in Figure 4 to force the body 16 to move from the clamping position to the release position. This action would in fact be very difficult due to the resistance to compression exerted by the bundle of oblong elements 21 that are already tightly packed after the norma! clamping of the bundling device.

The release of the bundling device according to the above-mentioned procedure facilitates advantageously the repetitive use of the same device.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the bundling device for oblong objects according to the invention. This second embodiment is particularly suitable for bundling oblong objects 21 by means of a winding element 101 in the form of a band or strip of metallic or polymeric material, as can be seen in Figure 9. In a similar manner to what has already been described with reference to the first embodiment, a first portion of the winding element 101 is removably associated with a securing body 102 provided with an aperture 103, visible in Figure 8, which is shaped in a manner suitable to receive a second portion of the winding element 101. The fastening of the winding element 101 on the body 102 can be achieved thanks to a second aperture 105 of suitable dimensions to receive the element 101 in the form of a band or strip. The aperture 103 extends in the direction of elongation of the winding element 101 so that the latter can be received within it through a motion exerted in a transversal direction with respect to the direction of longitudinal extension of the winding element 101. In Figure 8, the dashed horizontal line indicates a phantom outline of the edge 122 of the side wall 123 of the securing body 102.

Stopping means 104 are provided near the aperture 103 to at least partially obstruct the access to it. As previously described, the stopping means have the function of preventing the accidental exit of the winding element 101 from the aperture 103; in addition, the presence of the stopping means 104 makes it possible to define in space a precise insertion trajectory and, correspondingly, an extraction trajectory of the winding element 101 into and out of the aperture 103 that is unlikely to be reproduced accidentally by the winding element 101 , but which is absolutely intuitive for a user. The stopping means 104 may include a surface shaped in a manner suitable to present a lead-in surface to favour the access of the winding element 101 into the aperture 103 when the element is positioned on such surface.

The securing body 102 includes a box-like structure made up of two half shells 106, 107 that can be joined with known means, such as screws or pins (not shown in the figures), inserted into bores 124, which may be threaded, formed in corresponding positions on both half shells 106, 107. The aperture 103 is defined by the lower surface 128 of the half shell 107 and by the edge 122 of the side wall 123 of the half shell 106.

Clamping means 115 are provided between the two half shells 106, 107 to clamp and release the winding element 101 on the securing body 102. The manners with which the clamping means 115 clamp and release the winding element 101 are identical to the manners already described with reference to the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 - 6 and will not be described further herein.

In this second embodiment, the clamping means 115 include a body 116, for example a roller, movably installed within the box-like structure of the securing body 102 so as to roto-translate on a slanted plane 111 which is formed, preferably integral to, or in one piece with, the harf shell 106, as shown in Figure 8. The plane 111 is slanted in the direction of extension of the aperture 103. The body 116 is mobile before a first clamping position in which the winding element 101 is clamped on the securing body 102 and a second, or release, position in which the winding element 101 is free to slidingly move within the aperture 103.

In this second embodiment, the clamping means 115 include elastic means 114, preferably in the form of a compression spring 127, that cooperate with a pushing element 125 to oppose the movement of the body 116 when the latter moves from the clamping position toward the release position, as occurs, for example, during the bundling of a bundle of oblong elements 21. The pusher

125 is also capable of moving the body 116 owing to the pushing action of the elastic means 114. The surface 126 of the pushing means 125 which faces the body 116 has an appropriate concavity that favours the rotation of said body 116 while the body is in contact with the pusher 125.

In some cases, the friction between the winding element 101 and the body 116, as well as the friction between such body 116 and the concave surface

126 of the pushing element 125 could demand, from a user who intends to release the clamping force exerted by the bundling device on the oblong objects 21 , a considerable effort to force the winding element 101 out of the aperture 103 with a movement transversal to the direction of elongation of the aperture 103. To favour the removal of the body 116 from its first or clamping position, the bundling device in its second embodiment includes a release push button 129 slidably installed in a slot 130 in the half shell 106 of the securing body 102. The release push button 129 is movable with respect to the half shell 106 in the direction of elongation of the aperture 103, and includes a surface 131 that can engage the body 116 and force it to move from the first, or clamping, position toward the second, or release, position, easily overcoming the above- mentioned frictional forces. The release push button 129 can be operated manually by a user acting on the surface 132, opposite to the surface 131 , that is located outside the shell 106.

As concerns the bundling process for a bundle of oblong objects 21 , this will also be performed by this embodiment in the same manner described with reference to the first embodiment, and thus this procedure will not be described again herein. The release procedure previously described for the first embodiment is also carried out in an identical manner with the second embodiment, but with the latter, if the situation requires it, the release of the winding element 101 can be further simplified by first operating on the release push button 129 in the manner described above and then shifting said winding element 101 in a direction transversal to its direction of longitudinal elongation, by passing it over the stopping means 104. In this manner, the procedure for releasing the oblong elements can be performed with a relatively moderate effort.

It was thus established that the invention has achieved its preset objective and puφoses in that it resulted in a bundling device for oblong objects that is easy to install and equally simple to remove. The ease of installation and removal of the device is favoured to advantage by the possibility of using the device according to any orientation with respect to the bundle of oblong objects, provided that the aperture 3, 103 is turned outwardly from said bundle. Said device may be reused many times, thus avoiding needless waste of material and litter in the environment. The device is also suitable for bundling objects of different types, such as for example tubes, poles, tree branches or trunks, cables and so on. The fastening force exerted by the device on the oblong objects bundled together can be continually adjusted because the device allows the diameter of the bundle of objects to be continually widened or narrowed. Advantageously, the bundling device according to the invention does not require the use of any tool for releasing it or clamping it.

Naturally, the materials used to produce a bundling device according to the invention, as well as its dimensions, will be the most suitable in accordance with the requirements.

Claims

1. Bundling device for oblong objects comprising an elongated winding member (1 , 101 ) adapted to circumscribe a plurality of oblong objects (21 ), a securing body (2, 102) associated to a first portion of said winding member (1 , 101) and provided with an aperture (3, 103) adapted to receive a second portion of said winding member (1, 101), said securing body (2, 102) being further provided with clamping means (15, 115) adapted to removably clamp said second portion on to said securing body (2, 102), characterized in that said aperture (3, 103) extends in the elongation direction of said winding member (1 , 101 ) to allow said winding member (1, 101) to pass through the aperture (3, 103) in a transverse direction relative to said elongation direction, and in that stopping means (4a, 4b, 104) for said winding member (1 , 101 ) are arranged in proximity of said aperture (3, 103), thereby at least partly obstructing the access to said winding member (1 , 101).

2. Bundling device according to claim 1 , wherein said stopping means (4a, 4b, 104) comprise at least a wall provided in said securing body (2, 102) and arranged transversally relative to the direction of extension of said aperture (3, 103).

3. Bundling device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said stopping means (4a, 104) comprises a lead-in surface adapted to facilitate said winding member (1, 101) in entering said aperture (3, 103).

4. Bundling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said securing body (2, 102) comprises a box-like structure and the clamping means (15, 115) comprise a body (16, 116) movably mounted inside said structure so as to roto-transiate along a plane (11 , 111) which is in a slanting arrangement relative to the direction of extension of said aperture (3, 103) between a first clamping position, in which said body (16, 116) clamps the winding member (1 , 101) on to the securing body (2, 102), and a second release position, in which said winding member (1 , 101 ) is free to move within said aperture (3, 103).

5. Bundling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping means (15, 115) comprise elastic means (14, 114).

6. Bundling device according to claim 5, wherein said elastic means (14, 114) comprise a torsion spring (17) or a compression coil spring (127).

7. Bundling device according to claims 4 and 5, wherein said elastic means (14) are provided between a block (10) on which said slanting plane (11) is formed and said body (16), said elastic means (14) storing up potential energy when said body (16) moves from said first clamping position towards said second release position,

8. Bundling device according to claim 7, wherein said box-like structure comprises two shell halves (6, 7) provided with conjugate coupling surfaces (8), said block (10) being provided with one or more accommodations (12) adapted to receive at least part of said coupling surfaces (8) for enabling said block (10) to be mounted between said shell halves (6, 7).

9. Bundling device according to claim 8 wherein said block (10) comprises a cavity (13) adapted to accommodate said elastic means (14) so that they are comprised between the block (10) and one of said shell halves (6).

10. Bundling device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said stopping means (4a, 4b) comprise a second aperture (5) adapted to allow the first portion of the winding member (1) to be clamped on to the securing body (2).

11. Bundling device according to claim 4 wherein said box-like .structure comprises two shell halves (106, 107) reciprocally joined, and said slanting plane (111 ) is integrally formed on one of said shell halves (106).

12. Bundling device according to claim 11 wherein one of said shell halves (106) comprises a slot (130) with a push-button (129) slidably mounted therewithin, said push-button (129) being adapted to move said body (116) from said first clamping position towards said second release position.

13. Bundling device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said winding member (1 , 101) is a cable, a cord, a band or a string.

14. Bundling device according to any of the claims 11 to 13 wherein said clamping means (115) further comprise a pusher (125) cooperating with elastic means (114) for moving said body (116).

15. Process for bundling a bundle of oblong objects, characterized by comprising the following steps: a) providing a bundling device comprising an elongated winding member (1, 101), a securing body (2, 102) removably associated to a first portion of the winding member (1, 101), clamping means (15, 115) and stopping means (4a, 4b, 104), said securing body (2, 102) being provided with an aperture (3, 103) that extends in the elongation direction of said winding member (1, 101), b) circumscribing said bundle of oblong objects (21) with the winding member (1, 101), c) making said winding member (1 , 101 ) to step over said stopping means (4a, 4b, 104) and accommodating a second portion of said winding member (1 , 101 ) into the aperture (3, 103) by moving the winding member (1, 101) transversally relative to said elongation direction, d) while keeping the securing body (2, 102) stationary relative to the bundle, exerting a pulling force on said winding member (1 , 101) so as to tighten the winding member (1, 101) round the bundle of oblong objects (21), thereby actuating said clamping means (15, 115) from a first clamping position to a second release position, e) stopping exerting said pulling force on said winding member (1, 101) and actuating said clamping means (15, 115) from said second release position to said first clamping position.