Cable tie

A clamping device for reducing the size of any gap between the object constrained and band portions adjacent the object, comprising:

• a band section for wrapping around an object, said band section having a first free end and extending in a first plane;
• and
• a buckle section connected to said band section, said buckle section including a first portion operatively connected to said band section and extending substantially in said first plane, said buckle section further including a second portion longitudinally offset from said first portion and extending in a second plane different from said first plane, said second portion having a second free end being located on the opposite end of said buckle section to which said band section is connected, said second portion including said free end thereof being in spaced relationship with the object being constrained during tightening of said band section about the object, said buckle section further including a slot intermediate said first portion and said second portion for receiving said free end, wherein said first portion can be of reduced length to reduce any gap between said band section and the object due to said second portion having a different shape than the object adjacent said first portion;
• wherein substantially all of said first portion contacts the constrained object and said first free end of said band section is located outwardly of portions of said band section to which it is adjacent after the clamping device is tightened and locked.

A method for clamping an object to reduce the size of any gap between the object constrained and band portions adjacent the object, comprising:

• providing a one-piece cable tie including a band section having a first free end and a buckle section, said buckle section including a first portion connected to said band section, said buckle section further including a second portion longitudinally offset from, raised relative to and separated by a slot from said first portion of said buckle section, said second portion including a second free end with said band section being connected to an end of said buckle section opposite said second free end;
• contacting substantially all of said first portion of said buckle section with the object;
• positioning said band section about the object a first time;
• inserting said first free end of said band section through said slot a first time;
• providing a spaced relationship between said second portion and the object constrained during tightening of said band section about the object;
• and
• locking said band section about the object while locating said first free end of said band section outwardly of portions of said band section to which it is adjacent.