Cable tie having an improved strap body
AssigneeThomas & Betts Corporation
InventorPeter M. Wells
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The cable tie includes an elongate strap and a head having an aperture therethrough for insertably accommodating the strap. A locking barb is movably supported in the head and is engagable with the strap in a manner which permits insertion of the strap thereinto and prevents withdrawal of the strap therefrom. The strap includes a strap body and plural protrusions extending from the strap body. The barb is engagable with the protrusions of the strap upon insertion. Upon an attempt to withdraw the strap, the barb digs into the strap body to prevent withdrawal of the strap from the head.
Claims18
A bundling tie for securement about a plurality of articles comprising:
- an elongate strap having a planar strap body defining first and second opposed planar surfaces;
- said strap body having a strap thickness of a first dimension as measured between said opposed first and second surfaces;
- a head having an aperture therethrough for insertable receipt of said strap body, said head having a wall defining a portion of said aperture for engagement with said first planar surface upon insertion of said strap body thereinto by movement of said strap body in a first direction;
- and
- a locking barb movably supported by said head and having an elongate portion extending into said aperture toward said wall for biting engagement with said strap body when said strap body is moved in a second direction opposite said first direction;
- a distal extent of said portion of said locking barb being spaced from said wall a distance not substantially less than said first dimension;
- said strap having a plurality of protrusions extending from said second surface, said plurality Of protrusions being longitudinally and transversely spaced from each other, said plurality of protrusions having an extent of a second dimension such that the sum of said first dimension and said second dimension is greater than said distance between said distal extent of said barb and said wall
- such that movement of said strap body in said second direction causes said barb to initially engage said protrusions and thereafter to bitingly engage said strap body.
A self locking cable tie comprising:
- an elongate tie strap having a head at one end, a tail at the other end and a generally planar strap body therebetween, said strap body having a given strap thickness;
- said head having an aperture therethrough for insertion of said tail therein permitting passage of said strap body through said aperture in a first direction;
- a locking barb movably supported by said head and extending into said aperture for engagement with said planar strap body upon movement of said strap body in a second direction opposite said first direction to prevent withdrawal of said strap body from said aperture, said barb being positioned with respect to said aperture so as to create a strap body thickness;
- a multiplicity of barb engagement protrusions extending from said planar strap body for engagement with said barb upon movement of said strap in said first direction, said barb engagement protrusions being longitudinally and transversely spaced from one another, said strap protrusions together with said strap body, providing a thickness which is greater than the dimension of said strap body passage, so that said barb is caused to engage said curved engagement surfaces of said protrusions and thereafter said strap body in said second direction;
- and
- a multiplicity of lateral protrusions extending from said planar strap body, said multiplicity of lateral protrusions being substantially non-engageable with said barb, at least a portion of said multiplicity of lateral protrusions being positioned longitudinally intermediate with respect to said multiplicity of barb engagement protrusions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.