Fixed circumference binding device with non-protruding free end and method for binding therewith

A binding device comprising:

• an elongate member having a locking head at one end, a tail at the other end, the tail having a tapered tip, and a central binding strap body therebetween;
• the head including a feed hole therethrough for insertion of the tail tip and receipt of the tail;
• the head including at least one barb stop and the tail including at least one locking barb which cooperate to lock the tail in the feed hole so as to form a substantially fixed circumference binding member;
• and
• the tail further including a score line across the tail at a point between the locking barb and the tip, whereby the score line is positioned within the head after engagement of the locking barb and barb stop, so that the tail may be broken off at the score line without leaving an exposed rough edge, and the locking barb and barb stop remain substantially permanently engaged.

A method of substantially permanent, fixed circumference binding of articles comprising the steps of:

• gathering the articles at a common binding point;
• providing a substantially permanent, fixed circumference, binding device, the device having a locking head, a tail, and an elongated strap therebetween, the head having a passage therethrough, the tail having a tip, and the head and tail having cooperating locking members;
• wrapping the articles about the binding point with the binding device;
• inserting the tail through the head passage;
• pulling the tail through the head passage to an extent so as to engage the cooperating locking members;
• and
• breaking the tail off of the engaged device at a predetermined score line, the score line being located at a point on the tail between the tail locking member and the tail tip, and the score line being positioned within the head after engagement, leaving the locking members substantially permanently engaged.