Anti-slip cable tie
AssigneeThomas & Betts International, Inc.
InventorsCong T. Dinh, Andrew C. Cole, Mark R. Drane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable tie includes a band having a first end and a second end a housing, affixed to the band near the second end, with a first opening to receive the first end of the band. The housing comprises a first mass near the first opening and one side of the housing, a stop mass near a second side of the housing, and a second mass between the first mass and the stop mass. When the first end is inserted into the housing, the second mass prevents the first mass from moving a first distance occupied by the second mass, toward the stop mass. When the first end in the housing is being pulled out of the housing, the first mass locks the first end in the housing and prevents the first end from slipping over a second distance.
Claims18
A cable tie comprising:
- a band that extends lengthwise from a first end to a second end;
- a housing, affixed near the second end, with a first opening to receive the first end of the band when the first end of the band is brought toward the housing in a loop, wherein the housing comprises:
- walls that enclose a space and have a stop toward the first end of the band;
- a ball in the space;
- and
- a mass placed in the space and between the ball and the stop;
- wherein when the first end is inserted into the housing in an insertion direction, the first end passes under the ball and the mass and exerts a pull on the ball toward the mass,
- wherein, after the first end has been inserted into the housing and when the first end is being pulled out of the housing in a direction opposite the insertion direction, the ball is wedged in the housing and locks the first end in the housing before the first end slips a second distance in the direction opposite the insertion direction the first end is pulled, and
- wherein, when the first end is locked in the housing by the ball, the ball is prevented by the mass from moving a first distance occupied by the mass in the space, toward the stop and from moving into a position where the first end can slip toward outside the housing.
A cable tie comprising:
- a band having a first end and a second end;
- a housing, affixed to the band near the second end, with a first opening to receive the first end of the band, wherein the housing comprises:
- a ball near the first opening and one side of the housing;
- a stop mass near a second side of the housing;
- and
- a mass between the ball and the stop mass,
- wherein, after the first end has been inserted into the housing in an insertion direction and when the first end in the housing is being pulled out of the housing in a direction opposite the insertion direction, the ball is wedged in the housing and locks the first end in the housing to prevent the first end from slipping over a second distance in the direction opposite the insertion direction the first end is pulled, and
- wherein, when the first end is locked in the housing by the ball, the ball is prevented by the mass from moving a first distance occupied by the mass in the space, toward the stop mass, and from moving into a position where the first end can slip toward outside the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.