Cable tie

Abstract

A tie for bundling a plurality of objects that includes a strap that has a fastening end portion and an opposite free end portion, and opposite first and second surfaces. The first surface includes a first engaging member, and the fastening end portion includes a second engaging member corresponding to the first engaging member. A cushioning layer is disposed on the second surface of the strap. The strap wraps around the plurality of objects and the first engaging member interlocks with the second engaging member to secure the objects together. The cushioning layer contacts the plurality of objects.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a tie for bundling cables. More specifically, the tie includes a strap that wraps around the cables and locks to secure the cables without damaging the cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Ties for bundling wires and cables are well known in the art. A typical tie includes a strap that wraps around the wires and cables and locks with a buckle. Examples of conventional ties include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,890,265 to Christian et al., 4,958,414 to Benoit, 4,776,067 to Sorensen, 4,631,782 to Gecs, 4,490,887 to Sarton et al., 4,272,870 to McCormick, 4,009,509 to McCormick, 3,735,448 to Waddington, 3,590,442 to Geisnger, 3,214,808 to Litwin, 2,979,794 to Bartolo, and 2,236,280 to Kreiseder, the subject matter of each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0003] Conventional ties when wrapped around the wires or cables often damage the wires or cables due to the contact between the strap of the tie and the wires or cables. This is often referred to as shafting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tie that bundles a plurality of objects, such as cables, with minimal damage to the cables.

[0005] The foregoing object is attained by a tie for bundling a plurality of objects that includes a strap that has a fastening end portion and an opposite free end portion, and opposite first and second surfaces. The first surface includes a first engaging member, and the fastening end portion includes a second engaging member corresponding to the first engaging member. A cushioning layer is disposed on the second surface of the strap. The strap wraps around the plurality of objects and the first engaging member interlocks with the second engaging member to secure the objects together. The cushioning layer contacts the plurality of objects.

[0006] The foregoing object is also attained by a tie for bundling a plurality of cables that includes a strap that has a fastening end portion and an opposite free end portion, and opposite outer and inner surfaces. The outer surface includes a plurality of first teeth, and the fastening end portion includes a plurality of second teeth corresponding to the plurality of first teeth. A cushioning polymer layer is disposed on the inner surface of the strap. The strap is wrapped around the plurality of cables so that the cushioning polymer layer engages the plurality of cables. The plurality of first teeth interlock with the plurality of second teeth, thereby securing the cables together.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tie according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the tie wrapped around a plurality of cables;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the tie illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the top of a fastener head of the tie;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial bottom plan view of the tie illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the bottom of the fastener head of the tie;

[0012] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the tie illustrated in FIG. 1 in section;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged elevational view of the tie in section according to the present invention, showing a locking pawl of the fastener head in a first position; and

[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged elevational view of the tie in section similar to FIG. 5, showing the locking pawl in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a tie 10 according to the present invention wraps around a plurality of cables 12, thereby bundling the cables 12 together. Tie 10 is self-locking to secure the cables 12. A cushioning layer 14 (FIG. 4) of tie 10 grips the cables 12 to restrict movement of the cables 12. Damage and shafting to the cables 12 caused by contact with the tie is significantly reduced by the cushioning layer 14.

[0016] In general, tie 10 includes a strap 16 with a strap body 18, a fastening end portion 20, an opposite free end portion 22, and first and second opposite surfaces 24 and 26. Strap 16 is preferably made of a strong but flexible material, such as plastic, nylon, polyetheretherketone, and the like. The strap body 18, fastening end portion 20, and free end portion 22 are preferably made as one-piece, but can be made separately and attached together.

[0017] The fastening end portion 20 includes a fastener head 28 with a passageway 30 for receiving the strap body 18, as seen in FIG. 4. Fastener head 28 has front and back ends 31 and 32 and first and second sidewalls 34 and 36 extending therebetween. Transverse to sidewalls 34 and 36 of head 28 are front and back bridges 38 and 40 that define a first aperture 42, as seen in FIG. 2. A flexible locking pawl 44 extends into first aperture 42 from the front bridge 38 toward the back bridge 40. Locking pawl 44 includes a plurality of engaging members 46 (FIGS. 3 and 4) for retaining the strap body 18.

[0018] Opposite the first aperture 42 of the fastener head 28 is a second aperture 48, as seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6. The passageway 30 for the strap 16 is located between the first and second apertures 42 and 48, which are continuous with the passageway 30. First and second projections 50 and 52 extend into the second aperture 48 from the inside surfaces of the first and second sidewalls 34 and 36, respectively, for guiding the strap body 18. The free end portion 22 of the strap 16 enters the passageway 30 through the second aperture 48 and extends over the projections 50 and 52, as seen in FIG. 3. A third aperture 54 is defined between the back bridge 40 of the fastener head 28 and a terminal wall 56 of the strap body 18, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The free end portion 22 of the strap 16 exits the passageway 30 through the third aperture 54, as seen in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6.

[0019] Extending from the first surface 24 of the strap body 18 are a plurality of engaging members 58 corresponding to the engaging members 46 of the locking pawl 44 of the fastener head 28. Engaging members 46 and 58 are preferably a plurality of teeth that interlock with one another, as seen in FIG. 4. The engaging members or teeth 58 of strap body 18 extend substantially continuously along the first surface 24 of the strap 16 between the fastening end portion 20 and the free end portion 22 of the strap 16. Engaging members 46 and 58 can interlock in any known manner and do not have to be teeth. For example, engaging members 46 and 58 can frictionally engage each other, engage via a tongue and groove arrangement, employ a snapping arrangement, or the like. Although a plurality of engaging members or teeth 46 and 58 are preferred, a single engaging member 46 and a single engaging member 58 can be employed as long as the strap body 18 is locked in the passageway 30 by the members 46 and 58.

[0020] Cushioning layer 14 is disposed on the second surface 26 of the strap 16. Cushioning layer 14 can be formed of any soft or non-abrasive material, such as a polymer like silicone, ethylene, propylene rubber, and the like. The cushioning layer 14 is preferably molded onto the strap second surface 26 but can be applied in any known manner such as adhesive and the like. Cushioning layer 14 extends along second surface 26 substantially continuously between the fastening end portion 20 and the free end portion 22 of the strap 16. The soft polymer material of cushioning layer 14 grips the cables 12 when the strap 16 is wrapped around the cables 12. Alternatively, the cushioning layer 14 can be discontinuous so that only portions of the second surface 26 of the strap 16 are covered.

[0021] To bundle together the cables 12, the strap 16 of tie 10 is wrapped around the cables 12 so that the strap first surface 24 is an outer surface facing away from the cables 12 and the strap second surface 26 is an inner surface so that the cushioning layer 14 engages the cables 12. Free end portion 22 of strap 16 is inserted through the second aperture 48 of the fastener head 28 into the passageway 30. The strap body 18 extends through the passageway 30 flexing the locking pawl 44 backward through the first aperture 42, as seen in FIG. 5. More specifically, the front surfaces 60 of the engaging teeth 58 of strap body 18 abut the back surfaces 62 of the engaging teeth 46 of the locking pawl 44 to push the locking pawl 44 outwardly, thereby allowing the strap 16 to extend through the passageway 30 and exit through the third aperture 54. The free end portion 22 of strap 16 can be pulled in a first direction through the fastener head 28 to adjust the tie 10 to the number of cables 12 being bundled.

[0022] Once the strap 16 is adjusted and tightened around the cables 12, the locking pawl 44 of the fastener head 28 flexes back to its original position with its engaging teeth 46 interlocking with the engaging teeth 58 of the strap body 18, as seen in FIG. 6. The strap 16 is substantially prevented from being withdrawn from the fastener head passageway 28 in a second direction opposite the first direction through the second or entry aperture 48 by the engaging teeth 46 and 58. More specifically, as seen in FIG. 6, the back surfaces 64 of the teeth 58 of the strap 16 abut the front surfaces 66 of the teeth 46 of the locking pawl 44 of the fastener head 28 when the strap body 18 is pulled in the second direction, thus restricting the strap body 18 from being pulled back through the entry aperture 48. That ensures that the strap body 18 remains locked within the fastener head passageway 30. To release tie 10 from the bundle of cables 12, the strap 16 is cut.

[0023] The cushioning layer 14 contacts and grips the cables 12 when the strap 16 is wrapped around the cables 12. This substantially restricts the movement of the tie 10 with respect to the cables 12, thereby significantly reducing damage to the cables 12 from the tie 10.

[0024] While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the tie 10 can be used to bundle any type of objects and not just cables 12. Also, structure can be added to the locking pawl 44 of the fastening head 28 to facilitate moving the locking pawl 44 outwardly to release the strap 16 disposed in the passageway 30.

Claims

1. A tie for bundling a plurality of objects, comprising: a strap having a fastening end portion and an opposite free end portion, and opposite first and second surfaces, said first surface including a first engaging member, and said fastening end portion including a second engaging member corresponding to said first engaging member; and a cushioning layer being disposed on said second surface of said strap and said first surface of said strap being devoid of a cushioning layer, whereby said strap wraps around the plurality of objects with said first engaging member interlocking with said second engaging member to secure the objects together, and said cushioning layer contacts the plurality of objects.

2. A tie according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning layer is made of a polymeric material.

3. A tie according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material is silicon.

4. A tie according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning layer grips the plurality of objects, thereby preventing said strap from moving with respect to the plurality of objects.

5. A tie according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning layer extends substantially continuously along said second surface of said strap between said fastening end portion and said free end portion.

6. A tie according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging member is a plurality of teeth extending from the first surface of said strap; and said second engaging member is a plurality of teeth extending from the fastening end portion of said strap that interlock with the plurality of teeth of the first engaging member.

7. A tie according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of teeth of said first engaging member extend substantially continuously along said first surface of said strap between said fastening end portion and said free end portion.

8. A tie according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of teeth of said first engaging member extend outwardly from strap opposite said plurality of objects.

9. A tie according to claim 6, wherein said fastening end portion includes a flexible locking pawl and said plurality of teeth of said second engaging member are disposed on said locking pawl.

10. A tie according to claim 1, wherein said fastening end portion includes a longitudinal passageway located between front and back ends of said fastening end portion for receiving said strap; and an entry opening of said passageway is disposed proximate said front end and an exit opening is disposed proximate said back end.

11. A tie according to claim 10, wherein said strap being movable in a first direction in said passageway from said front end to said back end; and said engagement of said first and second engaging members substantially restricting movement of said strap in said passageway in a second direction opposite said first direction.

12. A tie according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of objects are cables.

13. A tie for bundling a plurality of cables, comprising: a strap having a fastening end portion and an opposite free end portion, and opposite outer and inner surfaces, said outer surface including a plurality of first teeth, and said fastening end portion including a plurality of second teeth corresponding to said plurality of first teeth; and a cushioning polymer layer being disposed on said inner surface of said strap, said outer surface of said strap being devoid of a cushioning layer, said strap being wrapped around said plurality of cables so that said cushioning polymer layer engages said plurality of cables, and said plurality of first teeth interlock with said plurality of second teeth, thereby securing said cables together.

14. A tie according to claim 13, wherein said cushioning polymer layer grips said plurality of cables, thereby preventing said strap from moving with respect to said plurality of cables.

15. A tie according to claim 13, wherein said fastening end portion includes a flexible locking pawl and said plurality of second teeth are disposed on said locking pawl.

16. A tie according to claim 13, wherein said fastening end portion includes a longitudinal passageway located between front and back ends of said fastening end portion for receiving said strap; and an entry opening of said passageway is disposed proximate said front end and an exit opening is disposed proximate said back end.

17. A tie according to claim 16, wherein said strap being movable in a first direction in said passageway from said front end to said back end; and said engagement of said first and second teeth substantially restricting movement of said strap in said passageway in a second direction opposite said first direction.

18. A tie according to claim 13, wherein said cushioning polymer material is made of silicon.