U.S. patent application number 12/841606 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-27 for band seal with selectively deployable locking member.
This patent application is currently assigned to Band-It-IDEX, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael C. Daley, Elizabeth Glore, Douglas J. Ingalls, Rene Leist, Daniel J. Nelson, Bai Kiet Tran.
Application Number | 20110016673 12/841606 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43496017 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110016673 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leist; Rene ; et
al. |
January 27, 2011 |
Band Seal With Selectively Deployable Locking Member
Abstract
A seal having wings provided that are adapted to engage a
portion of a wrapped band. The wings have an enlarged distal end
for engagement with an individual's thumb or finger to facilitate
deflection of the same.
Inventors: |
Leist; Rene; (Denver,
CO) ; Tran; Bai Kiet; (Denver, CO) ; Ingalls;
Douglas J.; (Bailey, CO) ; Nelson; Daniel J.;
(Denver, CO) ; Daley; Michael C.; (Lakewood,
CO) ; Glore; Elizabeth; (Centennial, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHERIDAN ROSS PC
1560 BROADWAY, SUITE 1200
DENVER
CO
80202
US
|
Assignee: |
Band-It-IDEX, Inc.
Denver
CO
|
Family ID: |
43496017 |
Appl. No.: |
12/841606 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61227781 |
Jul 22, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/16R ;
24/163R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 63/16 20130101;
Y10T 24/40 20150115; Y10T 24/14 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/16.R ;
24/163.R |
International
Class: |
B65D 63/00 20060101
B65D063/00; A44B 11/04 20060101 A44B011/04 |
Claims
1. A seal adapted for interconnection with a band, comprising: a
first portion; a second portion separated from said first portion
that defines a space adapted for receiving an end of a band; and at
least one wing protruding from said second portion that is adapted
to be folded over a portion of the band, said wing having a distal
end possessing a rounded shape such that the width of said at least
one wing is not continuous.
2. The seal of claim 1, wherein said at least one wing is folded
upon an application of about 10 lb.sub.f to the distal end of said
wing.
3. The seal of claim 1, wherein the distal end of said at least one
wing has a width of about 0.184 inches and the wing has a minimum
width of 0.068 inches.
4. The seal of claim 1, wherein said first portion or said second
portion includes a slot spanning the length thereof.
5. The seal of claim 1, wherein said at least one wing has an
hourglass shape.
6. The seal of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first portion
and said second portion includes a stiffening member.
7. A seal having a first portion spaced from a second portion, said
second portion having a first wing and a second wing that are
capable of folding adjacent to the first portion, the improvement
comprising: said first wing and said second wing having distal ends
possessing a rounded shape such that the widths of said first wing
and said second wing are not continuous.
8. The seal of claim 7, wherein said first wing and said second
wing is folded upon an application of about 10 lb.sub.f to the
distal ends thereof.
9. The seal of claim 7, wherein the distal ends of said first wing
and said second wing have a width of about 0.184 inches and said
first wing and said second wing have a minimum width of about 0.68
inches.
10. The seal of claim 7, wherein said first portion or said second
portion includes a slot spanning the length thereof.
11. The seal of claim 7, wherein said first wing and said second
wing have an hourglass shape.
12. The seal of claim 7, wherein at least one of said first portion
and said second portion possess a stiffening member.
13. A system for binding objects comprising: a band having a first
end and a second end; a seal secured to said first end of said band
having a first portion, a second portion separated from said first
portion that defines a space adapted for receiving an end of a
band, a first wing and a second wing that extends from second
portion that are capable of folding over a portion of the band,
said first wing and said second wing having distal ends possessing
a rounded shape such that the widths of said first wing and said
second wing are not continuous.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein said first end of said band is
folded about said second portion of said seal such that the
remaining portions of said band are positioned in said space and
said second end of said band extend from a leading edge of said
seal that is located on an opposite end of said seal away from said
first and second wings.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein said second end of said band is
folded over said first portion and wherein said first wing and said
second wing are positioned over said second portion.
16. A method of binding objects, comprising: providing a seal
having a first portion, a second portion separated from said first
portion that defines a space adapted for receiving an end of a
band, a first wing and a second wing that extends from second
portion that are capable of folding over a portion of the band,
said first wing and said second wing having distal ends having a
rounded shape such that the widths of said first wing and said
second wing are not continuous; providing a band having a first end
and a second end; positioning said first end of said band within
said space; folding said first end of said band about said second
portion of said seal; wrapping said band about the objects;
inserting said second end of said band within said space;
tensioning said band; folding said second end of said band about
said first portion of said seal; folding said first wing and said
second wing over said second end of said band; and cutting excess
from said second end of said band.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: curling the cut end
of said band to engage at least a portion of said first wing or
said second wing.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein folding of said first wing and
said second wing is achieved without tools.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein folding of said first wing and
said second wing is achieved by applying about 8 lb.sub.f thereto.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/227,781, filed Jul. 22, 2009, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
This application is also related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,484,274 and
4,896,402 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0056145,
the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a
seal that is used in conjunction with a band to bind objects or to
secure one object to another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Systems for securing or bundling objects comprising a band
and a locking device are known. Locking devices often comprise
seals, clips, buckles, clamps, etc. (hereinafter "seal"). Seals are
fixedly interconnected to one end of the band and typically include
an opening for the insertion of a free end of the band. In
operation, one end of the band is folded about the seal, the band
is wrapped around an item and the free end of the band is placed
through the opening in the seal, thereby interconnecting both ends
of the band to the seal. The excess portion of the free end of the
band is then cut and a portion of the free end is bent about the
seal to secure the band to the seal, which maintains a
predetermined band tension about the secured object(s).
[0004] Some seals of the prior art include a selectively
positionable protrusion, i.e., a "wing", that is used to secure the
free portion of the band to the seal. The wings are selectively
bendable and secure the free end of the band adjacent to an
exterior surface of the seal. Seals of this type are commonly used
for low tension, light duty applications, for example, to
interconnect insulation around a pipe. After a predetermined
tension is applied to the band, the free end is folded over a top
portion of the seal, the wings are folded over the folded portion
of the band, and the excess portion of the free end extending
beyond the wings is cut from the band. Any portion of the free end
that extends past the folded wings may be curled back over the
wings to enhance the engagement of the band to the seal.
[0005] In order to ensure that the wings are folded correctly, and
to ensure the band is properly secured relative to the seal so that
the band does not lose tension, it is often specified that the
wings are bent with a specialized tool or a hammer. Often, however,
installers attempt to fold the wing over the band by hand to save
time or because the items to which the band/seal are interconnected
may be damaged by tools. It is thus desirable to provide a seal
with easily foldable or deployable wings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a seal
having wings that are folded without tools. One embodiment of the
present invention employs wings that may be manually folded over a
folded, free end of a band while maintaining the shape and
performance of the seal when tension is applied to the band. The
wings of some embodiments of the present invention are over 40%
easier to deform than those of the prior art seals. In addition,
the wings of some embodiments of the present invention have a
rounded shape having smooth corners as opposed to sharp corners
that help prevent user discomfort, pain or injury. Finally, the
seals described herein are stronger than those of the prior art
such that the seal requires 25% more force to deform.
[0007] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
seal adapted for interconnection with a band, comprising: a first
portion; a second portion separated from the first portion that
defines a space adapted for receiving an end of a band; and at
least one wing protruding from the second portion that is adapted
to be folded over a portion of the band, the wing having a distal
end possessing a rounded shape such that the width of the at least
one wing is not continuous. The wing of this embodiment of the
present invention is folded upon an application of about 8 to 10
lbf to the distal end of the wing. The wing of this embodiment also
has a minimum width of about 0.184 inches and the wing has a
minimum width of 0.068 inches.
[0008] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide
a seal having a first portion spaced from a second portion, the
second portion having a first wing and a second wing that are
capable of folding adjacent to the first portion, the improvement
comprising: the first wing and the second wing having distal ends
possessing a rounded shape such that the widths of the first wing
and the second wing are not continuous.
[0009] It is still yet another aspect of the present invention to
provide a system for binding objects comprising: a band having a
first end and a second end; a seal secured to the first end of the
band having a first portion, a second portion separated from the
first portion that defines a space adapted for receiving an end of
a band, a first wing and a second wing that extends from second
portion that are capable of folding over a portion of the band, the
first wing and the second wing having distal ends possessing a
rounded shape such that the widths of the first wing and the second
wing are not continuous.
[0010] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
method of binding objects, comprising: providing a seal having a
first portion, a second portion separated from the first portion
that defines a space adapted for receiving an end of a band, a
first wing and a second wing that extends from second portion that
are capable of folding over a portion of the band, the first wing
and the second wing having distal ends having a rounded shape such
that the widths of the first wing and the second wing are not
continuous; providing a band having a first end and a second end;
positioning the first end of the band within the space; folding the
first end of the band about the second portion of the seal;
wrapping the band about the objects; inserting the second end of
the band within the space; tensioning the band; folding the second
end of the band about the first portion of the seal; folding the
first wing and the second wing over the second end of the band; and
cutting excess from the second end of the band. It is contemplated
that the wings of this method be folded without tools. This method
may further include curling the cut end of the band to engage at
least a portion of the first wing or the second wing.
[0011] The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should
it be construed as being representative of the full extent and
scope of the present invention. Moreover, references made herein to
"the present invention" or aspects thereof should be understood to
mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not
necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a
particular description. The present invention is set forth in
various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as
in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the
Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present
invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of
elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention.
Additional aspects of the present invention will become more
readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when
taken together with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the general description of the
invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings
given below, serve to explain the principles of these
inventions.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seal of the prior art;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the seal
and a band of the prior art;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation view similar to
that of FIG. 2 subsequent to folding wings over a folded free end
of the band;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a three dimensional displacement model of the seal
of the prior art depicted with a longitudinal load acting
thereon;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a three dimensional displacement model of the seal
of the prior art depicted with a transverse load acting on a wing
thereof;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention that employs a slot on the internal, second
portion thereof;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention that employs a slot on the external, first
portion thereof;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment
similar to that shown in FIG. 8;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
the present invention that employs a lip;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of FIG. 11;
[0025] FIG. 13 is a top plan view of FIG. 11;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a three dimensional displacement model of the
seal of FIG. 11 depicted with a longitudinal load acting
thereon;
[0027] FIG. 15 is a three dimensional displacement model of the
seal of FIG. 11 depicted with a transverse load acting on the wing
thereof;
[0028] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention wherein the external, first portion of the seal
includes a stiffening member;
[0029] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention wherein the external, first portion of the seal
includes a stiffening member;
[0030] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention employing stiffening members on the external,
first portion and the internal, lower portion thereof;
[0031] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention employing stiffening members on the external,
first portion and the internal, lower portion thereof;
[0032] FIG. 20 top perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0033] FIG. 21 is a bottom perspective view of another embodiment
of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 23 is a bottom perspective view of another embodiment
of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 24 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 25 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of
the present invention that employs a teeth on the first, upper
surface thereof; and
[0038] FIG. 26 is a table showing the performance of the seals of
embodiments of the present invention compared to seals of the prior
art.
[0039] To aid in the understanding of one embodiment of the present
invention, the following list of components and associated
numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:
TABLE-US-00001 # Component 2 Band 6 Seal 10 First portion 14 Second
portion 18 Opening 22 Retaining portion 26 Wing 30 Free end 34
Folded portion 38 Cut end 42 Slot 46 Lobe 50 Distal end 54 Proximal
end 58 Lip 60 Leading edge 62 Rib 66 Tooth 70 Cut out 74 Teeth
[0040] It should be understood that the drawings are not
necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not
necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render
other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It
should be understood, of course, that the invention is not
necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a system employing a band 2 and
seal 6 of the prior art is shown. The seal 6 employs a first
portion 10 that is spaced from a second portion 14 to provide an
opening 18 to receive the band 2. The band 2 includes a retaining
portion 22 that cooperates with the second portion 14 of the seal 6
to prevent the movement of the seal 6 in one direction. The seal 6
also includes at least one wing 26 that extends from the second
portion 14 that is bent inwardly to capture a folded free end 30 of
the band 2 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0042] In operation, the band 2 is placed in the seal 6 with the
retaining portion 22 maintaining the seal 6 with respect to the
band 2. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the retaining
portion 22 may be formed prior to inserting the band 2 into the
seal 6 or after the free end of the band 2 is inserted within the
seal 6. The band 2 is then wrapped around a pipe, for example, and
the free end is then passed through the opening 18 of the seal at
least once more such that a portion of the band rests on, or lies
adjacent to, the portion of the band initially located within the
seal 6. The band 2 is then folded over the first portion 10 of the
seal 6 in a direction opposite the retaining portion 22 of the band
2. The wings 26 are then folded over the free end 30 of the band 2
to create a folded portion 34 that selectively engages the folded
free end of the band 30. The band 2 is cut adjacent to the folded
wings 34 to remove the excess portions of the band 2. The cut end
38 may be folded upwardly relative to the deployed wings 26 to
engage the folded wings 34 to additionally secure the band 2
relative to the seal 6.
[0043] The seal 6 possesses a first portion 10 that is divided by a
slot 42. The slot 42 is formed as a result of bending a metal blank
to provide a continuous second portion 14. Alternatively, the slot
may be located on the second portion of the seal 6. One skilled in
the art will appreciate that the seal 6 of the many embodiments of
the present invention may be altered in size and in shape.
[0044] FIGS. 4 and 5 are three dimensional displacement models of
the prior art seal 6 shown in FIGS. 1-3 wherein the arrows indicate
an applied load. FIG. 4 shows displacements on the seal 6 when it
is subjected to a compressive, longitudinal load of 300 lbf. The
maximum displacement in this example is about 0.71 in and the
maximum stress, which occurs in the rounded corner between the wing
26 and the second portion 14, is about 1.9.times.106 psi. FIG. 5
shows stresses on the seal 6 when the at least one tab is exposed
to a lateral load of 10 lbf. The maximum displacement in this
example is about 0.0018 in and the maximum stress, which occurs at
the narrow potion of the wing, is about 86,000 psi. It will be
appreciated that portions of the seal adjacent to the wings
experience stress levels higher than the yield stress of the parent
metal, thereby allowing the wings to deform permanently as shown.
The model data generally corresponds with the data of FIG. 27 that
shows that embodiments of the present invention require less force
to deform the seals of the prior art, which will be described in
further detail below.
[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 6-15, one embodiment of the present
invention is shown that includes a seal 6 with wings 26 having
enlarged lobes 46 at their distal ends 50. More specifically, the
wings 26 of embodiments of the present invention have a proximal
end 54 that is associated with the second portion 14 of the seal 6
and a distal end 50 that is adapted to be engaged by a user's
finger or hand. The wings 26 possess a shape such that engagement
with a user's finger allows for wing deformation with less applied
force than that required to deform or bend the design shown in
FIGS. 1-5. Further, the wings 26 do not have sharp corners and,
thus, help eliminate user discomfort and injury. The shape of the
wings also saves materials and costs while maintaining locking
performance of the seal. One skilled in the art will appreciate
that the lobe 46 and wing 26 may be fabricated in other sizes and
shapes as illustrated by comparison of FIGS. 8 and 9. For a given
thickness, the minimum width of the wing ("x") will dictate the
ability to deform the wing 26. The minimum width ("x") is less than
the maximum width of the wing ("y") such that the width of the wing
is non continuous (see, for example, FIG. 12). In one embodiment
the width of the wings 26 is about 0.068 in. The slot 42 may be
located on the first portion 10 as shown in FIG. 7, or on the
second portion, as shown in FIG. 6. Positioning of the slot 42 is
dependent on the method of the machining a blank that will become
the seal 6.
[0046] FIG. 10 shows an alternate embodiment of the present
invention that employs wings 26 of a different shape. The wings 26
generally have an hour-glass shape that further reduces the width
of the wings at location "x" to facilitate deformation.
[0047] FIGS. 11-15 are views of yet another embodiment of the
present invention that employs a wing 26 with a lobe 46 at its
distal end 50. The seal 6 shown includes a slot 42 integrated into
the first portion 10 thereof. In addition, the second portion 14
includes a lip 58 or extension that allows relief for the band as
the tool folds it over the seal.
[0048] FIGS. 14 and 15 are computer models showing displacement on
the seal when it is exposed to an external load. FIG. 14 shows a
seal 6 that has been exposed to a compressive, longitudinal load of
about 300 lb.sub.f. The load squeezes the slot together near a
leading edge 60 of the seal 6 and causes the seal to compress about
0.025 of an inch. Thus, a maximum stress of about 497,000 psi is
experienced at the leading edge 60. FIG. 15 shows a lateral load
acting on a wing 26 that bends the wing inwardly. The load applied
in this example is about 10 lb.sub.f, which is about 50-65% less
than the force to bend the wings of the prior art seal. The maximum
stress experience in this example is about 221,000 psi and occurs
at the minimum width of the wing "x."
[0049] Referring now to FIGS. 16-19, a seal 6 having stiffening
ribs 62 integrated into the first portion 10 and/or the second
portion 14 is shown. The ribs 62 may extend the length of the first
portion 10 (FIG. 16) or the second portion 14 or terminate within
the first portion 10 or the second portion 14. The ribs 62 help
stiffen the first portion 10, for example, despite the presence of
the slot 42 so that the seal 6 resists bending or buckling when an
associated band is tensioned. One of skill in the art will
appreciate that the slots 42 may be located on either the top
portion 10 or bottom portion 14 of the seal 6. The ribs 62 may be
longitudinally disposed (FIG. 16, for example) or laterally
disposed (FIG. 17, for example).
[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 20-24, yet another embodiment of the
present invention is shown that includes a stiffening rib 62 on the
top portion of the seal. The rib 62 may be "C"-shaped where the
ends thereof are associated with the leading edge 60 of the seal 6,
for example (FIG. 22), 6 or terminate within the first portion 10.
(FIG. 20). In addition, these embodiments of the present invention
include a bottom portion 14 that has a tooth 66 for selective
interconnection and engagement into a matching cut out 70 on the
bottom portion 14. The tooth 66 helps prevent lateral expansion of
the seal 6 when subjected to a force. The tooth 66 may have rounded
corners (FIG. 23) or jagged corners (FIG. 21) without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 25 shows a seal 6 having a first surface 10 with a
plurality of teeth 74 is shown. The teeth 74 dig into the excess
portion of the band (see FIG. 3) to help secure the band relative
to the seal.
[0052] Referring now to FIG. 26, comparison of embodiments of the
present invention with seals of the prior art are shown. More
specifically, prior art seals of Gerrard and RPR, were compared
with the seal of one embodiment of the present invention to show
relative performance. The "maximum clamping" force refers to the
amount of load applied to the band. "Retained" force refers to the
amount of clamping force that remains after the seal is
interconnected to the band and the excess band is removed. "Loop
tensile" force refers to the maximum force applied radially before
the band clamp fails, either by breaking the lock, yielding the
band so it no longer holds any force, or slipping the band out of
the seal. Embodiments of the present invention possess comparable
retained force, maximum clamping force and loop tensile force to
seals of the prior art. However, the wings of some embodiments of
the present invention are deformed with significantly less force
than those of the prior art. For example, the wings of one
embodiment of the present invention are deflected with about 40-65%
less force than the wings of the prior art. The force to deform the
seals, which affects its holding performance, disclosed herein is
higher as well. For example, one embodiment requires about 25-50%
more load to deform over the seals of the prior art.
[0053] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and
alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the
art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such
modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of
the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *