U.S. patent application number 12/856808 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-26 for releasable tie.
Invention is credited to Juei-Ching CHENG.
Application Number | 20120017401 12/856808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45086657 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120017401 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHENG; Juei-Ching |
January 26, 2012 |
RELEASABLE TIE
Abstract
A releasable tie includes a locking element and a band. The band
has first and second ends. The locking element includes a bottom
plate, first walls, a second wall, and an operating rod. The bottom
plate is formed with a window. A predefined gap is formed between
the operating rod and the first walls. The operating rod has an arm
extending therefrom and first meshing teeth thereon. An aperture is
formed at such a position on the bottom plate that the projection
of the arm lies at the position on the bottom plate. The band has a
first top side and a bottom side with second meshing teeth thereon.
The first and second meshing teeth are in mesh. The band is thinner
than the bottom plate. The thickness of the band is larger than the
distance between the top end of the first meshing teeth and the
second wall.
Inventors: |
CHENG; Juei-Ching; (Xianxi
Township, TW) |
Family ID: |
45086657 |
Appl. No.: |
12/856808 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/16R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 63/1072 20130101;
Y10T 24/14 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/16.R |
International
Class: |
B65D 63/00 20060101
B65D063/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 20, 2010 |
TW |
099213804 |
Claims
1. A releasable tie (100) comprising a locking element (10) and a
band (20), the locking element (10) being formed with a window
(11), the band (20) having a first end (21) and a second end (22),
the first end (21) being connected to the locking element (10), the
second end (22) penetrating the window (11) to fixedly engage the
locking element (10), and the releasable tie (100) being
characterized in that: the locking element (10) comprises a bottom
plate (12), pair first walls (13), a second wall (14), and an
operating rod (15), the window (11) being disposed at the bottom
plate (12), the bottom plate (12) having a front end (121) and a
rear end (122), the first walls (13) being disposed on left and
right sides of the bottom plate (12), respectively, the second wall
(14) being disposed at the front end (121) of the bottom plate
(12), wherein the left and right sides of the bottom plate (12)
adjoin the first walls (13), respectively, the operating rod (15)
being disposed between the window (11) and the rear end (122) of
the bottom plate (12), wherein a predefined gap (S1) is formed
between the left side of the operating rod (15) and the left one of
the first walls (13) and between the right side of the operating
rod (15) and the right one of the first walls (13), wherein a
plurality of first meshing teeth (16) is disposed on a side of the
operating rod (15) facing the second wall (14), the operating rod
(15) having an arm (17) extending therefrom in the direction of the
band (20), wherein an aperture (18) is formed at such a position on
the bottom plate (12) that a projection of the arm (17) of the
operating rod (15) falls on the bottom plate (12) and lies at the
position of the bottom plates (12); and the band (20) having a
first top side (23) and a bottom side (24), the first top side (23)
being closer to the arm (17) of the operating rod (15) than the
bottom side (24) is, the bottom side (24) having a plurality of
second meshing teeth (25) for meshing the first meshing teeth (16)
of the operating rod (15), wherein the band (20) is of a thickness
(T1) less than a thickness (T2) of the bottom plate (12) of the
locking element (10), the thickness (T1) being larger than a
distance (D1) between a top end of the first meshing teeth (16) of
the operating rod (15) and the second wall (14).
2. The releasable tie (100) of claim 1, wherein the aperture (18)
is of an area slightly larger than a projected area of the arm (17)
on the bottom plate (12).
3. The releasable tie (100) of claim 1, wherein the operating rod
(15) has a top portion (151), and the arm (17) of the operating rod
(15) extends from the top portion (151) of the operating rod (15)
toward the band (20).
4. The releasable tie (100) of claim 3, wherein the top portion
(151) of the operating rod (15) is of a height (H1) not larger than
a height (H2) of the second wall (14).
5. The releasable tie (100) of claim 4, wherein the height (H1) of
the top portion (151) of the operating rod (15) is less than the
height (H2) of the second wall (14).
6. The releasable tie (100) of claim 1, wherein a length (L1) of
extension of the arm (17) of the operating rod (15) approximates to
a height (H3) of the top portion (151) of the operating rod (15)
from the top surface of the rear end (122) of the bottom plate
(12).
7. The releasable tie (100) of claim 1, wherein the arm (17) of the
operating rod (15) is of a width (W1) slightly less than a width
(W2) of the operating rod (15).
8. The releasable tie (100) of claim 1, wherein the arm (17) of the
operating rod (15) has a second top side (171), and the second top
side (171) has a concave surface.
9. The releasable tie (100) of claim 8, wherein the second top side
(171) of the arm (17) of the operating rod (15) has a corrugated
surface (172).
10. The releasable tie (100) of claim 9, wherein the corrugated
surface (172) is characterized by a plurality of fine grooves
running perpendicular to a lengthwise dimension of the band
(20).
11. The releasable tie (100) of claim 1, wherein the window (11)
has a transverse opening (W01) in alignment with the paired first
walls (13), the transverse opening (W01) being larger than a width
(W20) of the band.
12. The releasable tie (100) of claim 11, wherein the window (11)
has a vertical opening (W02) perpendicular to the transverse
opening (W01), and the vertical opening (W02) is larger than the
thickness (T1) of the band.
13. The releasable tie (100) of claim 1, wherein the window (11)
has a first transverse opening (W11) and a second transverse
opening (W12), the first and second transverse openings (W11),
(W12) being in alignment with the paired first walls (13), the
first transverse opening (W11) being larger than the width (W20) of
the band (20), the second transverse opening (W12) being less than
the width (W20) of the band (20), the window (11) further having a
first vertical opening (W21) and a second vertical opening (W22),
the first and second vertical openings (W21), (W22) being
perpendicular to the first transverse opening (W11) and the second
transverse opening (W12), the first transverse opening (W21) being
larger than the thickness (T1) of the band (20), and the second
transverse opening (W22) being larger than the first transverse
opening (W21).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to cable ties, and more
particularly, to a releasable tie.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Normally, commercially available ties hold typical power
lines or objects together or serve a tightening, fixing or tucking
purpose. However, once tied up, the tie cannot be loosened. To add
an object to tie, or to tuck objects tied up anew, it is necessary
to sever the tie and use a new one. Thus, conventional ties are
inconvenient to use, cost-inefficient, and a waste of
resources.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In order to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior
art, the present invention provides a releasable tie. The
releasable tie comprises a locking element and a band. The locking
element is formed with a window. The band has a first end and a
second end. The first end is connected to the locking element. The
second end penetrates the window to fixedly engage the locking
element.
[0006] Furthermore, the locking element comprises a bottom plate,
paired first walls, a second wall, and an operating rod. The window
of the locking element is positioned at the bottom plate. The
paired first walls are disposed on the left and right sides of the
bottom plate. The second wall is disposed at the front end of the
bottom plate. The left and right sides of the second wall adjoin
the paired first walls, respectively. The operating rod is disposed
between the window and the rear end of the bottom plate. Predefine
gaps are formed between the left side of the operating rod and the
left one of the first walls and between the right side of the
operating rod and the right one of the first walls, respectively. A
plurality of first meshing teeth is disposed on the second
wall-facing side of the operating rod. The operating rod has an arm
extending therefrom in the direction of the band. An aperture is
formed at such a position on the bottom plate that the projection
of the arm of the operating rod falls onto the bottom plate and
lies at the position thereof.
[0007] The band has a first top side and a bottom side. The first
top side is closer to the arm of the operating rod than the bottom
side is. A plurality of second meshing teeth is disposed on the
bottom side. The first meshing teeth of the operating rod and the
second meshing teeth of the bottom side are in mesh. The band is of
a thickness less than the thickness of the bottom plate of the
locking element. The thickness of the band is larger than the
distance between the top portion of the first meshing teeth of the
operating rod and the second wall.
[0008] Hence, it is a primary objective of the present invention to
provide a releasable tie having an operating rod and an arm
extending therefrom, such that a user can easily exert a force on
the arm extending from the operating rod and thus enable first
meshing teeth of the operating rod and second meshing teeth of a
band to come out of mesh easily, thereby releasing the second end
of the band from a window of the locking element. Accordingly, the
releasable tie is reusable to thereby save the usage costs
thereof.
[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
releasable tie characterized in the second end of the band being
allowed to penetrating the window of the locking element; the
operating rod having a plurality of first meshing teeth; and the
band having a plurality of second meshing teeth. Accordingly, the
releasable tie is capable of bundling and tucking objects while the
second meshing teeth of the band and the first meshing teeth of the
operating rod are in mesh.
[0010] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide
a releasable tie characterized in that a second top side of the arm
of the operating rod has a concave surface; and, optionally, the
second top side of the arm has a corrugated surface. The concave
surface and corrugated surface of the arm of the second top side
maximize the friction between the arm and a user's finger. As a
result, the user's finger can exert a force on the arm of the
operating rod easily to thereby release the second end of the band
from the window of the locking element easily. Accordingly, the
releasable tie is easy to operate.
[0011] Still yet another objective of the present invention is to
provide a releasable tie characterized in that the window of the
locking element has a transverse opening in alignment with the
first walls, wherein the transverse opening is larger than the
width of the band; and the window has a vertical opening
perpendicular to the transverse opening, wherein the vertical
opening is larger than the thickness of the band. Accordingly it is
easy to pass the band through the window of the locking element,
and easy to pull the second end of the band, so as to bundle and
tuck objects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a releasable tie in a
preferred embodiment according to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 1A is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of
portion A shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the releasable tie in
another preferred embodiment according to the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the releasable tie in
yet another preferred embodiment according to the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the releasable tie in
still yet another preferred embodiment according to the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the releasable tie in a further
preferred embodiment according to the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the releasable tie in a further
preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A, there are shown a
perspective view of a releasable tie 100 in a preferred embodiment
according to the present invention and an enlarged partial
cross-sectional view of portion A shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the
drawings, the releasable tie 100 comprises a locking element 10 and
a band 20. The locking element 10 is formed with a window 11. The
band 20 has a first end 21 and a second end 22. The first end 21 is
connected to the locking element 10. The second end 22 penetrates
the window 11 of the locking element 10 to fixedly engage the
locking element 10, thereby bundling objects to be tied up.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of
the releasable tie 100 in another preferred embodiment according to
the present invention. The locking element 10 has a bottom plate
12, paired first walls 13, a second wall 14, and an operating rod
15. The bottom plate 12 has a front end 121 and a rear end 122. The
first end 21 of the band 20 is connected to the rear end 122 of the
bottom plate 12 of the locking element 10. The window 11 of the
locking element 10 is formed on the bottom plate 12 thereof. The
paired first walls 13 are disposed on the left and right sides of
the bottom plate 12, respectively. The second wall 14 is disposed
at the front end 121 of the bottom plate 12. The left and right
sides of the bottom plate 12 are connected to the first walls 13,
respectively. The operating rod 15 is disposed between the window
11 and the rear end 122 of the bottom plate 12. Referring to FIG.
3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of the releasable tie 100,
wherein the cross-section transverses the first end 21 of the band
20. As shown in the drawing, a predefined gap S1 is formed between
the left side of the operating rod 15 and the left one of the first
walls 13 and between the right side of the operating rod 15 and the
right one of the first walls 13, respectively, to thereby render
the operating rod 15 flexible.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional view
of the releasable tie 100 in still yet another preferred embodiment
according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the
operating rod 15 has an arm 17 extending therefrom in the direction
of the band 20, and a plurality of first meshing teeth 16 is
disposed on the side of the operating rod 15 facing the second wall
14. The band 20 has a first top side 23 and a bottom side 24. The
first top side 23 is closer to the arm 17 of the operating rod 15
than the bottom side 24 is. A plurality of second meshing teeth 25
is disposed on the bottom side 24. The first meshing teeth 16 of
the operating rod 15 and the second meshing teeth 25 of the bottom
side 24 are in mesh, as shown in FIG. 1A.
[0022] A commercially available releasable tie can only have its
band loosened when a mesh-controlling element thereof is pressed
hardly with a nail or a sharp object to allow its meshing elements
to come out of mesh. By contrast, the releasable tie 100 of the
present invention comprises the operating rod 15 having the arm 17
extending therefrom in the direction of the band 20, such that it
is easy to release the second end 22 of the band 20 from the window
11 of the locking element 10; as a result, the releasable tie 100
is reusable and conducive to cost saving. The operating rod 15 has
a top portion 151. Preferably, the arm 17 extends from the top
portion 151 of the operating rod 15 in the direction of the band
20. Thus, it is easy for a user to manipulate the arm 17 extending
from the operating rod 15 to thereby enable the first meshing teeth
16 of the operating rod 15 and the second meshing teeth 25 of the
band 20 to come out of mesh, and eventually release the second end
22 of the band 20 from the window 11 of the locking element 10.
Accordingly, the releasable tie 100 of the present invention is
easy to operate.
[0023] With the operating rod 15 being of small volume, the contact
area between a user's finger and the arm 17 of the operating rod 15
is small. Referring to FIG. 2, in an embodiment of the present
invention, a frictional structure is formed on the arm 17 of the
operating rod 15. The frictional structure is configured to
increase the friction between the user's finger and the arm 17 of
the operating rod 15 and therefore enable the user's finger to
exert a force on the arm 17 easily. The arm 17 has a second top
side 171. The second top side 171 of the arm 17 has a concave
surface. Optionally, the second top side 171 of the arm 17 has a
corrugated surface 172, wherein the corrugated surface 172 is
characterized by a plurality of fine grooves that run perpendicular
to the lengthwise dimension of the band 20. Accordingly, the user
is able to release the second end 22 of the band 20 from the window
11 of the locking element 10 easily, so as to reuse the releasable
tie 100.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 3 again, to reinforce the locking element
10, the thickness T1 of the band 20 is less than the thickness T2
of the bottom plate 12 of the locking element 10. Referring to FIG.
4, the thickness T1 of the band 20 is larger than the distance D1
between the top end of the first meshing teeth 16 of the operating
rod 15 and the second wall 14. After the second end 22 of the band
20 has penetrated the window 11 of the locking element 10, the
second meshing teeth 25 on the bottom side 24 of the band 20 and
the first meshing teeth 16 of the locking element 10 are meshed and
coupled together. Hence, the releasable tie 100 of the present
invention is capable of bundling and tucking objects.
[0025] Preferably, the releasable tie 100 of the present invention
is integrally formed as a unitary structure such that the
releasable tie 100 thus formed incurs less manufacturing costs, has
reinforced structural strength, and demonstrates ease of use.
Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a plan view of the bottom plate
12 of the locking element 10. To form the releasable tie 100
integrally as a unitary, reinforced structure, an aperture 18 is
formed at such a position on the bottom plate 12 that the
projection of the arm 17 of the operating rod 15 falls on the
bottom plate 12 and lies at the position of the bottom plate 12 so
as to facilitate die opening. Preferably, the area of the aperture
18 is slightly larger than the projected area of the arm 17 on the
bottom plate 12. Referring to FIG. 2, the width W1 of the arm 17 of
the operating rod 15 is slightly less than the width W2 of the
operating rod 15. Referring to FIG. 4, the operating rod 15 has a
top portion 151, and the height H1 of the top portion 151 of the
operating rod 15 is essentially not larger than the height H2 of
the second wall 14. Preferably, the height H1 of the top portion
151 of the operating rod 15 is less than the height H2 of the
second wall 14. Also, the length L1 of extension of the arm 17 of
the operating rod 15 approximates to the height H3 of the top
portion 151 of the operating rod 15 from the top surface of the
rear end 122 of the bottom plate 12. The extension of the arm 17,
though limited, not only facilitates application of force, but also
reinforces the arm 17 and the bottom plate 12 of the locking
element 10.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, the window 11 of the locking element 10
has a transverse opening W01 in alignment with the first walls 13,
and the transverse opening W01 is larger than the width W20 of the
band 20. Also, the window 11 has a vertical opening W02
perpendicular to the transverse opening W01, and the vertical
opening W02 is larger than the thickness T1 of the band 20 (see
FIG. 3). Accordingly, it is easy to pass the band 20 through the
window 11 of the locking element 10, and easy to pull the second
end 22 of the band 20, so as to tie and tighten objects.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, in a further preferred embodiment of
the present invention, the window 11 of the locking element 10 has
a first transverse opening W11 and a second transverse opening W12.
The first transverse opening W11 and the second transverse opening
W12 are in alignment with the first walls 13. The first transverse
opening W11 is larger than the width W20 of the band 20. The second
transverse opening W12 is less than the width W20 of the band 20.
Thus, after the second end 22 of the band 20 has penetrated the
window 11 of the locking element 10, the band 20 is confined to the
first transverse opening W11, because the second transverse opening
W12 is less than the width W20 of the band 20. Furthermore, the
window 11 has a first vertical opening W21 and a second vertical
opening W22. The first vertical opening W21 and the second vertical
opening W22 are perpendicular to the first transverse opening W11
and the second transverse opening W12. The first vertical opening
W21 is larger than the thickness T1 of the band 20 (see FIG. 3).
The second vertical opening W22 is larger than the first vertical
opening W21.
* * * * *