U.S. patent number 3,660,869 [Application Number 04/828,075] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-09 for one-piece cable tie.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Panduit Corp.. Invention is credited to Jack E. Caveney, Roy A. Moody.
United States Patent |
3,660,869 |
Caveney , et al. |
May 9, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
ONE-PIECE CABLE TIE
Abstract
An integral one-piece cable tie including an elongated flexible
strap having a row of teeth thereon, a frame integral with one end
of the strap and having an abutment wall and an end wall and an
entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening
therethrough, a ledge on the end wall, and a pawl pivotally mounted
on and integral with the ledge within the opening and having a set
of teeth shaped complementary to the row of the teeth and defining
with the end wall a strap-receiving throat disposed normal to the
longitudinal axis of the strap as molded; there also are disclosed
methods of molding such a cable tie.
Inventors: |
Caveney; Jack E. (Chicago,
IL), Moody; Roy A. (Flossmoor, IL) |
Assignee: |
Panduit Corp. (Tinley Park,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25250872 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/828,075 |
Filed: |
May 1, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/16PB |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C
45/4407 (20130101); B65D 63/1072 (20130101); F16L
3/2334 (20130101); B29L 2031/7276 (20130101); Y10T
24/1498 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B29C
45/44 (20060101); F16L 3/233 (20060101); B65D
63/10 (20060101); F16L 3/22 (20060101); B65d
063/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/16PB,3.5PB,73.7
;248/68,74,74PB |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Griffin; Donald A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle
of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated
flexible strap, a row of abutments disposed on one longitudinal
surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect
thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including
an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry
surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending
therethrough, a ledge on said end wall extending longitudinally
therefrom toward said abutment wall, a pawl disposed within said
frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and
integral with said ledge, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing
surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a
strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being
disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said
strap as molded, and a tooth on said pawl arranged transversely
with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and
shaped to engage said row of abutments on said strap, said strap
being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the
free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat
and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said tooth
being disposed toward said row of abutments as said strap is
tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and
release of said strap causing at least one of said abutments firmly
to engage said tooth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from
within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction
serving to move said tooth into more firm engagement with the
engaged ones of said row of abutments firmly to grip said strap
between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to
prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and
thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle
of wires.
2. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be
tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable
tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on
one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of
the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a
strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, and a pawl
pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening
and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of
teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing
first and second mold members having respectively first and second
core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity
shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections
cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and
the pawl, one of said core sections having undercut portions
thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in the set of teeth,
the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions
useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward
the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said core
portions useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward
the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed
on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as 0.degree.;
closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity;
placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold
cavity to form a cable tie; and moving said mold members away from
each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the
strap as molded to permit removal of the molded cable tie
therefrom.
3. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be
tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable
tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on
one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of
the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a
strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal
to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl
pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening
and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of
teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing
first and second mold members having respectively first and second
core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity
shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections
cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and
the pawl, one of said core sections having undercut portions
thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in the set of teeth,
the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions
useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward
the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said core
portions useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward
the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed
on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as 0.degree.;
closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity;
placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold
cavity to form a cable tie; and moving said mold members away from
each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the
strap as molded, the surfaces of the one core section molding the
surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface of the frame
drawing away from the molded pawl to permit flexure thereof toward
said one core section to remove the set of teeth from the undercut
portions of said one core section, thus to permit removal of the
molded cable tie from said mold members without injury to the pawl
and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut
portions of the one core section.
4. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be
tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable
tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on
one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of
the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a
strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal
to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl
pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening
and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of
teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing
first and second mold members having respectively first and second
core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity
shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections
cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and
the pawl, said first core section having undercut portions thereon
for molding one or more of the teeth in said set of teeth, the
planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions
useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward
the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said first
core portion useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed
toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points
disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as
0.degree.; closing said first and second mold members to form a
mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin
in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; moving said first mold
member with said first core section thereon away from said second
mold member with said second core section thereon and the molded
cable tie positioned therein in a direction normal to the
longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, the surfaces of said
first core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward
the exit surface of the frame drawing away from the molded pawl to
permit flexure thereof within said first core section to remove the
set of teeth from the undercut portions of said first core section,
thus to permit removal from said first mold member of the portion
of the molded cable tie molded thereby without injury to the pawl
and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut
portions of said first core section, and knocking out the molded
cable tie from said second mold member and said second core section
thereon.
5. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be
tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable
tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on
one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of
the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a
strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal
to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl
pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening
and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of
teeth, said method of molding comprising the steps of providing
first and second mold members having respectively first and second
core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity
shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections
cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and
the pawl, said second core section having undercut portion thereon
for molding one or more of the teeth in said set of teeth, the
planes defined by the molded surfaces of the undercut portions
useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward
the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said second
core portion useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed
toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points
disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as
0.degree.; closing said first and second mold members to form a
mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin
in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; moving said first mold
member with said first core section thereon away from said second
mold member with said second core section thereon and the molded
cable tie positioned therein in a direction normal to the
longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and knocking out the
molded cable tie from said first mold member and said first core
section thereon, the molded pawl drawing away from the surfaces of
said second core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed
toward the exit surface of the frame to permit flexure of the pawl
within said second core section to remove the set of teeth from the
undercut portions of said second core sections, thus to permit
removal from said second mold member of the portion of the molded
cable tie molded thereby without injury to the pawl and the set of
teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut portions of
said second core sections.
6. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle
of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated
flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface
of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a
frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall
and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an
exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough,
a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening
and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl
being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said
frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the
as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof
including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely
within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said
abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said
pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the
longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially
normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set
of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto
and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said
row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop
encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap
extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening
in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed
toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the
bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap
causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage
said set of teeth, the crest-to-crest distance of said set of teeth
being slightly less than the crest-to-crest distance of said row of
teeth so that when the tooth in said set of teeth disposed toward
said entry surface is the first to engage one of said row of teeth
all of the teeth in said set of teeth will ultimately engage teeth
in said row of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from
within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction
serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with
the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap
between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to
prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and
thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle
of wires.
7. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle
of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated
flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface
of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a
frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall
and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an
exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough,
a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening
and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl
being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said
frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the
as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof
including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely
within said frame between the entry and exit surface thereof, said
abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said
pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the
longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially
normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set
of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto
and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said
row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop
encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap
extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening
in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed
toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the
bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap
causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage
said set of teeth, the crests of a plurality of the teeth in said
set of teeth being positioned opposite said strap-bearing surface
in the tensioned condition of said strap and being disposed
substantially equidistant from said strap-bearing surface with said
strap-bearing surface extending beyond said plurality of teeth, any
force tending to withdraw said strap from within said
strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to
move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged
ones of said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said
pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from
said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition
about the bundle of wires.
8. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle
of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated
flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface
of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a
frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall
and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an
exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough,
a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening
and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl
being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said
frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the
as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof
including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely
within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said
abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said
pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the
longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially
normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set
of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto
and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said
row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop
encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap
extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening
in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed
toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the
bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap
causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage
said set of teeth, the crests of a plurality of the teeth in said
set of teeth being positioned opposite said strap-bearing position
in the tensioned condition of said strap and lying in a plane
substantially parallel to the frame of said strap-bearing surface
with said strap-bearing surface extending beyond said plurality of
teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said
strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to
move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged
ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said
strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent
withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said
strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.
9. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle
of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated
flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface
of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a
frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall
and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an
exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough,
a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening
and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl
being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said
frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the
as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof
including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely
within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said
abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said
pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the
longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially
normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set
of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto
and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said
row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop
encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap
extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening
in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed
toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the
bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap
causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage
said set of teeth, the crests of the teeth in said set of teeth
being positioned opposite said strap-bearing surface and lying in a
plane substantially parallel thereto in the tensioned condition of
said strap with said strap-bearing surface extending beyond said
plurality of teeth, the planes defined by the surface of said set
of teeth disposed toward said entry surface in the tensioned
condition converging with the planes defined by the surfaces of
said pawl disposed toward said exit surface and away from said
abutment wall in the tensioned condition at points disposed on the
exit side of said frame at angles as small as 0.degree..
10. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle
of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated
flexible strap, a row of abutments disposed on one longitudinal
surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect
thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including
an end wall and an abutment wall and a pair of longitudinally
extending and spaced-apart side walls interconnecting said end wall
and said abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an
exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough,
a ledge on said end wall extending between and interconnecting said
side walls and extending longitudinally from said end wall toward
said abutment wall, a pawl disposed within said frame in said
strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with
said ledge, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface
disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving
throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed
substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as
molded, and a tooth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect
thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage
said row of abutments on said strap, said strap being deformable
into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said
strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the
opening in said frame and therebeyond, said tooth being disposed
toward said row of abutments as said strap is tensioned about and
release said strap causing at least one of said abutments firmly to
engage said tooth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from
within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction
serving to move said tooth into more firm engagement with the
engaged ones of said row of abutments firmly to grip said strap
between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to
prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and
thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle
of wires.
11. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the
like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row
of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and
arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame on one end of
said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said
frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and an opening
extending therethrough for receiving the other end of said strap, a
pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and
pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl
being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said
frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the
as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof
including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely
within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said
abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said
pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the
longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially
normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set
of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto
and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said
row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop
encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap
extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening
in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed
toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the
bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap
causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage
said set of teeth, the crest-to-crest distance of said set of teeth
being slightly less than the crest-to-crest distance of said row of
teeth so that when the tooth in said set of teeth disposed toward
said entry surface is the first to engage one of said row of teeth
all of the teeth in said set of teeth will ultimately engage teeth
in said row of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from
within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction
serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with
the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap
between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to
prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and
thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle
of wires.
12. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the
like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row
of abutments disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and
arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame on one end of
said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said
frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and an opening
extending therethrough for receiving the other end of said strap, a
ledge on said end wall extending longitudinally therefrom toward
said abutment wall and including a support surface disposed toward
said exit surface, a pawl disposed within said frame in said
strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with
the support surface of said ledge, said abutment wall having a
strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining
therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said
throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis
of said strap as molded, and a tooth on on said pawl arranged
transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment
wall and shaped to engage said row of abutments on said strap, said
strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires
with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving
throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said
tooth being disposed toward said row of abutments as said strap is
tensioned about and release said strap causing at least one of said
abutments firmly to engage said tooth, any force tending to
withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a
strap-loosening direction serving to move said tooth into more firm
engagement with the engaged ones of said row of abutments firmly to
grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl,
whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said
frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about
the bundle of wires.
13. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle
of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated
flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface
of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a
frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall
and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an
exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough,
a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening
and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl
being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said
frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the
as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof
including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely
within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said
abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said
pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the
longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially
normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set
of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto
and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said
row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop
encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap
extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening
in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed
toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the
bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap
causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage
said set of teeth, the planes defined by the surfaces of said set
of teeth disposed toward said entry surface in the tensioned
condition converge with the planes defined by the surfaces of said
pawl disposed toward said exit surface and away from said abutment
wall in the tensioned condition at points disposed on the exit side
of said frame at angles as small as 0.degree., any force tending to
with draw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a
strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into
more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth
firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and
said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap
from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned
condition about the bundle of wires.
14. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle
of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated
flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface
of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a
frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall
and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an
exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough,
a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening
and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl
being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said
frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the
as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof
including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely
within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said
abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said
pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the
longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially
normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set
of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto
and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said
row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop
encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap
extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening
in said frame and therebeyond, said frame having a channel therein
through said abutment wall for receiving the other end of said
strap to permit said frame to lie more nearly flat against the
associated bundle of wires, said set of teeth being disposed toward
said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of
wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at
least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set
of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said
strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to
move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged
ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said
strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent
withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said
strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.
Description
The present invention is directed to an integral one-piece cable
tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, and to
methods of molding such a cable tie.
It is an object of the invention to provide an integral one-piece
cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like,
comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on
one longitudinal surface of the strap and arranged transversely
with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of the strap
and including an end wall and an abutment wall, the frame having an
entry and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening
therethrough, a pawl disposed within the frame in the
strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted and integral with the
end wall, the pawl being limited to only pivotal movement with
respect to the frame about the pivot connection to the end wall,
the pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other
positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being
disposed entirely within the frame between the entry and the exit
surfaces thereof, the abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface
disposed toward the pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving
throat, the longitudinal axis of the throat being disposed
substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as
molded, and a set of teeth on the pawl arranged transversely with
respect thereto and disposed toward the abutment wall and shaped
complementary to the row of teeth on the strap.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cable tie of the
type set forth, wherein a plurality of teeth in the set of teeth
are positioned opposite the strap-bearing surface and lie in a
common surface which is disposed substantially equidistantly from
the strap-bearing surface in the tensioned condition of the strap
with the strap-bearing surface extending beyond the plurality of
teeth.
In connection with the foregoing object, another object of the
invention is to provide a cable tie of the type set forth wherein
the crests of the plurality of teeth lie in a plane substantially
parallel to the plane of the strap-bearing surface.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cable tie of the
type set forth wherein the planes defined by the surfaces of the
set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface in the tensioned
condition converge with the planes defined by the surfaces of the
pawl disposed toward the exit surface in the tensioned condition at
points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as
zero degrees.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cable tie of the
type set forth wherein a ledge is provided on the end wall
extending longitudinally therefrom toward the abutment wall and the
pawl is pivotally mounted on the ledge.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of
molding a cable tie of the type set forth comprising the steps of
providing first and second mold members having respectively first
and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold
cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with the core sections
cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and
the pawl, one of the core sections having undercut portions thereon
for molding one or more of the teeth in the set of teeth, the
planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions
useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward
the entry surface converging with the planes defined by the core
portions useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward
the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed
on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as zero degrees;
closing the first and second mold members to form a mold cavity;
placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold
cavity to form a cable tie; and moving the mold members away from
each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the
strap as molded to permit removal of the molded cable tie
therefrom.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of
molding cable ties of the type set forth, wherein upon moving the
mold members away from each other, the surfaces of the one core
section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit
surface of the frame drawing away from the molded pawl to permit
flexure thereof toward the one core section to remove the set of
teeth from the undercut portions of the one core section, thus to
permit removal of the molded cable tie from the mold members
without injury to the pawl and the set of teeth thereon including
those molded by the undercut portions of the one core section.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method
of molding cable ties of the type set forth, wherein the core
section having the undercut portions thereon is moved away from the
other core section having the molded cable tie remaining thereon,
and thereafter knocking out the molded cable tie from the other
core section and the associated mold member.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved
method of molding cable ties of the type set forth, wherein the
core section having no undercut portions thereon is moved away from
the other core section having the molded cable tie remaining
thereon, and thereafter knocking out the molded cable tie from the
other core section and the associated mold member.
Further features of the invention pertain to the particular
arrangement of the parts of the cable tie and the steps of the
molding method, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating
features thereof are attained.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,
together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be
understood by reference to the following specification taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view with certain of the parts broken away of the
integral one-piece cable tie made in accordance with and embodying
the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with certain parts broken away of
the cable tie of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view with certain parts broken away of the reverse
side of the cable tie of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross section of the
portion of FIG. 2 within the circle designated by the reference
numeral "4;"
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the frame forming a
part of the cable tie of FIGS. 1 to 3;
FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section along the line 6--6 of FIG.
5;
FIGS. 7 to 10, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the
application of the cable tie of FIGS. 1 to 3 about a bundle of
wires;
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the cable tie of FIGS. 1 to 3
applied about a bundle of wires;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view on a large scale of a second
form of cable tie made in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 13 is a view in vertical section through the frame of the
cable tie of FIG. 12 along the line 13--13 thereof;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in transverse section along the line
14--14 in FIG. 13;
FIGS. 15 to 17, inclusive, diagrammatically illustrate a first
preferred method of molding the cable tie of the present invention;
and
FIGS. 18 and 19 are diagrammatic views illustrating a second
preferred embodiment of molding the cable tie of the present
invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first
preferred embodiment of an integral one-piece cable tie 100 made in
accordance with and embodying the principles of the present
invention. The cable tie 100 includes generally a strap 101
carrying on one end thereof a frame or head 120 having a
strap-receiving opening or throat 140 therethrough in which is
disposed a pawl 150. The cable tie 100 is used to bind a bundle 160
formed of a plurality of wires 161, and accordingly, the cable tie
100 has been illustrated in this end-use in FIG. 11. However, it
will be appreciated that the cable tie 100 can be advantageously
used to bind other objects in a like manner.
A preferred material of construction of the cable tie 100 is a
suitable synthetic organic plastic resin, the preferred resin being
one of the polyamide resins; the resin must be sufficiently
flexible to accommodate the deformation of the several parts of the
cable tie 100 as illustrated throughout the drawings. It is an
important object of the invention that each of the parts of the
cable tie 100 is integral with the adjacent parts thereof, whereby
the cable tie 100 is truly one-piece and formed integral
throughout.
The strap 100 is elongated and flexible and includes an outer end
102 that is deflected downwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 with respect
to the remaining portion of the strap 101 as molded, the outer end
102 carrying thereon a tip 103 provided with tapered sides 104. The
outer end 102 further has an inner or bundle-engaging surface 106
and an outer surface 107, the inner surface 106 carrying a
plurality of transversely spaced-apart pairs of gripping
projections 108 equidistantly spaced along the length of the outer
end 102. A high ridge or detent 109 is provided on the outer
surface 107 and is arranged transversely with respect thereto and
adjacent to the juncture 111 between the outer end 102 and the
remaining portion of the strap 101. In use, the detent 109 is
caused to engage the strap 101 on the frame 120 temporarily in an
encircling position with respect to an associated bundle 160, all
as will be explained more fully hereinafter.
The strap 101 further includes a pair of longitudinally extending
strap sides 110 which extend the length of the strap 101, and there
is provided on the portion of the strap 101 disposed between the
juncture 111 with the outer end 102 and the juncture with the frame
120 an inner or bundle-engaging surface 112 and an outer surface
113. Disposed in the surface 112 is a row of abutments or teeth 115
(see FIG. 4 also), the teeth 115 being disposed in a recessed
position with respect to the surface 112 and extending laterally of
the strap 101 and having a length slightly less than the width of
the surface 112, whereby to be confined completely within the body
of the strap 101. As illustrated, each of the teeth 115 has a
shorter side 116 disposed substantially normal to the adjacent
strap surface 112 and a longer or inclined side 117.
The frame 120 is integral with the strap 101 and comprises a pair
of side walls or members 121, a rear wall or member 131 and a front
wall or member 141. As may be best seen in FIG. 6, the side walls
121 are laterally spaced apart and include inner surfaces 122 that
extend the full height of the frame 120 and are disposed
essentially parallel to one another, the inner surfaces 122 more
specifically extending from the inner surface 112 which serves as
an entry surface for the frame 120 to an exit surface 130 on the
top of the frame 120 as viewed in FIG. 6. The inner surfaces 122
further are spaced apart a distance greater than the distance
between the strap sides 110, whereby the strap 101 may be received
between the inner surfaces 122, all as will be explained more fully
hereinafter. Each of the side walls 120 further includes an outer
surface 123 that extends from the entry surface 112 to the exit
surface 130.
The rear wall or end wall 131 includes an inner surface 132 and an
outer surface 133 the inner surface 132 diverging downwardly away
from the outer surface 133 from the exit surface 130 to the entry
surface 112, whereby the rear wall 131 is thicker at the bottom
thereof as illustrated in FIG. 7 than at the top thereof. As is
also illustrated in FIG. 7, the strap 101 is joined at the frame
120 at the lower and thicker portion of the end wall 131.
Extending between the side walls 121 and adjacent to the lower
portion of the end wall 131 is a ledge 135 extending longitudinally
toward the front wall 141 and disposed substantially parallel to
the entry surface 112 and the longitudinal axis of the strap 101 as
molded. The lefthand edge of the ledge 135 as viewed in FIG. 7
terminates in a vertical wall 136 that is disposed essentially
normal to the entry surface 112 and is joined thereto by a curved
portion thereof. More specifically, the ledge 135 and the wall 136
both extend from and in effect interconnect the inner surfaces 122
of the side walls 121.
The front wall or abutment wall 141 has an inner surface 142 which
is spaced from the rear wall 131 in the direction opposite to the
strap 101, the inner surface 142 being disposed substantially
normal to the entry surface 112 and the longitudinal axis of the
strap 101 as molded, the rear wall 131 and the abutment wall 141
cooperating to provide therebetween a strap-receiving opening 140
that has the longitudinal axis thereof generally parallel to the
strap-bearing surface 142. The front wall 141 also has an outer
surface 143 which extends downwardly from the exit surface 130 and
terminates a short distance away from the entry surface 112 and
joins thereat a guide surface 145 which connects the inner surface
142 and the outer surface 143. More specifically, the guide surface
145 is spaced away from the entry surface 112 and together with the
inner surfaces 122 of the side walls 121 defines a strap-receiving
channel in the frame 120. The channel thus provided in the frame
120 and beneath the front wall 141 permits the frame 120 to lie
more closely against the associated bundle 160 when the parts are
in the tensioned condition as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. In
passing, it is noted that the exit surface 130 is inclined with
respect to the entry surface 112 and the strap-bearing surface 142,
and more specifically slopes downwardly toward the entry surface
112 in a direction away from the strap 101.
Mounted within the strap-receiving opening 140 in the frame 120 is
the pawl 150, the pawl 150 being directly seated upon the ledge 135
and integral therewith. The pawl 150 being so constructed is
limited essentially to only pivotal movement with respect to the
frame 120 about the pivot connection of the pawl 150 to the ledge
135. As will be pointed out further hereinafter, due to this
construction and mounting of the pawl 150, the pawl 150 in the
as-molded position thereof and in all of the other positions
thereof including the tensioned position thereof is disposed
entirely within the frame 120 and between the entry surface 112 and
the exit surface 130 thereof.
The pawl 150 has a pair of side surfaces 152 disposed essentially
parallel to one another (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the side surfaces 152
being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the transverse
dimensions of the teeth 115 on the strap 101. The pawl 150 also has
a top surface 153 (see FIG. 7) and a rear surface 154 disposed
toward the inner surface 132. A set of teeth 155 is provided on the
surface of the pawl 150 disposed toward the inner surface 142, the
teeth 155 each having a shorter side 156 and a longer inclined side
157. The shorter sides 156 are disposed substantially normal to the
inner surface 142 when in the as-molded condition as illustrated in
FIG. 7. The crests of the teeth 155 all lie in a common plane which
is essentially parallel to the opposed inner surface 142 on the
front wall 141 as molded; and the roots of the teeth 155 on the
pawl 150 also lie in a common plane that is essentially parallel to
the opposed inner surface 142 on the front wall 141 as molded.
Furthermore, the crest-to-crest distance on the pawl teeth 155 is
slightly less than the crest-to-crest distance on the strap teeth
115, whereby to insure that all of the teeth 155 on the pawl 150
engage the teeth 115 on the strap 101, as will be explained more
fully hereinafter. The pawl 150 further has a bottom surface 159
disposed substantially normal to the strap-bearing surface 142 and
substantially parallel to the entry surface 112.
In use, the cable tie 100 is encircled about a bundle 160 of wires
161 as illustrated in FIG. 11. Prior to such encirclement of the
bundle 160, the frame 120 and the several parts associated
therewith including the pawl 150 are in the positions shown in FIG.
7, i.e., in the as-molded condition thereof. It will be noted that
the crests of the teeth 155 lie in a plane that is essentially
parallel to the inner surface 142 of the front wall 141, while the
inner surface 142 and the longitudinal axis of the throat 140 are
disposed normal to the entry surface 112 and the longitudinal axis
of the strap 101 as molded.
The first step in applying the cable tie 100 about the bundle 170
is to insert the outer end 102 into the frame 120 in the direction
of the arrow 162 in FIG. 8. If desired, the detent 109 may be
caused to engage the juncture between the exit surface 130 and the
strap-bearing surface 142 temporarily to hold the strap 101 about a
group of wires 161. In this manner, the workman can continue to add
wires 161 to the bundle 160 or remove wires 161 therefrom, if
required, all before locking engagement of the strap teeth 115 with
the pawl teeth 155.
Thereafter the user grasps the strap end 102 utilizing the
projections 108 and pulls the strap further through the frame 120
in the direction of the arrow 163 in FIG. 9. The rows of
projections 108 are spaced apart a distance greater than the width
of the teeth 155 so that the projections 108 will not engage the
teeth 155 during the insertion of the strap 101 into the frame 120.
Initial engagement between the strap 101 and the pawl 150 is with
the lowermost one of the teeth 155, i.e., the tooth 155 disposed
toward the entry surface 112, such engagement pivoting the pawl 150
in the clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 9. During further
tightening movement of the strap 101 as illustrated in FIG. 9, the
teeth 115 of the strap 101 successively engage the lowermost one of
the teeth 155 on the pawl 150, thereby to hold the pawl 150
generally in the position illustrated during tightening movement of
the strap 101 through the frame 120. Preferably a tool such as that
illustrated in the Caveney and Moody U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,560,
granted Feb. 16, 1965, or that illustrated in the Caveney and Moody
U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,680, granted June 8, 1966, is utilized to
tighten the strap 101 about the bundle 160, which tool
automatically at the end of the tightening operation severs the
strap 101 at a point disposed beyond the exit surface 130 of the
frame 120, such as is illustrated by the arrows 164 in FIG. 10.
Immediately after severing of the strap 101, the tension in the
portion of the strap 101 about the bundle 160 tends to withdraw the
strap 101 from the frame 120 in the direction of the arrow 165,
i.e., in a retrograde or strap withdrawal or strap-loosening
direction. During such movement of the strap 101 relative to the
frame 120, the tooth 115 disposed above the lowermost tooth 155
engages the lowermost tooth 155 and begins to pivot the pawl 150 in
a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIG.
9 to that illustrated in FIG. 10. As the retrograde movement of the
strap 101 continues, the teeth 155 above the lowermost tooth 155
progressively engage the teeth 115 of the strap 101, until all of
the teeth 155 on the pawl 150 engage the adjacent ones of the teeth
115 on the strap 101. The parts finally arrive in the position
illustrated in FIG. 10, the position of the pawl 150 in FIG. 10
which illustrates the tensioned condition of the parts being
essentially the same as that in the as-molded position illustrated
in FIG. 7. With the parts in the position illustrated in FIG. 10,
the strap 101 is firmly gripped between the abutment wall 141 and
the pawl 150, and specifically, the strap-bearing surface 142 on
the abutment wall 141 is in firm engagement with the surface 113 of
the strap 101 while certain of the teeth 115 on the strap 101 are
in firm locking engagement with the teeth 155 on the pawl 150.
It is noted that in the described operation of the pawl 150, during
the insertion of the strap 101 into the frame 120, during the
tensioning of the strap 101 about the bundle 160, and during the
retrograde movement of the strap 101 to the final locked or
tensioned position of FIG. 10, the pawl 150 is limited essentially
only to pivotal movement with respect to the frame 120 about the
pivotal connection to the ledge 135. It is further pointed out that
the pawl 150 in the as-molded position thereof illustrated in FIG.
7 and in all of the other positions thereof including the flexed
position of FIG. 9 and the tensioned position of FIG. 10 is
disposed well within the frame 120 between the entry surface 112
and the exit surface 130 thereof. In other words, no part of the
pawl 150 leaves the frame 120 during the application of the cable
tie 100 about the bundle 160.
The channel in the front wall 141 provided by the surface 145
thereon and the inner surfaces 122 on the side walls 121 assists in
the entry of the tip 103 into the throat 140 and also assists in
permitting the frame 120 to lie more nearly flat against the
associated bundle 160.
Once the parts are in the tensioned condition of FIG. 10, any force
tending to withdraw the strap 101 from within the throat 140 in a
strap-loosening direction serves to move the teeth 155 on the pawl
150 into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of the teeth
115 on the strap 101, thereby firmly to grip the strap 101 between
the strap-bearing surface 142 and the pawl 150. This described
action prevents inadvertent withdrawal of the strap 101 from the
frame 120 thus to lock the strap 101 in its tensioned condition
about the bundle of wires.
Referring again to FIG. 7 of the drawings, it will be appreciated
that the crests of the teeth 155 lie in a common surface, i.e., a
plane, which common surface is disposed substantially equidistant
from the strap-bearing surface 142 along the length thereof both in
the as-molded condition of the parts, and also in the tensioned
condition of the parts. It further is pointed out that the
strap-bearing surface 142 extends beyond the teeth 155 both toward
the entry surface 112 and toward the exit surface 130, thereby to
provide a backing for the engaged portion of the strap 101 so that
the engaged teeth 115 are encompassed thereby. All of the teeth 155
in the tensioned condition are engaged and loaded.
The planes defined by the surfaces of the teeth 155 disposed toward
the entry surface 112, i.e., the surfaces 157, converge with the
planes defined by the surfaces of the pawl 150 disposed toward the
exit surface 130, i.e., the surfaces 153 and 154. The two sets of
planes named converge at points disposed on the exit side of the
frame 120, convergence being at angles as small as 0.degree., i.e.,
the sets of planes might be essentially parallel. This convergence
of the several surfaces permits the pawl 150 and the teeth 155
thereon to be properly molded as one piece with the remaining
portions of the cable tie 100, all as will be explained more fully
hereinafter.
Referring to FIG. 9, it will be noted that even at the full
clockwise position of the pawl 150 with respect to the frame 120,
there is ample clearance between the rear surface 154 of the pawl
150 and the inner surface 132 of the end wall 131, thereby to
permit unrestricted flexure of the pawl 150 during insertion of the
strap 101 into the frame 120. This feature is important to prevent
damage to the teeth 155 on the pawl 150 and to prevent tearing of
the pawl 150 from the frame 120 during the insertion of the strap
101 through the frame 120.
In a constructional example of the cable tie 100 for use with
bundles having a diameter of 1.75 inches, the overall length
thereof is 7.5 inches, the width of the strap 101 is 0.180 inch,
the length of the outer end 102 is 1.225 inches, the portion of the
strap 101 carrying the teeth 115 has a length of 5.675 inches, the
depth of the teeth 115 is 0.010 inch and the pitch thereof is 0.025
inch, the inclination of the surfaces 117 to the surface 112 being
22.degree.; the dimension of the frame 120 in the direction of the
strap 101 is 0.270 inch, the overall height of the frame 120 is
0.205 inch, the overall width of the frame 120 is 0.320 inch, the
inclination of the surfaces 123, 133 and 143 is 5.degree. and the
inclination of the surface 132 is 3.degree.; the thickness of the
strap 101 is 0.040 inch; the distance between the surfaces 153 and
159 is 0.1 inch, the distance between the surfaces 112 and 145 is
0.010 inch, and the distance between the surfaces 145 and 135 is
0.074 inch.
There is illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14 of the drawings, a second
embodiment of the integral one-piece cable tie made in accordance
with the present invention, the cable tie of FIGS. 12 to 14 being
generally designated by the numeral 200. Many of the parts of the
cable tie 200 are identical in construction to like parts in the
cable tie 100 described above, and accordingly, there has been
applied to each part of the cable tie 200 a reference numeral in
the 200 series corresponding to the reference numeral in the 100
series that was applied to the like part of the cable tie 100
described above.
The fundamental difference between the cable tie 200 of FIGS. 12 to
14 and the cable tie 100 described above is in the formation of the
ledge 235. Referring specifically to FIG. 13, it will be seen that
the ledge 235 in the cable tie 200 is inclined with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the strap 201 as molded, rather than being
parallel as is the case of the ledge 135 of the cable tie 100. In
all other respects, the construction and operation of the cable tie
200 is like that of the cable tie 100 described above. It is noted
that the surface 235 is inclined at an angle of 30.degree. with
respect to the longitudinal axis of the strap 201 as molded and
with respect to the entry surface 212.
There is illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17 of the drawings the
preferred method of molding the cable tie 100. As illustrated, a
set of molds 300 is provided including a top die or mold member 310
and a bottom die or mold member 320, the dies 310 and 320 meeting
at a parting line 301, and having closure faces 311 and 321,
respectively. Disposed in and forming part of the mold member 310
is a top core section 315 having a closure face 318. Disposed in
and forming a part of the mold member 320 is a bottom core section
325 having a closure face 328 cooperating with the closure face
318. The mold members 310 and 320 together with the respective core
sections 315 and 325 cooperate in the closed positions thereof to
provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie 100.
The several surfaces of the mold members 310 and 320 and the
several surfaces of the core sections 315 and 325 used in molding
surfaces of the cable tie 100 have had applied thereto numerals in
the 300 series that correspond to the surfaces identified by the
numerals in the 100 series that are molded thereby. Accordingly, in
the interest of brevity, a more full description of the several
molding surfaces of the mold members 310 and 320 and of the core
sections 315 and 325 need not be given.
It is pointed out that the core sections 315 and 325 cooperate to
mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening 140 and the pawl
150, and more specifically, the core section 315 has undercut
portions thereon defined by the surfaces 357 thereof for molding
the corresponding surfaces 157 of the three uppermost teeth 155 as
viewed in FIG. 15.
The mold set 300 is constructed and arranged so that the mold
members 310 and 320 are moved away from each other in a direction
normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap 101 as molded and also
normal to the entry surface 112 as molded. When the mold set 300 is
closed, means (not shown) is provided to inject a quantity of
synthetic organic plastic resin into the mold cavity defined
thereby, which resin after cooling forms a cable tie 100. As
illustrated, the cable tie 100 is held by the bottom mold member
320 as the top mold member 310 is removed therefrom, and thereafter
the completed cable tie 100 is removed from the bottom mold member
320. To this end, a plurality of knockout pins 340 has been
provided vertically reciprocable with respect to the mold member
320 and useful to eject the molded cable tie 100 from the bottom
mold member 320.
In order to permit removal of the molded portions of the cable tie
100 from the undercut portions of the top core section 315, the
various molding surfaces thereof must have a particular
configuration. More specifically, the planes defined by the molding
surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of
the set of teeth 155 disposed toward the entry surface 112, i.e.,
the molding surfaces 357 useful in the molding the teeth surfaces
157 (that plane being diagrammatically illustrated by the line 346
in FIG. 15), must converge with the planes defined by the core
surfaces useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl 155 disposed
toward the exit surface 130 and away from the abutment wall 141,
i.e., the surface 354 for forming the surface 154, for example (the
latter plane being diagrammatically illustrated by the line 347 in
FIG. 15), which convergence must be at points disposed on the exit
side of the frame 120. As can best be seen from FIG. 15, the lines
346 and 347 in fact converge, the angle between the plane 346 and
the surface 330 being greater than the angle between the plane 347
and the surface 330.
As is best illustrated in FIG. 16, by providing the described
convergence of the planes 346 and 347, the pawl 150 can be rotated
in a clockwise direction as the mold set 300 is opened, the surface
354 of the core section 315 moving away from the molded surface 154
as the core section surface 357 acting against the molded tooth
surface 157 tends to rotate the pawl 150 in a clockwise direction.
In other words, clearance is provided to the rear or righthand side
of the pawl 150 as viewed in FIG. 16 as the mold set 300 opens so
as to permit the pawl 150 to be rotated in a clockwise direction to
remove the molded teeth 155 from the undercut portions of the core
section 315.
After the top mold member 310 has been cleared from the molded
cable tie 100 as illustrated in FIG. 17, the knockout pins 340 are
actuated to eject the molded cable tie 100 from the bottom mold
member 320.
By means of the molding method illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17, a
multiple internal toothed cable tie 100 can be molded, which
molding method does not require any side action or moving cores on
the mold set 300. During the mold opening illustrated in FIG. 16,
the pawl 150 deflects backwardly into the cavity in the core
section 315, whereby the cable tie 100 can be molded in one piece
with multiple internal teeth 155 and the teeth 155 can be removed
from the mold set 300 in a conventional manner as illustrated. As a
consequence, the core section 315 can be a fixed part of the die
member 310.
In the method illustrated in FIGS. 15-17 of the drawings, the
deflection of the pawl 150 into the cavity which molded the pawl
150 occurs during the separation of the mold members 310 and 320,
after which the molded cable tie 100 is ejected by the knockout
pins 340 from the mold member 320. It will be appreciated that the
mold members could first be separated with the molded cable tie
held in the mold member having the undercut portions therein, after
which the cable tie 100 could be ejected by means of knockout pins
with the pawl 150 being deflected into the mold cavity thereof
during part ejection, rather than during mold opening. Such a
molding method is illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 wherein there is
provided a set of molds 400 including a top die or mold member 410
and a bottom die or mold member 420, the dies 410 and 420 meeting
at a parting line 401, and having closure faces 411 and 421,
respectively.
Disposed on and forming a part of the mold member 410 is a top core
section 415 having a closure face 418. Disposed in and forming a
part of the mold member 420 is a bottom core section 425 having a
closure face 428 cooperating with the closure face 418. The mold
members 410 and 420 together with the respective core sections 415
and 425 cooperate in the closed positions thereof to provide a mold
cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie 100. The several
surfaces of the mold members 410 and 420 and the several surfaces
of the core sections 415 and 425 used in molding the surfaces of
the cable tie 100 have had applied thereto numerals in the 400
series that correspond to the surfaces identified by the numerals
in the 100 series that are molded thereby. Accordingly, in the
interest of brevity a more full description of the several molding
surfaces of the mold members 410 and 420 and of the core sections
415 and 425 need not be given.
It is pointed out that the core sections 415 and 425 cooperate to
mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening 140 and the pawl
150, and more specifically, the core section 425 has undercut
portions thereon defined by the surface 457 thereof for molding the
corresponding surfaces 157 of the three uppermost teeth 155 on the
pawl 150.
The mold set 400 is constructed and arranged so that the mold
members 410 and 420 are moved away from each other in a direction
normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap 101 as molded and also
normal to the entry surface 112 as molded. When the mold set 400 is
closed, means (not shown) is provided to inject a quantity of
synthetic organic plastic resin into the mold cavity provided
thereby, which resin after cooling forms a cable tie 100. As
illustrated, the cable tie 100 is held by the bottom mold member
420 as the top mold member 410 is removed therefrom, and thereafter
the completed cable tie 100 is removed from the bottom mold member
420. To this end, a plurality of knockout pins 440 has been
provided vertically reciprocable with respect to the mold member
420 and useful to eject the molded cable tie 100 from the bottom
mold member 420.
In order to permit removal of the molded portions of the cable tie
100 from the undercut portions of the bottom core section 425
during ejection of the cable tie 100 from the bottom mold member
420, the various molding surfaces thereof must have a particular
configuration. More specifically, the planes defined by the molding
surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of
the set of teeth 155 disposed toward the entry surface 112, i.e.,
the molding surfaces 457 useful in molding the teeth surface 157,
must converge with the planes defined by the core surfaces useful
in forming the surfaces of the pawl 150 disposed toward the exit
surface 130 and away from the abutment wall 141, i.e., the surface
454 for forming the surface 154, for example, which convergence
must be at points disposed on the exit side of the frame 120.
As is best illustrated in FIG. 19, by providing the described
convergence of the planes named, the pawl 150 can be rotated in a
counterclockwise direction as the cable tie 100 is ejected from the
mold member 420 by means of the knockout pins 440, the molded
surface 154 moving away from the surface 454 of the core section
425 as the core section surface 457 acting against the molded tooth
surface 157 tends to rotate the pawl 150 in a counterclockwise
direction. In other words, clearance is provided to the rear or
righthand side of the pawl 150 as viewed in FIG. 19 as the knockout
pins 440 push the cable tie 100 from the mold member 420, thereby
to permit the pawl 150 to be rotated in a counterclockwise
direction to remove the molded teeth 155 from the undercut portions
of the core section 425.
By means of the molding method illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, a
multiple internal toothed cable tie 100 can be molded, which
molding method does not require any side action or moving cores on
the mold set 400. During part ejection illustrated in FIG. 19, the
pawl 150 deflects backwardly into the cavity in the core section
425, whereby the cable tie 100 can be molded in one piece with
multiple internal teeth 155 and the teeth 155 can be removed from
the mold set 400 in a conventional manner as illustrated. As a
consequence, the core section 425 can be a fixed part of the die
member 420.
From the above, it will be seen that there have been provided
improved cable ties, and improved methods of molding cable ties,
which fulfill all of the objects and advantages set forth
above.
While there have been described what are at present considered to
be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be
understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it
is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications
as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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