Easy-to-remove cable tie

Abstract

A cable tie having a locking head, a strap, and a truss projecting from the plane of the strap separated from the head by a slot. The strap may be passed over the truss, fed through the slot, and rested upon the truss to form a loop having a cavity therein. The strap may be subsequently passed around an object and fed into the head to lock the cable tie. A cutting implement may be inserted into the cavity to cut the loop and thereby release the cable tie from the object.

Claims

1. A cable tie comprising: (a) a strap; (b) a head formed on the strap having: (1) a channel adapted to receive the strap, and (2) a pawl disposed within the channel capable of engaging the strap; (c) a truss protruding out of a plane of the strap, wherein at least a portion of the strap continues in the plane of the strap in a longitudinal direction of the strap along an entire base of the truss; (d) a slot between the head and the truss, the slot adapted to receive the strap having been passed over the truss.

2. The cable tie of claim 1 further comprising a bulge on the strap separated from the slot by the truss at a distance at least approximately twice a height of the truss, wherein a transverse cross-sectional dimension of the strap through the bulge is greater than a length or a width of the slot.

3. The cable tie of claim 1 further comprising a bumper on the plane the strap adjacent to the truss separated from the slot by the truss.

4. The cable tie of claim 1 further comprising corrugations on at least one surface of the strap separated from the slot by the truss.

5. The cable tie of claim 1 further comprising serrations on at least one surface of the strap separated from the slot by the truss and adapted to communicate with the pawl.

6. The cable tie of claim 5 wherein the truss comprises an arch having a hollow interior.

7. The cable tie of claim 5 wherein the truss comprises one or more posts.

8. The cable tie of claim 1 wherein the truss comprises an arch having a hollow interior.

9. The cable tie of claim 1 wherein the truss comprises one or more posts.

10. A cable tie comprising: (a) a first strap; (h) a first head formed on the first strap having: (1) a first channel adapted to receive the first strap, and (2) a first pawl disposed within the first channel capable of engaging the first strap; (c) a first truss protruding out of a plane of the first strap, wherein at least a portion of the first strap continues in the plane of the first strap in a longitudinal direction of the first strap along an entire base of the first truss; (d) a first slot between the first head and the first truss, the first slot adapted to receive the first strap having been passed over the first truss; (e) a second strap; (f) a second head formed on the second strap approximately adjacent to the first head, having: (1) a second channel adapted to receive the second strap, and (2) a second pawl disposed within the second channel capable of engaging the second strap; (g) a second truss protruding out of a plane of the second strap wherein at least a portion of the second strap continues in the plane of the second strap in a longitudinal direction of the second strap along an entire base of the second truss; (h) a second slot between the second head and the second truss, the second slot adapted to receive the second strap having been passed over the second truss.

11. The cable tie of claim 10 further comprising: (a) a first bulge on the first strap separated from the first slot by the first truss at a distance at least approximately twice a height of the first truss, wherein a transverse cross-sectional dimension of the first strap through the first bulge is greater than a length or a width of the first slot; and (b) a second bulge on the second strap separated from the second slot by the second truss at a distance at least approximately twice a height of the second truss, wherein a transverse cross-sectional dimension of the second strap through the second bulge is greater than a length or a width of the second slot.

12. The cable tie of claim 10 further comprising: (a) a first bumper on the plane the first strap adjacent to the first truss separated from the first slot by the first truss; and (b) a second bumper on the plane the second strap adjacent to the second truss separated from the second slot by the second truss.

13. The cable tie of claim 10 further comprising: (a) first corrugations on at least one surface of the first strap separated from the first slot by the first truss; and (b) second corrugations on at least one surface of the second strap separated from the second slot by the second truss.

14. The cable tie of claim 10 further comprising: (a) first serrations on at least one surface of the first strap separated from the first slot by the first truss and adapted to communicate with the first pawl; and (b) second serrations on at least one surface of the second strap separated from the second slot by the second truss and adapted to communicate with the second pawl.

15. The cable tie of claim 14 wherein: (a) the first truss comprises an arch having a hollow interior; and (b) the second truss comprises an arch having a hollow interior.

16. The cable tie of claim 14 wherein: (a) the first truss comprises one or more posts; and (b) the second truss comprises one or more posts.

17. The cable tie of claim 10 wherein: (a) the first truss comprises an arch having a hollow interior; and (b) the second truss comprises an arch having a hollow interior.

18. The cable tie of claim 10 wherein: (a) the first truss comprises one or more posts; and (b) the second truss comprises one or more posts.

19. A method of using a cable tie comprising feeding a strap having been passed over a truss projecting out of a plane of the strap into a slot disposed between the truss and a head disposed on the strap until the strap rests upon or adjacent to the tress and a cavity is thereby created beneath the strap, wherein the strap is subsequently free to pass around an object and into a channel of the head to engage with a pawl disposed therein.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising cutting the strap with a cutting implement inserted into the cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1A-1B show top and bottom perspective views of a first embodiment, respectively.

(2) FIGS. 2A-2B show close-up top and bottom perspective views of the head, truss, and slot of the first embodiment, respectively.

(3) FIGS. 3A-3D show top, bottom, side, and front elevation views of the first embodiment, respectively.

(4) FIGS. 4A-4B show close-up top and bottom perspective views of the head, truss, and slot of the first embodiment taken along line A-A of FIG. 3B, respectively.

(5) FIGS. 5A-5D show a perspective sequence of the strap of the first embodiment being inserted into the slot adjacent to the truss.

(6) FIGS. 6A-6D show a perspective sequence of the first embodiment being secured to and cut off from a bundle of objects.

(7) FIGS. 7A-7F show a perspective sequence of the strap of the first embodiment being cut and pulled through the slot away from the truss.

(8) FIGS. 8A-8B show front and rear perspective views of a second embodiment, respectively.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a top perspective view of a third embodiment.

(10) FIGS. 10A-10C show a perspective sequence of the strap of the third embodiment forming a first loop and then forming a second closed loop.

(11) FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the strap of the third embodiment about to be cut from an object (the object is not shown).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) The following numerals are used to identify the corresponding elements in the figures for the several embodiments. 200-level numbers refer to elements on or associated with the head; 300-level numbers refer to elements on or associated with the strap; 400-level numbers refer to elements on or associated with the slot; 500-level numbers refer to elements on or associated with the truss.

(13) TABLE-US-00001 100 cable tie 200, 200a, 200b head 210, 210a, 210b channel 220, 220a, 220b pawl 300, 300a, 300b strap 310, 310a, 310b serrations 320, 320a, 320b corrugations 330, 330a, 330b bulge 340, 340a, 340b bumper 400, 400a, 400b slot 410 nub 420 aperture 500, 500a, 500b truss 510, 510a, 510b cavity 520, 520a, 520b void

(14) FIGS. 1A-1B show a first embodiment of the cable tie 100 comprising a head 200 and a strap 300. The head 100 includes a channel 210 adapted to receive the strap. A pawl 220 protrudes into the channel 210 for engaging the strap. The pawl 220 may be a toothed clutch and/or hinged member that mates with a region of the strap 300 having one or more serrations 310 as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B. However, the pawl 220 may be any means capable of engaging the strap 300, for example a ball that becomes wedged between a surface of the strap 100 and an angled surface of the channel 210. Consequently, the serrations 310 may or may not be present. The serrations 310 may be formed as one or more symmetric or asymmetric teeth, ribs, ridges, slots, or holes defined on, in, or through the strap 300. The serrations 310 may be on the opposite surface of the strap 300 from which the truss 500 protrudes (as illustrated in the many figures); or they may be on the same surface of the strap 300 from which the truss 500 protrudes (not illustrated); or they may be on both aforementioned surfaces of the strap 300 (not illustrated); or they may be on any plurality of any surfaces of the strap 300 (not illustrated).

(15) Although the channel 210 is illustrated as a through-hole having an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the strap 300, its axis may be oriented in any relation to the plane of the strap 300, for example it may be substantially parallel to the plane of the strap 300 as is commonly the case for low-profile cable ties. Further, the channel 210 may be an open-faced (not fully enclosed) channel defined on a surface of the head 200 instead of a bore defined therethrough.

(16) FIGS. 2A-2B and FIGS. 3A-3D show close-up perspective and elevation views of the cable tie 100, respectively. A truss 500 separates the head 200 from the strap 300. A slot 400 is disposed adjacent to the truss 500 separating the truss 500 and the head 200. The aperture of the slot 400 may be any size and shape adequate to receive the strap 300 therethrough. Sizing the slot 400 to be only slightly larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of the strap 300 may reduce play of the strap 300 within the slot 400.

(17) The separation between the head 200 and the truss 500 need not be approximately equal to the relevant dimension of the slot 400 as illustrated; there may be a distance between the truss 500 and the slot 400 and/or a distance between the head 200 and the slot 400. The effectiveness of the truss 500 to behave as a structural member capable of supporting a first loop of the strap 300, as shown in FIGS. 5D, 6A, and 7A, may diminish as the distance between the slot 400 and the truss 500 becomes excessively large, for example larger than approximately the height of an apex of the truss 500. It may be beneficial for the slot 400 to be adjacent to both the head 200 and the truss 500 and for the slot to be approximately minimally dimensioned to receive the strap 300. in this case, the head 200 and the truss 500 may sandwich the strap 300 when the strap 300 is inserted within the slot 400 as shown in FIGS. 5D, 6A, and 7A. This permits the head 200 to assist the truss 500 in structurally supporting a first loop of the strap 300, for example by transfer of forces and/or by friction.

(18) Although the truss 500 is illustrated as an arch having two footings, the truss 500 may be any member that projects from the plane of the strap 300 that has at least one footing. For example, the truss 500 may be a single projecting member (e.g., a pillar, boss, support, or post) capable of supporting a loop of the strap 300 by itself (not illustrated); or the truss 500 may be a single projecting member that supports a loop of the strap 300 with assistance from the head 200 (not illustrated); or the truss 500 may be a pair or plurality of projecting members that together are capable of supporting a loop of the strap 300 (not illustrated). The truss 500 may itself define a cavity 510, for example if the truss 500 is shaped like an arch as shown in FIG. 3C. However, if the truss 500 is a single projecting member, the cavity 510 may be formed by the bending action of the strap 300 as it rests upon the truss 500, or the cavity 510 may be formed by the truss 500 in conjunction with any other element or surface of the cable tie 100.

(19) FIGS. 5A-5D show a sequence of the strap 300 passing over an apex of the truss 500 and being inserted into the slot 400, thereby creating a first loop. The first loop may be called a “closed” loop because it contributes to forming, or enclosing, a cavity 510 therein. A closed loop need not consist of the strap 300 completely circumscribing the cavity by 360 degrees. For example, in the third embodiment of FIGS. 9-11, the strap may form a first loop by overlapping the head even though the strap may not completely circumscribe the cavity therein.

(20) The strap 300 may resist being bent into a relatively small-radius first loop as shown in FIG. 5D, and may therefore cause the loop to rebound into a relatively larger-radius loop as shown in FIG. 5B. The strap 300 may include one or more optional bulges 330 that may retain the strap 300 in a relatively small-radius first loop by impeding withdrawal (and/or insertion) of the strap 300 from the slot 400. For example, the bulge 330 may comprise a barb or a wedge that moves through the slot 400 in the direction of insertion more easily than it moves through the slot 400 in the direction of withdrawal. Further, the bulge 330 may comprise a lip that overhangs an egress surface of the slot 400, especially an egress surface adjacent to an outside surface of the first loop. Additionally, a friction or resistance caused by the bulge 330 when a user pulls it though the slot 400 may provide tactile feedback indicating that he has successfully formed the relatively small-radius first loop.

(21) The loop shown in FIGS. 5A-5D may be formed by a user or they may be formed by the manufacturer or reseller of the cable tie 100. If the cable tie 100 is sold as shown in FIG. 5D, then the bulge 330 may be formed onto the strap 300 after the strap 300 has been inserted into the slot 400 and the loop has been created, for example by speed-tip welding of a plastic strap 300. Additionally, the strap 300 may be maintained in the first loop as shown in FIG. 5D by any other securing means, for example by glue, by heat deformation, or by any form of welding such as ultrasonic welding or laser welding.

(22) The cable tie 100 may include one or more optional bumpers 340 disposed on the strap 300 adjacent to the truss 500 between the truss 500 and the distal end of the strap 300. As shown by the sequence from FIG. 5C to FIG. 5D, the bumper 340 may contact surface of the truss 500 (or adjacent bumpers 340 may contact each other) when the strap 300 forms the first loop. This may reduce the sharpness of the bend of the strap 300 adjacent to the truss 500, thereby helping to prevent fracturing the strap 300 at that location.

(23) The cable tie 100 may include one or more optional corrugations 320 disposed on a surface of the strap 300 near the truss. The corrugations 320 may be on the opposite surface of the strap 300 from which the truss 500 protrudes (as illustrated in the many figures); or they on the same surface of the strap 300 from which the truss 500 protrudes (not illustrated); or they may be on both wide surfaces of the strap 300 (not illustrated). The corrugations 320 may be disposed approximately adjacent and/or opposite a footing of the truss 500 or approximately adjacent and/or opposite the bumper 340, and may extend by a length approximately equal to the circumference of the first loop when formed as shown in FIG. 5D, 6A, and FIG. 7A. This length may also correspond to the distance between a footing of the truss 500 and the bulge 330. The corrugations 320 may reduce the stiffness of the strap 300 at or along the bend of the first loop of the strap 300, thereby helping to prevent fracturing the strap 300 at that location.

(24) Finally, the cable tie 100 may optionally include a void 520 beneath the truss 500 to aid in manufacturing of a plastic injection-molded cable tie 100. The void 520 is not necessary if the truss 500 comprises one or more projecting members that do not have any overhangs relative to a parting line that divides the cable tie 100 into first and second portions. Further, the void 520 may not be necessary even if the truss 500 includes overhangs relative to a parting line provided the plastic-injection mold has slides or other elements that aid in the manufacture of such overhanging features.

(25) FIG. 6A shows the cable tie 100 configured as shown in FIG. 5D being secured around an object. The distal end of the strap 300 is simply passed around the object and inserted into the channel 210. FIG. 6B shows the cable tie 100 secured to the object and further shows an exemplary cutting implement whose blade may be inserted into the cavity 510. FIG. 6C show the strap 300 having been cut at a location separated from the object by some portion of the cavity 510. This cut may be at or near an apex of the truss 500 as shown or near a footing of the truss 500 (not shown).

(26) The severed strap 300 is no longer held together in tension adjacent to the truss 500, meaning the severed segments of the strap 300 may move substantially freely away from the truss 500. Consequently, the remainder of the segment of the strap 300 that surrounds the object may now pass through and out of the slot 400 and away from the object as shown in FIG. 6D.

(27) FIGS. 7A-7F show the sequence of cutting and removing the cable tie 100 in greater detail (the object is not shown). Note that cutting of the truss 500 may be incidental and may not itself cause the cable tie 100 to separate from an object. For example, a truss 500 formed as a single projecting member may or may or may not be cut when the strap 300 is cut, depending on how the cavity 510 is created and where along the cavity the strap 300 is cut.

(28) A typical cable tie generally has one strap and one locking head (one channel) as has been generally described and illustrated with reference to the first embodiment. However, cable ties exist that have multiple straps and multiple channels. For example, plastic zip-tie handcuffs used as restraining devices by law enforcement officers typically comprise two straps and two channels (the heads may be integrated together or separated by a distance). A cable tie may have more than two straps and more than two channels, and the number of channels need not equal the number of straps.

(29) FIGS. 8A and 8B show a second embodiment of the cable tie 100 having two straps, strap 300a and strap 300b, and two heads, head 200a and head 200b. The head 200a and head 200b are joined together such that channel 210a and channel 210b are substantially parallel and each receives the strap 300a and strap 300b, respectively, in the same direction of insertion. In other embodiments (not illustrated) the heads may be joined together or joined at a distance by a flexible member, and the heads may be oriented end-to-end, side-by-side, top-to-bottom, or in any other manner that preserves the locking functionality of each strap by each head (i.e., the orientation of the channels relative to each other in three-dimensional space may be parallel, perpendicular, or arbitrary).

(30) At the time of manufacture of the cable tie 100 of FIGS. 8A and 8B, the strap 300a and strap 300b would be substantially coplanar and they would extend approximately in opposite directions. In other embodiments (not illustrated), the orientation of the straps relative to each other in three-dimensional space at the time of manufacture may be parallel, perpendicular, or arbitrary.

(31) Head 200a has a channel 210a and a pawl 220a to receive and engage the strap 300a, respectively. Similarly, head 200b has a channel 210b and a pawl 220b to receive and engage the strap 300b, respectively. The strap 300a and strap 300b may have serrations 310a and serrations 310b to aid the pawl 220a and pawl 220b in engaging the strap 300a and strap 300b, respectively. The strap 300a and strap 300b may have corrugations 320a and corrugations 320b to reduce bending stress when the strap 300a and strap 300b is passed over the truss 500a and truss 500b and fed through the slot 400a and slot 400b, respectively. The strap 300a and strap 300b may have a bulge 330a and bulge 330b to inhibit withdrawal of the strap 300a and strap 300b from the slot 400a and slot 400b, respectively. The strap 300a and strap 300b may have a bumper 340a and bumper 340b to inhibit overly sharp bending or kinking of the strap 300a and strap 300b when inserted and pulled through the slot 400a and slot 400b, respectively. A cavity 510a and cavity 510b may be formed when the strap 300a and strap 300b is passed over the truss 500a and truss 500b, fed through the slot 400a and slot 400b, and rested on or adjacent to the truss 500a and truss 500b, respectively. Finally, the cable tie 100 may optionally include a void 520a and void 520b beneath the truss 500a and truss 500b, respectively, to aid in manufacturing of a plastic injection-molded cable tie 100.

(32) FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the cable tie 100 having a nub 410 that communicates with an aperture 420 to at least temporarily retain the strap 300 in a first loop formed by passing the strap 300 over the truss 500 as shown in FIGS. 10A-10C. The cable tie 100 has a head 200 having a channel 210 adapted to receive the strap 300 and a pawl 220 disposed within the channel 210 for engaging the strap 300. The cable tie 100 may optionally include a void 520 beneath the truss 500 to aid in manufacturing of a plastic injection-molded cable tie 100.

(33) FIG. 10C shows how the strap 300 may pass around an object (the object is not shown) and subsequently into the channel 210 to engage with the pawl 220. FIG. 11 shows an exemplary cutting implement whose blade may be inserted into the cavity 510 formed within the first loop and whose blade may then cut the strap 300, thereby severing the first loop and permitting the strap 300 to be removed from a bundled object.

(34) The foregoing embodiments are exemplary and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention. Various implementations and combinations of these embodiments have been recognized and anticipated. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such embodiments that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.