Reusable Tie Strap with Multiple Apertures

Abstract

An elongated tie strap comprising a head having a plurality of similarly dimensioned through-holes, a body having a plurality of axially oriented ridges on opposite lateral surfaces, and a tail having a thickness less than that of the body. The cross-sectional dimensions of the body are substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimensions of the through-holes, and the distance between adjacent ridges is substantially equal to the through-hole depth, such that the body may couple to the head when inserted through one or more through-holes.

Claims

1. A substantially flat tie strap comprising: a first region defining a thickness and having a plurality of apertures each with a height and a width; at least one elongated second region defining a thickness substantially equal to a said first region aperture height, a width substantially equal to a said first region aperture width, and having a plurality of ridge pairs each comprising axially oriented ridges disposed on lateral surfaces immediately opposite each other, wherein the distance between adjacent said ridge pairs is substantially equal to said first region thickness; and at least one third elongated region defining a thickness less than a said first region aperture height.

2. The tie strap of claim 1 further comprising at least one embossed element disposed on at least one lateral surface of said third region.

3. The tie strap of claim 1 further comprising at least one longitudinally oriented aperture disposed on said second region, having a height and a width substantially equal to a said first region aperture height and width, respectively.

4. The tie strap of claim 3 further comprising at least one embossed element disposed on at least one lateral surface of said third region.

5. The tie strap of claim 1 wherein said ridges comprise elastomeric material.

6. The tie strap of claim 2 wherein said ridges comprise elastomeric material.

7. The tie strap of claim 3 wherein said ridges comprise elastomeric material.

8. The tie strap of claim 4 wherein said ridges comprise elastomeric material.

9. The tie strap of claim 1 wherein said first region comprises elastomeric material adjacent to said first region slots.

10. The tie strap of claim 2 wherein said first region comprises elastomeric material adjacent to said first region slots.

11. The tie strap of claim 3 wherein said first region comprises elastomeric material adjacent to said first region slots.

12. The tie strap of claim 4 wherein said first region comprises elastomeric material adjacent to said first region slots.

13. The tie strap of claim 9 wherein said ridges comprise elastomeric material.

14. The tie strap of claim 10 wherein said ridges comprise elastomeric material.

15. The tie strap of claim 11 wherein said ridges comprise elastomeric material.

16. The tie strap of claim 12 wherein said ridges comprise elastomeric material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are top elevation and perspective views of a first embodiment of the tie strap of the present invention, respectively.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tie strap body coupled with one of its head apertures.

[0015] FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 are perspective views of an example application of the tie strap secured to one or more objects by coupling to one or more head apertures.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tie strap body coupled with one of its body apertures.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the tie strap body coupled with a head aperture of a second tie strap.

[0018] FIG. 9a through FIG. 9f are partial top elevation views of alternate embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Terms head and first region are synonymous; body and second region are synonymous; and tail and third region are synonymous. Furthermore, in the appropriate context, ridge, rib, jaw, tooth, and related terms are synonymous, as are slot, aperture, hole, through-hole, bore, and related terms.

[0020] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show top elevation and perspective views of a first embodiment of the tie strap 10, respectively. On a first end is formed a head 20, on a medial region is formed a body 30, and on a second end is formed a tail 40. In alternate embodiments there may be multiple heads 20, bodies 30, and tails 40 as indicated in FIG. 9.

[0021] The head 20 comprises a plurality of similarly dimensioned head apertures 22 extending through the entire head thickness 21. Each head aperture 22 has a head aperture height 23 along its minor dimension and a head aperture width 24 along its major dimension. The head thickness 21 is defined immediately adjacent to the head apertures 22.

[0022] Although not illustrated, additional apertures of arbitrary size and shape may be present, for example a small circular aperture for hanging the tie strap 10 on a nail or pegboard. Furthermore, although head apertures 22 are illustrated as narrow slots with rounded ends, any aperture shape suitable for coupling with a body 30 may be used, as described herein. Finally, although a uniform head thickness 21 is illustrated, a varying thickness may be advantageous.

[0023] The body 30 generally comprises alternating large- and small-dimension regions formed by a plurality of ridge pairs 33a. Each ridge pair 33a comprises a first ridge 33 disposed on a first lateral surface ha and a second ridge 33 disposed on a second lateral surface 11b immediately opposite each other, wherein both ridges 33 are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 30, i.e. axially oriented. Although not illustrated, ridges 33 disposed on only one lateral surface 11 may be advantageous in some circumstances. Also, although only equally spaced ridge pairs 33a have been illustrated, it may be advantageous to space them unequally.

[0024] The body 30 has a body thickness 31 substantially equal to the head aperture height 23 and a body width 32 substantially equal to the head aperture width 24 to permit its insertion through a head aperture 22. The body thickness 31 is defined between adjacent ridges 33.

[0025] Finally, the tail 40 defines a tail thickness 41 that is smaller than the head aperture height 23 to enable easier insertion into a head aperture 22. Although unnecessary, the tail width 42 may be smaller than the head aperture width 24, or the tail 40 may have a generally tapered shape, to further simplify insertion of the tail 40 into a head aperture 22.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the tie strap 10 with the body 30 coupled to the head 20 through one of the head apertures 22. A user may couple the body 30 to the head 20 by: (1) inserting the tail 40 through a head aperture 22; (2) gripping the tail 40; and (3) pulling the tail 40 and subsequent body 30 until at least one ridge pair 33a has traversed through the head aperture 22. Shown on the tail 40 are a plurality of optional embossed elements 43 that facilitate easier gripping.

[0027] FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 show an example application in which the tie strap 10 is secured to one or more objects by coupling a single body 30 to a plurality of head apertures 22. In the immediate example, the objects comprise a pair of vertically-oriented poles. FIG. 4 shows the body 30 wrapped around a first pole and inserted through a first head aperture 22 to achieve semi-permanent strapping thereto. In FIG. 5, the body 30 has been inserted through a second head aperture 22 in preparation for reusable strapping to a second pole. Finally, in FIG. 6, the body 30 has been pulled further through the second head aperture 22 to strap the second pole in place. This sequence is only one of many ways to strap multiple objects together using the tie strap 10, and is therefore not to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0028] As identified in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there may be optional body apertures 34 defined along the body 30. These body apertures 34 serve several purposes, including: (1) coupling with a body 30 to create additional strapping loops; (2) coupling with additional bodies 30 to create longer or variously configured tie straps 10; and (3) reducing the volume of material required for manufacturing. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the tie strap 10 with the body 30 coupled to one of the optional body apertures 34. The body apertures 34 are dimensioned similarly to the head apertures 22, each having a body aperture height 35 along its minor dimension and a body aperture width 36 along its major dimension.

[0029] Although tie straps 10 may be manufactured in various lengths, widths, and thicknesses to suit particular applications, it should be appreciated that the plurality of head apertures 22 (and also optional body apertures 34) permit similar (compatible) tie straps 10 to be chained together to increase the effective strapping length. FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which the body 30 of a first tie strap 10 is coupled to the head 20 of a second tie strap 10.

[0030] Many modifications, configurations, and features may be evident that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, FIG. 9a illustrates a tie strap with three head apertures 22. FIG. 9b illustrates a tie strap resembling two tie straps 10 oriented 180 degrees from each other and joined at the head 20. FIG. 9c illustrates a tie strap resembling two tie straps 10 oriented 90 degrees from each other and joined at the head. FIG. 9d illustrates a tie strap resembling two tie straps 10 oriented 90 degrees from each other wherein the first tie strap 10 is inserted between the head apertures 22 and body 30 of the second tie strap 10. FIG. 9e illustrates a tie strap resembling two tie straps 10 oriented 90 degrees from each other wherein a region of the head 20 adjacent to the bodies 30 is increased in lateral dimensions to achieve equidistance between each pair of head apertures 22 and their corresponding bodies 30. FIG. 9f illustrates a tie strap similar to that shown in FIG. 9e but with an additional pair of head apertures 22 defined on the enlarged region of the head 20.

[0031] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary, non-exhaustive, and should not limit the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.