GB2464699A

GB2464699A - Tie comprising strip of material with teeth extending from both sides

Info

Publication number: GB2464699A
Application number: GB0819356A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bndean Abdulkadir Omer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-22
Filing date: 2008-10-22
Publication date: 2010-04-28
Also published as: GB0819356D0

Abstract

A tie 1 comprises a strip 3 of material having teeth 7 extending outwardly from both sides, and a head 5. The teeth have a first surface 9 extending substantially perpendicularly to the strip and a second surface 11 connecting an outer end of the first surface with the strip, and angled from both the first surface and the strip to form a ratchet. The head has a through passage or aperture 17, 19 to receive the strip, and a detent 31, 33 engageable with the teeth to provide a ratchet operation. Teeth on opposite sides of the strip may be angled in the same direction or in opposite directions. The head may be detachable from the strip, and may comprise a pair of apertures, each with a detent, for receiving opposite ends of the strip. The head may be cruciform, with four apertures situated at right angles to each other (Fig. 5). The tie may comprise a screw (67, Fig. 3) operable to cause the detents (57, 59) to withdraw from the strip (43).

Description

TIE

This invention relates to ties and particularly but not exclusively to ties known as cable ties.

In the field of ties, there are a number of problems which need to be addressed to make the ties have a more general application.

The present invention seeks to provide a tie which provides more general application According to the invention a tie comprises a strip of material having outwardly extending teeth extending from both sides thereof, the teeth having a first surface extending outwardly at substantially at right angles to the strip and a second surface connecting the outer end of the first surface with the strip and angled from both the first surface and the strip to form a ratchet and a head having a through passage or aperture adapted to receive the strip therein, the head having a detent in the through passage or aperture engageable with the teeth to provide a ratchet operation with the teeth. * **

All of the teeth may be angled in the same direction or the teeth on opposite sides of the strip may be angled in opposite directions. *

*.IS *S *...: The head may be detachable from the strip.

The head may have a pair of through passages or apertures, each with a detent therein, for receiving opposite ends of the strip.

The head may have four through passages or apertures situated at right angles to each other for receiving the ends of two strips.

The head may be cruciform with the one through passage or aperture being located in each of the arms of the cross.

The or each through passage or aperture in the head may have a pair of detents extending in opposite directions so that one detent engages the teeth on one side of the strip while the other detent engages the teeth on the opposite side of the strip.

Each of the detents in the head may be doubled so that one lies behind the other, the arrangement being such that the detents engage two of the teeth of the strip on the same side of the strip. The detents may be arranged to engage two adjacent teeth on the strip.

Disconnection means may be provided to enable the detent(s) in the head aperture to be withdrawn from the strip allowing the strip to be removed from the head.

The disconnection means may comprise a screw, accessible from outside of the head which is screwable between a first position in which it holds the detent(s) in * ,, a position to engage the strip and a second position in which it causes the detent(s) to be withdrawn away from the strip. The detents may be biased towards their second position but can be maintained in their first position against the biasing, by the screw. ** S.

* The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:-Figure us a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention in which a tie is provided with a separate head; Figure 2 is a side view of the tie of figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a releasable tie for use in placing around a suitcase or the like; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a dual tie arrangement for use in placing around a suitcase or other suitable article: Figure 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 4 with the suitcase or other suitable article removed for clarity; Figure 6 is a perspective view from one side of an embodiment of the invention providing an extra strong tie; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tie of figure 6 from the other side, and Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the head of the tie of figures 5.

Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2, there is shown a first embodiment of a tie in accordance with the invention. The tie 1 shown here is in two parts, a strip 3 and * *, a head 5. The strip 3 is toothed on both sides with effectively teeth 7 in opposing directions. Each tooth is of a substantially triangular shape in cross section.

They have a first or front surface 9 which extends outwardly from the strip 5 at substantially right angles to the strip 3 and a rear or second surface 11 which is inclined both to the strip 3 and the front surface 9 to complete the triangle. As can *.**.

* be clearly seen from the drawings, the strip 3 has a first or outer surface 13 and a second or inner surface 15 and the teeth 7 on the outer surface 13 face in the opposite direction to the teeth 7 on the inner surface 15.

The head 5 is separate from the strip 3 and has two through passages or apertures 1 7 and 19 of a dimension sufficiently large to permit the strip 3 to pass therethrough. To this end, the head 5 is of generally rectangular construction enclosing three chambers 21, 23 and 25 of which the centre chamber 21 is generally enclosed while the two outer chambers 23 and 25 are open at the sides but closed at the ends 27 except for apertures 29 for allowing passage of the strip 3 therethrough. These chambers 23 and 25 form the through passages 17 and 19. Within the chambers 23 and 25 are located two detents 31 and 33 which extend from opposite inner faces of the chambers 23 and 25 so as to engage opposite sides of the strip 3. They are so angled that when the strip 3 is fed through the apertures 29 (from right to left as seen in figure 1 and from above downwards in figure 2) the detents 31 and 33 engage behind the front surface 9 of the respective tooth 7 to prevent the strip from being removed. Thus, as normal with ratchet ties, the tied can be tightened but not loosened.

The head 5 of the tie can suitably have an area 35 on which a label can be placed and also a slot 37 by means of which the tie can be connected to other articles or attachment points as desired.

In order to use the tie, a suitable length of strip 3 is obtained. This may be a standard length or may be cut from a reel of the strip. In this latter way, wastage of the material of the strip can be avoided as the desired length of strip can be * accurately cut off. Then one end of the strip 3 is passed through one of the through passages oil apertures 17 or 19 of an appropriate head 5 so that this **** *" end of the strip 3 is effectively secured to the head 5 by the associated detent 31 or 33. From this point on, the tie 1 can be used in the same way as a standard * ratchet tie. To this end, the strip 3 is passed around an article or articles such as S.....

a group of cables (not shown) and the free end of the strip is passed through the other through passages where it will be retained in position by the detent. The tie can then be tightened by pulling more of the strip 3 through either of the through passages or apertures 17 or 19.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the tie which, using a speciafly designed head, can be used to secure around articles such as suitcases or in circumstances in which it is desirable or necessary to release the tie.

To this end, the tie comprises a strip 43, only the free ends 45 and 47 of which are shown. As in the first embodiment, the strip 43 is provided with teeth 49 on both sides of the strip 43, both "pointing" in the same direction as opposed to the teeth 7 of the first embodiment. it will also be observed that the strip must be constructed specially as the teeth 49 at each end of the strip must point in opposite directions for a reason which will be explained hereafter. The tie also comprises a head 51 to which both ends of the strip 43 are releasably attached.

When assembling the strip 43 to the head 51, of course, both ends of the strip 43 will be free.

The head 51 comprises a hollow housing 53 in which the locking mechanism for the strip 3 is housed. Opposite ends of the housing are provided with apertures 55, aligned with each through which opposite ends of the strip 43 can pass.

The locking mechanism comprises a pair of springy double detents 57 and 59, * *, one being arranged above the other as shown in the drawing. The upper double detent 57 is generally flat having a detent tooth 61 at each end. The centre of the S...

detent 57 has a reduced thickness at 63 and a central aperture 65 to receive a screw 67. The lower double detent 59 is of a different shape having a detent * tooth 61 at each end at the end of two arm portions 69. The two arm portions are **.I..

* connected to two arcuate portions 71 which are in turn connected together by an upwardly extending peak portion 73, the top of which is adapted to cooperate with the lower end of the screw 67 as will be described.

The screw 67 is screwable up and down in a captive nut or built in screw threaded element 75 attached to the housing 53. The screw 67 has head 77, accessible from the exterior of the housing 53 through an aperture 79. Around the exterior of the screw 67 is a spring 80 which acts between the threaded element 75 and the upper double detent 57 to bias it upwards against the underside of the screw head 77. For use when the tie is to be used for something to be carried, a handle 81 can be provided.

The operation of this embodiment will now be described:-Before use, the head 51 and the strip 43 are separate. It will be appreciated that the strip 43 must be of the correct length for the article with which it is to be used since there is only room for minor adjustments within the housing 53. Also, it has been noted that the teeth 49 at each end of the strip 43 must "point" in opposite directions. This is due to the necessity of having the ends of the strip 43 retained in the housing 53 in opposite senses. There are a number of ways in which this situation can be achieved. The strip 43 may have the teeth 49 in one half "pointed" in the opposite direction to the teeth in the other half. The strip 43 may be designed for a specific length of tie or the strip 43 may be longer than required and unneeded parts can be cut off both ends. In an alternative arrangement, the teeth can be all in one direction other than a small portion at one end of the strip 43. in this way, the small portion can be used to secure the strip 43 to the head *:*::* 51 while the larger portion can be used for adjustment.

In any event, the first operation is to determine the length of strip 43 required and to provide the appropriate length of strip. The head 51 is set up in the general condition shown in figure 3 so that the upper double detent 57 is forced * downward into its locking position by the screw head 77. The bottom of the screw 67 presses against the peak portion 73 of the lower double detent 59 holding its teeth 61 in their locking position.

One end of the strip 43 is inserted in the appropriate aperture 55 and pushed inwards until at least one set of teeth are engaged behind the associated detent teeth 61, thus securing the head 51 to the strip 43. Then the strip 43 is passed around the article to be secured and the free end is pushed into the other aperture 55 until the tie is bound tightly to the article and secured there by the engagement of the teeth 49 with the detent teeth 61.

When it is desired to remove the tie, the screw 67 is unscrewed an appropriate distance. The effect of this is firstly to allow the upper double detent 57 to move upwardly and disengage its detent teeth 61 from the teeth 49 on its side of the strip 43. At the same time, the peak portion 73 of the lower double detent 59 will be allowed to rise, pivoting the detent arms 69 about the arcuate portions 71 to lower the detent teeth 61 to disengage the strip teeth 49. The strip 43 can then be removed from the head 51.

Figures 4 and 5 show an arrangement having a cruciform head 91 and two separate strips 93. Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the tie around a suitcase while figure 5 shows the arrangement with the suitcase removed so that the tie can be seen in grater detail.

In general, the heads 91 are the same as those shown in Figure 3 but instead of having effectively two arms as shown therein, the heads 91 have four arms 97, * 99, 101 and 103. Each of these arms 97, 99, 101 and 103 can be considered as being show in either the appropriate left hand or right hand half of figure 3. The I..

release screw 107 is the same as the screw 67 in figure 3 and controls the double detents in all of the arms. The strips 93 are of the same form as shown in *** *** * figure 3 except that there is a joint arrangement 105 through which the strips 93 *.*.

* pass so as to secure their relative positions on the side of the article or suitcase away from the head 91. In an alternative (not shown) the two strips 93 may be in a cruciform with the avoidance for the need of the joint arrangement 105.

Figures 6 to 8 provide an embodiment which provides for an extra strong tie This tie comprises a strip 111 having teeth 113 on both sides pointing in the same direction. At one end, the strip 111 is fixedly attached to a special head 115 which is shown in more detail in figure 8. The other end of the strip 111 is formed into a wedge shaped tongue 117 which aids insertion into the head 115.

Referring now to figure 8 the head 115 is shown attached to the strip 111 at its lower (in the figure) end. The head 115 is of generally arcuate shape being concave on the side 119 into which the tongue 117 is inserted and convex on the other side 121. There is a central aperture 123 provided with guides 125 for guiding the edges of the strip 111 and two pairs of detents 127 extend outwardly into the aperture 123, one pair from above and one pair from below. Each of the detents 127 in each pair are spaced apart by the spacing of the teeth 113 of the strip so that two teeth 113 on either side of the strip 111 will be held by the detents 127 forming a very strong grip when the strip 111 is pushed into the head 115.

It will be appreciated that modifications of or additions to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, in the arrangement described in relation to figures 6 to 8, the strip 111, instead of being attached permanently to the head 115 may have a tongue 117 at both ends and the head may be of a double form with two apertures 123 *:::* adjacent each other in the manner of the head 5 of figures 1 and 2. * *** * * **** *

*..**. * * *

** SS S.

S S. * S S

S

Claims

CLAIMS:- 1. A tie comprising a strip of material having outwardly extending teeth extending from both sides thereof, the teeth having a first surface extending outwardly at substantially at right angles to the strip and a second surface connecting the outer end of the first surface with the strip and angled from both the first surface and the strip to form a ratchet and a head having a through passage or aperture adapted to receive the strip therein, the head having a detent in the through passage or aperture engageable with the teeth to provide a ratchet operation with the teeth.
2. A tie as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of the teeth are angled in the same direction.
3. A tie as claimed in claim 1, wherein the teeth on opposite sides of the strip are angled in opposite directions.
4. A tie as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the head is detachable from the strip.S....
5. A tie as claimed in claim 4 wherein the head has a pair of through passages or apertures, each with a detent therein, for receiving opposite ends of *.** S. * the strip.

*SS...
6. A tie as claimed in claim 4 in which the head has four through passages or apertures situated at right angles to each other for receiving the ends of two strips.
7. A tie as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head is of cruciform form with the one through passage or aperture being located in each of the arms of the cross.
8. A tie as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each through passage or aperture in the head has a pair of detents extending in opposite directions so that one detent engages the teeth on one side of the strip while the other detent engages the teeth on the opposite side of the strip.
9. A tie as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the detents in the head are doubled so that one lies behind the other, the arrangement being such that the detents engage two of the teeth of the strip on the same side of the strip.
10. A tie as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detents are arranged to engage two adjacent teeth on the strip.
11. A tie as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein disconnection means are provided to enable the detent(s) in the head through passage or aperture to be withdrawn from the strip allowing the strip to be removed from the head.
12. A tie as claimed in claim 11 wherein the disconnection means comprises a screw, accessible from outside of the head which is screwable between a first position in which it holds the detent(s) in a position to engage the strip and a second position in which it causes the detent(s) to be withdrawn away from the * S..strip.SS.....*
13. A tie as claimed in claim 12 wherein the detents are biased towards their S.....* second position but can be maintained in their first position against the biasing, by the screw.
14. A tie substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS:- 1. A tie comprising a strip of material having outwardly extending teeth extending from both sides thereof, the teeth having a first surface extending outwardly at substantially at right angles to the strip and a second surface connecting the outer end of the first surface with the strip and angled from both the first surface and the strip to form a ratchet and a head having a through passage or aperture adapted to receive the strip therein, the head having a detent in the through passage or aperture engageable with the teeth to provide a ratchet operation with the teeth, wherein disconnection means are provided to enable the detent(s) in the head through passage or aperture to be withdrawn from the strip allowing the strip to be removed from the head, the disconnection means comprising a screw, accessible from outside of the head which is screwable between a first position in which it holds the detent(s) in a position to engage the strip and a second position in which it causes the detent(s) to be *:::: withdrawn away from the strip. * ***2. A tie as claimed in claim I wherein the detents are biased towards their second position but can be maintained in their first position against the biasing, **** * by the screw.****** * S 3. A tie as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein all of the teeth are angled in the same direction.4. A tie as claimed in claim 1, wherein the teeth on opposite sides of the strip are angled in opposite directions.5. A tie as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the head is detachable from the strip.6. A tie as claimed in claim 5 wherein the head has a pair of through passages or apertures, each with a detent therein, for receiving opposite ends of the strip.7. A tie as claimed in claim 5 in which the head has four through passages or apertures situated at right angles to each other for receiving the ends of two strips.8. A tie as claimed in claim 7, wherein the head is of cruciform form with the one through passage or aperture being located in each of the arms of the cross.9. A tie as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each through passage or aperture in the head has a pair of detents extending in opposite directions so that one detent engages the teeth on one side of the strip while the other detent engages the teeth on the opposite side of the strip. * 0.10. A tie as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the detents in the head are doubled so that one lies behind the other, the arrangement being such that the detents engage two of the teeth of the strip on the same side of the strip.* 11. A tie as claimed in claim 10, wherein the detents are arranged to engage two adjacent teeth on the strip.S.. *SI 12. A tie substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings