Abstract:
Cable ties have configuration which self-urges free ends of the cable ties to emerge from mounting plates after the free ends of the cable ties are inserted into disposition into a limited space existing between the mounting plates and parent structure to which the mounting plates are secured.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to cable ties and pertains more particularly to cable ties configured for use with mounting plates closely mounted on parent support structure.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In various instances, it is desirable to bind cable ties upon a mounting plate which is so closely mounted on parent structure as to deny user access to the undersurface of the mounting plate. In these instances, it is necessary to remove the mounting plate from its parent structure. This practice presents evident difficulties in possible disruption of pre-existing cable bundlings supported on the mounting plate and in electrician time in effecting the disassembly of the mounting plate from the parent structure and reassambly following the binding of the cable ties to the mounting plate.  
         [0003]     In those instances in which the mounting plates are not removable from their parent structures, i.e., are riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the mounting plate, the difficulty is not resolvable and additions of cable tie encircled conductor groupings to the pre-existing closely-mounted mounting plate are not attainable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention has as its primary object the provision of cable ties adapted for securement with mounting plates closely mounted to parent structure without need for removal of the mounting plates from the parent structure.  
         [0005]     In attaining this and other objects, the invention provides cable ties having configuration providing them with an adaptiveness for securement with mounting plates closely mounted to parent structure.  
         [0006]     In its several embodiments, the invention provides cable ties having configuration which self-urges free ends of the cable ties to emerge from mounting plates after the free ends of the cable ties are inserted into disposition into the limited space existing between the mounting plates and parent structure to which the mounting plates are secured.  
         [0007]     The invention is adapted for use with removable mounting plates, without need for removal thereof from parent structure to which the mounting plates are secured, and for use with non-removable mounting plates.  
         [0008]     The foregoing and other objects of the invention and the various structures of cable ties thereof will be further understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and practices of the invention and from the drawings wherein like components are identified by like reference numerals.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cable tie in accordance with the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cable tie in accordance with the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an elevation, partly in section, showing a first stage of assembly of the cable tie of  FIG. 2  with a mounting plate.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an elevation, partly in section, showing a second stage of assembly of the cable tie of  FIG. 2  with a mounting plate.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an elevation, partly in section, showing a final stage of assembly of the cable tie of  FIG. 2  with a mounting plate.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cable tie in accordance with the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an elevation, partly in section, showing the assembly of the cable tie of  FIG. 6  with a mounting plate. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , cable tie  10  includes a head portion  12  and a tail portion  14  contiguous with head portion  12  and extending to tail portion free end  16 . Serrations (not shown) are formed on either or both of top and bottom sides  18  and  20  of tail portion  14 . Head portion  12  includes pawl  22  extending into through passage  24 . As is known, pawl  22  may be a plastic member integrally formed with cable tie  10  or may be a metal member.  
         [0017]     Cable tie  10  is a molded plastic member, the making mold being constructed to impart undulation  26  to tail portion  14  at tail portion free end  16 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , mounting plate  28  defines apertures  30  and  32  extending therethrough. Undulation  26  of tail portion  14  is inserted into aperture  32 , which is of a cross-dimension  34  less than the cross-dimension  36  of undulation  26 . Undulation  26  is accordingly cross-wise compressed in the course of the insertion, as shown in a first stage of assembly of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , which shows a second stage of assembly, undulation  26  is shown inserted fully into and through aperture  32 , whereby undulation  26  expands to its molded cross-dimension  36 . Cross-dimension  36  is selected relative to apertures  30  and  32  such that tail portion free end  16  is disposed below aperture  30  upon such expansion of undulation  26  to its molded cross-dimension  36 .  
         [0020]     Tail portion  14  is now moved upwardly from its  FIG. 4  disposition to its  FIG. 5  disposition, whereby tail portion free end  16  emerges upwardly of aperture  30 , permitting a user to grasp such free end and pull tail portion  14  upwardly of mounting plate  28 . Tail portion  14  is now moved into encircling relation with conductors (not shown) disposed atop mounting plate  28  and tail portion free end  16  is inserted into head portion  12 . Tail portion  14  is now pulled through head portion  12  by a user or tool to tightly encircle the conductors.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , cable tie  38  differs from cable tie  10  in that its undulation  40 , formed at the free end  42  of strap  44 , the undulation being disposed in orthogonal relation to strap  44 , in contrast to the undulation of cable  10 , which is aligned with the strap in a first course and in spaced, parallel relation to the strap in a second course.  
         [0022]     Installation of cable tie  38  on a mounting plate follows the practice of  FIGS. 3-5 , above discussed.  
         [0023]     The innate connection compatibility of cable tie  46  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  is attained differently than that of cable ties  10  and  38 . Here, strap  48  is of arcuate, preferably semicircular configuration throughout its length, the arcuateness being selected in correlation with the spacing between apertures  50  and  52  of mounting plate  54 , such that, upon insertion of strap free end  56  into aperture  52 , the free end emerges from aperture  50 .  
         [0024]     As is seen, the invention provides a method for securing a cable tie to a mounting plate having a given clearance with a parent structure precluding access to an underside of the mounting plate, comprising the steps of: 
        (a) configuring a strap of a cable tie with innate connection compatibility with the mounting plate;     (b) inserting a free end of the cable tie into a first aperture in the mounting plate; and     (c) pulling the free end of the cable tie outwardly of a second aperture in the mounting plate.        
 
         [0028]     The innate connection compatibility is attained by configuring the strap with an inherent arcuateness at the strap free end. The inherent arcuateness can be selected as an undulation formed at the strap free end. The undulation may be formed with a course which extends in spaced perpendicular relation to the strap or with a course which extends in spaced parallel relation to the strap.  
         [0029]     Various changes to the particularly depicted embodiments and practices of the invention may be introduced without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the particularly disclosed embodiments are intended in an illustrative, and not in a limiting, sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the ensuing claims.