Abstract:
The present invention relates to a tie for wrapping around an article, including an arcuate portion on a first portion of the tie; and a movable locking device on a second portion of the tie, the movable locking device adapted to couple to the arcuate portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Cable ties have long been used to bundle a variety of objects such as electrical wires or cable. Early examples of such cable ties are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,186,047 and 3,486,201. Each of these cable ties includes an elongate member having a head at one end, a tail at the other and an intervening longitudinal strap body. The cable tie is used by wrapping the tie around a bundle of articles and inserting the tail through the head. The head and the body include cooperative locking elements so that when the tail is pulled tightly through the head, the locking elements secure the strap body in the head. 
         [0002]    Cable ties come in various shapes and sizes. Often, multiple small cable ties are employed at spaced locations longitudinally along the bundle of wires. Such use can present at least one distinct problem. 
         [0003]    Given the small size of the cable tie, it is difficult to grasp the tail and to pass it through the head. There is a tendency for the tail to slip out from between the fingers of the installer making it difficult to secure around the bundle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a tie for wrapping around an article, including an arcuate portion at a first portion of the tie; and a movable locking means at a second portion of the tie, the movable locking means adapted to couple to the arcuate portion. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a tie for wrapping around at least one article, including a body portion having a first end and a second end, a locking means at the second end, the locking means movable relative to the body portion and configured to engage the body portion, and an arcuate portion at the first end adapted to engage the locking means, such that the tie forms a substantially closed loop around the at least one article. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of wrapping at least one article, including the steps of providing a tie having body with a first end and a second end, the tie having an arcuate portion at the first end and a locking means at the second end, wrapping the tie around the at least one article, engaging a portion of the arcuate portion with the locking means, and moving the locking means relative to the body. 
         [0007]    Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a tie according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view in section of a ratchet system according to one embodiment using 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the tie of  FIG. 1  wherein the loop is engaging the ratchet system; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial side view in section of the tie of  FIG. 1  wherein the loop is engaging the ratchet system and the tie is substantially enclosing a plurality of elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a tie  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, tie  10  includes an elongate portion  12 , a loop  14  and a ratchet system or locking means  16 . 
         [0013]    Preferably the tie is a unitarily molded structure, formed from a plastic, such as nylon; however, the tie and/or any portion can be molded or formed from any suitable material. For example, the tie can be formed from any suitable plastic, metal or other suitable substance or combination of substances. The various portions of the tie can also be formed from the same or separate materials. Furthermore, the tie is not necessarily unitarily molded and can be formed in any suitable manner. 
         [0014]    The elongate or body portion  12  is generally rectangular in cross section but can have any suitable cross section. The body portion  12  has a first end  18  and a second  20  and a central portion  22 . At or generally near the second end  20  one side of the body portion  12  has indentations  24  or any other suitable structure thereon. The indentations  24  can extend at any desirable length along the body portion  12  up to an including loop  14 . If desired, the body portion can have a similar or the same structure as indentations  24  located on any side or multiple sides thereof. 
         [0015]    Loop  14  preferably is a semi-flexible structure that is molded with the body portion; however, loop  14  can be attached in a separate formation step at any suitable time. Additionally, it is not necessary for loop  14  to be a complete loop, it can be a substantially complete loop or simply an arcuate member (i.e., a hook) that would allow engagement with a device such as the ratchet system or a portion thereof. 
         [0016]    Loop  14  can be any desired size. Loop  14  can be just large enough to allow the locking mechanism to pass through and engage therewith or it can be the entire tie itself. For example, if desired the loop  14  can extend from the first end to the second end and include the elongate portion. In this embodiment, one or both portions of the loop that passed through the locking means could have indentations thereon. 
         [0017]    Locking member  16  is preferably a ratchet system, but can be any suitable one way or substantially one way ratcheting device. For example, the locking member can be a threaded device that is moved in one direction or any other suitable structure that would allow the locking means  16  to move in one direction (preferably away from the second end) and resist or substantially resist movement in the opposite or a second direction (preferably towards the second end). 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , locking member  16  preferably has a substantially rectangular configuration with a first side  26 , a second side  28  a top surface  30  and a bottom surface  32 . Extending through the locking member from the first side to the second side is a pathway  34  that defines a first opening  36  and a second opening  38  in the first and second sides, respectively. A protrusion  39  extends into the pathway and is adapted to engage the indentations in the body portion of the tie. It is noted that such a protrusion/indentation locking means is exemplary only and the locking means can be any structure desired, including but not limited to a protrusion with a sharp end that is capable of coupling to the tie without indentations. 
         [0019]    First side  26  preferably has an indentation or recess therein to allow the loop to fit therein; however all the sides and surfaces of the locking means can have any suitable configuration. Extending from top surface  30  is a hook, hooks or protrusion  40 . Hook  40  extends outwardly from top surface  30  then doubles back at an acute angle toward bottom surface  32  and first side  26 . It is noted hook  40  can have any suitable configuration and extend in any suitable direction and may extend from any suitable side or surface or may not even exist, as desired. 
       Operation 
       [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the tie can be positioned to encircle or surround a single element or a plurality of elements  42  (such as a group of wires). The ratchet or locking means can be “preloaded” or positioned at or near the second end of the tie. An installer now has a large target (i.e., the loop) through which he can pass the tie end (i.e., the locking means). This speeds along the installation and allows a greater ease of single handed installation. The prior art difficult ratchet loading can be now done by the tie manufacturer or by the installer before he offers the tie up to the object(s) to be secured. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, the loop can be squeezed to pass the tie through saddle clips that are sometimes used to secure the tie and object(s) to a surface. After the loop has been passed through the saddle the loop naturally expands to its original shape thus inhibiting the loose tie from falling back out of the saddle which can occur with existing ties. 
         [0022]    If desired, the tie  10  can be partially tightened but temporally released again by unhooking the loop from the hook. This is extremely useful when securing wiring bundles that need to temporary held before additional wires are to be added to the bundle. 
         [0023]    Additionally, tie  10  can be designed so that the ratchet block can be slipped all the way down the toothed strip and over the loop at the far end to be free from the tie. This allows the tie to be reused by reloading it onto the other end of the strip. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, tie  10  eliminates a protrusion after installation because the long free end exits the block at a tangent to the secured objects, so it lies flat when cut off and the sharp edge does not stick out. 
         [0025]    It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.