Cable tie

A cable tie (1) having a material strip (11), a fastening head (2) that has a first opening (30) provided with a ratchet (34) and protrudes with respect to the longitudinal axis of material strip (11), an insertion element (15) arranged to be introduced in the fastening head (2), first opening (30) passing longitudinally through the fastening head (2) between an entry (31), at a free end of fastening head (2), and an exit (32), ending towards a junction area (16) between material strip (11) and fastening head (2). The fastening head (2) has a second opening (40) that passes transversely therethrough and arranged between junction area (16) and the first opening (30) so that, during a tying position of the cable tie (1), the exit (32) of first opening (30) ends inside of the loop and faces towards second opening (40).

This application claims priority from French patent application serial no. 16/53365 filed Apr. 15, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cable tie including an elongate flexible material strip provided with a first side and a second side, which are opposite, said first side comprising a notched section, said cable tie comprising at a first end of the material strip a fastening head comprising a first opening provided with a ratchet and which protrudes with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material strip, and at a second end of the material strip an insertion element that is free and arranged to be introduced in said fastening head, the first opening passing longitudinally through said fastening head between an entry ending at a free end of the fastening head and an exit ending towards a junction area between the material strip and the fastening head, cable tie wherein, in a tying position of said cable tie, said material strip passes through the first opening of the fastening head from said entry towards said exit so that the material strip forms a closed loop, and the notched section of the first side of the material strip cooperates with the ratchet of the fastening head to allow movement of the notched section with respect to the first opening in a single direction and prevent its movement in an opposite direction, said fastening head comprising moreover a second opening that passes through it transversally, arranged between the junction area and the first opening, so that, in the tying position of said cable tie, the exit of the first opening ends inside of the loop and towards the second opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cable ties used to tie together a cable harness and which have the characteristic to be self-locking are already known. Such cable ties generally have the shape of a flexible material strip, most often out of plastic, which comprises at a first end a fastening head provided with one single opening that can be longitudinal or transversal and allows receiving a second end of the material strip, which is free. The material strip is notched on one of its sides or on both sides and the opening of the fastening head comprises a ratchet. From this results that, when the second end of the material strip is inserted in the opening of the fastening head, the material strip is closed in the form of a loop, and at least one of the notches of the notched side of the material strip and the ratchet engage to lock the cable tie. Consequently, the movement of the material strip with respect to the opening of the fastening head is only allowed in one direction. In fact, when one pulls the second end of the material strip, the loop formed shrinks and it is no longer possible to enlarge the loop. This type of tie is therefore particularly interesting to tie a cable harness. However, when the loop is closed, the fastening head of the cable tie protrudes outside of the loop, and the second end of the material strip must protrude outside of the loop to facilitate the adjustment of the size of the loop by pulling the second end of the strip. This is why the opening of the fastening head ends outside of the loop. Most of the time, when the cable harness is tied, the second end and the corresponding part of the material strip that protrudes outside of the loop are cut off to reduce the space requirement of the cable tie. Nevertheless, the fastening head remains protruding outside of the loop and, in certain conditions, its presence is problematic. In particular, such as when there are several cable harnesses, where the protruding fastening heads can damage the neighboring cables by crushing the insulations. Publications WO 2009/001079 A1 and EP 1 818 275 A1 illustrate this type of cable tie provided with one single opening passing through the fastening head in the longitudinal direction of the material strip.

Publication EP 1 818 275 A1 describes a cable tie whose fastening head is flat in the extension of the material strip and comprises two transversal slots parallel to each other in which the free end of the material strip is introduced successively, thus avoiding any overthickness outside of the loop in its tying position. However, the implementation of this solution is difficult and time-consuming, as it requires, to close the cable tie in a loop around a cable harness, to introduce the free end of the material strip first in the first slot from the outside towards the inside of the harness, then in the second slot, from the inside towards the outside of the harness.

Publication US 2002/083559 A1 corresponds to the preamble of the independent claim and discloses a cable tie in which the fastening head comprises a first opening that passes through the head in the longitudinal direction, followed by a second opening that passes through the head in the transversal direction and comprising obligatorily an inclined ramp that allows deviating the free end of the material strip towards the outside of the loop when the cable tie is closed in a loop. Therefore, the structure of this cable tie type is complex and does not necessarily guarantee the exit of the free end towards the outside, depending on the diameter of the loop.

For these reasons, the solutions of the prior art are not satisfying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by offering a cable tie with a simplified structure and optimized space requirement, so that the fastening head shows a reduced space requirement outside of the loop in the tying position while ensuring the guidance of the free end of the material strip towards the outside of the loop when the cable tie is closed in a loop, regardless of the diameter of the loop.

To that purpose, the invention relates to a cable tie of the kind described in the preamble, characterized in that said fastening head comprises a section protruding with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material strip, oriented towards one of the first or second sides of the material strip, and in which the first opening is arranged, said protruding section is inclined by an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material strip, and said first opening comprises an internal wall inclined by the same angle forming a guide channel arranged for guiding the material strip through said second opening towards the outside of the loop.

Adding a second opening allows designing a cable tie with a fastening head that protrudes mainly inside of the loop in the tying position. In fact, the second opening allows passing the free end of the material strip from the inside of the loop to the outside of the loop in the tying position. Moreover, the inclination angle given to the protruding section of the fastening head, and consequently to the first opening, allows guiding naturally and automatically the free end through the second opening towards the outside of the loop.

The exit of the first opening ends preferably in the second opening.

The protruding section of the fastening head can comprise a first inclined external wall located on the side of one of the first or second sides so that, in the tying position, the first external wall can be located outside of the loop and substantially fit the shape of the loop.

In this case, the protruding section of the fastening head can comprise a second external wall opposite to the first external wall, oriented towards the other of the first and second sides of the material strip so that, in the tying position, the second external wall can protrude inside of the loop.

In a preferred embodiment, the internal wall of the first opening comprises said ratchet.

The fastening head comprises advantageously a flat section located between the junction area and the protruding section, in the plane of the material strip, and wherein the second opening is arranged.

Said insertion element advantageously comprises an inclined section, which is inclined by an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material strip and oriented towards the first side or the second side opposite to the first side of the material strip.

The first opening forming the guide channel is preferably a rectilinear channel.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the ratchet is arranged on the side of the first external wall of the protruding section, and the protruding section of the fastening head comprises a longitudinal slot that extends on the second external wall, is centered with respect to the first opening, opens the first opening longitudinally and ends with an outlet in the first opening. In this case, said insertion element preferably shows a reduced width with respect to the width of the material strip, the width of said insertion element being smaller than or equal to the width of the slot to allow its introduction in the first opening of the fastening head through said slot.

The first opening can be provided, on its internal wall, with two overthicknesses located on either side of said slot outlet and forming two grooves.

And the material strip can comprise two lips that extend along the edges of the material strip to cooperate with the two grooves of the first opening in the tying position.

In a preferred embodiment, the second side of the material strip is a flat face. According to another embodiment variant, the second side of the material strip can comprise a notched section arranged to cooperate with a second ratchet arranged on the external wall of the first opening in front of the first ratchet.

The ratchet can advantageously be arranged on the side of the first external wall of the protruding section so as to offer at a free end of said ratchet an insertion space allowing dismounting said cable tie.

In the tying position, a cut end of the material strip obtained after cutting off can be advantageously housed in the second opening in order not to protrude outside of the loop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the figures, the invention relates to a cable tie1,100,110,120,130for tying an element or a plurality of elements together, and in particular cables C (FIG. 8). The cable ties1,100,110,120,130described are intended to be closed to form loops B in the tying position PS.

According to a first embodiment variant illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 8, cable tie1is an elongate element with a length L, which comprises a material strip11with a width la1, which is flexible and has a substantially flat shape, having a first side12comprising a notched section122provided with a plurality of teeth123arranged to cooperate with a ratchet34described below, and a substantially smooth second side13opposite to first side12, without this example being restrictive. In fact, second side13, which is opposite to first side12, could also comprise a notched section provided with a plurality of teeth, arranged to cooperate with an additional ratchet, in compliance with the variant illustrated inFIGS. 18 to 21.

Cable tie1comprises at a first end111of material strip11a fastening head2and comprises at an opposite second end112of material strip11an insertion element15that is free and intended for being inserted in fastening head2. Insertion element15comprises an inclined section151that is inclined by an obtuse angle A2with respect to the longitudinal axis of material strip11and oriented towards first side12of material strip11. The introduction of insertion element15in fastening head2is therefore facilitated. Insertion element15has preferably a width substantially equal to width la1of material strip11. It can however have a variable width, as explained below.

Cable tie1is preferably made out of a synthetic material such as polyamide or polyetheretherketone, given as non-exhaustive examples. The synthetic material is chosen preferably to withstand temperatures between −80° C. and 270° C. The synthetic material can also have, more specifically, high-temperature resistance properties according to the intended applications, and in particular between 80° C. and 270° C. Polyetheretherketone has the advantage to withstand up to a temperature substantially equal to 250° C. Of course, these examples are not restrictive.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, fastening head2is connected to material strip11by a junction area16and has a width la2that exceeds width la1of material strip11.

Fastening head2, as it is illustrated inFIG. 1A, comprises a flat section20and a protruding section21. Protruding section21is arranged at the free end of fastening head2and flat section20is arranged between junction area16and protruding portion21.

More specifically and as illustrated inFIG. 4, flat section20of fastening head2is located in the plane of material strip11. Conversely, protruding section21of fastening head2protrudes with respect to the longitudinal axis of material strip11towards second side13. In fact, protruding section21is inclined by an acute angle A1with respect to the longitudinal axis of material strip11. From this results that the longitudinal axis of protruding section21is inclined by angle A1with respect to the longitudinal axis of material strip11. Protruding section21has a first external wall211oriented towards first side12and which is inclined according to angle A1with respect to first side12, and a second external wall212oriented towards second side13. In the illustrated example, first side211has a flat shape, while second wall212has a rounded shape, without these shapes being restrictive. Junction23between flat section20and second external wall212of protruding portion21can, according to a non-represented variant, be reinforced by addition of material, so as to form one or several overthicknesses or reinforcing ribs. This is particularly advantageous to prevent fastening head2from bending, in particular when loop B of the cable tie is strongly reduced in the tying position PS. In fact, when a cable harness C has a reduced diameter, the loop B of cable tie1obtained has also a reduced diameter, which tends to bend junction23. Adding material at junction23helps to avoid weakening of the fastening.

Protruding section21of fastening head2comprises a first through opening30that extends along the longitudinal axis of protruding section21, as represented in particular inFIGS. 1A and 5. First opening30forms a guide channel that has an entry31through which insertion element15of cable tie1can be introduced and an exit32through which insertion element15of cable tie1can come out. Entry31is arranged at the free end of fastening head2and exit32ends towards flat section20. First opening30has an internal wall33that is inclined according to the longitudinal axis of protruding wall21and that forms the guide channel to guide insertion element15of cable tie1towards a second opening40described below. Moreover, internal wall33comprises a ratchet34intended for cooperating with notched section122of first side12of material strip11. More specifically, ratchet34is arranged on the side of first external wall211. Moreover, ratchet34can be arranged on external wall211so as to leave at its free end a space340to introduce a tool that would allow lifting ratchet34up to release material strip11, in order to facilitate loosening cable tie1. This space340is accessible in the tying position PS from the outside of loop B.

As illustrated in particular inFIGS. 1 to 3, flat section20of fastening head2comprises a second opening40that passes through it transversally. From this results advantageously that exit32of first opening30ends in second opening40, as shown inFIG. 5.

FIGS. 6 to 7illustrate cable tie1according to the first embodiment variant that has been described, in the tying position PS. To pass from the initial position, in which cable tie1is open and described above to the tying position PS, in which cable tie1is closed in the form of a loop13, one introduces insertion element15of cable tie1in fastening head2. More specifically, insertion element15of cable tie1passes through first opening30from entry31towards exit32, than it ends in second opening40and passes through it. One pulls insertion element15of cable tie1until ratchet34of first opening30engages notched section122of first side12of material strip11. The movement of notched section122of material strip11with respect to first opening30thus can only take place in one direction, that is to say in the direction of the traction force exerted on insertion element15of cable tie1, any movement in the opposite direction being therefore forbidden. Moreover, cable tie1forms a closed loop B whose notched section122of first side12is located outside of loop B at whose second side13is located inside of loop B. Advantageously, the arrangement of first side12, which is notched, outside of loop B, prevents from marking the insulation of cables C when cables C are tied in loop B.

From this results that material strip11passes through first opening30of fastening head2from entry31towards exit32, as well as through second opening40towards the outside of loop B. This is made possible by the shape of first opening30, which is configured to guide naturally and automatically insertion element15of cable tie1towards second opening40. In fact, the inclination of first opening30forms a guide channel for insertion element15of cable tie1, or for a corresponding section of material strip11. Preferably and as illustrated, the guide channel is a rectilinear channel. Moreover, exit32of this guide channel ends inside of loop B and towards or directly in second opening40, so that insertion element15passes through this second opening40to reach the outside of loop B. First external wall211of protruding section21of fastening head2advantageously fits the shape of loop B. Second external wall212of protruding section21of fastening head2advantageously protrudes inside of loop B. From this results that the space requirement of fastening head2outside of loop B is reduced. The rounded shape of second external wall212also contributes to reduce space requirement inside of loop B and to prevent damaging cables C arranged inside of loop B. Consequently, only insertion element15of cable tie1and a part of material strip11protrude outside of loop B. They can however be cut off using a suitable tool, as illustrated inFIG. 8. In fact, insertion element15of cable tie1and a part of material strip11protruding outside of loop B can be cut off using a suitable tool so that the cut end18of material strip11obtained after cutting off is only housed in second opening40and does not protrude outside of loop B.

According to a second variant of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 9 to 11, cable tie100differs from cable tie1described previously by the shape of protruding section21of fastening head2and by the shape of insertion element15of cable tie100. In fact, protruding section21of fastening head2comprises a longitudinal slot50that extends on second external wall212. Moreover, slot50is centered with respect to first opening30and extends along it and ends in it. Slot50has a width la50that is smaller than the width of first opening30. Moreover, insertion element15of cable tie100has a width la3that is reduced with respect to width la1of material strip11and ends with a gripping head17. Width la50of slot50is slightly larger than width la3of insertion element15of cable tie100. This configuration allows introducing insertion element15of cable clamp100in fastening head2through slot50. Introducing insertion element15of cable tie100in fastening head2is faster and easier than in the previously described first embodiment variant.

According to a third variant of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 12 to 13, cable tie110differs from cable tie100described previously by the shape of first opening30and by the shape of material strip11. Second side13of material strip11comprises two lips16that extend along the edges of material strip11. Moreover, as illustrated inFIG. 12A, first opening30is provided on internal wall33, on the side of second external wall212, with two overthicknesses35arranged at the outlet51of slot50. The two overthicknesses35delimit, with internal wall33, two parallel internal grooves36, wherein lips16of material strip11can be introduced and slide. This configuration allows reinforcing the lateral strength of fastening head2. According to a non-represented variant, second side13of material strip11can also comprise, in addition to the two lips16, a contact tongue centered on second side13. This contact tongue allows advantageously to increase the contact surface on the cables and to reduce the penetration effect of cable tie110in the insulation of the cables.

According to a fourth variant of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 14 to 17, cable tie120differs from cable tie1according to the previously described first variant by the relative position of protruding section21of fastening head2with respect to first side12, which is notched, and to second side13, which is smooth, of material strip11. In fact, protruding section21of fastening head2protrudes with respect to the longitudinal axis of material strip11towards first side12and not towards second side13, as is the case in the first variant (seeFIGS. 1 to 8) and is inclined by an acute angle A1with respect to the longitudinal axis of material strip11, as shown inFIG. 15. Protruding section21has a first external wall211oriented towards second side13and which is inclined according to angle A1with respect to second side13, and a second external wall212oriented towards first side12. Moreover, in this fourth variant, ratchet34is arranged on internal wall33on the side of second external wall212. In the illustrated example, first side211has a flat shape, while second external wall212has a rounded shape, without these shapes being restrictive. From this results, in the tying position PS, that cable tie120forms a closed loop B whose first side12is located inside of loop B and whose second side13is located outside of loop13. Unlike in the first embodiment variant, notched section122of first side12is located outside of loop B and second side13is located inside of loop B. Advantageously and in compliance with this fourth embodiment variant, the arrangement of smooth second side13outside of loop B makes cleaning cable tie120easier and avoids the creation of catch-on areas.

According to a fifth variant represented inFIGS. 18 to 21, cable tie130differs from the first variant in that second side13also comprises a notched section132. From this results that first side12and second side13of material strip11are notched. Moreover, fastening head2comprises two ratchets34,134, a first ratchet34intended for cooperating with notched section122of first side12and a second ratchet134intended for cooperating with notched section132of second side13. In this case first ratchet34is arranged on internal side33, on the side of first external wall211, and second ratchet134is arranged on internal wall33, on the side of second external wall212. First ratchet34and second ratchet134are arranged in front of each other. Advantageously, the fact that first side12and second side13each comprise a notched section122and132and that fastening head2is provided with two ratchets34and134allows increasing the fastening strength. This results in improved fastening strength in the tying position. Moreover, this embodiment allows providing notched sections122,132having teeth whose depth is smaller with respect to that of the variants provided with one single ratchet.

According to a non-represented variant, the insertion element of the cable tie according to the second and third variants can have a variable width. The insertion element can for example comprise a first section with a width smaller than the width of the material strip and a second extremal section whose width is substantially equal to the width of the material strip. This variant allows placing the cable tie in pre-assembly position by introducing the second extremal section in the fastening head without locking the cable tie. In this position, the cable tie forms a loop that is not locked, as the ratchet is not engaged in the notched section. This functionality advantageously allows reopening the loop, for example for adding cables before the definitive locking of the cable tie.

This description shows clearly that the invention allows reaching the goals defined, that is to say reduce the space requirement of fastening head2of a cable tie1,100,110,120,130and eliminate any protrusion of protruding ends outside of loop B.

The present invention will in particular be used for tying elongate elements such as cables C as shown especially inFIG. 8.

The present invention is not restricted to the examples of embodiment described, but extends to any modification and variant which is obvious to a person skilled in the art.