Plastic holding strap with elastic locking element for locking the holding strap by engagement with bundled articles

A plastic holding strap (1) is provided for looping around and fastening a bundle of articles, specifically tubes and cables (2, 2') with a profiled strap element (3) having a pair of longitudinal strips (4, 4') and transverse rung members (5). A head member (6) is connected to a first end of the strap element (3) and defines a at least one passage opening (7) and includes an obliquely extending resilient locking element (8) which is selectively embeddable into at least a partial area of one or more of the transverse rung members (5). A holding element (10) is selectively connectable onto an associated support member and is formed integrally with the head member (6) for fastening the plastic holding strap onto the support member. A first portion (12) of the strap element (3) defines a substantially convex region (20) having at least one holding lug (15, 15') formed thereon. The holding lugs are embeddable in corresponding recesses formed in the associated articles to be fastened on the subject holding strap. As the strap element is tightened around the associated tubular objects, the locking element (8) is moved by the objects so that a locking element (8) is extended into the passage opening (7) for engagement with at least one of the transverse rung members (5) locking the strap element relative to the head member (6).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The subject invention is directed to the art of plastic holding straps of
 the type used for looping around, fastening, and bundling cables and other
 tubular articles to an associated support member and, more particularly,
 to the art of plastic holding elements of the type including an elongate
 profiled strap element, a head member connected to a first end of the
 strap element and defining a passage opening and an elastic locking
 element selectively movable into the passage opening for locking the strap
 element relative to the head member.
 Plastic holding straps of the type under consideration are commonly used to
 bundle cables and other elongate objects such as tubes or the like in a
 secured manner. Typically, the plastic holding straps are formed as a long
 relatively thin flexible profiled strap element including a pair of spaced
 apart parallel longitudinal strips that extend along the length of the
 strap element. A plurality of transverse rung members extend in a spaced
 apart relationship between the pair of parallel longitudinal strips. One
 end of the plastic holding element defines a passage opening adapted to
 accept the other free end of the holding strap therethrough. At least one
 locking element is disposed within the passage opening for selectively
 engaging the plurality of transverse rung members. The elastic locking
 element is typically embeddable relative to the longitudinal strips and
 transverse rung members.
 Holding straps of the type described above are well known in the art. A
 number of patents including German Patent DE-GM 297 07 757.0 teach
 improvements to the elastic locking element wherein the element is
 specially designed in order to enable improved mounting of the strap
 within the head member.
 In some teachings, namely DE OS 38 07 173 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,444,
 improvements are shown that are directed to the transverse rung members
 extending in a spaced apart relationship between the pair of longitudinal
 strips. More particularly, in those teachings, the transverse rung members
 have a circular cross section or are oval in shape.
 Although holding straps formed in accordance with the above teachings have
 met with some success, there remains the possibility that bundled articles
 subjected to substantial longitudinal tension may become detached from the
 mounting device. Some articles are shaped in the form of a so called
 "corrugated tube" wherein one or more elongate grooves are provided along
 the longitudinal direction of the cable or tube. Even when those articles
 are bundled using known plastic holding straps, however, there remains the
 possibility of detachment due to longitudinal tension placed on the
 bundled articles.
 It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a plastic holding strap that
 is capable of secure mounting of corrugated tubes or other elongate tubes,
 cables, and other articles provided with a longitudinal groove or
 corrugation.
 Further, it is desirable to provide a plastic holding strap that is
 particularly well suited for mounting and axially securing tubes, cables,
 and other articles of the aforementioned type onto an associated support
 member.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The subject invention provides a plastic holding strap that is particularly
 well suited for mounting at least one article having a corrugation or
 groove provided on its exterior surface. More particularly, the subject
 invention provides a plastic holding strap including an elongate profiled
 strap element including a pair of spaced apart parallel longitudinal
 strips and a set of transverse rung members extending between the pair of
 parallel longitudinal strips. A head member is connected to a first end of
 the elongate profiled strap element and defines at least one passage
 opening adapted to selectively receive a second free end of the elongate
 profiled strap element therethrough. An elastic locking element is carried
 on the head member and defines, on opposite sides thereof, an abutment
 surface and an engagement member. The locking element is positioned
 relative to the elongate profiled strap element and the head member so
 that as the elongate profiled strap element is tightened, the associated
 bundled objects contact the abutment surface and urge the engagement
 member into the at least one passage opening to thereby interengage and
 lock with the set of transverse rung members to thereby hold the elongate
 profiled strap element in place relative to the head member.
 In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, at least one holding
 lug is disposed on the elongate profiled strap element for selective
 engagement with a corresponding recess formed in the associated bundled
 objects.
 In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a first portion of
 the elongate profiled strap element defines a substantially convex region
 oriented towards the associated bundled objects. Preferably, the at least
 one holding element is disposed in the substantially convex region.
 In accordance with yet a further more limited aspect of the invention, at
 least one secondary holding lug is carried on a second portion of the
 profiled strap element adjacent the substantially convex region. The at
 least one secondary holding lug is adapted for selective engagement with a
 second corresponding recess defined in the associated bundled objects.
 Still further in accordance with the invention, a holding element is formed
 integrally with the head member as a unitary structure. The holding
 element adapts the subject plastic holding strap for selective connection
 onto an associated support member. Preferably, the holding element is
 adapted to be received onto an associated coarse thread bolt.
 It is to be appreciated from the above that the locking element is actuated
 by contact on its back side with the associated bundled objects. As the
 strap is tightened, the back side of the locking element is contacted by
 the bundled objects thereby urging the locking element in a direction
 towards the passage opening to thereby enable an engagement member carried
 on an opposite side thereof to interengage with the set of transverse rung
 members carried on the profiled strap element.
 In accordance with the invention, the at least one holding lug and the at
 least one secondary holding lug acts upon the outer circumference of the
 associated corrugated tubes or cables to fasten them in a functionally
 secure position relative to the subject plastic holding strap. In
 addition, the outer circumference of the associated corrugated tube or
 cable acts on the back side of the locking element as the strap is
 tightened to urge the engagement member into connection with the
 transverse rung members thereby efficiently fastening, in a closed
 position, the entire holding strap and bundled articles to an associated
 support member. This assures high functional safety of the holding strap
 according to the invention.
 In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an area located
 between the head member and the free end of the elongate profiled strap
 element is formed in a substantially convex shape oriented towards the
 associated articles to be retained or held by the strap. Preferably, the
 substantially convex region has a width that is greater than the width of
 the remainder of the elongate profiled strap element.
 Further in accordance with an aspect of the invention, a pair of holding
 lugs are provided in close proximity with each other and spaced apart from
 the substantially convex region. The pair of holding lugs are preferably
 located on the side of the strap defined by the closed end of the convex
 region.
 In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the convex region is
 provided with at least one, preferably a pair, of holding lugs for
 engagement with a corresponding recess formed in the associated bundled
 objects.
 In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, the substantially
 convex region of the elongate profiled strap element is disposed adjacent
 the head member and below the area of attachment between the locking
 element and the head member. In that way, an article resting in the convex
 region contacts the back side of the elastic locking element. In addition,
 the locking element may alternatively be disposed in a recess of the head
 member.
 In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the head member
 and holding element are integrally formed as a single unitary
 construction. Preferably, the holding element is adapted for acceptance
 onto an associated coarse threaded bolt. Alternatively, the holding
 element is formed for attachment onto a wide variety of associated support
 members having various shapes and sizes.
 As can be seen from the foregoing, a primary object of the invention is the
 provision of a holding strap system that includes an elastic locking
 element that utilizes the tightening forces placed on bundled objects to
 more securely clamp the elongate profiled strap element in place relative
 to the head member.
 A further object of the invention is the provision of a plastic holding
 strap having an elastic locking element carried on the head member and
 defining, on opposite sides thereof, an abutment surface and an engagement
 member. The abutment surface is positioned so that the bundled articles
 act thereon as the elongate profiled strap element is tightened. The
 engagement member is urged inwardly into a passage opening formed in the
 head member for engagement with transverse rung members of the elongate
 profiled strap element. As the strap is tightened, the associated bundled
 articles are urged toward the abutment surface thereby moving the
 engagement member into the passage opening to securely engage the
 transverse rung members formed on the profiled strap element.
 A further object of the invention is the provision of at least one holding
 lug disposed on the profiled strap element for selective engagement with a
 corresponding recess defined in the associated bundled objects.
 A still further object of the invention is the provision of a substantially
 convex region in a portion of the profiled strap element, the convex
 region being oriented toward the associated bundled objects. Preferably,
 the convex region has a width that is wider than the width of the profiled
 strap element.
 In accordance with the above, therefore, the subject plastic holding strap
 is advantageous in ease of use and holding integrity for bundling elongate
 objects and in connecting the bundled objects onto an associated support
 member.
 Still other advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent
 to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the
 following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposes of
 illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for
 purposes of limiting same, the figures show a holding strap 1 for
 fastening a bundle of elongate objects 2, 2' to an associated support
 member (not shown), the holding strap 1 being formed of an elongate
 profiled strap element 3 including a pair of spaced apart parallel
 longitudinal strips 4, 4' and a set of transverse rung members 5 extending
 between the pair of parallel longitudinal strips 4, 4'. A head member 6 is
 connected to a first end of the elongate profiled strap element 3 as shown
 and defines at least one passage opening 7 adapted to selectively receive
 a second free end of the elongate profiled strap element 3 therethrough. A
 resilient locking element 8 is carried on the head member 6. The locking
 element 8 defines, on opposite sides thereof, an abutment surface 14 and
 an engagement member 13. The locking element 8 is positioned relative to
 the elongate profiled strap element 3 and the head member 6 so that, as
 the elongate profiled strap element 3 is extended through the at least one
 passage opening 7 and tightened, the associated bundled objects 2, 2'
 contact the abutment surface 14 and urge the elastic locking element 8 to
 right as viewed in FIG. 1. This causes the engagement member 13 to embed
 within the plurality of transverse rung members 5 as shown best in FIG. 3
 to hold the elongate profiled strap element 3 in place relative to the
 head member 6.
 In addition to the above, the subject plastic holding strap 1 includes a
 holding member 10 preferably integrally formed with the head member 6 as a
 single unitary structure u. The holding element 10 is selectively
 connectable onto an associated support member such as a coarse threaded
 bolt, or other differently shaped or profiled bolts such as cone-shaped
 members. The holding element 10 may take on any shape as necessary but
 preferably is formed to conform to the general size and shape of the
 associated support member (not shown) and to enable mounting the subject
 plastic holding strap 1 and the associated tubular objects 2,2' thereon.
 With continued reference to the figures, at least one holding lug 15 is
 provided in an area 12 of the holding strap 1 located between the head
 piece 6 and the strap piece 3. The at least one holding lug 15 is adapted
 for embedded engagement into one or more grooves or recesses provided in
 the corrugated tubes or cables 2, 2'. In the preferred embodiment of the
 subject plastic holding strap shown in the drawings, two holding lugs 15
 and 15' are positioned at a distance next to each other in the area 12
 which is preferably formed to define a substantially convex region 20. The
 convex region 20 is oriented towards the associated articles 2, 2' to be
 mounted on the plastic holding strap. As shown best in FIG. 2, the
 substantially convex region 20 has a width B which is greater than the
 width b of the elongate profiled strap element 3.
 Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of strips 30, 30' are provided
 whereby at least one of the strips carries at least one of the holding
 lugs 15, 15'. An interspace 35 is defined between the pair of arched or
 substantially convex shaped strips 30, 30'. The interspace 35 may be
 perforated or equipped with a film membrane, or the like, as desired.
 As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 4, the holding lugs 15, 15' are arranged on
 one side of the substantially convex region 20. In addition to the above,
 auxiliary holding lugs 16, 16' are provided in an area adjacent the convex
 region 20. Preferably, the holding lugs 15, 15'disposed in the convex
 region 20, as well as the auxiliary holding lugs 16, 16' disposed adjacent
 the lugs 15, 15', dare positioned on the same side of the holding element
 1 as best shown in FIG. 1.
 As further shown in FIG. 1, the substantially convex region 20 is connected
 with the head member 6 below the rear side of the elastic locking element
 8. In that way, the elastic locking element 8 is actuated by the articles
 2, 2' which are fastened and bundled by the plastic holding strap 1.
 As shown in FIG. 2, the resilient locking element 8 is arranged in a recess
 17 formed in the head member 6. When an associated article 2, 2' such as a
 corrugated tube or the like is positioned in an upper area of the strap
 piece 3, it is possible to form a loop around the associated articles in
 such a manner that the free end of the elongate profiled strap element can
 be inserted from above the passage aperture 7. After securely latching the
 strap element 3, the resilient locking element 8 is pressed by the outer
 circumference of the corrugated tubes or cables 2, 2' from its original
 position shown in FIG. 1 into the position shown in FIG. 3, whereby an
 engagement member 13 formed on the front of the elastic locking element 8
 extends through a gap between the respective transverse rung members 5 and
 is embedded there. Thus, the profiled strap element 3 is functionally
 disposed in a secure position whereby the position of the holding lugs 15,
 15' and/or the auxiliary lugs 16, 16' act upon the outer circumference of
 the corrugated tube or cable members 2, 2' and thus fasten same in a
 displacement-proof longitudinal direction.
 By interaction of the holding lugs 15 and 15' with the resilient locking
 element 8 as aided by the corrugated tube or cable 2, 2' the subject
 plastic holding strap achieves a displacement-proof fastening of the
 respective articles via the holding strap. This ensures, in a simple
 fashion, a highly functional security of the articles on the holding
 strap. Accordingly, a holding strap formed in accordance with the present
 invention is particularly well suited for use in the field of automotive
 technology.
 The invention has been described with reference to the preferred
 embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others
 upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to
 include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within
 the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.