Abstract:
A cable tie, which generally comprises a band with an interconnected buckle, includes features that allow it to receive a free end of the band more efficiently and/or prevents user contact with a cut end of the band. Some of the contemplated cable ties also facilitate interconnection of the band to the buckle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/452,871, filed Mar. 15, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. This application is also related to pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/628,943, filed Dec. 1, 2009, which is related to abandoned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/982,905, filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled “Cable Tie with Rotated Buckle”, abandoned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/028,829, filed Feb. 14, 2008, entitled “Cable Tie with Coined Buckle”; and abandoned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/028,839, filed Feb. 14, 2008, entitled “Cable Tie with Angled Side Walls”, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. This application is also related to issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,402, which stemmed from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/279,576, filed on Dec. 2, 1988, which is a Continuation-in-Part of abandoned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/152,909, filed Feb. 5, 1988, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a fastening or clamping device and, in particular, to a tie for constraining cables or the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Fastening or clamping devices (hereinafter “cable ties”) generally comprise a band with an interconnected buckle. The buckle is generally formed of a head portion that is spaced from the band that defines a lateral opening that receives the free end of the band. The free end of the band is moved away from the buckle to tension the band about one or more objects and, after a predetermined tension is achieved, the band is interconnected to the buckle. Cable ties are often used to connect electric shielding or insulation around electric wires or pipes. In other applications, cable ties are used to bundle a plurality of cables, wires, or other items. U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,393 to Young (“Young”) discloses a one-piece cable tie comprised of a band and interconnected buckle. 
         [0004]    Other one-piece cable ties are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 356,083 to Schrader, et al., (“Schrader”) and U.S. Pat. No. 157,032 to Smith (“Smith”). Schrader discloses a hose clamp that includes a number of foldable projections that form a buckle or catch for securing the band. Smith discloses a band with laterally-extending wings that are selectively bent over a wrapped portion of the band to maintain an applied tension. U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,869 to Caveney, et al. (“Caveney”) describes a one-piece cable that employs a row of teeth disposed on one surface of the band that interacts with a pawl on the buckle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,870 to McCormick (“McCormick”) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,828 to Furutsu (“Furutsu”) disclose cable ties similar to that disclosed in Caveney. The cable tie of McCormick employs serrated teeth disposed on one surface of the band that engage complementary teeth disposed on the interior of the upper surface of the buckle. In contrast, attachment of the band and buckle of Furutsu is accomplished by engagement of the serrated teeth with a single, ratchet-like tooth disposed on the interior of the lower surface of the buckle. 
         [0005]    It is desirable to improve the cable tie characteristics. More specifically, it has been a goal to produce cable ties that can be quickly and easily fastened about a hose, cable, or other item. Further, it is desirable to provide a one-piece cable tie that provides improved retention force and/or clamping force. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A one-piece cable tie is provided by embodiments of the present invention that includes a band or strap (hereinafter “band”) and a buckle, a clasp, a clamp, a seal, or a catch (hereinafter “buckle”) integrally formed at a leading end of the band. The other end of the band is referred to herein as a “free end” and the free end is positioned within the buckle after the band is looped around an electrical cable or the like. The buckle comprises a head that is spaced from the leading end of the band by sidewalls which define a generally rectangular opening that receives the free end. After tensioning, the band is deformed and made to engage the head to fix the band relative to the buckle. 
         [0007]    More specifically, the band is initially wrapped about the object(s) to be connected or constrained and the free end of the band is inserted through the opening. With the buckle held in place, the free end of the band is drawn or pulled away from the buckle, thereby tightening the band about the object(s). Once the band is tensioned about the object(s), the band is fixed (i.e., “locked”) relative to the buckle. Locking may be achieved by curling a portion of the band around the head of the buckle and removing the excess portion. The curled portion engages the buckle head which prevents substantive motion of the band relative to the buckle. In some applications the band is passed about the object multiple times, each time passing through the opening in the buckle, tensioned, and locked. 
         [0008]    It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a band with a leading edge that facilitates insertion of the free end of the band into the buckle. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention include a leading edge that is deflected downwardly to form a ramp that enlarges the opening provided between the band and the head. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the enlarged opening facilitates insertion of the free end of the band into the buckle. The ramp may be deformed during the band tensioning process to narrow the opening provided between the head and the band. 
         [0009]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a cable tie that includes a buckle with an integrated insert. More specifically, the buckles of some embodiments of the present invention include an insert that is integrated or interconnected to a trailing edge of the head. The insert is made of a material harder than that of the band. In operation, the free end of the band is placed in the buckle, the band is tensioned, and the free end of the band is curled over the head, which locks the band relative to the buckle. To lock the band to the buckle, a portion of the band is curled over the trailing edge of the head. The interaction of the trailing edge and the band locks the cable tie. The insert is designed to penetrate into the band to increase the retained force of the cable tie. The insert also improves tensioning tool interface with the cable tie and strengthens the buckle such that installation distortions are minimized. 
         [0010]    It is one aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a protective appendage interconnected to the head. The appendage is selectively interconnected to a leading edge of the head and is folded over a top portion of the head after the excess band is severed by a tool. The appendage conceals the often sharp edge made by the cutting tool, which will protect individuals working on or around the locked band. In some embodiments of the present invention, the interconnection between the appendage and the head includes a plurality of perforations or indentations that facilitate bending of the appendage into position. The perforations also act as a hinge that helps maintain the position of the appendage adjacent to the head. The perforations also help ensure consistent cable tie configuration post appendage placement. Further, the perforations help reduce the profile of the appendage after it is positioned. In one embodiment, the appendage is deformed by hand or with a light tool pressure. The decreased bending load required to move the appendage reduces the amount of external loads transferred through the head to the object being bound. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, decreasing external loads helps prevent potential damage to the bound objects. 
         [0011]    It is still yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a head that has an outwardly extending protrusion that prevents contact with the cut portion of the band. More specifically, some embodiments of the present invention include a head having a ridge or angled protrusion that will partially block the cut portion of the band from user contact. 
         [0012]    The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a cable tie of one embodiment of the present invention that includes a band having an angled leading edge; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a buckle of one embodiment of the present invention that includes an integrated insert; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 3  showing the band wrapped around an object and interconnected to the head; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of a cable tie of another embodiment of the present invention that employs a head with an operably interconnected appendage; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the cable tie of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the cable tie shown in  FIG. 6  wherein the appendage has been deflected relative to the head to conceal a cut end of a band; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of a cable tie of yet another embodiment of the present invention that employs a head with an upwardly extending ridge; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of the cable tie shown in  FIG. 9  wherein the band has been wrapped around an object and a free end of the band has been interconnected to a leading edge of the head and cut therefrom. 
       
    
    
       [0025]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1-11  illustrate various ways to improve a cable tie  2 . More specifically,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a cable tie  2  having an enlarged opening  6  that facilitates the receipt of a free end  10  of a band  14 .  FIGS. 3-5  illustrate a method of increasing retained force between a buckle  18  and the band  14 .  FIGS. 6-8  show another embodiment of the band that includes an appendage  22  associated with a head  26  of the buckle, which is interconnected to the band by via lateral side walls  24 . The appendage  22  prevents user contact with a cut portion  30  of the band  14 . Finally,  FIGS. 9-11  show a head  26  with a raised ridge  34 , which is another way to obstruct the cut portion  30  of the band  14  to protect users. 
         [0027]    Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cable tie  2  comprised of a band  14  and a buckle  18  is provided. The band  14  includes a leading edge  38  that is adjacent to the head  26  of the buckle  13 . The leading edge  38  is angled away from the head  26  to form a ramp  42  that facilitates placement of the free end of the band into the buckle by the opening  16  defined by the head  16 , the sidewalls  24 , and the leading edge  38  of the band  14 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 3-5  show yet another embodiment of the present invention where the head  26  includes a trailing edge  46  that includes an integrated insert  50 . The insert  50  may have a sharpened profile at the trailing edge  46  and/or may be made of a harder material than that of the band  14 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the band  14  is curled about the head  26  and severed to provide a lock, the insert  50  engages and penetrates the band  14 . By doing so, the insert  50  creates a groove  54 , thereby increasing the amount of retention force provided by the lock. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 6-8  show a cable tie  2  that includes the band  14  and interconnected buckle  18 . The head  26  of the buckle  18  also includes a selectively deflectable appendage  22  as interconnected to the leading edge  60  of the head  26 . The appendage  22  includes a plurality of apertures  64  that facilitate bending of the appendage  22  towards the head  26 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , after the band  14  has been tightened around an object  70 , the free end  10  is curled about the head  26 . The excess portion of the band has been severed therefrom which creates a curled loop that engages the trailing edge  46  of the head to secure the band  14  relative to the head  26 . When the band  14  is severed, a sharp cut end  74  is created that could injure individuals passing by a band. The appendage  22  selectively bent towards the head  26  after tensioning, which effectively blocks the cut end  74  of the band  14 . It is envisioned that the appendage may be bent by simple hand pressure or by light tool pressure. The appendage may also have a lip  78  that further conceals the cut end  74 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 9-11  show another embodiment of the present invention that employs a raised ridge  80  that conceals the cut portion  74  of the band  14 . The ridge  80  may be of any shape and be positioned at various locations on the head  26 . In operation, the ridge forms a standoff from the head  26  such that a person&#39;s hand, for example, will contact the ridge  80  and be deflected away from the head  26  before encountering the cut end  74 . 
         [0032]    Although each embodiment of the present invention shown includes one method of either facilitating insertion of the free end into the buckle, locking the band, or preventing injury, one of skill in the art will appreciate that one or more of these concepts may be combined into a single band clamp concept, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a band clamp may be provided with a ramp, insert, and method of preventing contact with the cut end, such as a foldable appendage or a ridge, as described above. 
         [0033]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.