Abstract:
A clamp tie includes a locking head and flexible straps extending therefrom. The straps are insertable through the locking head to form spaced loops, which may secure items in a spaced relationship. Pawl mechanisms in the locking head secure the straps in looped configuration. An aperture through the locking head is provided for securing the tie to a mounting structure such as a shouldered mounting stud. An additional pawl mechanism may be provided within the aperture to secure the tie to the stud. Arcuate surfaces extend from the locking head, spaced from the straps, to further engage secured items. The upper and lower surfaces of the locking head have counterbores to receive mounting hardware and provide minimal variance of wall thickness throughout the locking head to reduce cure time and materials required for manufacture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to devices for securing elongate items, such as wires, cables, hoses, tubing, conduits etc. More particularly, the invention relates to clamp ties that secure such items to a standoff in a spaced relationship to each other. 
   Various devices have been developed for securing elongate items such as wires, cables, hoses, tubing, conduits, etc. Among these devices are clamps that secure a pair of such items in spaced, parallel relationship with each other. Examples of such clamps are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,781 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,602. 
   Although effective in securing elongate items to each other, and adapted to slip over a supporting structure, neither of the devices shown in these patents made provision for supporting secured items about a standoff having a shouldered construction. Such need arises, for example, in the trucking, automotive or other industry wherein a pair of hoses, lines or cables are to be spaced from each other and can be mounted to a vehicle frame member on a standoff incorporating lateral protrusions, or a shouldered area, proximate a support surface. 
   In addition to failing to compensate for shouldered support structures, prior devices had a fairly limited range of object diameters that could be secured thereby. One reason that prior devices were limited to few diameters is because the prior devices maintained an uninterrupted transition from the locking head to the respective straps. In other words, any object supporting structure extending from the locking heads of prior devices limited the range of strap motion, thereby limiting the sizes of elongate articles that could be bundled securely. 
   Although prior components solved problems associated with predecessor ties, the solutions involved designs incorporating substantial wall thickness, thereby requiring extensive cure time during manufacture and substantial raw materials. Even where proper cure time was provided, the surfaces of the prior devices would exhibit deformations caused by the cooling of the material. 
   Therefore, the art of bundling elongate objects would benefit from improvements to support structure and strap interfaces while at the same time reducing the amount of materials required and reducing cure time during manufacture. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a clamp tie, which addresses at least the needs identified above. The clamp tie generally includes a locking head and a plurality of straps depending therefrom. The straps may depend from the same side of the locking head or from different sides. Each strap can form a loop by being turned towards and inserted through an aperture in the locking head. In addition to the straps extending from the locking head, arcuate rails extending from the head, independently from the straps, provide additional clamping surface. A pair of rails, forming a saddle structure, may bridge a single strap or multiple saddle structures could be provided. Pawl mechanisms are disposed in the locking head for engaging and retaining the straps. The locking head further includes a passage for receiving a mounting element therethrough, such as a bolt or a welding stud. The passage may include a pawl mechanism for engaging the mounting element. Even if the mounting element is shouldered near the mounting surface, an embodiment of the tie is adapted to slip over the shouldered area by incorporating a counterbore on the lower surface of the locking head, the counterbore surrounding the passage for receiving the mounting element. The clamp tie may be formed as a single unitary member. 
   Manufacturing time and materials are also reduced by preferably forming channels in the locking head to maintain a substantially uniform locking head wall thickness. The channels may be formed in any of the locking head surfaces. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a dual spacing clamp tie according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  in use. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective partial cut-away view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
   An embodiment of a clamp tie  100  embodying various features of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the tie  100  functions to hold elongate items  12  in a spaced relationship. The particular items  12  secured by the tie  100  are not critical and can comprise, wires, cables, tubes, conduits, fiber optics, vines or other such items as well as bundles made up of multiple ones of such items. 
   Prior to use, the tie  100  appears as shown in  FIG. 1 , including a locking head  102  and a pair of elongate straps  104  that extend from the locking head  102 . The straps  104  are each preferably of substantially uniform width and uniform thickness except at their ends where each tapers into a tie tail portion  106 . Spaced slots  108  are formed through the locking head  102 . Each slot  108  is shaped and dimensioned to allow the passage of the adjacent strap  104  therethrough. The items  12  to be secured by the tie  100  are secured by looping one of the straps  104  around the item  12  and inserting the strap  104  through an adjacent slot  108  in the locking head  102 . The strap  104  is then pulled to tighten it around the items  12 . The tail  106  of each strap  104  may include raised portions  106   a  for providing a gripping surface having greater frictional contact, and the tapered nature of the tail  106  facilitates insertion of the strap  104  through the adjacent slot  108 . 
   Referring further to the Figures, the locking head  102  comprises an upper surface  110 , a lower surface  120 , a plurality of side surfaces  130  and saddle structures  140  positioned and shaped to lie generally adjacent the items  12  when they are secured by the tie  100 . 
   The upper surface  110  may comprise a relatively planar surface, but it is preferred to have a recessed edge portion  112  between raised portions  114  that surround the slots  108 . The upper surface  110  preferably surrounds or forms an upper counterbore  116  extending into the locking head  102  from the upper surface  110 . The formation of the counterbore  116  into or depending from the upper surface  110  provides reduced cross section thickness that allows faster processing cycle times than prior art devices. In turn, material requirements are reduced, which leads to cost savings for the manufacturer. Furthermore, the counterbore  116  is preferably sized to allow the use of a socket and ratchet (not shown) to place a nut therein. 
   The lower surface  120  is preferably relatively planar, except for some preferred lower surface channels  122 , which may be included to ensure substantially uniform structure thickness to avoid unnecessary use of materials and unnecessary extended cure time during manufacturing. The lower surface may further surround or form a lower counterbore  124 . This lower counterbore  124 , as explained further below, adapts the head  102  for use with a mounting element  902  having a shouldered portion  904  such as a nut  906 . One or more channels  122  may be formed in conjunction with the counterbore  124 . In addition to achieving relatively uniform wall thickness, a channel  122  may be used to prevent rotation of the tie  100  about the mounting element  902  by engaging an anti-rotation structure (not shown) coupled to the mounting element  902  or mounting surface  900 . 
   The side surfaces  130 , like the lower surface  120 , are preferably relatively planar, except for some preferred side surface channels  132 , which may be included to ensure substantially uniform structure thickness to avoid unnecessary use of materials and unnecessary extended cure time during manufacturing. While the side surfaces  130  may be of any desired size, the preferred embodiment  100 , as shown, spaces the lower surface  120  from the attachment site of at least one of the straps  104  by at least twice the radius of one or more arcuate rails  142 , which are further described below. While not required to practice the present invention, such spacing provides desired standoff elevation from the mounting surface  900 . Desired elevation from the mounting surface  900  allows use with a greater range of bundle sizes and separates the bundled items  12  from the surface  900  helping to reduce abrasion and increase capacitance, thereby decreasing likelihood of conductance between a conductive mounting surface  900  and a bundled item  12  carrying electrical current. 
   Each saddle structure  140  is disposed on or formed integrally with a side surface  130  and preferably comprises two arcuate rails  142  each extending from the locking head  102  and slightly spaced a distance  144  from the strap  104 . The rails  142  are curved to generally conform to the circular shape of the loop that is formed when the strap  104  is inserted through the slot  108  and pulled tight against the items  12  to be secured. It will be appreciated that the final diameter of the loop formed by each strap  104  depends on the size of the items  12  to be secured. Thus, in the past, regarding straps including an arcuate structure integral with a strap, the structure had to be shaped to match the anticipated size of the item  12  to be secured. Therefore, many different sizes of ties would be required. However, the saddle structure  140  herein disclosed allows a greater range of item sizes to be used with a given tie  100 . As seen particularly in  FIG. 2 , if a smaller item  12  is secured, the strap  104  is allowed to flex independently of the rails  142 , thereby more completely surrounding the smaller item  12 . 
   The straps  104  are coupled to or formed integrally with the locking head  102  proximate the upper surface  110  thereof. The straps have a width  105  and a thickness  107 , which may be of any desirable dimensions, keeping in mind the cooperation of the straps  104  with the pawl mechanisms  109 . The preferred strap width  105  is generally wider than strap width employed by prior art devices and the preferred thickness  107  is generally thinner than prior art strap thicknesses. A wider width  105  offers several advantages, including performance advantages and ergonomic advantages. An increased width  105  over prior devices improves performance by minimizing crushing or kinking of soft hoses and convoluted tubing by spreading the compression load of the strap  104  across a greater span. Regarding ergonomics, a strap  104  having an increased width  105  provides a wider strap to grab and pull, thereby decreasing the likelihood that a person installing the device  100  will cut himself or herself. While the preferred width  105  of the straps  104  is 12.7 millimeters, the straps  104  may be made any desired width. A thinner thickness  107  over prior art devices provides several advantages, including, like the wider width  105 , performance advantages and ergonomic advantages. A thinner strap  104  increases performance by reducing tension stress along the outer surface of the strap  104  when fastened about an object  12 , especially in the case of objects  12  having smaller diameters. Reduced tension stress yields better performance over conventional ties that may become brittle when used in cold or dry environments. Regarding ergonomics, a thinner strap  104  is more flexible, thereby requiring less effort to install when pulling the strap  102  through the head  102 . While the preferred thickness is 1.4 millimeters, the straps  104  may be made any desired thickness. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, and as best seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , pawl mechanisms  109  are provided for securing the straps  104  within the locking head  102  and around the items  12  to be secured. As illustrated, each pawl mechanism  109  includes a pawl  109   a . A forward surface of each pawl  109   a  is provided with a plurality of teeth  109   b  that engage complementary serrations  104   a  when the strap  104  is looped around the items  12  to be secured and then inserted through the locking head  102 . 
   As illustrated, each pawl  109   a  is carried at the end of an integrally formed hinge  109   c  that enables the pawl  109   a  to pivot relative to the locking head  102 . Preferably, the pawls  109   a  are biased toward the strap  104  to pinch the strap  104  between the pawl  109   a  and the interior side wall of each slot  108  when the strap  104  is inserted through the slot  108 . This helps ensure intimate contact between the teeth  109   b  of the pawl  109   a  and the serrations  104   a  of the strap  104 . Preferably, the teeth  109   b  of the pawl  109   a  and the serrations  104   a  on the strap  104  are ramped as shown. The ramped surfaces thus formed push the pawl  109   a  away from the strap  104  as the strap  104  is inserted through the slot  108  to facilitate insertion of the strap  104  through the slot  108 . Withdrawing movement of the strap  104  relative to the slot  108 , however, pulls the pawl  109   a  into stronger engagement with the serrations  104   a  of the strap  104  to resist such withdrawing movement and thereby secure the strap  104  within the slot  108  and around the items  12  to be secured. The pawl mechanism  109  may further include a reinforcement rib  109   d  provided adjacent the pawl hinge  109   c  to increase the circumferential hoop strength of a loop formed by the strap  104  in cooperation with the pawl mechanism  109 . The increased hoop strength is particularly advantageous in environments where the objects  12  bundled by the tie  100  may twist relative to any supporting structure. 
   The tie  100 , in addition to securing items  12  to each other, can also function to secure the items  12  proximate a panel or similar mounting surface  900  about a mounting element  902 , such as a support stud. To this end, the locking head  102  preferably includes a central aperture  118  extending through the locking head  102  between the slots  108 . As best seen in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7 , the central aperture  118  permits the mounting element  902  to extend through the locking head  102 . The mounting element  902  may be welded to the underlying support or mounting surface  900  such as, for example, a frame rail in a truck or other vehicle. The diameter or span of the central aperture  118  may be slightly smaller than that of the element  902  so that frictional engagement with the element  902  keeps the tie  100  firmly in place and proximate the mounting surface  900 . As further shown in  FIG. 5 , the central aperture  118  is preferably flared at least one end and is of substantially uniform diameter. As an example, a diameter of the aperture  118  approximately five percent smaller than the diameter of the mounting element  902  has been found sufficient to maintain the head  102  in place. Friction between the interior side walls of the aperture  118  and the mounting element  902  may be sufficient to keep the tie  100  in place on the mounting element  902 . 
   Alternatively, a mechanical self retaining feature of the device  100  could be used on a threaded or notched mounting element  902 . In this case, the central aperture  118  is of sufficient size to easily pass over the mounting element  902 . A third pawl mechanism  111  is provided in the aperture  118  for engaging the mounting element  902  and retaining the tie  100  on the mounting element  902 . The third pawl mechanism  111 , which is best seen in  FIG. 7 , includes a pair of pawls  111   a  positioned diametrically opposite each other across the aperture  118 . A forward surface of each pawl  111   a  is provided with a plurality of teeth  111   b  that engage the threads or notches  908  of the mounting element  902  when it is inserted through the locking head  102 . As illustrated, each pawl  111   a  is carried at the end of an integrally formed hinge  111   c  that enables the pawl  111   a  to pivot relative to the locking head  102 . Preferably, the pawls  111   a  are biased at least slightly toward each other when the mounting element  902  is not present in the aperture  118 . This helps ensure intimate contact between the teeth  111   b  of the pawl  111   a  and the threads  908  of the mounting element  902 . Preferably, the teeth  111   b  of the pawl  111   a  are ramped as shown. The ramped surfaces thus formed push the pawl  111   a  away from the mounting element  902  as the element  902  is inserted through the head  102  to facilitate insertion. Withdrawing movement of the head  102  relative to the mounting surface  900 , however, pulls the pawls  111   a  into stronger engagement with the threads  908  of the mounting element  902  to resist such withdrawing movement and thereby secure the head  102  to the mounting element  902  proximate the mounting surface  900 . 
   Furthermore, the lower counterbore  124  formed in or depending from the lower surface  120  of the head adapts the head  102  for use with a mounting element  902  having a shouldered portion  904  such as a nut  906 . As seen particularly in  FIG. 7 , the mounting element  902  may be a threaded element, the primary purpose of which may be to maintain a first panel  900  coupled to a second panel  901 . To that end, a nut  906  is threaded onto the mounting element  902 , thereby creating a shouldered portion  904  near the mounting surface  900 . Depending upon the length of the mounting element  902  extending above the shouldered portion  904 , the tie head  102  may not be properly supported. Indeed, absent a lower counterbore  124 , the third pawl mechanism  111  may not serve its intended purpose or even engage a shorter element  902  at all. The lower counterbore  124  alleviates some dependency on the length of the mounting element  902 . That is, appropriately sized, the lower counterbore  124  allows the lower surface  120  to rest against the mounting surface  900 , thereby providing a more stable support for the head  102 . Not only does the counterbore  124  cause the lower surface  120  of the locking head  102  to rest nearer the mounting surface  900 , but the counterbore  124  further allows the third pawl mechanism  111  to engage the mounting element  902  closer to the shouldered portion  904  than if the bottom surface  120  was completely flat. 
   If desired, rather than relying solely on frictional or mechanical engagement between the head  102  and the mounting element  902 , an additional fastener, such as a nut  910  represented in  FIG. 7 , can be used with the tie  100  to effect a more secure attachment between the tie  100  and the mounting surface  900 . If the mounting element  902  is threaded, a threaded nut  910  may be used; if smooth, a push nut (not shown) may be used. 
   Preferably, the clamp tie  100  comprises a single, unitary element that is economically injection molded from a suitable thermoplastic material using known fabrication techniques. It will be appreciated that the size and shape of the tie  100  can be modified to suit particular items  12  and applications. In particular, it will be appreciated that the distance between articles  12  can be selected to maintain a desired fixed spacing. Additionally, the dimension between the upper surface  110  and lower surface  120  of the locking head  102  can be selected to provide a desired clearance for the secured articles  12  relative to the mounting surface  900 . Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the particular design features of the embodiment shown and described are meant to be illustrative rather than limiting. 
   The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.