Abstract:
A re-usable, self engaging cinching and bundling strap comprising a strap body of generally uniform rectangular width and predetermined length, and teeth along the edges of said strap of repeatable pattern.

Description:
CLAIM OF DOMESTIC PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of an earlier filed provisional application, Ser. No. 60/773,360, filed Feb. 14, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a unique re-useable, self locking, cinching and bundling strap or tie. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    There are many examples of self locking straps or ties existing in the prior art used for a multitude of purposes such as bundling of wire, cord, tubing as well as bag closure and even the hanging of Christmas light. U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,554, issued to Ralph H. Turrey and Lis N. Torrey on Jul. 20, 2004 (the “Turrey Patent”) describes many types of ties or wraps to include those which utilize Velcro®. In addition to the foregoing, U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,972, issued to George Brumlick on Sep. 10, 1974, discloses a tie with teeth or slots which open and catch onto the material being bundled. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,914,823 and 3,943607, issued to Kunio Hara on Oct. 28, 2975 and Mar. 16, 1976, respectively, describes a strap which interlocks with teeth. U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,129, issued Nov. 11, 1975, to Kunio Hara, discloses a strap with one side having engaging hooks while the other side contains teeth which are to be engaged with the afore referenced hooks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,159, issued to Robert Burrage on Aug. 21, 1984, U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,200, issued to E. H. Orenick on Jul. 23, 1968, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,376, issed Sep. 1, 1998 to Andrew Harvey, each disclose a strap which inserted through a hole. U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,401, issued to William Reimer on Dec. 25, 1973, describes a strap with extending hooks which engage the body of the strap. Each and all of the inventions described above lack the pure simplicity present in the invention described herein. 
         [0006]    Patrick Rome, the inventor in connection with the invention described herein, owns and operates a business which is involved in the manufacture of carrier tape used with surface mount technology (“SMT”). Surface mount technology is a method for constructing electronic circuits in which the components are mounted directly onto the surface of the printed circuit board (“PCB”). Electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, and semiconductors, utilized in connection with SMT are referred to as surface mount devices (“SMD”). The preferred method of supplying SMD&#39;s today is tape and reel. Tape and reel is a process of loading SMD&#39;s into individual pockets contained on what is known as pocket or carrier tape. The carrier tape typically has holes along one edge which align with the handling requirements of the component delivery system. SMD&#39;s are added to the blank carrier tape and the components sealed with a cover tape. The carrier tape, which now contains the required SMD&#39;s, is wound around a reel for convenient handling and transport. 
         [0007]    Quite unexpectedly, it was discovered that if two pieces of blank carrier tape were twisted around each other, they formed a tight, self locking, re-usable cinch. Unfortunately, the material used for the carrier tape proved to be too weak and the holes along the edges of less than ideal for achieving a tight cinch. Through experimentation, the ideal type of material as well as the specific embodiment of teeth were determined. The strap ultimately invented proved to be highly adaptive to any use as well as easy to lock and unlock for repeated use without any loss in effectiveness. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a cinching and bundling strap that is self engaging, re-usable, simple in concept, effective in its performance, easy to use, quick to apply, and adjustable. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1-6  represent illustrations of other types of self engaging tie straps. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 7-9  are illustration of the ideal embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 10-15  represent illustrations of alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 16  depicts the strap of the present invention with ergonomic hand grips. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1-6  represent examples of currently generally available ties.  FIG. 1  depicts the typical tie used with bread bags where the material to be cinched is pulled though the cental opening and held tight by the two “teeth” found along the top side of such opening. Different in style but not purpose,  FIG. 2  illustrates a tie where spring action holds the material cinched.  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  disclose typical strap like ties where one end of a strap is inserted through an opening, cinched, and then held in place through some form of an engaging means.  FIG. 6  illustrates the use of Velcro® on a strap to maintain closure. There are disadvantages to each of the ties referred to above. Unlike the tie of the present invention, the tie of  FIG. 1  is limited in its application to only those instances where material can be pulled through the central opening. The tie disclosed in  FIG. 2  is again, unlike the present invention, limited in application to instances where material can be pulled through and employs a spring mechanism which over time can become weak and non-resilient. The ties in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  require more complexity in manufacture than the present invention in that in each, a strap bearing a strategically placed opening and non-uniform width must be manufactured.  FIG. 6  represents the most complex and expensive of the exemplary ties disclosed herein in that each strap must be covered with a hook and loop type material such as Velcro®. 
         [0015]    The simplicity of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9 . The tie of the present invention consists of a strap [ 1 ] of predetermined length and generally uniform width made from any rigid or semi rigid material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Along most or the entire length of the two opposing edges of the strap [ 1 ] are teeth [ 2 ] in a repeatable pattern. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the ends of the strap [ 3 ] can be made without teeth in order to allow a more ergonomic hand grip. As depicted in  FIGS. 10-15 , the teeth [ 2 ] can be of various shapes and sizes and still accomplish the desired cinching. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it has been found that the teeth of the general shape and size as that depicted in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , form the tightest and most secure lock. As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the teeth [ 2 ] can be made with a slight taper towards the body of the strap [ 1 ]. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 10-15  depict other embodiments of the present invention, illustrating various shapes and sizes of teeth [ 2 ]. Although not necessary for the embodiment of the present invention, it has been found that the tightest and most secure lock can be achieved, if the width of a tooth [ 2 ], at its widest point, is one fourth the width of the strap body [ 1 ]. It has further been found that a tooth [ 2 ] length of one half the width of the strap body [ 1 ] achieves the most secure cinch. 
         [0017]    The strap [ 1 ] of the present invention is also easy to untie and therefore can be cinched and un-cinched repeatedly without any loss in effectiveness. Release of the strap can be easily accomplished by deflecting the ends [ 3 ] to unlock the teeth. 
         [0018]    While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions failing within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.