Abstract:
A cable tie holder formed of sheets of flexible material joined together so as to make a series of pockets into which cable ties can be inserted, each of said pockets having a closable side opening at one edge thereof and a central transverse slot, whereby cable ties inserted into said pockets through a side opening may be retrieved from the cental slot.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a cable tie holder. The holder of the present invention is adapted to store cable ties of the type used by electrician and other trades people.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Cable ties are widely used by tradespeople in the construction industries most notably by electricians. A cable tie is a convenient way in which a number of cables can be joined together quickly to ensure that wiring bundles and the like are neatly and safely positioned.  
         [0003]     Typically any tradesperson will carry cable ties of varying lengths, so that the correct length can be selected for any given task. The ties are typically provided in a plastic bag container that may have been heat-sealed. The electrician opens the bag by piercing and tearing. Unfortunately, once the bag holding the ties has been opened there is no convenient method of resealing the bag. All too easily the ties slide out of the bag and become lost or difficult to retrieve. The ties may, for example, spill into the vehicle in which they are being transported or into a larger tool bag in which they are held.  
         [0004]     In either event this is a nuisance for the electrician as this means that time has to be spent retrieving the ties or that they have to be abandoned. Where ties of different sizes have spilled they can become jumbled making the selection of a preferred size of the more difficult.  
         [0005]     The present invention is addressed to this situation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a means by which cable ties of a variety of sizes can be stored for carriage or transport in manner that allows them to be easily retrieved for use. It will also become apparent from the description that follows that the use of the holder of the present invention provides other incidental benefits to both the electrician, or other user of the cable ties and to the provider of the holder.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Therefore according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable tie holder including sheets of flexible material joined together so as to make a series of pockets into which cable ties can be inserted, each of said pockets having a closable side opening at one edge thereof and a central transverse slot, whereby cable ties inserted into said pockets through a side opening may be retrieved from the cental slot.  
         [0007]     Preferably, the sheets of flexible material includes a base attached to which are two sheets of material being spaced apart so as to provide a slot therebetween, said sheets being partitioned into a series of pockets by diving means extending across said sheets at spaced intervals. The upper sheet is preferably made of clear material.  
         [0008]     Preferably, said pockets are of differing sizes to accommodate cable ties of differing lengths.  
         [0009]     More preferably, said pockets are accessible by a zippered opening serving as a closable side opening.  
         [0010]     Preferably said holder may be rolled into a cylindrical shape and secured by fastening means for storage.  
         [0011]     Preferably, the holder of the invention is adapted to be suspended vertically during use. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates in perspective view a cable tie holder in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention in open view with an inner face uppermost;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second perspective view of the cable tie holder of  FIG. 1  with an outer face uppermost; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates the cable tie holder of  FIG. 1  in a rolled condition. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description of the invention includes exemplary embodiments, the invention may be embodied in alternative forms, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.  
         [0017]     Shown in the drawings is a cable ties holder  10  formed in accordance with the present invention. In  FIGS. 1 and 2  the cable tie holder  10  is shown in an open form ready for use, whereas in  FIG. 3  the holder  10  is shown in a rolled condition. The holder  10  is formed of a base sheet of  11  any flexible material of sufficient strength that is able to take the weight of cable ties and withstand the somewhat rugged treatment that it is likely to encounter in use by a tradesperson. Without limiting the type of material that may be used for the holder  10 , woven nylon material of the type of weight typically used in back packs, briefcases and other carrying devices is a suitable material for construction.  
         [0018]     The cable ties holder  10  is, in open form a quadrilateral shape being generally trapezoidal having upper and lower parallel edges  12  and  14  respectively. In the form of the invention Illustrated the upper edge  12  is longer than the lower edge  14  although there is no reason why this should always be so and alternative forms of the invention may vary the shape of the holder  10 . The distance between the opposing side edges  16  corresponds to the lengths of cable ties that are in common us being fractionally larger than the length of the tie. Thus, the upper edge  12  is closer to the longest length of tie in widespread use and the lower edge approximates the length of the shorter cable ties in use.  
         [0019]     Opposing converging side edges  16  join the upper and lower edges  12 ,  14  side edges  16 . The side edges  16  are arranged so as to make the holder  10  symmetrical in plan view. The holder  10  is, as can be seen generally planar in open view and thus has two faces. A first face  18  designated an outer face is shown uppermost in  FIG. 2  and a second face, an inner face,  20  is shown uppermost in  FIG. 1 . When the holder  10  is in the rolled position shown in  FIG. 3  the outer face  18  is visible.  
         [0020]     The inner face  20  of the holder  10  is adapted to hold cable ties  22  of a variety of sizes. The inner face  20  has attached thereto two plastic retaining sheets  24 ,  26 . The sheets  24 ,  26  are disposed towards the side edges of the inner face  20  and extend from the lower edge  14  towards the upper edge  12 . The plastic sheets  24 ,  26  are clear to allow an unhindered view of any contents held behind the sheets. An open slot  28 , defined by parallel spaces sides of the sheets  24  and  26 , runs between the sheets and allows access to the space between each respective sheet  24 ,  26  and the underlying material of the holder  10 . A first sheet  24 , shown at the top of the drawing in  FIG. 1  is secured by an outer edge to the side edge  16  of the holder by means of a sewn band  30  extending from top to bottom of the holder. A similar sewn edge  32  is used to neaten the inner edge of the sheet  24 . A second sheet  26  has one side of a zipper  34  attached to its outer edge. The outer side of the zipper  34  is attached to the side edge  16  of the holder by means of a sewn band  36 . A sewn edge  38  is used to neaten the inner edge of the sheet  26 .  
         [0021]     In alternative forms of the invention a separate zippered opening is provided for each pocket in the holder. In still further embodiments of the invention other fastening means such as a hook and loop or clip closure is used to access the pockets from a side thereof.  
         [0022]     The space formed between the sheets  24 ,  26  on the one hand and the underlying material of the holder on the other is divided into a series of pockets  40  by parallel spaced apart lines of stitching  42 . The lines of stitching  42  extend across the sheet  24 , the slot  28  and sheet  26  as far as the zipper  34 . The stitching  42  does not affect the action of the zipper  34 . Because of the converging sides  16  of the holder  10  it can be seen that the pockets are not of equal size but that the width of the pockets  42  diminishes from the upper edge  12  to the lower edge  14 . Careful observation will also reveal that the upper, wider pockets  42  are deeper than the lower narrower pockets  42  are shallower. In the embodiment under consideration there are 5 pockets  42  although there is no reason why this figure may not vary.  
         [0023]     The zipper  34  extends along the sheet  26  adjacent the side edge  16  of the holder and thereby provides access to the space between the sheet  26  and the underlying material of the holder  10  in much the same way as the slot  28 . However, it can be observed that the zipper  34  is movable between open and closed conditions. In the open position cable ties  22  can easily be inserted into, or removed from, the pockets  42  through the opening thereby created. With the zipper  34  closed, the contents of the pockets  42  can only be access through the centre slot  28 .  
         [0024]     It can be observed that the function served by the zipper  34  can equally well be served by a number of alternative fastening means such as a hook and loop fastening arrangement extending along the side edge  16 . Further, although it is not deemed necessary for the adequate operation of the holder it is also possible for fastening means in the form of zippers or otherwise to be provides at both edges  16 .  
         [0025]     Thus, in use, cable ties  22  can be quickly and easily inserted into the pockets  42  with the zipper  34  open. When the zipper  34  is closed the ties are unlikely to be able to inadvertently fall out of the centre slot  28 . However, it is an easy task for the user to simply remove a tie  22  via the slot  28  by pulling on the tie in question. As shown in the drawings, the ties can either be completely removed from any packaging and inserted into the holder, or they may be left in their packet  44 , and the whole of the packet  44  inserted into the pocket  42 . A transverse slot  46  formed in the package allows access to the ties therein through the centre slot  28 . The clear plastic sheets  24 ,  26  ensure that it will always be apparent whether the user needs to replenish their stock of any particular tie size.  
         [0026]     Although the cable tie holder  10  of the invention has been illustrated in a flat position it is in fact convenient if the holder  10  is used vertically. To this end the holder is provides with hanging eyelets  48  at upper corners thereof. The holder  10  can thus be suspended from any convenient hanging place.  
         [0027]     When the task for which the ties  22  are needed has been completed the user can then roll the holder  10  into the rolled position shown in  FIG. 3 . The holder  10  is secured in this fashion by a hook and loop fastening arrangement of the type sold under the trade name VELCRO®. Thus, the holder  10  is rolled form the lower edge  14  upwards and a band of hook material  50  at the upper edge  12  of the inner face  20  secured against two strips of loop material  52  on the outer face  18 . The strips  52  are arranged transverse to the strip  50  to thereby ensure that a connection be made between the strips  50 , 52  irrespective of whether the holder is full and bulging with ties or is empty. It is also convenient if the looped material is located on the outer face  18  to avoid, so far as is possible the hook material collecting any debris thereon.  
         [0028]     On the inner face of the holder and positioned directly below the strip of hook material  50  is a blank section of the holder. This is provided for the inclusion of advertising or other indicia. Advertising or other written material can be incorporated on the sheets  24 , 26 .  
         [0029]     Thus, the user of the holder is able to quickly locate ties of the correct size needed for the job and retrieve the number required with there being little or no likelihood of escape of ties from their packaging.  
         [0030]     Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.  
         [0031]     In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprising” is used in the sense of “including”, i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.