Patent Description:
The present invention relates to tie apparatus and method for tying and holding objects together. In one aspect, the present invention relates to tie apparatus and method for tying together electrical cables. In one aspect, the present invention relates to an electrical cable tie apparatus and method for use in the aviation industry.

Ties are used to tie and fasten electrical power cords or electrical cables or other objects to be bundled, for the purpose of holding the electrical power cords or electrical cables bundled neatly and securely together.

<CIT> discloses a releasable tie having arm <NUM> to facilitate disengagement but nowhere discloses the size dimensions of arm <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable tie having latch <NUM> and a bend line or a pivot line of latch <NUM> but nowhere discloses the size dimensions of the latch <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable cable tie having rigid lever <NUM> which is engaged by the user's finger nail (Col. <NUM>, lines <NUM>-<NUM> and lines <NUM>-<NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable cable tie having extension <NUM> but nowhere discloses the size dimensions of the extension <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable cable tie having release lever <NUM> but nowhere discloses the size dimensions of the release lever <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable cable tie having latch <NUM> but nowhere discloses the size dimensions of the latch <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable tie having release tab <NUM> but nowhere discloses the size dimensions of the release tab <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable tie having clip <NUM> but nowhere discloses the size dimensions of the clip <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a parallel entry tie having tip <NUM> of locking tab <NUM>. The tip portion <NUM> is lifted upwardly to disengage locking head teeth <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable cable tie having extension <NUM> which projects upwardly at the distal end from a pawl <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a releasable circular fastener having control end <NUM> of arm <NUM> but nowhere discloses the size dimensions of the arm <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a mount for festive ornaments having a locking member <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> for holding holiday decorations.

<CIT> discloses a cable clamp having an upper portion <NUM> of pawl <NUM> in the cable or wire bundles clamp for an aircraft hostile environment in an area of limited access.

<CIT> discloses a rotating release strap having member <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a thumb plate <NUM> for manual release of an interlock with a strap body.

<CIT> discloses a binding strap molded as a one-piece thermoplastic planar strap. A grip plate is formed integrally with the strap at one end of the strap. The grip plate has an opening to receive an opposite end of the strap. The strap is provided with strap teeth which are oriented in a transversal direction of the strap. A locking pawl arranged at an end of an activation lever engages with strap teeth to lock the strap when inserted into the opening in the grip plate. The locking pawl can be released by pressing the activation lever towards the grip plate.

Commercially available ties today, when tightened, cannot be released without damage to electrical power cords or electrical cables when bundled and tied tightly. When it is desired to add or remove more electrical power cords or electrical cables or objects in a tied bundle or to rearrange the objects already tied up, conventional ties must be cut and be replaced by new ones, which is not only inconvenient and costly, but more importantly, it leads to damage to the electrical power cords or electrical cables. Whenever any electrical power cord or electrical cable in a bundled tie is damaged, the entire electrical wiring must be replaced and redone. In the production of large airliners today, miles and miles of electrical cables would need to be replaced and redone.

The releasable cable tie apparatus and method of the present invention provide means and method to overcome the drawbacks and problems of the prior art. The present invention provides a releasable cable tie according to claim <NUM>.

The object of the present invention is to provide a releasable tie apparatus and method of the present invention wherein with the arm of the releasing tab extending from the operating rod, a user can easily apply a force to the arm to disengage the at least one first engaging tooth of the operating rod from the second engaging teeth of the strap body, thus allowing the second opposite end of the strap body to be pulled out of the window of the locking head. As such, the releasable tie features easy operation, repeated use, and a low cost of use, and more importantly no damage to the electrical power cords or electrical cables, when the cable tie is released and removed.

These and other objects of the apparatus and method of the present invention will be found from a close inspection of the formal views of the technical drawings and detailed description which follow.

The structure of the present invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages of the present invention will be understood by referring to the detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the releasable cable tie of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying formal views of the technical drawings, in which:.

The present invention provides novel apparatus and method including a releasable cable tie wherein the engaging teeth of an elongated strap are employed and operated in novel manner of releasable engagement between the engaging teeth of a locking head for achieving a fixing effect. The drawings referred to in the following detailed description identify, describe, and demonstrate the important features of the novel releasable cable tie of the present invention.

Referring now to <FIG>, a releasable tie <NUM> according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an elongated planar strap <NUM> and a locking head <NUM>. The locking head <NUM> is formed to have a window <NUM>, wherein the window <NUM> provides a channel, passageway, or window extending entirely through the locking head <NUM>. The elongated strap <NUM> has a first end <NUM> and a second opposite end <NUM>. The first end <NUM> of strap <NUM> is connected to the looking head <NUM>. The second opposite end <NUM> of strap <NUM> can be inserted through the window <NUM> of the locking head <NUM> and be engaged with the locking head <NUM> so as to be fixed in position thereto and tie together objects to be bundled.

Releasing strap <NUM> is shown having elongated length <NUM>. Releasing locking teeth <NUM> on top of strap <NUM> provide means for locking the adjustable strap into locking head <NUM>. Release guide rails <NUM> provide means for gliding strap <NUM> into window <NUM> of locking head <NUM>. Release strap tongue <NUM> guides the insertion of glide rails <NUM> into window <NUM>.

Referring now to top plan view <FIG> and corresponding elevation view <FIG>, bottom plate <NUM> on releasing head <NUM> incorporates index finger pad supports <NUM>. Release thumb pad <NUM> is provided with release ripple strip/thumb grip <NUM>. Strap bottom <NUM> is shown on strap <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, releasing locking head <NUM> includes releasing head side walls <NUM> and top releasing head <NUM>. Locking head <NUM> incorporates index finger pad <NUM>, releasing head mouth window/strap opening <NUM>, strap inter mouth framing walls <NUM>, releasing tab flow through <NUM>, releasing head locking teeth <NUM>, and releasing tab fulcrum <NUM>. The index finger pad <NUM> provides a back plate positioned behind and below the thumb pad <NUM>.

The Secure Cable Ties New EZ Releasable cable tie design of the present invention has been found to provide a quick, easy release, as well as a comfortable release trigger reaction. The EZ Releasable tie uses a novel wide release ripple strip/ thumb grip <NUM> on thumb pad or paddle <NUM>, as shown in the formal figures of the technical drawings, which thumb pad or paddle <NUM> creates a larger and wider surface area for the user.

The EZ releasable tie performs with a quick release and smooth operation because of the large surface area of thumb pad <NUM> and because the force or tensing required to release the locking teeth <NUM> is spread over the entire width of the user's thumb. The thumb pad <NUM> at ripple strip <NUM> is as wide as one third to one half (<NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM>) of the average thumb width of an operator which creates a more comfortable squeeze and release operation. An average thumb width is calculated at about <NUM>. The thumb pad <NUM> is formed to have a specified width.

The thumb pad <NUM> of the present invention is formed to have a width at least <NUM>% of the strap <NUM> width. In a preferred embodiment, the thumb pad <NUM> is formed to have a width at least <NUM>% of the strap <NUM> width.

In one embodiment, a thumb pad <NUM> has a width of <NUM> for a strap <NUM> width of <NUM>. In one embodiment, a thumb pad <NUM> has a width of <NUM> for a strap <NUM> width of <NUM>. In one embodiment, a thumb pad <NUM> has a width of <NUM> for a strap <NUM> width of <NUM>.

The index finger back plate <NUM> has dimensions of width and length at least as large as the width and length of thumb pad <NUM>. That is to say, the width and length of the finger back plate <NUM> is at least as large as the width and length of thumb pad <NUM>.

A thumb pad <NUM> release movement dimension of <NUM> actuates the withdrawal of the releasing head locking teeth <NUM> from the strap teeth <NUM> to release the cable tie of the present invention.

The index finger back plate <NUM> provides a back plate dimension at least <NUM>% of the thumb pad width and length.

An average adult thumb width is approximately <NUM> in width. The thumb pad <NUM> is at least <NUM> in width and at least <NUM> in length to accommodate the average thumb width which creates a more comfortable squeeze and release operation.

The length of the thumb pad <NUM> is a function of the size of the tie <NUM>. A tie <NUM> having a <NUM> strap <NUM> size has a thumb pad <NUM> length function in the range of at least <NUM> in length up to <NUM> in length with the preferred thumb pad function size being <NUM> in length for both comfort and ease of use.

The height of the thumb pad <NUM> above the index finger back plate <NUM> is a function of the size of tie <NUM>. A tie <NUM> having a <NUM> strap <NUM> size has a thumb pad <NUM> height range at least <NUM> in height up to <NUM> in height with the preferred function height size being <NUM> in height above index finger back plate <NUM> for both comfort and ease of use.

As the tie <NUM> sizes get larger, so does the length of the thumb pad <NUM> and the range of function, and as the tie <NUM> size gets smaller, so does the length of the of the thumb pad and the range of function.

As the tie <NUM> sizes get larger, so does the height of the thumb pad <NUM> above the index finger back plate <NUM> get larger for the range of function, and as the tie <NUM> size gets smaller, so does the height of the of the thumb pad <NUM> above the index finger back plate <NUM> get smaller for the range of function and to accommodate the average thumb width which creates a more comfortable squeeze and release operation.

Prior art releasable cable ties normally have a much smaller release tab, causing pressure to the finger or fingernail and requiring much more force to release the locking teeth of the locking head from the locking teeth on the strap. The prior art makes for a more difficult and sometimes impossible tensing that will not allow the user to release the cable tie properly from the locked position, particularly in tight spaces or while cinched tightly.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, there is illustrated the construction of releasing locking head <NUM> of the locking head <NUM> including an integrally formed bottom releasing head <NUM> to which the top releasing head <NUM> is joined. The intermouth framing walls <NUM> extend between releasing head side walls <NUM> of the releasing locking head <NUM>. The releasing tab fulcrum <NUM> beneath the release thumb pad <NUM> reinforces the release thumb pad <NUM>. The releasing tab fulcrum <NUM> joins the upright portion of the release thumb pad <NUM> and not only strengthens the release thumb pad <NUM> but also defines the bend line or pivot line of the release thumb pad <NUM>. The sides of the releasing head side walls <NUM> also include rearwardly extending portions a lesser height than the releasing head side walls <NUM> and serve to shield the release thumb pad <NUM> from sidewise interference, as well as to provide additional strength to the releasing head sidewalls <NUM>.

Integrally formed on the thumb pad <NUM> for movement thereon and extending into the releasing head mouth <NUM> are the locking teeth <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated, two locking teeth on the inner surface of the thumb pad <NUM> define a part of releasing thumb pad <NUM> in the releasing locking head <NUM>. The locking teeth <NUM> of the locking head are complementary to the teeth <NUM> on the strap <NUM> and extend a sufficient distance into releasing head mouth <NUM> to cooperate with selected strap locking teeth <NUM> so as to lock the strap in selected position around a plurality of electrical power cords and electrical cables to be secured to one another.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, an enlarged top view shows the releasing strap <NUM>. The gripping teeth or protuberances <NUM> extend a relatively short distance from the top surface of the releasing strap <NUM> and thereby enhance tightening of the releasing strap <NUM> inserted through the transverse releasing head mouth <NUM> in releasing locking head <NUM>.

The releasing strap <NUM> of the present invention can be secured in position about a plurality of elongated electrical wires (not shown). The second opposite end <NUM> of strap <NUM> is inserted into the transverse opening of releasing head mouth <NUM> until the strap <NUM> is snugly drawn about a plurality of electrical wires or like parts to be joined together in fixed and secure relationship. With the release strap <NUM> tightly drawn about the wires, the complementary releasing locking teeth <NUM> are locked in relationship with locking head teeth <NUM>. The edges of the teeth <NUM> normal to the base portion abut the edges of teeth <NUM> normal to the inner surface of release thumb pad <NUM>. Retrogression or movement in a release direction is prevented because the abutting planar faces of the locking teeth <NUM> are in engagement with like cooperating surfaces on the selected cooperating teeth <NUM>. Because of the transverse relationship of the releasing head mouth <NUM> relative to the plane of the strap <NUM>, the structure of the complementary teeth <NUM> and <NUM> engage one another more firmly rather than to release from one another when the base portion is urged in a release direction.

Release of locking teeth <NUM> from the teeth <NUM> on strap <NUM> is attained and achieved by positive downward force being applied on the release thumb pad <NUM>, so as to pivot the release thumb pad <NUM> relative to the releasing tab fulcrum <NUM> of releasing locking head <NUM> and thereby release the lock teeth <NUM> from engagement with the teeth <NUM> on the strap <NUM>. A thumb pad <NUM> release movement dimension of <NUM> actuates the withdrawal of the releasing head locking teeth <NUM> from the strap teeth <NUM> to release the cable tie of the present invention. The strap <NUM> then can be moved in a release direction in the transverse releasing head mouth <NUM> so as to permit adjustment or removal of the electrical power cords or the electrical cables (not shown) from the tie <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, an elevation view of the releasable cable tie <NUM> according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention shows the releasable strap <NUM> held in position in the locking head <NUM>. The strap <NUM> is readily releasable by means of the integral releasable latch function of releasing locking head <NUM> and can be easily reapplied and adjusted as desired.

The releasing cable tie <NUM> preferably is molded in one piece integrally from thermoplastic, such as nylon or polypropylene and possesses sufficient strength and resiliency to permit the desired working thereof as well as the desired latching and release.

The releasing cable tie <NUM> may be color coded to enhance its use in certain industrial applications.

While the detailed description and identifying references to the formal views of the technical drawings have shown a presently preferred embodiment of the novel releasable cable tie of the present invention, it will be understood to be subject to modification and that the invention is intended to be limited only within the scope of the appended claims.

The releasable cable tie of the present invention has a releasing tab on the operating rod wherein the releasing tab stands erect off of the top of the tie when cinched. The tie also has a back plate positioned below and behind the releasing tab making it easier to pinch the releasing tab for release.

The releasable cable tie of the present invention provides a large and wide thumb pad or paddle release and an index finger pad back plate positioned below and behind the releasing thumb tab. The large and wide thumb pad is formed to have a preferred length and width on the releasable latch readily accessible by the user. The large pad or paddle release and index finger pad back plate make the releasing tab itself easier to pinch to release without having to use unnecessary force. The index finger pad back plate is positioned behind and below the thumb pad of the present invention.

The releasable cable ties of the present invention provide the significantly important benefit when the wide releasing tab pad stands erect off of the strap rather than lying directly on the strap when cinched. When the wide releasing tab pad stands erect a predetermined distance from the strap rather than lying directly on the strap when cinched, the user has plenty of room to be able to put a finger on both sides of the releasing tab pad giving ample leverage to pinch and release the tie easily. The old technology of the prior art does not allow for any room to get fingers behind the releasing tab when the tie is cinched tightly. In using the prior art cable ties, it has been found to be difficult to nearly impossible to be able to get enough leverage on the tab to be able to release the tie.

The releasable cable tie of the present invention is importantly novel in the way that the tie is configured to be released easily from a cable bundle compared to other releasable cable ties currently known. The releasing tab pad of the present invention is on top of the head rather than in the middle of the strap. Releasable cable ties having the releasing tab in the middle of the strap become very difficult to release when the cable tie is placed around a bunch of electrical cables when the electrical cables are cinched too tightly.

Prior art cable ties make depressing the releasing tab on the locking head very difficult and almost impossible in tight spaces because of the operator not being able to get any leverage on the releasing tab itself.

With the novel releasing tab pad of the present invention, the user/operator is able to access the releasing tab pad even while being cinched tightly around an electrical cable bundle.

The cable tie of the present invention can be released easily without resorting to cutting the cable tie off with dikes or wire cutters because of the cable tie being cinched too tightly around electrical cable bundles. When a releasable cable tie does not release properly, the user/operator must resort to cutting to remove the cable tie. The electrical cables that are strapped together then are at high risk for damage from the cutting tool blades. Damage to the electrical wire bundles will cause the electrical wires in the bundle to be damaged and rendered useless, and the entire electrical cable assembly must be rebuilt entirely to ensure that the electrical cables are damage free.

The top release cable tie of the present invention makes for easy access to the releasing tab pad as an over-loaded strap still can be released with a simple squeeze to the releasing tab.

The novel releasing tab pad of the present invention is much larger and wider and much easier to be depressed compared to prior tabs in the past.

The releasable cable tie of the present invention provides for easier access to hard to reach spots where a user/operator does not have room for two hands.

The large releasing tab having a large and wide release thumb pad and a finger plate back plate of the present invention allows for a quick squeeze from two fingers for a fast and easy release.

In conventional cable ties of the prior art, a reversed head releasable cable tie such as that disclosed and described in prior U. patents had a much smaller head design and a much slimmer strap design than the large and wide thumb pad of the present invention. The small head of prior cable ties made it much more difficult to squeeze and release and pull off the cable tie from a bundle that was in a tight spot because of the smaller gripping area. The head and tab of prior cable ties being much smaller made it much more difficult to nearly impossible in a tight space to find and squeeze while still trying to hold the head and pull off the cable tie.

With a larger and wider releasing thumb tab pad of the present invention and larger index finger back plate having raised bumps, it is very easy to grip and grab with two fingers while squeezing and pulling the cable tie and releasing the cable tie from the electrical cable bundle even while the cable tie is cinched tightly.

The important difference between the releasable cable tie thumb pad of the present invention and prior art releasable cable ties is the finger grip plate and the larger release tab thumb pad that is much easier to hold, squeeze, and release.

The releasable cable tie apparatus and method of the present invention provide the only EZ Releasable Cable Tie that can be cinched tightly to hold bundled items securely, while also being able to be removed fast and easily with one hand or two finger motion.

Prior releasable cable ties do not allow for the cable tie to be cinched down tightly around cables and be easily removed. Prior ties do not provide the proper leverage to the tab to release the older styles of releasable cable ties. The prior releasable ties do not allow the user/operator to get one finger behind the tie while squeezing the release tab when the releasable tie was wrapped too tightly around cables.

The new Secure EZ Releasable Cable Tie design of the releasable cable tie of the present invention has been developed when a major airliner manufacturer requested a product that could fit in their small circular supports that they use to secure electrical cables to the sides of the airliner's airplanes. The airliner manufacturer needed a product that could be used in a temporary fashion while installing and wiring the planes until the permanent fly-away cable tie could be installed during the final assembly. The common request from all of the electricians and other production personnel involved at the airliner manufacturer was to have a releasable tie that could hold fifty (<NUM>) pounds or more and could be removed easily without having to cut it way from the cable assembly. The releasable cable tie needed to be able to be cinched tightly around the electrical cable assemblies but still needed to release easily.

The process to create and solve the airliner manufacturer's problem was not available from prior art cable ties and was not as simple as it may appear at first impression. To get to the configuration and structure of the releasable cable tie of the present invention with the New Secure Cable Tie Releasable tie, it took many empirical developments before finding the current configuration and structure. In respect to understanding the problem with leverage, it was needed to find ways to get two fingers behind the releasable tab. Initial development started with a gun design that was like squeezing a trigger. The gun design was overly large and still seemed to be a problem for manufacturing and for the user/operator to get one finger behind the release tab. The development subsequently then used trial and error to produce the New Secure Cable Tie Releasable tie of the present invention, and it was found that the user/operator still could not get sufficient leverage on the release tab. After many trials and errors, it has been found empirically and configured finally that a pad or paddle lever of the present invention provides much more comfortable operation for the operator/user, as well as providing the proper leverage required to release the novel releasable cable tie of the present invention that was cinched tightly around an electrical cable bundle.

When the Secure Cable Ties New EZ releasable tie was developed for a large airline manufacturer, the airline manufacturer came with a specified need to be able to remove cable ties from an airplane's fuselage during the construction of an aircraft. The airline manufacturer needed a product that was easy to use and operate and would release from the electrical wiring harness when the permanent or fly-away cable ties were installed on the completed wiring harness. The airline manufacturer had tried all the releasable cable ties available on the open market without success until the novel releasable cable tie of the present invention was developed and worked experimentally to solve the problem with significant success.

The releasable cable tie apparatus and method of the present invention has the important novel configuration in that the release tab thumb pad stands erect off of the tie when cinched. The novel tie also has an index finger back plate positioned behind and below the tab thumb pad making it easier to pinch the tab for release.

Most prior art releasable ties, when cinched tightly, leave no room to be able to get fingers in between the strap and the tab. Most prior art releasable ties make it impossible to get leverage on the tab to be able to pinch the tab and release the strap, which causes the operator/user then to cut the strap instead. Other releasable cable ties have a latch that is inadequately designed so that the operator/user has to use a strong fingernail or a screw driver to be able to release them.

Some prior art releasable ties have a tab located on the strap that can be pinched and released. Those prior art releasable ties, when cinched, no longer get leverage on the tab to be able to pinch and release it.

The novel large and wide release tab thumb pad of the present invention stands erect off of the top of the strap and allows the operator/user to be able to get a finger on both sides of the tab pad to be able to easily pinch and release the tie.

The tab thumb pad sitting erect off of the top of the strap works so well that the operator can access the tab thumb pad easily and release the tie without straining the operator's fingers.

An important feature and benefit that differentiates the releasable cable tie of the present invention from any others is the fact that the releasing tab thumb pad stands erect off of the top of the strap rather than lying directly on the strap when cinched. The novel releasable cable tie of the present invention gives the user plenty of room to be able to put a finger on both sides of the tab pad giving ample leverage to be able to easily pinch and release the tie. The old technology did not allow for any room to be able to get fingers behind the tab when the tie is cinched tightly, making it impossible to be able to get enough leverage on the tab to be able to release the tie.

The present invention provides a large and wide pad or paddle release and index finger back plate that makes the releasing tab thumb pad itself much easier to pinch to release without having to use a lot of force.

The releasable cable ties are produced using thermoplastic resin through an injection mold. In one aspect, the releasable cable ties are constructed using polypropylene or nylon. In one aspect, the releasable cable ties are constructed using Nylon <NUM>.

The important advantage that the releasable one-piece thermoplastic cable tie of the present invention provides is the fact that the large and wide tab thumb pad stands erect off of the top of the strap rather than lying directly on the strap when cinched, thereby giving the user plenty of room to be able to put a finger on both sides of the tab thumb pad giving ample leverage to be able to easily pinch and release the tie. The old technology did not allow for any room to be able to get fingers behind the tab when the tie is cinched tightly, making it very difficult to nearly impossible to be able to get enough leverage on the releasing tab to be able to release the tie. The novel releasable cable ties provide the novel large pad or paddle release and index finger back plate, making the tab itself easier to pinch to release without having to use a lot of force.

It has been found that the novel releasable cable tie of the present invention was able to be tightly cinched and then easily released within seconds using only two fingers without snagging or jamming in the process.

The important advantages, features, and benefits of the novel releasable cable tie of the present invention that were observed were the ease of use, ability to secure tightly, high strength of the grip of the tab thumb pad itself, quickness of release, and overall durability.

The improvement of the novel releasable cable tie of the present invention further has been found experimentally to provide to the airliner production manufacturer a releasing thumb pad pinch force needed to make it releasable in previously very difficult areas on the airplane and further so there was no chance that the ties could be released accidentally, and further was found to provide a more pliable size particularly suitable for tight areas experienced in airliner production manufacturing today.

The releasable tie of the present invention has been found experimentally to be operated with one hand or two fingers in very tight locations in the front of the airplane where all the cables are tied into the control panels. The front of the airplane has very tight bundles of cables and most of these bundles are positioned on top of each other. It is very hard for the electricians to remove the releasable cables ties. Most of the time, electricians are forced to cut the conventional ties because of an inability to get more than a hand into these places to squeeze the cable ties, since the cable ties on the market today require two hands to release the ties.

The electricians normally need to release <NUM> or <NUM> plus releasable ties daily when the wire harnesses are complete. With this number of releasable ties to release, squeezing a regular releasable tie causes pain and discomfort to the operator. The releasable tie of the present invention has been found to overcome the discomfort problem. By making the releasable tab larger and wider, the novel large thumb pad in the releasable tie of the present invention displaces the surface area of the thumb and makes for a much more comfortable release.

It has been found empirically that an unexpected benefit of the larger and wider release tab is an easy release of the locking teeth. With more leverage at the thumb pad, less force is required on the thumb or finger for the electricians to release and pull the new releasable ties of the present invention from any tight location with ease.

The releasable cable tie of the present invention requires users to use only two fingers on the same hand to squeeze and release the releasable tie while it was under pressure. The releasable cable tie of the present invention in preferred embodiment having a <NUM> strap size and having the locking head and novel fulcrum, provides a much stronger releasable tie having a releasing tab function which has been found to perform extremely well with an overall tensile strength of more than one hundred (<NUM>) lbs, together with providing a release tab made much more stable which reduces the chances of an accidental release.

With the strength and comfort and ease of release of the new releasable tie of the present invention, all the wish list requirements identified by large airliner production are met by the new releasable tie. The problems of removing releasable ties from tight locations are solved with one hand or two finger releases and release pulls without resorting to cutting the ties to remove and damage the wiring harnesses.

Claim 1:
A releasable cable tie, comprising:
a molded one-piece thermoplastic elongated planar strap (<NUM>) wherein said strap (<NUM>) includes a plurality of strap teeth (<NUM>) formed on one side of said strap; and
a locking head (<NUM>) formed at one end of said strap (<NUM>) and formed integrally with said strap (<NUM>), wherein said locking head (<NUM>) is reusable and includes
an opening (<NUM>) therethrough on a first end of said locking head (<NUM>) adjacent the one end (<NUM>) of the strap, wherein said opening (<NUM>) is for receiving an opposite end (<NUM>) of said strap (<NUM>), said opposite end (<NUM>) being insertable into said opening (<NUM>) in a locking direction and forming a loop to receive cables to be bound, said strap teeth (<NUM>) being positioned external to the loop and away from the cables to be bound;
a releasable latch pivotally supported on the strap and having at least one latch lock tooth (<NUM>) complementary to said strap teeth (<NUM>) and extending into said opening and adapted to engage with at least one strap tooth (<NUM>) for preventing movement of said strap (<NUM>) in a release direction;
a pad (<NUM>) extending from said releasable latch toward a second end of said locking head (<NUM>), wherein said pad (<NUM>) is readily accessible by a user and configured to be depressed by a thumb of the user, said pad (<NUM>) being deflected about a pivot line on said releasable latch when depressed to release the at least one lock tooth (<NUM>) from engagement with the at least one strap tooth (<NUM>) to permit the strap (<NUM>) to be moved in the release direction; and
a back plate (<NUM>) extending from the opening (<NUM>) toward the second end of said locking head, wherein the back plate (<NUM>) is positioned below said pad (<NUM>), wherein said back plate (<NUM>) is readily accessible by the user and configured to provide support for an index finger of the user, wherein said pad (<NUM>) and said back plate (<NUM>) extend substantially perpendicular to said strap (<NUM>) in a direction away from the loop when said strap is in said opening (<NUM>), characterized in that said pad (<NUM>) includes a ripple strip (<NUM>) at far end thereof.