Patent ID: 7121193

Claim:
A flexible strap guide for an overhead strapper of the type for feed a strapping material around a load, positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material around the load, the overhead strapper having a feed head for feeding the strapping material from a supply to a strapping head, the feed head being stationary and spaced from a strapping head, the strapping head being mounted to a movable platen, the guide extending between the feed head and the strapping head, the guide comprising: an elongated flexible spine formed from a plurality of hinged elements, each of the elements being hingedly connected to and independently movable relative to each adjacent element, the elements defining a central channel therein defined by a contiguous periphery; a hollow tubular element positioned within the flexible spine and being flexible with the spine, the tubular element defining a pathway for movement of the strapping material therethrough between the feed head and the strapping head, wherein the guide is mounted at one end at about the feed head and at another end at about the strapping head, the guide being flexible at points between the feed head and the strapping head, the guide configured to permit movement of the strapping head upward and downward and to retain the hollow tubular element in an unobstructed condition as the strapping head moves upward and downward.