Patent ID: 8732912

Claim:
A non-perforated strap having increased column stiffness comprising: a leading edge and a trailing edge forming a length of the strap; a first outer edge and second outer edge defining a width of the strap; a first side and a second side defining a thickness of the strap; and a crush region formed in the first or second side, between and generally parallel to the first and second outer edges, the crush region defined by a thickness that is less than the thickness of the strap adjacent to the crush region, the crush region forming a continuous line along which a bend is formed in the strap for increasing a column stiffness of the strap, the bend defining a first angle greater than 180 degrees and a second angle less than 180 degrees in the strap as viewed in cross-section, wherein the non-perforated strap is configured to be disposed about a load, tensioned and sealed and the crush region is present at the second angle.