Patent ID: 7900657

Claim:
A unitary jaw for a sealless strapping machine, comprising: a jaw element having a body defining a linkage portion, a hook portion, a base portion, and a plurality of punches, the hook portion extending transverse to the linkage portion, the linkage portion being formed integral with and as part of the hook portion and the hook portion being formed integral with and as part of the base portion and wherein the linkage portion, the hook portion, the base portion, and the plurality of punches together are formed from a single piece of material, the plurality of punches formed integral with and extending upwardly from the base portion defining a juncture of the punches and the base, each punch defined by a peak and a valley between the peak and the peak of an adjacent punch, wherein the juncture of the punches and the base is formed as a relieved area, wherein the relieved area defines a first transition between the punches and the base and a second transition between the base and the linkage portion, and wherein the first and second transitions are each formed having a smooth radius, defining the relieved area, the transitions being formed parallel to a longitudinal direction of the jaw, wherein the relieved area has a depth that is greater than a depth of the valley, and wherein the depth of the valley is measured from the valley's respective adjacent peaks to a base of the valley.