Patent ID: 8109124

Claim:
A method of making a bent split strap ( 2 ), comprising: (a) providing a generally flat, coiled, elongated strap ( 2 ) having a leading end ( 3 ) and a trailing end ( 4 ), a first elongated side boundary ( 5 ) and a second elongated side boundary ( 6 ) generally parallel to said first elongated side boundary ( 5 ), a body ( 7 ) bounded by said first and second elongated side boundaries ( 5 , 6 ) that define a width ( 8 ), and an elongated slit cut ( 9 ) generally parallel to said first and second elongated side boundaries ( 5 , 6 ), said slit cut ( 9 ) dividing said body ( 7 ) between said first and second elongated side boundaries ( 5 , 6 ), creating a first body side ( 10 ) and a second body side ( 11 ), said slit cut ( 9 ) being intermittently interrupted by unslit portions ( 12 ) that connect said first and second body sides ( 10 , 11 ); (b) providing an aperture ( 13 ) having a first end ( 14 ) and a second end ( 15 ) that define a width ( 16 ), said width ( 16 ) of said aperture ( 13 ) being less than said width ( 8 ) of said elongated strap ( 2 ); and (c) drawing said elongated strap ( 2 ) through said aperture ( 13 ) so that said first and second ends ( 14 , 15 ) of said aperture ( 13 ) constrict said elongated strap ( 2 ) by bearing on said first and second elongated side boundaries ( 5 , 6 ), thereby bending said elongated strap ( 2 ) along said slit cut ( 9 ) to create an elongated bend ( 17 ) in said elongated strap ( 2 ); wherein: i. said elongated strap ( 2 ) is provided in a box ( 18 ) that contains the majority of said elongated strap ( 2 ).