Abstract: In a method of injection molding an elongated article, such as a cable tie, having a head and a strap terminating in a tip, (a) the article is formed by injecting molten plastic material, such as nylon, into a mold cavity defined between a first mold part and a second mold part, wherein the first mold part includes a head region defining a portion of the head of the elongated article, the second mold part includes a tip region defining a portion of the tip of the elongated article, and the portion of the mold cavity defined by the second mold part defines a series of pointed teeth on one side of the strap; (b) the first mold part is separated from the second mold part while retaining the portion of the head of the elongated article in the head region of the first mold part and the portion of the tip of the elongated article in the tip region of the second mold part, thereby separating the head from the second mold part, the tip from the first mold part, and a major portion of the strap of the elongated articl

Abstract: In a method of injection molding a tie that includes an abutment wall surface having at least one tooth inside a locking head facing a pawl, a movable core that defines at least a portion of a surface of the abutment wall that is on the opposite side of the abutment wall from the portion of the abutment surface that includes the at least one abutment surface tooth is moved to thereby enable the abutment wall to flex in a direction away from the pawl into a space vacated by movement of the core so that the tie can be removed from the mold without significantly damaging the at least one abutment surface tooth.

Abstract: A tie including a tongue and a locking head having a pawl that is hinged at one side of an opening in the locking head across the opening from an abutment surface for locking engagement with a first set of ratchet teeth on one side of the tongue when the tongue has been inserted through the opening, and also having teeth on the abutment surface for locking engagement with a second set of ratchet teeth on the other side of the tongue when the tongue has been so inserted, is formed by injection molding. An artifact line is formed at a parting line between the mold parts while the plastic material solidifies in the mold cavity.

Abstract: In a tie including an elongated tongue with a locking head at one end of the tongue, a tip at the other end of the tongue, a first set of ratchet teeth extending along one broad side of the tongue and a second set of ratchet teeth extending along the other broad side of the tongue, wherein the locking head has sides defining an opening for receiving the tip of the tongue, a movable pawl that is hinged at one side of the opening and an abutment surface that is across the opening from the pawl, wherein the pawl has pawl teeth disposed for engaging the first set of ratchet teeth, and wherein stationary teeth are disposed on the abutment surface for engaging the second set of ratchet teeth, the stationary teeth on the abutment surface have a greater lateral extension with respect to the direction of insertion of the tongue through the opening than do the pawl teeth and the second set of ratchet teeth have a greater lateral extension with respect to the direction of insertion than do the first set of ratchet teeth

Abstract: A method of injection molding a tie that includes an abutment wall surface having at least one tooth facing a pawl that has at least one tooth inside a locking head utilizes a core that defines at least a portion of the abutment surface tooth and at least a portion of a surface of the pawl that includes the at least one pawl tooth. The core is movable in relation to a first other mold part and is separated from a second other mold part not sooner than the first other mold part is separated from the second other mold part to thereby enable (a) the pawl to flex into a space vacated by movement of the first other mold part and (b) the abutment wall to flex into a space also vacated by movement of the first other mold part during separation of the first other mold part from the second other mold part so that the tie can be removed from the mold without significantly damaging either the at least one pawl tooth or the at least one abutment surface tooth.

Abstract: Balanced injection molding in a multi-cavity mold of a plurality of ties having a uniform maximum thickness between opposite broad sides of the tongue of the tie is accomplished by providing mold pieces in which the relative dimensions of projections for forming ratchet teeth on the tongue of the ties in different mold cavities are non-uniform such that when plastic material is injected into the mold cavities, the injected plastic material flows through the different mold cavities at respective flow rates that cause the mold cavities to be completely filled approximately simultaneously with the injected plastic material. In making the mold pieces, the dimensions of the projections initially are larger than required for forming ratchet teeth of a preferred dimension.

Abstract: A screw-on electrical connector is employed to connect a plurality of wires using an apparatus that includes a tool bit driver with an electric motor powered by a battery. A torque limiting device transfers torque from the electric motor to a chuck. A mechanism permits adjustment of the maximum level of torque applied to the chuck and indicia is provided indicating torque settings for different combinations of wire sizes and numbers to be connected. A tool is coupled to the chuck and has a member for engaging a screw-on electrical connector in order to twist the screw-on electrical connector onto a plurality of wires.

Abstract: In a method of injection molding a tie that includes an abutment wall surface having at least one tooth inside a locking head facing a pawl, a retractable core that defines at least a portion of the abutment surface that includes the at least one abutment surface tooth is retracted so that the tie can be removed from the mold without significantly damaging the at least one abutment surface tooth. The core is disposed for retraction in a direction inclined toward the pawl at an acute angle away from the direction of insertion of the tongue of the tie into the locking head.

Abstract: In a method of injection molding a tie that includes an abutment wall surface having at least one tooth inside a locking head facing a pawl, a first mold part defines a portion of the abutment surface that includes the at least one abutment surface tooth and a second mold part defines at least a portion of a surface of the abutment wall that is on the opposite side of the abutment wall from the portion of the abutment surface that includes the at least one abutment surface tooth. The first mold part is separated from the second mold part while retaining the abutment wall in the first mold part to separate the second mold part from the opposite side of the abutment wall to thereby enable the abutment wall to flex in a direction away from the pawl into a space vacated by separation of the second mold part from the opposite side of the abutment wall so that the tie can be removed from the mold without significantly damaging the at least one abutment surface tooth.

Abstract: An injection molded elongated article having a head and a strap, such as a cable tie, is ejected from between separated first and second mold parts by imparting a forceful gaseous stream between the mold parts to thereby peel a first portion of the strap from the first mold part after a second portion of the strap adjacent the head of the article was peeled from the first mold part by ejecting the head of the article from the first mold part while retaining the first portion of the strap in the first mold part. In a multi-cavity injection molding apparatus, a pair of nozzles are contained within each of a plurality of components through which compressed air flows into the region between the mold parts; and the nozzles are disposed closely adjacent the heads of a pair of cable ties for imparting a pair of gaseous streams from the component for peeling the first portions of the straps from the first mold part.

Abstract: In a method of injection molding a tie that includes an abutment wall surface having at least one tooth inside a locking head facing a pawl is formed in a mold that defines a tie in which the abutment wall includes at least one bulge adjacent each of opposite ends of the abutment wall for holding the abutment wall in the respective mold parts when the mold parts are first separated, with the at least one bulge adjacent one end of the abutment wall being defined by a first mold part and the at least one bulge adjacent the opposite end of the abutment wall being defined by a second mold part. As the first and second mold parts are being separated, the bulges initially hold the abutment wall in the respective first and second mold parts and thereby stretch and reduce the thickness of the abutment wall so that the tie can be removed from the mold without significantly damaging the at least one abutment surface tooth.

Abstract: In a tie including an elongated tongue and a locking head having a movable pawl that is hinged at one side of an opening in the locking head across the opening from an abutment surface for locking engagement with a first set of ratchet teeth on one broad side of the tongue when the tip of the tongue has been inserted through the opening and teeth on the abutment surface for locking engagement with a second set of ratchet teeth on the other broad side of the tongue when the tip of the tongue has been inserted through the opening, and in which the side of the pawl including the pawl teeth converges toward the opposite side of the pawl in the direction of insertion, locking engagement is enhanced by the locking surface of at least one pawl tooth extending toward the apex of such tooth at an angle inclined toward the direction of insertion for locking engagement with a tooth of the first set of ratchet teeth; and by the locking surface of at least one of the first set of ratchet teeth extending toward the apex of

Abstract: In a tie including an elongated tongue and a locking head having a movable pawl that is hinged at one side of the opening of the locking head across the opening from an abutment wall for locking engagement with a set of ratchet teeth on the tongue when the tip of the tongue has been inserted through the opening, the abutment wall is enhanced for withstanding a force that would tend to bow the abutment wall when the pawl forces the tongue against the abutment wall in response to a pulling force applied to the tongue in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion, but does not require as much material as would be required for an abutment wall that merely had increased thickness and, when the tie is made by injection molding, the abutment wall is not significantly subject to deformation when the injected plastic material cools.

Abstract: A cable tie that includes an elongated tongue with two ends and two broad sides, a locking head at one end of the tongue, a tip at the other end of the tongue, and a set of ratchet teeth extending along one broad side of the tongue, wherein the locking head has sides defining an opening for receiving the tip of the tongue, the sides including a movable pawl that is hinged at one side of the opening and an abutment surface that is at least in part directly opposite across the opening from the pawl, and wherein the pawl has at least one pawl tooth disposed for engaging the set of ratchet teeth when the tip of the tongue has been inserted through the opening with the set of ratchet teeth facing the pawl, is injection molded by a method including the steps of (a) providing a mold that includes mold parts defining a cavity in the general shape of the tie, wherein one of the mold parts includes a core section defining a surface of the pawl that includes the at least one pawl tooth and at least a part of the abutmen

Abstract: A solenoid type voltage, polarity and continuity tester has a solenoid operated voltage indicator, and separate positive polarity, negative polarity and continuity indicators. In the circuit for the tester, the solenoid is arranged in series with the polarity and continuity indication circuits so that continuity of the solenoid can be verified when the continuity of a circuit being checked is positively determined. A polarity indication circuit is in parallel with a continuity indication circuit. The continuity circuit has a battery which is switched into a circuit having a high resistance when a voltage is applied to the tester to reduce battery drainage.

Abstract: A plastic conduit heater for use in the field bending of plastic conduit charaterized by a heat sink pipe segment open at both ends with a resistance heating element wrapped around the exterior of the pipe segment and in intimate contact with the exterior of the pipe segment. The element may be prefabricated and is wrapped in spiral turns which may be more closely spaced toward the ends of the pipe so that the pipe segment is heated uniformly throughout its length. The heating element is encased in insulation which is in turn enclosed in a tubular housing. The housing includes a centrally located handle and an adjustable thermostat for varying the temperature depending on field conditions. One or more plastic conduits or pipes may be positioned in the heater for heating to bending temperature and may be left in the heater until required. The heaters may be arranged in tandem to form heaters of different length.

Abstract: The armored cable cutter of the invention has an elongated saw carrier on which a circular saw blade is rotatable, hinged to an elongated cable carrier of U-shaped cross-section that defines a laterally opening cable receiving groove. A clamping member on the blade carrier, swingable about a trunnion axis parallel to the blade axis, has cable engaging surface portions disposed along a segment of a spiral about the trunnion axis to be at progressively increasing distances from that axis, the surface portions being configured symmetrically to the blade plane and for straddling engagement with a cable in the carrier groove. The clamping member, when swung into engagement with a cable in the groove, clamps it against one wall of the cable carrier and confines it with its diametral plane coinciding with the blade plane.