Abstract: An improved hand tool for dispensing plastic fasteners having a novel anvil design and a needle. The hand tool has a gun shaped casing with a barrel portion and a handle portion. The casing has a needle assembly opening at the front of the barrel portion and a trigger slot at the front of the handle portion. The hand tool further has a hollow needle disposed on one end of a needle assembly. The hand tool further has a trigger that is pivotally mounted within the casing that extends out from the trigger slot. The hand tool further has an anvil.

Abstract: A fastener assembly having a unique pawl design for the head portion of a fastener assembly. The fastener assembly may be a cable tie that includes a head portion having a pawl that includes a primary pawl tooth, at least one set of secondary pawl teeth, and a shelf support feature for pawl. The fastener assembly of the present invention prevent pawl roll out which is a failure that currently occurs with fastener assembly currently available in the market place.

Abstract: A tie well-suited for use in retail packaging applications includes a plastic head insert molded around one end of a paper-based cord, such as a length of twine, string or other similar environmentally-friendly material. In one embodiment, the plastic head includes a generally rectangular buckle shaped to define an elongated channel dimensioned to receive the free end of the paper-based cord. A deflectable pawl is coupled to the buckle and is naturally biased to project into the channel and selectively engage the cord in order to retain the tie in a closed loop configuration. The buckle includes a substantially open side wall through which the paper-based cord can be extracted after the tie is formed in its closed loop configuration. A clip is preferably provided on the head for selectively retaining a section of the paper-cord that has been inserted through the elongated channel.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein is a fastener device, namely a ratcheting clamp, having a reusable clamping feature. The reusable clamping feature may comprise a flexible arm. The flexible arm may comprise overlapping end portions, namely an overlapping inner end and an overlapping outer end along with a locking member for selectively engaging with a top arm. The overlapping outer end may comprise at least one tooth or a plurality of teeth positioned along the overlapping outer end. Further, the fastener device may comprise at least one optional elongated rib on the flexible arm positioned adjacent to the at least one tooth or plurality of teeth of the toothed overlapping outer end that prevents lateral movement of the toothed overlapping outer end when engaged with the locking member and exposed to lateral forces, thereby reducing the likelihood of premature failure of the fastener device. The fastener device disclosed may also utilize a reusable clamping feature.

Abstract: An improved hand tool for dispensing plastic fasteners having a novel anvil design that reduces inadvertent user needle sticks during operation of the hand tool and a needle having a novel casing that further reduces inadvertent user needle sticks during the replacement of the hand tool needle. The hand tool has a gun shaped casing with a barrel portion and a handle portion. The casing has a needle assembly opening at the front of the barrel portion and a trigger slot at the front of the handle portion. The hand tool further has a hollow needle disposed on one end of a needle assembly. The needle assembly is slidably movable back and forth between a retracted position disposed substantially within casing and an extend position disposed substantially out of the casing through the needle assembly opening. The hand tool further has a trigger that is pivotally mounted within the casing that extends out from the trigger slot.

Abstract: A tie well-suited for use in retail packaging applications includes a plastic head insert molded around one end of a paper-based cord, such as a length of twine, string or other similar environmentally-friendly material. In one embodiment, the plastic head includes a generally rectangular buckle shaped to define an elongated channel dimensioned to receive the free end of the paper-based cord. A deflectable pawl is coupled to the buckle and is naturally biased to project into the channel and selectively engage the cord in order to retain the tie in a closed loop configuration. The buckle includes a substantially open side wall through which the paper-based cord can be extracted after the tie is formed in its closed loop configuration. A clip is preferably provided on the head for selectively retaining a section of the paper-cord that has been inserted through the elongated channel.

Abstract: A fastener assembly having a unique pawl design for the head portion of a fastener assembly. The fastener assembly may be a cable tie that includes a head portion having a pawl that includes a primary pawl tooth, at least one set of secondary pawl teeth, and a shelf support feature for pawl. The fastener assembly of the present invention prevent pawl roll out which is a failure that currently occurs with fastener assembly currently available in the market place.