CABLE TIE
A cable tie is disclosed. The cable tie has a band and a fastening slot. The band is provided with a plurality of ribs, and the fastening slot is formed with an engaging portion for engaging the ribs when the band passes through the fastening slot so as to bind articles. The engaging portion is provided with at least one engaging tooth. A distance between a tip of the engaging tooth and the fixed end of the engaging portion and along a lengthwise direction of the band is smaller than a distance between the free end and the fixed end of the engaging portion and along the lengthwise direction of the band, and which prevents the engaging portion from being broken due to shearing effect applied by the ribs when the cable tie is operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to cable ties, and more particularly, to a cable tie having engaging teeth with an improved structural configuration.
2. Description of Related Art
Cable ties commercially available may be divided into non-releasable cable ties and releasable cable ties. Both of them use one or more engaging teeth in a fastening slot to engage ribs on a band so that the looped band embraces and binds the articles to be bundled. They are convenient tools for put things in order.
A releasable cable tie has a design for allowing the band engaged in the fastening slot to be released so that the cable tie can be repeatedly used. It is commonly used for binding, for example, power cords.
On the other hand, a non-releasable cable tie is not designed for releasing the band engaged in the fastening slot. Thus, once the band of a non-releasable cable tie is engaged in the fastening slot, the loop formed by the band can only be narrowed, and its binding can only be dismissed by unrecoverable means like cutting and breaking. In other words, a non-releasable cable tie is only for single-time use and usually used in occasions where the bundle of articles are supposed not to be released easily. For an example, non-releasable cable ties are often seen in retailers for binding articles to be sold in batches. For another example, some countries use non-releasable cable ties as temporary handcuffs.
However, both releasable and non-releasable cable ties face the same problem that they tend to have the fixed end of the engaging portion broken in the fastening slot when they are operated in a low-temperature environment, and which causes the cable ties to be unable to bind anymore. The reason is that when the band passes through the fastening slot, the ribs on the band successively contact the engaging teeth in the fastening slot. In this way, each of the ribs necessarily impacts the engaging tooth located closest to the fixed end of the engaging portion. As more passing ribs contact the engaging tooth located closest to the fixed end of the engaging portion, the shearing forces applied to the engaging tooth located closest to the fixed end of the engaging portion by the ribs increases such that an accumulated torque acts on the fixed end of the engaging portion and is likely to break the fixed end of the engaging portion in a low-temperature environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, it is provided in this invention a novel cable tie which overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings that a typical cable tie is easily broken at the fixed end of the engaging portion formed in the fastening slot due to the shearing forces applied by the ribs of the band of the cable tie when it is operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
According to the present invention, a cable tie includes a strip-like flexible body and a fastening slot. The flexible body has a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other. The first surface is provided with a plurality of equidistantly arranged ribs. The fastening slot is located at one end of the flexible body, and has a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposite to each other. The third surface is adjacent to the first surface, while the fourth surface is distant from the second surface. Openings are formed respectively at the third surface and the fourth surface so that the other end of the flexible body is allowed to pass through the fastening slot. The fastening slot has an engaging portion for engaging the ribs of the flexible body when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot. The engaging portion is located between the third surface and the fourth surface and extends toward the opening of the fourth surface. The engaging portion includes a fixed end adjoining the third surface and a free end facing the opening of the fourth surface. The engaging portion has at least one engaging tooth. A distance between a tip of a first engaging tooth and the fixed end and along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body is smaller than a distance between the free end and the fixed end and along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body.
A first objective of the present invention is to provide a structural configuration of the engaging teeth for the cable tie with that a distance between a tip of the engaging tooth closest to the fixed end of the engaging portion and the fixed end and along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body is smaller than a distance between the free end and the fixed end and along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body Thereby, the ribs of the flexible body contact only partial of the upper engaging tooth when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot so that the fixed end of the engaging portion is prevented from being excessively sheared by the ribs of the flexible body . Therefore, it is unlikely that the cable tie has its engaging portion broken and loses its binding function when operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
A second objective of the present invention is to provide a structural configuration of the engaging tooth for the cable tie, which is formed in the fastening slot of the cable tie. When the flexible body passes through the fastening slot, the engaging tooth of the engaging portion in the fastening slot and each of the ribs of the flexible body are partially engaged with each other. The partial engagement between the engaging tooth and the ribs is firm enough to retain the flexible body within the fastening slot and which provides a resistance to pull out the cable tie.
A cable tie according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a strip-like flexible body and a fastening slot. The flexible body has a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other. The first surface is provided with a plurality of equidistantly arranged ribs. The fastening slot is located at one end of the flexible body, and has a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposite to each other. The third surface is adjacent to the first surface, while the fourth surface is depart from the second surface. Openings are respectively formed at the third surface and the fourth surface so that the other end of the flexible body is allowed to pass through the fastening slot. The fastening slot has an engaging portion for engaging the ribs of the flexible body when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot. The engaging portion is located between the third surface and the fourth surface and extends toward the opening of the fourth surface. The engaging portion includes a fixed end adjoining the third surface and a free end facing the opening of the fourth surface. The engaging portion has at least three engaging teeth. The tips of the engaging teeth are progressively distant from the fixed end along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body.
Hence, a third objective of the present invention is to provide a structural configuration of the engaging teeth for the cable tie with tips of the engaging teeth being progressively distant from the fixed end along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body. Thus, the engaging tooth located closest to the fixed end only has a small part or even no part contact the ribs of the flexible body when the flexible body passes through the fastening slot so that the fixed end of the engaging portion is prevented from receiving excessive shearing force. Therefore, the cable tie is unlikely to have its engaging portion broken and lose its function of binding when operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide a structural configuration of at least three engaging teeth for the cable tie that are formed in the engaging portion in the fastening slot. When the flexible body passes through the fastening slot, at least one of the engaging teeth of the engaging portion in the fastening slot is in partial engagement with the corresponding rib of the flexible body, and the engaging tooth of the engaging portion closest to the free end is in complete engagement with the corresponding rib. The partial and complete engagement between the engaging teeth and the ribs are firm enough to retain the flexible body within the fastening slot, and which thereby provides a resistance against pulling of the cable tie.
Comparing with the typical cable ties, the cable tie of the present invention is not easily to be broken when operated in a low-temperature environment such as minus 40 degrees Celsius, and meanwhile has enough resistance against pulling of the cable tie.
The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention discloses a cable tie and a structural configuration of engaging teeth formed on the cable tie. The principles for a cable tie to provide fastening effects via these engaging teeth have been known to people of ordinary skill in the art and would not be discussed hereafter. The accompanying drawings referred by the following description are intended to show the technical features of the present invention and are not taken as limitation.
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In summary, the cable tie 1 according to the present invention is designed to have engaging teeth with different structural configuration from those of the prior art. The disclosed cable tie 1 is characterized in that the distances between each of the tips of the engaging teeth of the engaging portion 13 and the free end 133 and along the lengthwise direction of the band 11 are progressively reduced. Therefore, the band 11 contacts only a small part of the tip of the engaging tooth 132a closest to the fixed end 131 of the engaging portion 13 when the band 11 passes through the fastening slot 12, and which prevents excessive shearing impact from being applied on the tip of the engaging teeth 132a and in turn causing torque effect on the fixed end 131 such as to break the fixed end 131 and render the cable tie unusable for tying and binding. Moreover, the structural configuration of the engaging teeth of engaging portion 13 according to the present invention allows the engaging teeth closer to the free end 133 to be firmly engaged with the ribs 113 of the incoming band 11. In addition, the partial and complete engagement between the engaging teeth and the ribs 113 retain the band 11 in position within the fastening slot 12, and which provides a resistance against pulling of the cable tie 1 and in turn ensures appropriate binding function of the cable tie 1.
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and it is understood that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein should be readily understood and can be implemented by a person skilled in the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not depart from the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A cable tie (1) comprising:
- a strip-like flexible body (11) having a first surface (111) and a second surface (112) being opposite to each other, the first surface (111) being provided with a plurality of equidistantly arranged ribs (113); and
- a fastening slot (12) being provided at a first end (11a) of the flexible body (11) and having a third surface (121) and a fourth surface (122) being opposite to each other, the third surface (121) being adjacent to the first surface (111), the fourth surface (122) being distant from the second surface (112), and the third surface (121) and the fourth surface (122) each being formed with an opening (121a, 122a) to allow a second end (11b) of the flexible body (11) to pass through the fastening slot (12);
- wherein the fastening slot (12) is formed with an engaging portion (13) for engaging the ribs (113) of the flexible body (11) when the flexible body (11) passes through the fastening slot (12); and
- the engaging portion (13) is located between the third surface (121) and the fourth surface (122) and extends toward the opening (122a) of the fourth surface (122), the engaging portion (13) has a fixed end (131) adjoining the third surface (121) and a free end (133) facing the opening (122a) of the fourth surface (122), the engaging portion (13) is further provided with a first engaging tooth (132a), and a distance between a tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and the fixed end (131) and along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) is smaller than a distance between the free end (133) and the fixed end (131) and along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11).
2. The cable tie of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion (13) further comprises a second engaging tooth (132b), and a distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between a tip of the second engaging tooth (132b) and the fixed end (131) is larger than a distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and the fixed end (131) and is smaller than a distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between the free end (133) and the fixed end (131).
3. The cable tie of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion (13) further comprises a second engaging tooth (132b), and a distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between a tip of the second engaging tooth (132b) and the fixed end (131) is larger than a distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and the fixed end (131) and is equal to a distance along the lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between the free end (133) and the fixed end (131).
4. The cable tie of claim 2, wherein a distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and a tip of the free end (133) is 0.1˜0.25 mm.
5. The cable tie of claim 2, wherein the first engaging tooth (132a) and each of the ribs (113) are partially engaged with each other.
6. The cable tie of claim 2, wherein the engaging portion (13) is formed with an inclined plane (134) on a side being opposite to the first engaging tooth (132a) and the second engaging tooth (132b).
7. A cable tie (1) comprising:
- a strip-like flexible body (11) having a first surface (111) and a second surface (112) being opposite to each other, the first surface (111) being provided with a plurality of equidistantly arranged ribs (113); and
- a fastening slot (12) being provided at a first end (11a) of the flexible body (11) and having a third surface (121) and a fourth surface (122) being opposite to each other, the third surface (121) being adjacent to the first surface (111), the fourth surface (122) being distant from the second surface (112), and the third surface (121) and the fourth surface (122) each being formed with an opening (121a, 122a) to allow opposite second end (11b) of the flexible body (11) to pass through the fastening slot (12);
- wherein the fastening slot (12) is formed with an engaging portion (13) for engaging the ribs (113) of the flexible body (11) when the flexible body (11) passes through the fastening slot (12); and
- the engaging portion (13) is located between the third surface (121) and the fourth surface (122) and extends toward the opening (122a) of the fourth surface (122), the engaging portion (13) has a fixed end (131) adjoining the third surface (121) and a free end (133) facing the opening (122a) of the fourth surface (122), the engaging portion (13) is further provided with at least three engaging teeth (132a, 132b, 132c), and tips of the engaging teeth (132a, 132b, 132c) are progressively distant from the fixed end (131) along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11).
8. The cable tie of claim 7, wherein a distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between tip of the engaging teeth (132c) closest to the free end (133) and the fixed end (131) is equal to a distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between the free end (133) and the fixed end (131).
9. The cable tie of claim 7, wherein the distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between tip of the engaging teeth (132a) closest to the fixed end (131) and the free end (133) is 0.1˜0.25 mm.
10. The cable tie of claim 7, wherein one of the engaging teeth (132a, 132b, 132c) and each of the ribs (113) are partially engaged with each other.
11. The cable tie of claim 3, wherein a distance along a lengthwise direction of the flexible body (11) and between the tip of the first engaging tooth (132a) and a tip of the free end (133) is 0.1˜0.25 mm.
12. The cable tie of claim 3, wherein the first engaging tooth (132a) and each of the ribs (113) are partially engaged with each other.
13. The cable tie of claim 3, wherein the engaging portion (13) is formed with an inclined plane (134) on a side being opposite to the first engaging tooth (132a) and the second engaging tooth (132b).
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 28, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 25, 2013
Inventor: Juei-Ching CHENG (Changhua County)
Application Number: 13/407,545
International Classification: B65D 63/00 (20060101);