US3816878A - Cable tie - Google Patents

Abstract

A two-piece cable tie having a separate strap and a separate strap retaining and locking head is disclosed herein. The strap is threadably assembled through the head and is insertable back through the head to form a bundling loop. A pawl is pivotally secured to the cable tie and extends into one-way ratcheting and locking engagement with abutments on the strap positioned within the head.

Description

United States Patent [191 Fulton et al.

[ June 18, 1974 CABLE TIE [73] Assignee: Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 197,325

[52] U.S. Cl 24/16 PB [51] Int. Cl 865d 63/00 [58] Field of Search 24/16 PB, 30.5 P, 73 PB; 248/74 PB [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,588,962 6/1971 Feldberg 24/16 PB 3,654,669 4/1972 Fulton 24/16 PB Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. lDorner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles R. Wentzel 5 7] ABSTRACT A two-piece cable tie having a separate strap and a separate strap retaining and locking head is disclosed herein. The strap is threadably assembled through the head and is insertable back through the head to form a bundling loop. A pawl is pivotally secured to the cable tie and extends into one-way ratcheting and locking engagement with abutments 0n the strap positioned within the head.

4 Claims, 32 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 1a 1914 SHEU 7 BF 8 FIG 28 FIG 29 mtmamwm slawlave SHEET 8 BF 8 CABLE TIE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to a two-piece cable tie wherein a primary object thereof is to provide an abutted or toothed strap and a separate strap retaining and locking head, with a pawl locking structure pivotally connected to either the strap or the retaining and locking head to cooperate with the strap abutments to provide a cable tie with strength, efficiency, and versatility while being relatively easier and more economical to manufacture than existing known types of cable ties.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the two-piece cable tie referred to above wherein the strap abutments may be located on any side of the strap with the co-operating locking pawl being positionable accordingly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a twopiece cable tie having an independent pawl locking and retaining structure whereby the strap is readily assembled to the head and subsequently locked by straight insertion of the strap through the head, looping the strap, and a second insertion of the strap straight through the head in the opposite direction without requiring interreacting inclined or wedging surfaces on or between the strap and the head.

A further object of this invention is to provide a twopiece cable tie having an independent pawl locking structure facilitating either a single passage within the head, or separate retaining and locking passages for receiving and locking the strap therein.

Other objects, advantages, and novel aspects of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cable tie of this invention showing the strap assembled to the retaining head, looped about a bundle of wires or the like, and locked into the retaining head securing the wires into a bundle;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the retaining head generally illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the securing aperture means thereof with the locking pawl therein;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the inner configuration of the retaining head;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the strap generally illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the general position of the retaining portion, the tongue, and the abutments or teeth thereon;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the peripheral configuration of the strap;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned view of the retaining head illustrating the position of the strap assembled in the retaining head;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the retaining head taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 with the addition of the strap partially broken away to show the strap retained against a shoulder in the retaining head and assembled in the strap retaining portion and in the dashed line position, looped about a bundle of wires or the like;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 with the addition of the assembled strap of FIG. 7 being shown looped about a bundle of wires and inpawl in engagement with the abutments or teeth of the strap;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cable tie of this invention showing the strap assembled to the retaining head, looped about a bundle of wires or the like, and locked into the retaining head, securing the wires into a bundle;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the retaining head generally illustrated in FIG. 10 showing the securing aperture means thereof with the locking pawl therein;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11 illustrating the inner configuration of the retaining head;

FIG. 13 is a partial plan view of the strap generally illustrated in FIG. 10 showing the general position of the retaining portion, the tongue, and the abutments or teeth thereon;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the retaining head taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11 with the addition of the strap being shown assembled in the strap retaining portion and looped about a bundle of wires or the like;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11 with the addition of the assembled strap of FIG. 14 being shown looped about a bundle and inserted through the retaining head portion in ratcheting engagement with the pawl;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11 with the addition of the strap being assembled in the retaining head, looped about a bundle of wires, and tensionally locked in the retaining head with the pawl in engagement with the abutments or teeth of the strap;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the cable tie of this invention showing the strap assembled to the retaining head, looped about a bundle of wires or the like, and locked into the retaining head, securing the wires into a bundle;

FIG. 18 is an end view of the retaining head generally illustrated in FIG. 17 showing the securing aperture means;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18 illustrating the inner configuration of the retaining head;

FIG. 20 is a partial plan view of the strap generally illustrated in FIG. 17 showing the general position of the retaining portion, the tongue, and the abutments or teeth thereon;

FIG. 21 is a partial sectional view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20 showing the pawl pivotally connected to the strap;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 20 showing the peripheral configuration of the strap;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the retaining head taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18 with the addition of the strap being shown assembled in the strap retaining portion and in the dashed lines, looped about a bundle of wires or the like;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18 with the addition of the assembled strap of FIG. 17 being shown looped about a bundle of wires and inserted through the retaining head in ratcheting engagement with the pawl;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18 with the addition of the strap being assembled in the retaining head, looped about a bundle of wires, and tensionally locked in the retaining head with the pawl in engagement with the abutments or teeth of the strap;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the cable tie of this invention showing the strap assembled to the retaining head, looped about a bundle of wires or the like, and locked into the retaining head, securing the wires into a bundle;

FIG. 27 is an end view of the retaining head generally illustrated in FIG. 26 showing the securing aperture means;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view taken along line 2828 of FIG. 27 illustrating the inner configuration of the retaining head;

FIG. 29 is a partial plan view of the strap generally illustrated in FIG. 26 showing the general position of the retaining portion, the tongue, and the abutments or teeth thereon;

FIG. 30 is a sectional view of the retaining head taken along line 2828 of FIG. 27 with the addition of the strap being shown assembled in the strap retainig portion and looped about a bundle of wires or the like;

FIG. 31 is a sectional view taken along line 2828 of FIG. 27 with the addition of the assembled strap of FIG. 30 being shown looped about a bundle of wires and inserted through the retaining head in ratcheting engagement with the pawl; and

FIG. 32 is a sectional view taken along line 2828 of FIG. 27 with the addition of the strap being assembled in the retaining head, looped about a bundle of wires, and tensionally locked in the retaining head with the pawl in engagement with the abutments or teeth of the strap.

A first illustrative embodiment of the cable tie of this invention, generally designated by the numeral FIG. 1), is shown applied to a bundle of cables or the like 11. Cable tie 10 is preferably made of flexible plastic and includes, generally, an elongated flexible strap 12, a head 13, and a locking pawl 14 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 6-9). Strap 12 (FIG. 4) comprises a retainer portion 16 at one end and a tongue portion 17 at the other end.

Tongue portion 17 is provided with a longitudinal flange 18 having a longitudinally beveled surface 19, and retaining embossments 20 on respective longitudinal tongue surfaces 21. Abutments or teeth 22 are provided on a strap tooth surface 23, and each comprises a tooth ratchet surface 24 and a tooth retaining surface 25 (FIGS. 8-9). A pair of lateral shoulders 26 are provided on retainer portion 16 adjacent tongue portion 17.

Head 13 FIGS. 2, 3, and 6-9) is provided with a securing aperture means, generally designated by the numeral 30, and includes a strap retaining portion 31 and a strap locking portion 32. Strap retaining portion 31 is provided with a pair of grooves 33 interconnected by inner head surface 34 and adapted to complementally receive longitudinal flanges 18 and tongue portion surface 23 respectively with longitudinal surface 21 of tongue portion 17 adjacent surface 35. Grooves 33 each terminate at a lateral shoulder 36 which provides a stop engageable with strap retainer shoulder 26. Strap locking portion 32 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 6-9) is generally defined by lateral surface 35 FIGS. 2 and 3), extended from strap retaining portion 31, rails 37 and an intermediate reaction inner head surface 38.

Locking pawl 14 is provided with one or more teeth 40 (FIGS. 3 and 6-9) which are each provided with ratchet surface 41 on one side and a retaining surface 42 on the other side, and are adapted to respectively engage ratchet and retaining surfaces 24 and 25 of tongue teeth 22. Pawl 14 is pivotally secured, by a hinge portion 43, to reaction surface 38 of head 13 within strap locking portion 32 whereby pawl 14 is normally positioned into strap locking portion 32 beyond rails 37 FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, and 9), but is pivotable clockwise from its normal position as shown in FIG. 7 below rails 37 (FIG. 8) against the resiliency of hinge 43 to allow passage of tongue portion 17 through strap locking portion 32. A stop member 44 is provided on pawl 14, opposite teeth 40, and is adapted to engage reaction surface 38 (FIG. 9) when pawl 14 is pivoted counterclockwise a predetermined distance upon urging the tongue portion 17 toward withdrawal from strap locking portion 32.

In operation, first illustrative embodiment 10 of the cable tie of this invention is applied to a bundle of wires, or the like 11, by initially inserting tongue portion 17 into strap retaining portion 31 FIG. 7) with the flanges 18 respectively positioned in head grooves 33 (FIG. 6). Tongue portion 17 is moved further in grooves 33 to a point wherein tongue retaining embossments 20 are deformably urged past head stop shoulder 36 and beyond head 13. Strap 12 is thus assembled with head 13 with tongue stop surface 26 of strap retaining portion 31 adjacent head stop surface 36, and with flanges 18 retained within grooves 33 and held against withdrawal by tongue retaining embossments 20 positioned to the left beyond head 13.

Extending tongue portion 17 of assembled strap 12 (FIG. 7) is then looped around the bundle 11, to be retained by cable tie l0, and is inserted through strap locking portion 32 of securing aperture means 30 in head 13 (FIG. 8). Tongue 17, thus inserted in strap locking portion 32, is generally confined between rails 37 and the previously assembled strap retainer and tongue portions 16 and 17 (FIG. 8). As tongue portion 17 is moved to the right through strap locking portion 32, tongue teeth 22 will ratchetably engage teeth 40, of normally extended pawl 14, causing pawl 14 to generally pivot clockwise from its normal position as shown in FIG. 8 out of the tongue confining portion of strap locking portion 32 to permit tongue portion 17 to move to the right in FIG. 8 and to tension strap 12 about bundle 11.

Upon release of the tensioned tongue portion 17 from ratcheting movement through strap locking portion 32, the tension in strap 12 will urge tongue portion 17 in a withdrawal direction (left FIG. 9) through strap locking portion 32. However, pawl 14 with the normally extended position (FIG. 7) will cause the one or more teeth 40 thereof to respectively engage in one or more of teeth 22 of tongue portion 17 (FIG. 9) urging pawl 14 counterclockwise into tongue portion 17 to lock the strap 12 against withdrawal from strap locking portion 32 to secured cable tie 10 about bundles 11. Continued tensional or other urging of tongue portion 17 toward withdrawal from strap locking portion 32 will cause pawl 14 to rotate further counterclockwise to eventually urge pawl stop 44 into engagement with reaction surface 38 to positively stop rotation of pawl 14 and to positively lock tongue portion 17 against withdrawal from strap locking portion 32, thus securing cable tie tensionally about the bundle 11.

A second illustrative embodiment of the cable tie of this invention, generally designated by the numeral 50 (FIGS. 10, 14-16), is shown applied to a bundle of cables or the like 51. Cable tie 50 is preferably made of flexible plastic and includes, generally, an elongated flexible strap 52, a head 53, and a locking pawl 54. Strap 52 FIG. 13) comprises a retainer portion 56 at one end and a tongue portion 57 at the other end. Tongue portion 57 is provided with retaining embossments 60 on respective longitudinal tongue surface 61 and abutments or teeth 62 are provided on a strap tooth surface 63. Each tooth 62 comprises a tooth ratchet surface 64 and a tooth retaining surface 65 (FIGS. 13-16). A pair of lateral shoulders 66 are provided on retainer portion 56 adjacent tongue portion 57.

Head 53 (FIGS. 11, 12, and 14-16) is provided with a securing aperture means, including a strap retaining passage portion 71 and a strap locking passage portion 72. Strap retaining passage portion 71 (FIGS. 11 and 12) is defined generally by opposite side surfaces 73, inner head surface 74, and surface 75 of a partition portion 76 and is adapted to generally complementally receive tongue portion 57 therethrough (FIG. 14). Passage portion 71 is provided with a peripheral lateral shoulder 77 which provides a stop engageable with strap retainer shoulder 66. Strap locking passage portion 72 (FIGS. 11, 12, and 14-16) is generally defined by a general inner head reaction surface 78-78a and a channel-shaped partition surface 79.

Locking pawl 54 is provided with one or more teeth 80 FIGS. 11, 12, and 14-16) which are each provided with a ratchet surface 81 on one side and a retaining surface 82 on the other side, and are adapted to respectively engage ratchet and retaining surfaces 64 and 65 of tongue teeth 62. Paw] 54 is pivotally secured, by a hinge portion 83, to surface 78-78a of head 53 within strap locking passage portion 72 whereby pawl 54 is normally positioned into strap locking passage portion 72 beyond a pair of rails 85 (FIGS. 11, 12, and 14-16), but is pivotable counterclockwise from its normal position as shown in FIG. 14 below rails 85 (FIG. against the resiliency of hinge 83 to allow passage of tongueportion 57 through strap locking portion 82. A stop member 84 (FIGS. 12 and 14-16) is provided on pawl 54, opposite teeth 80, and is adapted to engage reaction surface 78a (FIG. 16) when pawl 54 is pivoted clockwise a predetermined distance.

In operation, second illustrative embodiment 50 of the cable tie of this invention is applied to bundle of wires, or the like 51, by initially inserting tongue portion 57 into strap retaining passage portion 71 FIG. 14). Tongue portion 57 is moved further in passage portion 71 to a point wherein tongue retaining embossments 60 are deformably urged past shoulder 77, through passage portion 71, and beyond head 53. Strap 52 is thus assembled with head 53 with tongue stop surface 66 of strap retaining passage portion 71adjacent shoulder 77 and with tongue portion 57 retained within passage portion 71 and held against withdrawal by tongue retaining embossments 60 positioned to the right in FIG. 14 beyond head 53.

Extending tongue portion 57 of assembled strap 53 (FIG. 14) is then loopd around the bundle 51, to be retained by cable tie 50, and is inserted through strap locking passage portion 72 in head 13 FIG. 15). Tongue portion 57, thus inserted in straplocking passage portion 72, is generally confined between rails 85 and surface 79. As tongue portion 57 is moved to the left as shown in FIG. 16 through strap locking portion 72, tongue teeth 62 will ratchetably engage teeth 80, of normally extended pawl 54, causing pawl 54 to generally pivot counterclockwise about hinge 83 out of the path of tongue portion 57 in strap locking portion 72 to permit tongue portion 57 to move to the left and to tension strap 52 about bundle 51..

Upon release of the tensioned tongue portion 57 from ratcheting movement through strap locking portion 72, the tension in strap 52 will urge tongue portion 57 in a withdrawal direction (to the right in FIG. 16) through strap locking portion 72. However, pawl 54 in the normally extended position FIG. 14) will cause the one or more teeth 62 of tongue portion 57 (FIG. 16 to respectively engage in the teeth 80 and urge pawl 54 clockwise to lock the tongue against withdrawal from strap locking passage portion 72 to secure cable tie 50 about bundle 51. Continued tensional or other urging of tongue portion 57 toward withdrawal from strap locking passage portion 72 will cause pawl 54 to rotate further clockwise to eventually urge pawl stop 84 into engagement with reaction surface 78a to positively stop rotation of pawl 54 and to positively lock tongue portion 57 against withdrawal from strap locking passage portion 72, thus securing cable tie 50 tensionally about the bundle 51.

A third illustrative embodiment of the cable tie of this invention generally designated by the numeral (FIGS. 17 and 23-25) is shown applied to a bundle of cables or the like 91. Cable tie 90 is preferably made of flexible plastic and includes generally an elongated flexible strap 92, a head 93, and the locking pawl 94 (FIGS. 20 and 23-25). Strap 92 (FIG. 20) comprises a retainer portion 96 at one end and a tongue portion 97 at the other end. Tongue portion 97 is provided with a longitudinal flange 98 having a longitudinally beveled surface 99, and retaining embossments 100 on respective longitudinal tongue surfaces 101. Abutments or teeth 102 are provided on a strap tooth surface 103 and each comprises a tooth ratchet surface 104 and a tooth retaining surface 105 (FIGS. 20, 214 and 25). A pair of lateral shoulders 96 are provided on retainer portion 106 adjacent tongue portion 97.

Head 93 FIGS. 18, 19, and 23-25) is provided with a securing aperture means, generally designed by the numeral 110, and includes a strap retaining portion 111 and a strap locking portion 112. Strap retaining portion 111 is provided with a pair of grooves 113 interconnected by inner head surface 114 and adapted to complementally receive longitudinal flanges 98 and tongue surface 103 respectively with longitudinal surface 101 of tongue 97 adjacent surface 11.5. Grooves 113 are each adjacent a lateral shoulder 116 which provides a stop engageable with strap retainer shoulder 106. Strap locking portion 112 (FIGS. 18, 19, and 23-25) is generally defined by lateral surface FIG. 18) extended from strap retaining portion 111, rails 117, and an intermediate reaction inner head surface 118.

Locking pawl 94 is provided with one or more teeth 120 (FIG. 21) which are each provided with a ratchet surface 121 on one side and a retaining surface 122 on the other side, and are adapted to respectively engage ratchet and retaining surfaces 1% and 105 of teeth 102. Pawl 94 is pivotally secured, by a hinge portion 123 to reaction surface, 118 of strap 92 to be normally positioned into strap locking portion 122 beyond rails 117 and tongue tooth surface 103 (FIGS. 18, 19, and 22-25), but is pivotable counter clockwise rails above 117 (FIG. 24) against the resiliency of hinge 123 to allow passage of tongue portion 97 through strap locking portion 112. A stop member 124 is provided on pawl 94 opposite teeth 120 and is adapted to engage reaction surface 118 (FIGS. 21 and 25) when pawl 94 is pivoted a predetermined distance toward tongue tooth surface 193.

In operation, third illustrative embodiment 91) of the cable tie of this invention is applied to a bundle of wires or the like 91 by initially inserting tongue portion 97 into strap retaining portion 111 (FIG. 23) with the flanges 98 respectively positioned in grooves 113. Tongue portion 97 is moved further in grooves 113 to a point wherein retaining embossments 1111) are deformably urged past shoulder 11 16 and beyong head 93. Strap 92 is thus assembled with head (13 with strap retaining shoulder 1% adjacent shoulder 116 and with flanges 98 retained within grooves 113 and held against withdrawal by retaining embossments positioned to the left in FIG. 28 beyond head 93.

Extending tongue portion 97 of strap 92 (FIG. 23) is then looped around the bundle 91 to be retained by cable tie 9t), and is inserted through strap locking portion 112 in head 93 (FIG. 24). Tongue portion 97, thus inserted in strap locking portion 112, is generally confined between rails 117 and the previously assembled strap retainer and tongue portions 96 and 97 (FIG. 24). As tongue portion 97 is moved to the right in FIG. 24 through strap locking portion 112, teeth 102 will ratchetably engage teeth of normally extended pawl 94 causing pawl 94 to generally pivot counterclockwise out of the strap locking portion 112 to permit tongue portion 97 to move to the right and to tension strap 92 about bundle 91.

Upon release of the tensioned tongue portion 97 from ratcheting movement through strap locking portion 112, the tension in strap 92 will urge tongue portion 97 in a withdrawal direction to the left in FIG. 25) through strap locking portion 112. However, pawl 94 in the normally extended position (FIG. 23) will cause the one or more teeth 120 thereof to respectively engage in one or more of teeth 102 of tongue portion 97 FIG. 25) urging pawl 94 clockwise into tongue portion 97 to lock the tongue against withdrawal from strap locking portion 112 to secure cable tie 90 about bundle 91. Continued tensional or other urging of tongue portion 97 toward withdrawal from strap locking portion 112 will cause pawl 94 to rotate further clockwise to eventually urge pawl stop 124 into engagement with reaction surface 118 to positively stop rotation of pawl 94 and to positively lock tongue portion 97 against withdrawal from strap locking portion 112 thus securing cable tie 911 tensionally about the bundle 91.

A fourth illustrative embodiment of the cable tie of this invention generally designated by the numeral (FIG. 26) is shown applied to a bundle of cables or the like 131. (Sable tie 130 is preferably made of flexible plastic and includes generally an elongated flexible strap 132, a head 133, and a locking pawl 1341. Strap 132 (FIG. 29) comprises a retainer portion 136 at one end and a tongue portion 137 at the other end. Tongue portion 137 is provided with retaining embossments 1410 on respective longitudinal tongue surface 141 and abutments or teeth 142 are provided on a strap tooth surface 143. Each tooth 142 comprises a tooth ratchet surface 144 and a tooth retaining surface 145 (FIGS. 29, 31 and 32). A pair of lateral shoulders 146 are provided on retainer portion 136 adjacent tongue portion 137.

Head 133 FIGS. 27, 28, and 30-32) is provided with a securing aperture means generally designated by the numeral 150, and includes a strap retaining passage portion 151 and a strap locking passage portion 152. Strap retaining passage portion 151 FIGS. 27 and 28) is defined generally by opposite side surfaces 153, inner head surface 154, and rail type surface 155 of a partition portion 156 having a reaction surface 156a and aperture 15611, and is adapted to generally complementally receive tongue portion 137 therethrough (FIG. 30). Passage portion 151 is provided with a peripheral lateral shoulder 157 which provides a stop engageable with strap retainer shoulder 146. Strap locking passage portion 152 (FIGS. 27, 28, and 3032) is generally defined by a general inner head surface 158 and a channel-shaped partition surface 159.

Locking pawl 134 is provided with one or more teeth 160 (FIGS. 29-32) which are each provided with a ratchet surface 161 on one side and a retaining surface 162 on the other side, and are adapted to respectively engage ratchet and retaining surfaces 144 and 145 of tongue teeth 142. Pawl 134 is pivotally secured by a hinge portion 163 to retaining portion 136 adjacent tongue tooth surface 143 whereby pawl 134 is normally positioned through aperture 156b into strap locking passage portion 152 beyond partition surface 159 FIG. 30), but is pivotable counterclockwise below partition surface 159 (FIG. 31) against the resiliency of hinge 153 to allow passage of tongue portion 137 through strap locking passage portion 152. A stop surface 164 (FIGS. 2931) is provided on pawl 134 opposite teeth 160 and is adapted to engage reaction surface 156a (FIG. 32) when pawl 134 of assembled strap 132 is pivoted clockwise a predetermined distance.

In operation, fourth illustrative embodiment 1311 of the cable tie of this invention is applied to a bundle of wires or the like 131 by initially inserting tongue portion 137 into strap retaining portion 151 (right FIG. 39) with the tongue portion 137 positioned in passage 151. Tongue portion 137 is moved further in passage portion 151 to a point wherein retaining embossments 140 are deformably urged past shoulder 157 through passage 151 and beyond head 133. Strap 132 is thus assembled with head 133 with tongue stop surface 146 of strap retaining portion 151 adjacent shoulder 157 and with tongue portion 137 retained within passage portion 151 and held against withdrawal by retaining embossments 140 positioned to the right in FIG. 31 beyond head 1133.

Extended tongue portion 137 of assembled strap 132 (FIG. 31) is then looped around the bundle 131 to be retained by cable tie 130 and is inserted through strap locking passage portion 152 of securing aperture means 150 in head 133 (FIG. 31). Tongue portion 137 thus inserted in strap passage portion 152 is generally confined between head surface 158 and partition surface 159. As tongue portion 137 is moved to the left through strap locking passage portion 152, tongue teeth 142 will ratchetably engage teeth 160 of normally extended pawl 134 causing pawl 134 to generally pivot counterclockwise from its normal position in FIG. 30 out of the path of tongue 137 in trap locking portion 152 to permit tongue portion 137 to move to the left in FIG. 31 and to tension strap 132 about bundle 131.

Upon release of the tensioned tongue portion 137 from ratcheting movement through strap locking passage portion l52, the tension in strap 132 will urge tongue portion 137 in a withdrawal direction to the right FIG. 32) through strap locking passage portion 152. However, pawl 134 with the normally extended position FIG. 30) will cause the one or more teeth 142 of tongue portion 137 (FIG. 32) to urge pawl 134 clockwise into tongue portion 137 to lock the tongue against withdrawal from strap locking passage portion 152 to secure cable tie 130 about bundle 131. Continued tensional or other urging of tongue portion 137 toward withdrawal from strap locking passage portion 152 will cause pawl 134 to rotate. further clockwise to eventually urge pawl stop 164 into engagement with reaction surface l56a to positively stop rotation of pawl 134 and to positively lock tongue portion 137 against withdrawal from strap locking passage portion 152, thus securing cable tie 130 tensionally about the bundle 131.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, as it will be understood to those skilled in the art that certain changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated flexible strap member having a retainer portion at one end and a tongue at the other end with a series of abutments along a longitudinal surface of said tongue, a head member having a securing aperture means extending therethrough with inner head surfaces, said securing aperture means having a strap retaining passage and a strap locking passage on opposite sides of a partition between said inner head surfaces, said strap retaining passage being adjacent one of said inner head surfaces and adapted to receive said tongue therethrough, the walls defining said strap retaining passage being adapted to engage and retain said strap retainer portion against movement therethrough to assemble said strap with said head, said locking passage being adjacent the other of said inner head surfaces and adapted to receive said tongue therethrough,-said partition having a pawl opening therethrough, and a pawl pivotally secured to said strap member and extending through said partition aperture into said locking passage when said tongue is assembled to said head for receiving said assembled tongue in a loop with said abutments in ratcheting one-way engagement with said pawl within said head member to prevent withdrawal of said looped tongue from said locking portion when said tongue is urged in the other direction therein, whereby said strap tongue is adapted to be secured around the bundle of wires or the like when assembled and looped around the bundle and positioned through said locking portion.

2. A cable tie as defined in claim 1 wherein said pawl is pivotally connected to the strap adjacent said longitudinal surface.

3. A cable tie as defined in claim 1 wherein said pawl is pivotally connected to the strap adjacent surface thereof opposite to said longitudinal surface.

4. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated flexible strap member having a retainer portion at one end and a tongue at the other end with a series of abutments along a longtiudinal surface of said tonge, a head member having a securing aperture means extending therethrough with substantially parallel opposed inner head surfaces, said head securing aperture means having a strap retaining and a strap locking portion between said inner head surfaces, said strap retaining portion having a passage adjacent one of said inner head surfaces and adapted to receive said tongue therethrough, said locking portion having a passage adjacent the other of said inner head surfaces and adapted to receive said tongue therethrough, said retaining and locking portions are passages generally separated by a partition portion, said partition portion having a pawl opening therethrough and said pawl is pivotally connected to said strap and extends through said partition opening into said locking portion aperture when said strap is assembled to said head, whereby said tongue is adapted to be secured around the bundle of wires or the like when assembled and looped around the bundle and positioned through said locking portion.

Patent No 3,316, 7 Dated June 18, 19.74

- Ihvenmfls) Ronald T. Fulton and Evan D. Roberts it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6; line 1: "53" should be 52- line 21: "(FIG., 16" should be FIG. l6)-- Column 7, line 8: ;"rails aboue" should be above rails line 24: W03" shoul dbe -93- d d I line 65: after "strap" and before "passage" insert -loc1 ing- Column 9, line 5: "trap" should bev strap-- line 11: to" should be (to-- Column 10", line 28 (Claim 4,- line 5 r a 4 "ton'ge" should be "tongue- Column 8, line 56: delete "passage" 7 Signed and sealed this. 9th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: MCCOY'M. GIBSON JR. o. MARSHALL DAN'N Attesting Officer v Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-59) l l l A J 603764959 a u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 o3ss-saa

Claims (4)

1. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated flexible strap member having a retainer portion at one end and a tongue at the other end with a series of abutments along a longitudinal surface of said tongue, a head member having a securing aperture means extending therethrough with inner head surfaces, said securing aperture means having a strap retaining passage and a strap locking passage on opposite sides of a partition between said inner head surfaces, said strap retaining passage being adjacent one of said inner head surfaces and adapted to receive said tongue therethrough, the walls defining said strap retaining passage being adapted to engage and retain said strap retainer portion against movement therethrough to assemble said strap with said head, said locking passage being adjacent the other of said inner head surfaces and adapted to receive said tongue therethrough, said partition having a pawl opening therethrough, and a pawl pivotally secured to said strap member and extending through said partition aperture into said locking passage when said tongue is assembled to said head for receiving said assembled tongue in a loop with said abutments in ratcheting one-way engagement with said pawl within said head member to prevent withdrawal of said looped tongue from said locking portion when said tongue is urged in the other direction therein, whereby said strap tongue is adapted to be secured around the bundle of wires or the like when assembled and looped around the bundle and positioned through said locking portion.

2. A cable tie as defined in claim 1 wherein said pawl is pivotally connected to the strap adjacent said longitudinal surface.

3. A cable tie as defined in claim 1 wherein said pawl is pivotally connected to the strap adjacent surface thereof opposite to said longitudinal surface.

4. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated flexible strap member having a retainer portion at one end and a tongue at the other end with a series of abutments along a longtiudinal surface of said tonge, a head member having a securing aperture means extending therethrough with sUbstantially parallel opposed inner head surfaces, said head securing aperture means having a strap retaining and a strap locking portion between said inner head surfaces, said strap retaining portion having a passage adjacent one of said inner head surfaces and adapted to receive said tongue therethrough, said locking portion having a passage adjacent the other of said inner head surfaces and adapted to receive said tongue therethrough, said retaining and locking portions are passages generally separated by a partition portion, said partition portion having a pawl opening therethrough and said pawl is pivotally connected to said strap and extends through said partition opening into said locking portion aperture when said strap is assembled to said head, whereby said tongue is adapted to be secured around the bundle of wires or the like when assembled and looped around the bundle and positioned through said locking portion.

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