Bundling strap

Abstract

The present invention provides a head for use in forming a bundling strap, the head comprising a pawl within a through hole aperture with an affixing member for affixing a waste strap of a single use

Description

The present invention relates to a bundling strap system and in particular a head / connector for such a system, such systems being more colloquially known as cable ties Background Bundling straps (alternatively known as cable ties, hose ties, tie wraps, wire ties, zap-straps, and zip ties) are a widely used type of fastener. They are a mass produced disposable item and many variants are known. Given the huge volume of such products used every year and the many applications in which they are used even niche applications and small improvements can be significant in improving the use and utility. Atypical bundling strap comprises an elongate strap with a serrated retaining track in the elongate strap is place for through a head that act as a connector so as to retain the strap in a loop given that the head is an end part of the strap. Bundling straps thereby form a loop that can be tightened but not loosened, the excess strap beyond the head once tightened can be cut off and disregarded. Typically a fastened object or fastened objects are held within the loop created by the strap. When only a small loop is required, a large amount of the strap may be unused, which once cut off is without use. This is a form of plastic waste. The strap provided for a given head is of fixed length such that if only a short length is provided to minimise waste it may not have the required length for many desired applications. If a longer length is provided for versatility, then it will create a large amount of plastic waste when used in applications not making use of this additional length. This waste is undesirable. To address these problems varies variations have been provided, such as independent heads in conjunction with a real of strap material and the heads can be available in a number of formats. Prior art includes US2007234524A1 to WITT A fastener and strap combination for a creating a bundling strap which connects the free ends of a strap to form a loop. Prior art further includes US3739429Ato THOMAS &BETTS A bundling strap formed preferably of plastic material having a plurality of body portions individually insertable within a head portion having an aperture. Prior art further includes US6332248B1 to HONEYWELL A novel wire bundle bounding method that meets the requirements of aerospace specifications as well as a novel cable tie used in the method. Whilst there are many variations available in the marketplace and, as disclosed more generally the remains opportunity for improved bundling straps to meet specific applications, reduce waste and improve utility The present invention The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the appended claims. The present invention provides A head for use in forming a bundling strap, the head comprising a pawl within a through hole aperture with an affixing member for affixing a waste strap of a single use cable tie to head the head such that that head and affixed strap create a new single use cable tie bundling strap, the affixing member affixing the strap perpendicular to the direction the through hole aperture, the affixing member comprising a blind hole aperture suitable for the strap to enter, the through hole aperture suitable for the same strap, the affixing member suitable for affixing the strap such that once affixed the strap is prevented from movement in the aperture in any direction, the pawl within the through hole aperture suitable for allowing movement of the strap through the aperture in one direction however preventing movement of the strap in any other direction. The head of a bundling strap of claim 1 where the mechanism for attachment of the head to the strap to create a new single use cable tie bundling strap is a different mechanism than the mechanism than the mechanism of the bundling strap. The head of a bundling strap of claim 1 or claim 2 where the mechanism for attachment of the head to the strap to create a new single use cable tie bundling strap uses pins or blades. The head of a bundling strap of claim 3 where the pins or blades are situated inside a through hole The head of a bundling strap of claim 4 where the pins or blades point away from the through hole aperture The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising nylon The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising metal. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising steel. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising martensitic stainless steel. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising one or more of Polypropylene, Tefzel (ETFE - Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene), Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) The head of a bundling strap of claim 1 or claim 2 where the mechanism for attachment of the head to the strap to create a new single use bundling strap comprises use of an adhesive. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim where the mechanism for attachment of the head to the strap to create a new single use bundling strap comprises use of melting. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising two pawls, suitable for ratcheting a strap entered into the through hole aperture independent of facing of strap serrations. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising rectangular, trapezoid or semicircular through hole aperture. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising through hole aperture with one or zero lines of symmetry. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising trapezoid through hole aperture. A kit of parts comprising a head of a bundling strap and strap Drawings The present invention is illustrated by means of the following drawings in which like features are designated with like numerals. The figures provide figure 1 depicts an isometric orthographic projection of a rectangular strap for use in the present invention figure 2 depicts an isometric orthographic projection of the rectangular strap, affixing member and head figure 3 depicts a side view orthographic projection of the rectangular strap, affixing member and head figure 4 depicts a front view orthographic projection of the rectangular strap, affixing member and head figure 5 depicts an isometric orthographic projection of two rectangular straps, affixing member and head figure 6 depicts an isometric orthographic projection of a trapezoidal strap for use in the present invention figure 7 depicts an isometric orthographic projection of the trapezoidal strap, affixing member and head figure 8 depicts a side view orthographic projection of the trapezoidal strap, affixing member and head figure 9 depicts a front view orthographic projection of the trapezoidal strap, affixing member and head figure 10 depicts an isometric orthographic projection of two trapezoidal straps, affixing member and head figure 11 depicts a cross section of two straps, affixing member and head, in the same orientation as figure 3 and figure 8 figure 12 depicts an isometric orthographic projection of the head and affixing member in the same orientation as figures 2, 5, 7 and 10 figure 13 depicts a side view orthographic projection of the head and affixing member which is depicted in figure 12 The features of the drawings are listed as follows: 10 Strap 12 Edge 14 Serration 20 Affixing Member 30 Head 32 Pawl 36 Aperture 40 Blade Detailed description Figure 1 depicts the strap 10A. The strap 10A is an elongate cuboid. One of the wide elongate faces of the elongate cuboid is partially covered with serrations 14. The strap’s serrations 14 are in a row along the elongate direction of the strap 10A. The serrations 14 being a regular arrangement of triangular prismatic indentations. The plane of all the triangles is perpendicular to the plane of the smallest rectangular end. The triangles being right angle triangles. The lines of the adjacent sides of the right-angle triangles perpendicular to the face of the cuboid on which the serrations 14 are present. To the sides of the serrations 14 there is a flat edge 12 area, without serration 14. The strap is depicted unbent. Figure 2 depicts the strap, affixing member and head. The strap of figure 2 is the same as the strap of figure 1. The strap 10A is inserted into the affixing member 20, the affixing member 20 is attached to the head 30. The strap 10A affixing member 20 and head 30 are attached in a row. The affixing member 20 is shaped as an outline of the strap. The affixing member hugs the strap, affixing it in place and stopping it from sliding. The affixing member is of uniform thickness. The head 30 is a cuboid containing an aperture 36, the aperture contains a pawl 32. The aperture 36 is rectangular. The aperture is centred on its face on the head 30. Figure 3 depicts the same object of figure 2 rendered from a different angle. Figure 4 depicts the same object of figure 2 and figure 3 rendered from a different angle. Figure 5 depicts the depicts the strap, affixing member and head of figure 2, figure 3 and figure 4 with the strap, depicted in figure 1 inserted in the aperture of the head. The strap, inserted into the head, inserted such that the midpoint of the strap is inside the head, with additional strap hanging out of the aperture of the head in both directions. The serrations of the strap interface with the pawl of the head, with the pawl of the head imbedded in one of the indentations, such that the faces of the pawl and the faces of the indentations are parallel. Figure 6 depicts the strap 10B. The strap 10B is an elongate trapezoidal prism. The elongate face of the elongate trapezoidal prism corresponding with the short parallel side of the trapezium is partially covered with serrations 14. The strap’s serrations 14 are in a row along the elongate direction of the strap 10B. The serrations 14 being a regular arrangement of triangular prismatic indentations. The plane of all the triangles is perpendicular to the plane of the trapezium face. The triangles being right angle triangles. The lines of the adjacent sides of the right-angle triangles perpendicular to the face of the trapezoidal prism on which the serrations 14 are present. To the sides of the serrations 14 there is a flat edge 12 area, without serration 14. The strap is depicted unbent. Figure 7 depicts the strap, affixing member and head. The strap of figure 7 is the same as the strap of figure 6. The strap 10B is inserted into the affixing member 20, the affixing member 20 is attached to the head 30. The strap 10B affixing member 20 and head 30 are attached in a row. The affixing member 20 is shaped as an outline of the strap. The affixing member hugs the strap, affixing it in place and stopping it from sliding. The affixing member is of uniform thickness. The head 30 is a cuboid containing an aperture 36, the aperture contains a pawl 32. The aperture 36 is rectangular. The aperture is centred on its face on the head 30. Figure 8 depicts the same object of figure 7 rendered from a different angle. Figure 9 depicts the same object of figure 7 and figure 8 rendered from a different angle. Figure 10 depicts the depicts the strap, affixing member and head of figure 7, figure 8 and figure 9 with the strap, depicted in figure 1 inserted in the aperture of the head. Figure 11 depicts a cross-section view of the two straps affixing member and head, the cross-section evenly dividing each, the attachment means are depicted. Inside the head the pawl indents between two serrations allows for one directional motion only. The pawl and head are comprised of the same material. The affixing member contains blades. The blades in the affixing member are on both broad faces of the affixing member on which the affixing member interfaces with the strap. The blades are embedded in the affixing member. The blades are embedded in the strap. The blades are pointed. The blades are at an angle to the faces of the affixing member such that the blades are pointing inwards towards the head. The blades are embedded in the affixing member and embedded in the strap such that the blades, affixing member and straps are unable to move relative to each other. Four blades are depicted. The blades are distributed within the affixing member, the blades being distributed with even spacing from each end of the affixing member. The blades are able to cut into the strap to create the holes in the strap into which the blades are embedded. The strap, inserted into the head, inserted such that the midpoint of the strap is inside the head, with additional strap hanging out of the aperture of the head in both directions. The serrations of the strap interface with the pawl of the head, with the pawl of the 5 head imbedded in one of the indentations, such that the faces of the pawl and the faces of the indentations are parallel. The cable tie is flexible, the strap is made out of Nylon 6 / 6 (Polyamide 66), Stainless Steel, Polypropylene, Tefzel (ETFE - Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene), Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) io The blade 40 is comprised of metal. The blade 40 is stainless steel. The blade 40 is martensitic stainless steel. Figure 12 depicts the head and affixing member without the strap present, the head and affixing member are ready to be used with a strap or with two straps. Figure 13 depicts the same object of figure 12 rendered from a different angle.

Claims

1. A head for use in forming a bundling strap, the head comprisinga. a pawl withinb. a through hole aperture withc. an affixing member for affixing a waste strap of a single use cable tie to head the head such that that head and affixed strap create a new single use cable tie bundling strap,d. the affixing member affixing the strap perpendicular to the direction the through hole aperture,e. the affixing member comprising a blind hole aperture suitable for the strap to enter, the through hole aperture suitable for the same strap, the affixing member suitable for affixing the strap such that once affixed the strap is prevented from movement in the aperture in any direction, the pawl within the through hole aperture suitable for allowing movement of the strap through the aperture in one direction however preventing movement of the strap in any other direction.

2. The head of a bundling strap of claim 1 where the mechanism for attachment of the head to the strap to create a new single use cable tie bundling strap is a different mechanism than the mechanism than the mechanism of the bundling strap.

3. The head of a bundling strap of claim 1 or claim 2 where the mechanism for attachment of the head to the strap to create a new single use cable tie bundling strap uses pins or blades.

4. The head of a bundling strap of claim 3 where the pins or blades are situated inside a through hole5. The head of a bundling strap of claim 4 where the pins or blades point away from the through hole aperture6. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim such that the pins or blades interface with the face of the bundling strap without serrations7. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising nylon8. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising metal.

9. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising steel.

10. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising martensitic stainless steel.

11. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising one or more of Polypropylene, Tefzel (ETFE - Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene), Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)12. The head of a bundling strap of claim 1 or claim 2 where the mechanism for attachment of the head to the strap to create a new single use bundling strap comprises use of an adhesive.

13. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim where the mechanism for attachment of the head to the strap to create a new single use bundling strap comprises use of melting.

14. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising two pawls, suitable for ratcheting a strap entered into the through hole aperture independent of facing of strap serrations.

15. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising rectangular, trapezoid or semicircular through hole aperture.

16. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising through hole aperture with one or zero lines of symmetry.

17. The head of a bundling strap of any prior claim comprising trapezoid through hole aperture.

18. A kit of parts comprising a head of a bundling strap and strap10

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