Bi-Directional Buttonhead Tie Assembly for Flexible Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buttonhead ties require multiple molds, increased labor and costs for assembly, and may require additional handling due to loose locking mechanisms, leading to installation complexity and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
A bi-directional buttonhead tie design where the tie strap and locking head are molded together with dual-sided serrations and slots, allowing for secure engagement in either direction, reducing assembly complexity and increasing manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the locking head and tie strap are separately molded, then assembly flexibility is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to multiple molds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking head and tie strap into a single molded part, eliminating the need for separate molding processes and assembly steps. This integration reduces manufacturing cost by using a single mold while maintaining assembly flexibility through the integrated design that allows the strap to be freely positioned and locked.
2Ease of operation
If the locking head and tie strap are loosely assembled, then installation ease is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential separation during shipping
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the locking head and tie strap into a single molded part, the patent eliminates the risk of separation during shipping and handling while maintaining ease of installation. The integrated design ensures the components remain permanently associated yet functionally flexible during the installation process.
3Ease of manufacture
If serrations are provided on only one side of the tie strap, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but adaptability decreases requiring specific orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing serrations on only one side of the tie strap, which creates a functional directionality. The serrated side engages with the locking mechanism while the smooth side faces outward, providing sufficient adaptability for most installation scenarios while simplifying the molding process compared to dual-sided serrations.
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes techniques and apparatuses, which include improved bi-directional buttonhead ties, techniques for manufacturing bi-directional buttonhead ties, and techniques for using bi-directional buttonhead ties. In aspects, a bi-directional buttonhead tie is configured for securing an elongated member to a support structure and includes a tie strap and a locking head. The tie strap includes a first side and a second side. The locking head includes an outer side opposite a panel side, the tie strap extending from the panel side of the locking head, the locking head further including a first slot extending through the locking head from the outer side to the panel side, the first slot configured to receive a portion of the tie strap therethrough, and a second slot extending through the locking head from the outer side to the panel side, the second slot configured to receive a portion of the tie strap therethrough.