Cable Tie Head Geometry for Bolt Attachment and Simpler Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable ties with bolt reception spaces require complex injection molds, leading to increased production costs and rejects, and do not effectively connect with various bolt lengths, due to the strap projecting beyond the head's side, which interferes with bolt attachment.
Innovation Solution
A cable tie design featuring a head with a curved section that allows the strap to extend in parallel to the reception space, reducing the number of sliders needed in the mold and enhancing the connection by allowing the strap to project beyond the base, thus improving attachment reliability and versatility across different bolt lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the strap projects beyond the side of the head comprising the opening to the reception space, then the connection between the cable tie and bolt element is enhanced, but the strap interferes with the attachment of the bolt element to the cable tie
Solution Approach 1:
The strap is configured to extend in parallel to the depth of the reception space rather than projecting beyond the side of the head. This dimensional reorientation allows the strap to extend along the depth axis of the reception space, enabling it to project beyond the base in a direction that does not interfere with bolt attachment while still providing the bias needed for secure connection.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex injection molded tools with two inserts and several sliders are used to form cable ties with reception spaces, then the cable tie shape and reception space are formed accurately, but the production cost increases and the number of rejects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design eliminates the need for complex mold components such as multiple inserts and sliders by simplifying the head geometry. The curved section and parallel strap extension can be formed using a simpler single-insert or reduced-component mold, removing unnecessary manufacturing complexity while maintaining the required shape accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex mold mechanisms to create the reception space and strap configuration, the invention inverts the approach by designing the head geometry such that the reception space is formed between the pawl and base, allowing the strap to extend parallel to the depth. This geometric inversion enables simpler tooling to achieve the same manufacturing precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If the head geometry is simplified to reduce mold complexity, then production cost decreases, but the ability to accommodate various bolt element lengths may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The reception space is designed with sufficient depth and appropriate dimensional tolerances to accommodate bolt elements of varying lengths while maintaining a simple head geometry. The parallel extension of the strap along the reception space depth provides universal adaptability, allowing the same simplified head design to work with different bolt lengths without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cable tie comprising a head and a strap, wherein the head is configured to be coupled to a section of the strap when a rear end of the strap is guided through the head, wherein the head further comprises a reception space configured to receive a bolt element. The invention further relates to a method of producing a cable tie and to a cable tie injection molding tool.