Cable Tie Fastener With Ratchet Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable ties, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,451, are unable to securely engage with many conventional electrical connectors due to the requirement that the locking projection be located at one end or outside the fastener track, limiting their versatility in automotive applications.
Innovation Solution
A cable tie design featuring a serrated strap with a locking head and a fastener comprising a platform with an engagement tooth, allowing secure attachment to electrical connectors with a ratchet mechanism that engages the connector's guide rails, enabling flexible placement and secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the fastener is designed with a rigid tab to slide into the fastener track, then the connection strength is improved, but the adaptability to different connector types deteriorates because the locking projection must be at one end or outside the track
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the rigid tab into a flexible tab that can dynamically change its shape during insertion. The flexible tab can bend and deform to accommodate locking projections at various positions along the fastener track, not just at the end. This dynamic flexibility allows the same fastener design to work with multiple connector types having different locking projection locations, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the tab from rigid to flexible, allowing it to undergo elastic deformation. This parameter change enables the tab to adapt its shape during the insertion process, accommodating various locking projection positions while maintaining secure engagement. The flexibility allows the tab to conform to different connector geometries without compromising the locking mechanism's effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the locking projection is positioned at one end or outside the fastener track, then the fastening reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to limited placement flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tab allows the fastening operation to proceed with locking projections at various positions along the track, not just at the end. The tab's ability to dynamically deform during insertion makes the fastening process easier to perform with different connector types, while the final engaged position maintains reliable locking through proper geometric engagement of the tab with the locking projection.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable tie includes a serrated strap which is fitted to an apertured head. In use, the cable tie can be formed into closed loop around an electrical harness cable by inserting the serrated strap through the apertured head. The cable tie additionally includes a fastener which can be used to secure an unattached electrical connector securely against the electrical harness cable. The fastener comprises a rectangular platform that includes a convex outer wall and a flat inner wall that are partially separated by a transverse slot. The platform is shaped to define a pair of opposing, inwardly extending notches which enable the platform to be slid into engagement with corresponding railings formed on the electrical connector. A ratchet-shaped tooth is formed on the convex outer wall to engage a corresponding pawl formed on the electrical connector to lockably retain the fastener coupled to the electrical connector.