Two-piece Cable Tie with Cored-out Neck for Small Bundle Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable ties, both one-piece and two-piece, face issues such as limited ability to securely fasten small bundles, rotation and slippage around bundles, high insertion force requirements, and vulnerability to inversion under withdrawal forces, especially when used in automated installation tools.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece cable tie design featuring a cored-out region near the neck for bending, a protruding cross pad to prevent rotation, wide recessed rails for increased clamping force, and reinforcement under the metal barb to prevent inversion, allowing secure fastening of both large and small bundles with reduced insertion force and enhanced tensile strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional two-piece cable tie with solid cross-section strap is used, then strap strength is improved, but the cable tie cannot securely fasten very small bundles and is not suitable for automated installation tools
Solution Approach 1:
The strap cross-section is made non-uniform with a reduced cross-sectional area at the neck region while maintaining a solid cross-section in the strap body. This local modification allows the cable tie to conform to small bundles without compromising overall strap strength, enabling secure fastening of both small and large bundles
2Adaptability or versatility
If a preformed bent strap neck is provided to orient the strap perpendicular to the head, then small bundles can be securely bundled, but the cable tie cannot be used with automated installation tools due to rigidity and geometry constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The strap neck is designed with modified geometric parameters including a reduced cross-sectional area and specific angular orientation (approximately 90 degrees relative to the head). These parameter changes allow the strap to be flexible enough for automated tool insertion while maintaining the ability to conform to small bundles when tightened
3Ease of operation
If high removal force is applied to the strap, then the cable tie can be removed, but the metal locking device becomes inverted causing cable tie failure
Solution Approach 1:
A reinforcement feature is provided on the strap that engages with the metal locking device to prevent inversion before it occurs. This preliminary anti-action mechanism counteracts the inversion tendency when removal force is applied, maintaining cable tie reliability while allowing controlled removal
4Reliability
If the cable tie is tightened around a bundle, then the bundle is secured, but the cable tie rotates relative to the bundle or slips axially along the bundle
Solution Approach 1:
The cable tie head is designed with an asymmetric profile including a top surface and bottom surface with different geometries. This asymmetry creates a non-uniform contact interface with the bundle, preventing rotation and axial slippage while maintaining secure fastening through the tightening action
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
A two-piece cable tie (100) is provided that is capable of usage with an automated cable tie installation tool. The two-piece cable tie (100) accommodates improved gripping of large or small bundles. By including a cored-out region (130) near the neck (113), the cable tie can secure a near zero bundle size. By including a transverse pad (140) on the bottom side of the cable tie strap near the cable tie head (112), the cable tie can be prevented from rotation relative to the bundle to which it is secured. A preferred cable tie strap has a wide recessed center section (155) and high side rails (160) that increase lateral clamping force. To resist barb inversion, the cable tie preferably includes a reinforcement area (124) underneath the metal locking device when used with a strap having a recessed area. By maintaining relatively high side rails (160) and a thin web section in the tip, the cable tie can achieve zero insertion force while maintaining sufficient strap rigidity and size to enable feeding of the strap through an automated cable tie installation tool.