Dual-Material Cable Tie Head Resolving Locking Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable ties with flexible heads often fail to securely retain the tail, as the non-rigid material allows easy withdrawal by twisting and turning.
Innovation Solution
A dual-material cable tie design where the head is formed from two polymer materials with different flexural moduli and hardness, featuring a stiffer and harder outer portion to resist outward movement of the pawl and prevent tail removal, combined with over-molding for enhanced security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cable tie head is made from flexible material to allow wrapping around objects, then the cable tie can be easily installed and adapted to different objects, but the head cannot tightly grip the tail and the tail can be easily pulled out by turning and twisting
Solution Approach 1:
The cable tie head is constructed with two distinct materials having different properties: a softer inner material (first material) that provides flexibility for installation and adapts to objects, and a harder outer material (second material) that provides rigidity and gripping strength to secure the tail. This local differentiation of material properties allows the head to simultaneously achieve both adaptability during installation and reliable holding strength during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable tie head employs a composite structure combining two polymer materials with different flexural moduli and hardness. The inner material has lower flexural modulus for flexibility, while the outer material has higher flexural modulus for rigidity. This composite construction enables the head to exhibit both flexible and rigid characteristics in different regions, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and holding strength.
2Reliability
If the cable tie head is made from rigid material to securely grip the tail, then the holding strength increases, but the cable tie cannot be easily wrapped around objects
Solution Approach 1:
The cable tie head is constructed with two distinct materials having different properties: a softer inner material (first material) that provides flexibility for installation and adapts to objects, and a harder outer material (second material) that provides rigidity and gripping strength to secure the tail. This local differentiation of material properties allows the head to simultaneously achieve both adaptability during installation and reliable holding strength during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable tie head employs a composite structure combining two polymer materials with different flexural moduli and hardness. The inner material has lower flexural modulus for flexibility, while the outer material has higher flexural modulus for rigidity. This composite construction enables the head to exhibit both flexible and rigid characteristics in different regions, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and holding strength.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dual material cable tie includes a tail on a first end, a head on a second end, and an elongated strap extending therebetween. The strap and tail are substantially flat and formed from a first material. The tail can have teeth/ridges on one or both of the surfaces that extend outwardly from the surface(s). The head has a first portion, a second portion and a passage extending from a first end to a second end that receives the tail. A pawl is located in the passage and the second portion includes an exterior surface. The first portion of the head is made from a first material and the second portion is made from a second material that can be stiffer than the first material and the hardness of the second material can be the same or greater than the first material.