Heat-Shrink Cable Tie Assembly for Secure Custom-Length Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic cable ties may not adequately secure items, especially during transport and storage, and they require purchasing in fixed lengths, which can be inconvenient for custom applications.
Innovation Solution
A heat-shrinkable cable tie device with a continuous body that can be cut to fit, featuring a connector system with protrusions that secure the tie in place, allowing it to be customized in length and heat-shrink around objects for secure binding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional plastic cable ties are used, then they can bind items together, but they cannot fully prevent item movement during transport and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The cable tie body is made of heat-shrinkable material that changes its physical parameters (dimensional stability, shrinkage ratio) in response to temperature changes. When heated, the material shrinks to tightly conform to the bound items, transforming from a loose flexible state to a tight conforming state, thereby achieving complete immobilization of items.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable tie integrates multiple functions into a single component: mechanical binding through the ratchet mechanism, thermal response through heat-shrinkable material, and contour adaptation through shrinkage. This multi-functional design allows one component to achieve both initial binding and final secure immobilization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-length cable ties are purchased, then they are readily available, but they cannot be customized to fit specific binding applications
Solution Approach 1:
The cable tie is designed as a continuous body that can be segmented at any point during use. The continuous construction allows the user to cut the tie to any required length, transforming a single fixed-length product into multiple customized lengths to fit different application requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable tie transitions from a static fixed-length product to a dynamic customizable component. The continuous body design enables adaptive length adjustment based on specific binding needs, allowing the same product to serve multiple application scenarios with different dimensional requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides enhanced security by ensuring items cannot move during transport or storage, and it can be customized to fit specific applications by cutting the tie to the required length.
Implementation Method 1
a heat source can be applied to the body to heat-shrink the body around the specific shape/contour of the items
Data Source
AI summary
A cable tie device is provided. The device is comprised of a body with a first surface with at least one protrusion, wherein a first end of the body can be placed into a first opening of a connector and wherein the first end is secured by a protrusion of the first opening which engages the protrusion of the first surface. Then, the body can be placed around a plurality of items such that the second end of the body can then be secured within a second opening of the connector after being pulled through the opening to tighten the body around the items. Then, a heat source can be applied to the body to heat-shrink the body around the specific shape/contour of the items to prevent all movement of the items when bound by the body.