Twist-Off Cable Tie Fastener Tool-Free Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cable ties are difficult to remove without damaging the secured items and are prone to unintentional breakage, posing risks during use in secure applications like pharmaceutical transport and outdoor activities, while existing 'tear away' designs are aesthetically unpleasing and hard to manufacture and package.
Innovation Solution
A twist off cable tie with a flexible polypropylene strap featuring parallel transverse teeth and an angled flexing arm within a channel frame, where the strap is inserted in one direction and removed by partial rotational motion of wings, concentrating breaking forces at the head portion, allowing tool-free removal without damaging secured items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cable tie uses traditional design with tapered end and slot, then secure fastening is achieved, but removal requires breaking the cable tie or using tools which may damage secured items
Solution Approach 1:
The cable tie is segmented into distinct functional zones: a head portion with channel frame and wings, an elongate strap with engagement features, and a scored weakened area for controlled breaking. This segmentation allows different portions to serve specific functions - the head and strap provide secure fastening while the scored area enables tool-free removal without damaging secured items.
Solution Approach 2:
A scored or weakened area is pre-formed in the elongate strap at a predetermined location between the head portion and the elongate strap. This preliminary action creates a predetermined breaking point that allows the cable tie to be easily broken and removed by applying force to the elongate strap without requiring tools and without damaging the secured items.
2Ease of operation
If cable tie is designed to be easily broken for removal, then ease of operation improves, but unintentional breakage becomes a risk during use
Solution Approach 1:
The cable tie has non-uniform structural properties along its length. The head portion and the scored area have different mechanical properties - the head portion is structurally robust to prevent unintentional breakage during use, while the scored area is deliberately weakened to enable easy removal. This local quality differentiation allows the same object to have both high reliability during use and ease of removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel frame and engagement features create preliminary resistance to withdrawal forces during normal use, preventing unintentional breakage. The structural design includes features that actively resist forces that might cause accidental breaking, while still allowing controlled breaking at the scored area when intentional removal is desired.
3Ease of operation
If cable tie uses rectilinear tag design for easy removal, then ease of operation improves, but manufacturing complexity and packaging difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The removal function is merged into the main body of the cable tie through the scored weakened area integrated into the elongate strap, rather than using a separate rectilinear tag. This merging eliminates the need for separate tag components, simplifying the manufacturing process and making packaging easier while still providing tool-free removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable tie is formed as a continuous flexible plastic structure with an integrated scored area, eliminating the need for separate rigid tag components. This flexible monolithic design simplifies manufacturing through single-step molding processes and eliminates packaging issues associated with sharp edges and corners of rectilinear tags.
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 twist off cable tie provides secure engagement and easy, tool-free removal, reducing unintentional breakage and manufacturing complexities, while being aesthetically pleasing and easy to package, with minimal rotational force required for fracture.
Implementation Method 1
The rounded tip and a portion of the length of the elongate strap is inserted in and passed through the medial channel in only one direction and cannot removed therefrom
Implementation Method 2
destruction and removal of the cable tie fastener occurs by partial rotational motion of the first and second wings about a non-coaxially aligned axis of the elongate strap
Data Source
AI summary
An improved twist off cable tie fastener having an elongate flexible strap defining a plurality of parallel adjacent transverse teeth. First end portion of elongate strap is tapered to a rounded tip for insertion through a channel defined in a dimensionally larger head portion carried at opposing end of the elongate strap. At least one angulated tooth carried by a flexing arm within the channel irremovably engages with the transverse teeth defined in the elongate strap. The head portion has two opposing and spaced apart wings to facilitate grasping and rotation by a user about a minor transverse axis of the elongate strap. Partial rotation of the wings concentrates strap fracturing forces at a position immediately adjacent to the head portion causing destruction of the cable tie fastener and allowing removal thereof without tools.