TECHNICAL FIELD

[001 ] The present disclosure relates in general to fastening devices. More particularly, this disclosure pertains to a type of fastening device commonly known as a“cable tie” or“zip tie”, and various designs, features, and aspects thereof.

BACKGROUND

[002] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

[003] Cable ties or zip ties are often used by tradesmen, including electricians for example, and include a strap of a synthetic plastics material at one end of which there is a receiver head, which has an aperture at right angles to the strap. A pawl or ratcheted teeth are provided within the aperture and the other end of the tie is generally tapered and corresponding saw teeth are provided across the length of the strap. The tapered end of the strap includes the ratcheted teeth provided across the length of the strap. During use, the free end of the tie can pass through the aperture in the other end of the tie and be drawn therethrough along the ratcheting arrangement between the saw teeth of the strap and the pawl or teeth of the head until the articles located within the cable tie are firmly held together.

[004] Even though cable ties have been useful and become very popular, the presently available cable ties do pose some disadvantages. First, the free end of the cable tie often sticks out tangentially. It is therefore often cut off. Cutting off the free end of the cable ties is unsightly and presents a problem. By way of example, if the free end of the zip tie which extends outwardly at right angles needs to be cut off, a person has to cut the free end at some distance away from the point of exit through the aperture. Moreover, the cut portions of the zip tie can often extend outwardly at right angles and these cut portions of the tie may have sharp edges. As a result, workers (such as electricians who work in confined spaces while handling equipment using zip ties) may get scratched or hurt by these sharp edges. Furthermore, the articles being held by the cable tie can be damaged during cutting. This is especially the case when working in confined spaces.

[005] In view of the above, it is desirable to provide an improved cable tie or zip tie.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[006] In an aspect, the invention provides a zip tie comprising:

an elongate strap comprising of a series of ratchet members along at least a portion of the length of the strap, wherein the strap comprises a body extending between a first and a second end;

a head positioned at the first end of the strap and a tail positioned at a second end of the strap;

the head comprising:

an insertion passage configured to receive the tail during use and pass the tail through the insertion passage along a direction of the elongate strap towards the body of the strap

wherein the insertion passage comprises a pawl configured to engaging with the ratchet members on the elongate strap and allowing the movement of the elongate strap in one direction only; and a cutting edge is disposed in the head such that a length of the elongate strap extending out of the insertion passage can be flexed to contact the cutting edge and cut at least a part of the length of the elongate strap.

[007] In an embodiment, the insertion passage extends between an entrance portion and an exit portion for allowing the tail to be received into the insertion passage through the entrance portion and be extended outwardly from the exit portion.

[008] In an embodiment, the pawl is positioned along walls of the insertion passage for engaging the ratchet members provided along a segment of the elongate strap passing through the insertion passage.

[009] In an embodiment, the cutting edge comprises a metallic blade. The cutting edge may be flat, curved, V-shaped, or serrated.

[010] In an embodiment, the elongate strap comprises a substantially flattened profile. The elongate strap may have a substantially rectangular cross-section. The ratchet members may comprise ratchet teeth.

[01 1] In an embodiment, the insertion passage is structured to direct the tail of the elongate strap extending outwardly from the insertion passage towards the body of the elongate strep extending between the first and second ends of the strap.

[012] In an embodiment, the insertion passage is structured to positively direct the tail of the elongate strap towards the body of the elongate strep extending between the first and second ends of the strap.

[013] In an embodiment, the elongate strap comprises one or more of the following materials: Poly Vinyl Chloride, nylon, polyethylene.

[014] In some embodiments, the head and/or the pawl may be provided with a visual indicia such as forming the pawl and/or the head in a different colour. [015] In some embodiment, a visual indicia such as a distinctive coloured stripe may be provided along a length of the elongate strap.

[016] A method of affixing articles using a zip tie, the method comprising the steps of: placing an elongate strap having a series of ratchet members along at least a portion of the length of the strap around the articles to be affixed; passing a tail end of the elongate strap through an insertion passage of a head end of the elongate strap such that a pawl of the insertion passage engages with the ratchet members of the elongate strap, the insertion passage being configured to pass the tail through the insertion passage along a direction of the elongate strap, in one direction only, towards a body of the strap extending between the tail end and head end; and flexing a length of the elongate strap extending out of the insertion passage of the head to contact a cutting edge located in the head; and cutting at least a part of the length of the elongate strap with the cutting edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[017] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a zip tie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the zip tie;

Figure 3 is a close-up cross-sectional top view of a head end of a zip tie; Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of figure 3;

Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of figure 3;

Figure 4 is a side view of a zip tie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a top view of the zip tie illustrated in figure 4;

Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of figure 5; and

Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a zip tie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[018] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an improved zip tie 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[019] Conventional zip/cable ties are usually made by injection moulding of synthetic plastics material and this is a preferred method of manufacture of the tie 100 of the present invention, although the tie 100 can also be made from metal and other materials as deemed suitable.

[020] In this embodiment of the invention the tie 100 is preferably made of a synthetic plastics material, such as nylon or poly vinyl chloride, although other materials may be equally useful. It is largely conventional in form in that it has an elongated, preferably rectangular in cross section body 105, although this rectangular shape is not essential. The tie 100 has a head 1 10 at a first end, with a receptacle or insertion passage 150, and a tail 120 at a second end. The tail 120 has a tapered free end configured for easy insertion into the insertion passage 150 of the head 1 10. [021 ] The head 1 10 includes a pawl mechanism 1 15 for engaging ratchet members, such as teeth, on the elongate strap body 105. The pawl mechanism 1 15 allows relative movement of the elongate strap 105, in the insertion passage 150, in one direction only. It is important to note that the pawl mechanism 1 15 used in the presently described embodiment is not limiting and several other alternative embodiments may be used for providing the pawl mechanism including, for example, a single pawl, ridge, or cantilevered member, or a plurality of pawls, ridges, or cantilevered members. The pawl mechanism 1 15 is located along walls of the insertion passage 150 to effect engagement between the pawl 1 15 and the ratchet teeth, provided along the elongate strap 105, as the tail 120 (and then body 105) is pulled through the insertion passage 150.

[022] It is important to appreciate that the insertion passage 150 allows the tail 120 to be inserted and passed through the passage 150 along a direction of the elongate strap towards the body 105 of the tie 100. Unlike some of the prior art zip ties in which the receptacle or passage is arranged to allow the tail to extend outwardly in a perpendicular direction, the passage 150 of the presently described zip tie 100 directs the tail 120 of the elongate strap towards the body 105 of the elongate strap and prevents the tail portion 120 from extending at right angles relative to the loop formed by the strap body 105 once the tail has been passed through the insertion passage 150.

[023] Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that the insertion passage 150 extends between an entrance portion 150A (through which the tail 120 enters the passage 150) and an exit portion 150B (through which the tail 120 exits the passage 150). The structural configuration of the head 1 10 and the insertion passage 150 prevents the tail 120 from being angled at a perpendicular direction relative to the loop. In some embodiments, the passage 150 may be shaped to positively direct the tail 120 towards the body of the strap 105 forming the loop.

[024] The tie 100 is also provided with a metallic cutting edge 130 positioned inside the insertion passage 150, preferably adjacent the exit portion 150B of the passage 150. In a preferred form, the cutting edge 130 is formed on a metallic blade 170 located inside the head 1 10. During use, a free portion of the elongate strap 105, which includes the tail 120, may be pulled towards a perpendicular orientation (about an angle of almost 90 degrees relative to the segment of the strap located adjacent the head 1 10 and forming a part of the loop) that results in the cutting edge 130 to pierce through the elongate strap 105 and cut off a portion of the elongate strap 105 at a location that is substantially adjacent exit portion 150B of the insertion passage 150.

[025] Figure 3 illustrates a close up cross-sectional view of a head portion 1 10 of the tie 100, according to an embodiment, where the insertion passage 150, metallic blade 170, and cutting edge 130 can all be seen more clearly. In this embodiment the cutting edge 130 is serrated, but it should be appreciated that other shaped cutting edges could be utilised (such as, for example, a flat edge, curved edge, V-shaped edge). Figures 3A and 3B illustrate cross sectional views along lines A-A and B-B, respectively, in figure 3. Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate a tie 100 according to an embodiment of the invention, with figure 5B illustrating a cross sectional view along line A-A in figure 5. Figure 6 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a tie 100 according to ab embodiment of the invention in an assembled state.

[026] In use, the tie 100 may be passed around a bundle of cables, pipes or any other articles that are to be fastened or enclosed by the tie 100, and the free tail end 120 is moved into the insertion passage 150 of the head 1 10 and can be drawn therein with the pawl 1 15 of the receptacle being engaged with the ratcheted teeth of the strap body 105. As explained in the previous sections, the pawl 1 15 allows the strap body 105 to be passed through the insertion passage 150 in one direction only which in turn allows the user to apply a pulling force on the free tail end 120 with the pawl 1 15 ratcheting against the ratchet teeth which means that at any position the tie is basically located and pressure can be applied to ensure the tightness required.

[027] As the body 105 of the tie passes through the insertion passage 150, the shape of the internal walls of the insertion passage 150 cause the tail portion 120 and the adjacent segment of the strap 105 to lie close to the remaining segment of the strap 105 which forms the loop (as shown in figure 6) during use. If the segment adjacent the tail portion 120 is relatively short then it lies close to the body of the strap 105. Alternatively, if the segment adjacent the tail portion 120 extending outwardly from the insertion passage 150 is longer, the tail 120 can be cut and the shortened portion of the elongate strap 105 lies adjacent to the body of the strap 105. The shortened portion of the strap 105 may have sharp edges. Providing an insertion passage 150 that is shaped to direct the tail 120 in a manner as described above results in the shortened portion and its sharp edges to lie close to the body of the strap 105 forming the loop thereby reducing the possibility of causing cuts or gashes to workers handling equipment (such as wiring or pipes).

[028] In some embodiments, the tie 100 may be provided with a visual indicia such as forming the pawl 1 15 and/or the head 1 10 in a different colour to assist a user viewing the zip tie 100 to be able to easily identify determine the length of the tie 100 and, therefore, the circumference of the loop defined by the elongate strap 105. Alternatively, or additionally, a visual indicia such as a distinctive coloured stripe may also be provided along a length of the elongate strap 105 for easily determining the length or circumference of the elongate strap 105. [029] Advantageously, the provision of the metallic cutting edge 130 in combination with the structural configuration of the insertion passage 150 provides a zip tie 100 that results in the sharp edges of the cut portion of the strap to be directed towards the body of the strap 105 thereby reducing the possibility of workers being subjected to cuts and gashes whilst carrying out works involving equipment that uses zip ties 100. Consequently, when the tie is cut off, the free end will tend to lie against the body of the remainder of the tie and not extend outwardly therefrom.

[030] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term“comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising” and “comprised of” is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features.

[031 ] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[032] The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.