WO2003019063A1

WO2003019063A1 - Flexible tie device

Info

Publication number: WO2003019063A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/001177
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Alan Clarke
Original assignee: Michael Alan Clarke
Priority date: 2001-08-30
Filing date: 2002-08-29
Publication date: 2003-03-06
Also published as: AUPR737801A0

Abstract

A tie device (10) comprising at least one face with a plurality of protrusions (18) and a plurality of holes (20), wherein in use at least one protrusion (18) is releasably engageable with one of the holes (20).

Description

FLEXIBLE TIE DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tie devices such as rope, string, cable ties, etc. The invention has been developed primarily for use as a flexible tie device and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Several tie devices exist in the market place for banding materials together. For example a well-known tie, known as a cable tie", is used to secure several parallel lengths of electrical cable together. The cable tie typically has a ratchet female portion at one end and tapered male portion at the other end and ribs along most of the length of the cable tie to connect in a ratchetlike manner when the tapered male portion is inserted into the female portion of the tie. Cable ties are manufactured in various lengths and are designed as one use only, and as such must be destroyed to be disconnected.

Another form of known tie is known under the Trade Mark "VELCRO" . VELCRO typically comprises two strips where one strip has a plurality of upstanding loops on one of its opposing surfaces while the second strip has a plurality of upstanding hooks from one of its opposing surfaces. In use, the hooks of the second strip are pressed against the loops of the first strip, such that the hooks catch the loops and thus connect the two strips together. The two strips can be separated by manual force by prying the two strips apart where the hooks will either flexibly disengage their respective loops or break the loops apart . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tie device comprising at least one face with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of holes, wherein in use at least one protrusion is releasably engageable with one of the holes.

Preferably the protrusions are in the form of upstanding formations such as spigots.

The tie device is preferably in the form of an elongate member.

Preferably the holes extend through the elongate member from one major face to an opposite major face.

Alternatively the holes are in the form of blind recesses. The elongate member may comprise a strip of flexible material.

Preferably the elongate member is substantially flat or planar.

Preferably the tie device has two major faces with the protrusions on one face.

Preferably the major face with the protrusions comprises at least one row of protrusions.

Preferably the tie device comprises at least one row of holes . According to another embodiment the tie device comprises a plurality of rows of protrusions and/or a plurality of rows of holes.

The device may comprise a row of alternating protrusions and holes . Preferably the device comprises a plurality of rows each having alternating protrusions and holes.

The holes in one row may be located adjacent a protrusion of an adjacent row and vice versa.

Preferably protrusions and holes are configured in rows and columns across at least one face of the device.

Preferably the device comprises three parallel rows of protrusions and holes .

Each hole may be cylindrical. Each protrusion may have a substantially complimentary shape to the hole with which it is engageable. Preferably each protrusion is substantially cylindrical.

Each protrusion may have a connection portion to prevent easy removal of the protrusion from the hole.

The connection portion may comprise at least one lateral portion extending from the outer surface of the protrusion.

Preferably the lateral portion encircles the protrusion.

The lateral portion may comprise a lug, lip, rib, ridge, ear etc.

The lateral portion may extend from at least one side of the protrusion.

The lateral portion may be substantially arcuate in shape. It is preferred that the protrusion includes a stepped annular portion around the top face thereof. .

The lateral portion may be located below the stepped annular portion.

Preferably the annular portion is frusto conical . The stepped annular portion may reduce in diameter towards the top surface of the protrusion.

Preferably the top surface is substantially flat .

The device may have distal end portions . Preferably one end portion comprises a plurality of holes and no protrusions.

According to another embodiment both end portions are substantially the same in configuration.

According to another embodiment a central portion of the device has no holes or spigots . It is preferred that a lateral portion of a protrusion enables the protrusion to snap lock into engagement with one of the holes. According to the invention there is provided a flexible tie device including a base strip having disposed on one of its opposing surfaces a plurality of recesses and upstanding formations, wherein in use at least one of the upstanding formations is releasably engageable with one of the recesses to form the tie device.

Advantageously the flexible tie device of the present invention is a singular strip which, when folded back upon itself, may releasably connect to itself. Preferably any one of the upstanding formations is releasably engageable with one of the recesses.

Preferably the plurality of recesses and upstanding formations are disposed at regular intervals in a longitudinal row on the strip. Preferably the row is one of a pair of side by side rows of recesses and upstanding formations.

Preferably the plurality of recesses and upstanding formations are arranged as alternate recesses and upstanding formations. Preferably any one of the upstanding formations is releasably snap-lockingly engageable with one of the recesses.

Alternatively the device may include a plurality of rows of perforations formed in the base strip, the rows being disposed laterally on the strip at regular intervals. Advantageously, the rows of perforations allow a user to select a desired length of strip and manually tear the strip along the row of perforations to result in a strip of desired length. The device may be formed in a continuous length, or in discrete lengths .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top right perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a portion of a flexible tie device according to the present invention;

Figures 2 to 5 are alternative embodiments of a portion of the tie device;

Figure 6 is a top right perspective view of a portion of the tie device of Figure 1, during an intermediate manufacturing process thereof;

Figure 7a shows a cross-sectional front view of a button according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7b shows a perspective view of parts of a flexible tie device coupled together according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 shows the tie device shown in Figure 7b coupled in a different manner;

Figure 9 shows coupled components of a tie device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 10 shows an alternative coupling arrangement of the tie device shown in Figure 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention is a flexible tie device 10. The device 10 includes a base strip 12 having first and second opposing surfaces 14 and 16 respectively. A plurality of upstanding formations in the form of buttons 18 and recesses in the form of holes 20 are disposed on first opposing surface

14. The holes 20 proceed through the base strip 12 from the first opposing surface 14 to the second opposing surface 16. In an alternative embodiment, the holes pass only part way through the base strip, 12.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the buttons 18 are shaped as two frusto-conical surfaces 22 and 24 sharing a common axis and joined at their tapered ends. The bore surface 26 of the holes 20 includes a surface tapering inwardly of the hole, the surface 26 shape being substantially complementary to the shape of the buttons 18. The flexible nature of the device 10, in cooperation with the button 18 and hole 20 shapes mean that, if the strip 12 is bent into a loop shape, any one of the buttons 18 may releasably snap-lockingly engage with a hole 20. This is because the diameter of the top 28 of each button 20 is slightly larger than the diameter of the narrowest lateral cross section 30 of each hole 20. The buttons 18 and holes 20 are disposed at regular intervals in a longitudinal row 32, the buttons 18 and holes 20 being arranged as alternate buttons and holes.

The device 10 is typically made from semi-rigid plastics, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. However, in an alternative embodiment the strip 10 is manufactured from elasticised plastics or rubber or neoprene.

In use, using as an example of the device 10 illustrated in Figure 1 for the application of securing a plurality of parallel cables together, the device 10 is supplied as a roll of, for example, 5 metres of length of device 10. The user manually secures the loose end of the device 10 on the roll and removes a desired length of the device 10 from the roll. For example, if the user is to secure together four lengths of standard home extension cord they may withdraw approximately 10 cm of the device 10 from the roll.

The user then, using scissors, a knife, or the like, cuts the desired length portion of device 10 from the roll .

The device is then wrapped around the extension cables at a predetermined point along the cables in one of several ways. The strip may be wrapped around the cables either with the buttons 18 directed inwardly of the cables, the buttons 18 directed outwardly from the cables, or the device 10 wrapped around the cables with a single twist to form a Moebius strip when a button 18 is engaged with a hole 20.

True to the nature of the design of the device 10 the user will select the most appropriate button 18 to engage with the most appropriate hole 20. If desired, the user may engage two or more buttons 18 with the corresponding number of holes 20. The nature of the shape of the holes 20 means that the user may engage a button 18 with a hole 20 by forcing the button to enter the hole 20 from either the first opposing surface 14 or the second opposing surface 16. Figures 2 to 5 illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention where like numerals denote like parts.

The alternative embodiment of the device 10 illustrated in Figure 2 employs two side by side rows 32 of buttons 18 and holes 20 where the rows are offset such that a button 18 in one row is laterally adjacent a hole

20 in an adjacent row. The alternative embodiment in Figure 3 illustrates four side by side rows 32, also where a button 18 in one row is laterally adjacent a hole 20 in an adjacent row, etc. The embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 illustrates four side by side rows 32 where the holes 20 in one row are adjacent the holes 20 in an adjacent row and the buttons 18 in one row are adjacent the buttons 18 in an adjacent row. Embodiments of the device 10 illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 are used in an identical manner to the device 10 illustrated in Figure 1

The embodiments of the device illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, having more than one row 32 of holes and buttons, can be used in applications where greater engagement contact is required for securing items together with the device.

The width of the device 10 is typically 1 cm, however the device width may be more or less than 1 cm depending on the desired application. For example the width may range from micro-range (approximately 1 μm) to 1+ metres. The width of the device will depend on the intended application for the device. Also, the type of application for the device will determine which embodiment of the invention is used. For example, to secure several lengths of electrical cable together may require the embodiment of the device 10 illustrated in Figure 1, having a width of 5mm. On the other hand, to secure several 205L drums together may require the embodiment of the device 10 illustrated in Figure 3, having a width of 20cm.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, where like numerals denote like parts. This embodiment includes perforations 34 formed in the base strip 12. The perforations 34 are arranged in lateral rows 36, the rows being disposed laterally to the strip at regular intervals. These perforations allow the user, once a desired length of device 10 is taken from the roll, to tear the desired length of device 10 from the roll along the perforations

34. In this way, the user does not need to employ a cutting device, such as scissors, a knife, etc, to cut a desired length of device from the roll. A method for manufacturing the device 10 is by moulding or extruding a continuous base strip 12 onto a travelling belt . This strip 12 is then partially cooled before being passed between a pair of rollers disposed one on either side of the opposing surfaces 14 and 16 of strip 12. The rollers form the holes 20 and button blanks 38 illustrated in Figure 6. The product is then cooled before passing a heated roller over the device which contacts the tops 40 of the button blanks and deforms the tops 40 to form the buttons 18 illustrated in Figure 1, for example.

In this manner, the buttons 18 are formed without the need to draw the device 10 from a die and thus the device 10 can be produced in a continuous process rather than a batch process . Additional embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figures 7a to Figure 10.

In Figure 7a a button 50 is shown which is in the form of a cylindrical upstanding spigot with a flat top surface 51 and a small frusto conical surface 51 and a small frusto conical region 52 just below the top surface 51.

One side of the spigot 50 is provided with an arcuate rib 53 which extends laterally in a substantially horizontal direction. The ridge 53 extends approximately one quarter or one half of the way around the periphery of the spigot 50.

As shown in Figure 7b a tie device 54 may be provided with three rows of alternating buttons and holes 53, 55. Each row of protrusions and holes 56, 57, 58 is aligned with the other rows 56, 57, 58. A button in one row is aligned at right angles with an adjacent hole of another row. In this way buttons and holes alternate along a row and across rows.

The concentration of holes and buttons may be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the coupling strength between two tie devices. In Figure 7b a second tie device 59 is provided which has an identical bottom face to the top face of the first tie device 54. The two tie devices 54, 59 are coupled together at right angles so that the buttons 53 of tie device 54 protrude through holes 60 of tie device 59 and vice-versa.

The ridge 53 on each protrusion provides a snap engagement between each button 53 and the hole 60 in which it is inserted. As shown in Figure 7b the ridge 53 protrudes beyond the top surface of tie device 59 and acts as a retaining means which prevents easy decoupling of the two tie devices 54, 59.

Figure 8 shows the tie devices 54 and 59 when coupled in axial alignment and therefore at 90° with respect to the coupling arrangement shown in Figure 7b. Figure 9 shows tie devices 54 and 59 coupled at right angles but with the top face of tie device 53 coupled to the bottom face of tie device 59. This figure shows how the buttons of tie device 53 still protrude through the holes beyond the upper surface of tie device 59, but are well below the level of the buttons 61 of tie device 59. The ridges 53 still protrude beyond the upper surface of tie device 59 as previously described.

Finally Figure 10 shows the tie devices 54 and 59 coupled together top face to bottom face but in axial alignment.

Now that preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the flexible tie device at least as described with reference to the preferred embodiments may have the following advantages:

1. only one strip of the device is required to use the device for securing objects together; 2. the strip can be re-used; and

3. the configuration of the device allows a user to cut a desired length of device from the greater length of the device, rather than having to obtain a tying device of the desired length. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing conclusion.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A tie device comprising at least one face with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of holes, wherein in use at least one protrusion is releasably engageable with one of the holes .

2. The tie device as claimed in claim 1 comprising an elongate member having the at least one face with the plurality of protrusions and holes.

3. The tie device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the holes extend through the elongate member from one major face to an opposite major face.

4. The tie device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the holes comprises lined recesses.

5. The tie device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the elongate member comprises a strip of flexible material.

6. The tie device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the protrusions comprise upstanding formations.

7. The tie device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 6 comprising two major faces with the protrusions on one face .

8. The tie device as claimed in claim 7 comprising at least one row of protrusions.

9. The tie device as claimed in claim 8 comprising at least one row of holes.

10. The tie device as claimed in claim 6 comprising a plurality of rows of alternating protrusions and holes .

11. The tie device as claimed in claim 10 wherein holes in one row are located against a protrusion of an adjacent row.

12. The tie device as claimed in claim 11 wherein protrusions and holes are configured in rows and columns across at least one face of the device.

13. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each hole is substantially cylindrical .

14. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each protrusion has a substantially cylindrical shape which is complimentary to the shape of the hole with which it is able to be engaged.

15. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of protrusions comprise connection portions which are adapted to provide resistance to engagement and disengagement of one protrusion with one hole.

16. The tie device as claimed claim 15 wherein each connection portion comprises a lateral ridge extending from an outer surface of the protrusion.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the lateral ridge is arcuate in shape.

18. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the lateral portion extends substantially around a quarter of the periphery of the protrusion.

19. The tie device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the protrusion has a stepped annular portion around its top face.

20. The tie device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the lateral portion is located below the stepped annular portion.

21. A flexible tie device including a base strip having disposed on one of its opposing surfaces a plurality of upstanding formations and recesses, wherein in use at least one of the upstanding formations is releasably engageable with one of the recesses to form the tie device.

22. A flexible tie device according to claim 21 wherein any one of the upstanding formations is releasably engageable with one of the recesses .

23. A flexible tie device according to claim 21 or 22 wherein the plurality of recesses and upstanding formations are disposed at regular intervals in a longitudinal row on the strip.

24. A flexible tie device according to claim 23 wherein the row is one of a pair of side by side rows of upstanding formations and recesses.

25. A flexible tie device according to any one of the claims 21 to 24 wherein the plurality of upstanding formations and recesses are arranged as alternate upstanding formations and recesses.

26. A flexible tie device according to any one of the claims 21 to 25 wherein at least one upstanding formation is releasably snap-lockingly engageable with any one of the recesses.

27. A flexible tie device according to any one of the claims 21 to 26 including a plurality of rows of perforations formed in the base strip, the rows being disposed laterally on the strip at regular intervals.

28. A flexible tie device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the lateral portion extends substantially around a half of the periphery of the protrusion.

29. A flexible tie device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings .