US3197829A

US3197829A - Binder strap

Info

Publication number: US3197829A
Application number: US178331A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack E Caveney; Roy A Moody
Original assignee: Panduit Corp
Current assignee: Panduit Corp
Priority date: 1962-03-08
Filing date: 1962-03-08
Publication date: 1965-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-03
Also published as: GB989984A; DE1490157B1

Description

Allg 3, l965 J. cAvl-:NEY ET AL 3,197,829

BINDER STRA? Filed March 8, 1962 Q @e ll/M f f V LMV? O 1 a mw 5 T n mgm w 5 Nn Qu .m Nm@ MA Q mi ,w .ww 6 R m M W u... 1..../

lulu

United States Patent 3,197,829 BHNDER STRAP Jack E. Caveney, Chicago, and Roy A. Moody, Riverdale, Ill., assgnors to Pantluit Corporation, Tinley Parli, lill., a corporation of illinois Filed llt/lar. S, 1962, Ser. No. 178,331 6 Claims. (Si. 2dr-16) This invention relates to the art of wrapping and binding wires or cables and particularly to a wire or cable tie or binder having improved qualities for versatile use in wiring systems ordinarily adapted for being bound with wiring harnesses.

On electrical installations such as on electric control panels, automobiles, aircraft and others, where a plurality of electrical units are wired together in different ways, it has become customary to direct adjacent wires along coincident paths for neatness and for facility of visual location by binding them together with string, straps, tape or other forms of wiring binders. Although some binders, clamps or other Wire tie forms have proven satisfactory for some applications, all of them have seemed to display certain shortcomings limiting their use and application. Among the disadvantages of some are lack of adjustability to accommodate a Wide enough range of wire bundle sizes so that many different size clamps or binders must be available to meet every need. There are adjustable binders which can accommodate a wide range of bundle sizes and -they are of either the releasable or non-releasable types. The releasable type can be applied to a bundle and thereafter released and removed for reuse Without being destroyed. But, the releasable feature complicates the design and manufacture and thereby makes the entire cost relatively high. It has also been learned from experience that the releasable feature is not essential in most cases because removal of the binders, once in place, is usually not required. Therefore, for most situations a non-releasable type is satisfactory.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved wire binder of the non-releasable type which obviates some of the diiculties and disadvantages of prior art devices by being adapted for a wide range of bundle sizes, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install. Its cost of manufacture is believed to be low enough that it can be used economically in certain places where the reusable or releasable type had been previously used on the basis that the binder can be cut off and thrown away and replaced with another without any substantial cost increase for the times that replacement or adjustment is required.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved wire binder which can be manufactured in a simple manner, preferably of a molded plastic such as nylon or the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved wire binder having an improved strap check feature insuring a firm ystrap grip in its check position.

It is another object to provide an improved wire binder having an improved strap check feature which is insured of proper operation even with ordinary dimensional manufacturing variations.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved wire binder which does not embody an ordinary check pawl, but rather employs a surrounding sleeve having a wedge which forces overlapping toothed portions of the binder into tight engagement with each other.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a wire binder adapted for a wide range of wire sizes which is left with a free extending end after it is tensioned onto a bundle, which free end can be readily severed and removed to leave a neat and compact binder joint.

Other objects and advantages of the invention should become apparent upon reference -to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l shows a perspective view of a wire bundle secured together by a plurality of the wire binders of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view partially cut away and partially in section of the main portions of the wire binder of this invention;

FlG. 3 shows a front elevation partially cut away and partially in section of the wire binder shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a right end view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FlG. 5' shows a sectional view of the :sleeve portion of the wire binder as viewed along line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a partial sectional view of the assembled wire binder as it appears surrounding a bundle of wires prior to tensioning the wire binder; and

FIG. 7 shows a :smaller partial sectional view of the assembled wire binder as it appears after the Wire binder is tensioned onto the bundle of wires.

In FIG. l is shown how a plurality of wires 1 are held bound together by means of the preferred wire binder straps 2 embodying the invention. The binders are encircled about the wires which extend parallel to each other and are grouped into a closely aligned bundle. The Worker 3 is shown grasping the end of a binder strap to invariably tension it onto the bundle. A tool might just as well be used for this purpose. After the straps are tensioned taut, the free end of the strap is severed and removed.

The preferred embodiment of one of the wire binder straps 2 is shown enlarged in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The strap 2 is provided with a long end length d connected to a shorter connector end 5. The length 4 is ordinarily provided with a separate or discrete encircling connector sleeve 6 which is free to pass along the length 4 because of a central opening 7 extending longitudinally through the sleeve 6. The length is provided with equally spaced transverse teeth 8 connected to each other in a sawtooth pattern. These teeth 3 extend only partially below one surface of the length d. The connector end 5 is substantially of the same width as the length 4, except for two triangular wedges 9 and l0 projecting from its sides. Also, the connector end 5 is of wedge shape becoming progressively thicker toward its free end. The upper surface of the connector end 5 is provided with three transverse teeth ll which are about the same size as the teeth S of the length al. A notch l2 is provided in front of the teeth l1 to diminish the crosssection and allow the strap to bend sharply in that region, as will later be described. Still ahead of the notch 12 is a narrow width 13 of the strap which is not essential, but ahead of it the side margins of the strap are provided with two projecting pads le and l5 which project transversely to a width slightly greater than the inside width of the sleeve 6. The purpose of these pads 14 and 15 is to cause the sleeve 6 to be held captive between them and the connector end 5 once the sleeve is forced past them.

T he sleeve 6 is shaped to mate with the connector end 5. It has a bottom wall 6a providing an internal wedging surface sloped to match the slope of the wedging surface or bottom wall 5a of the connector end S and (FIG. 5) it has two wedge shaped recesses 6b and 6c which are of the same size and shape as the laterally projecting triangular Wedges on the connector end 5. The mating of the wedges 9 and lt) with the recesses 6b and 6c prevents the connector sleeve 6 from sliding of of the free end of the connector end 5.

In use, a binder strap 2 is encircled about a group of wires ll, as indicated in FIG. 6. After the connector sleeve 6 has been moved past the pads lili and l5, the length 4 is in effect bent back upon itself to provide a loop and the free end da of the length i is inserted between the top inside wall de of the opening 7 in the sleeve 6 and the upper surface of the narrow portion i3 of the strap 2 and is moved through the sleeve in the direction toward the connector end 5, as shown in FIG. 6. lt will be obvious from a consideration of FlG. 6 that this initial movement of the free end da through the sleeve d and in overlying and sliding contact across the top of the connector end 5, tends to urge the connector end in the same direction, thereby initially tending to insure that the sloping wedging surface 5a of the connector end 5 is out of wedging engagement with the internal wedging surface 6a of the sleeve d and, thus, insuring or permitting free movement of the free end portion of the strap through the sleeve. YContinued pulling of the strap length 4 in this direction through the sleeve, however, begins to cause the loop to become tensioned about the object being bound and this tension thereupon causes the connector end 5 to be drawn into the opening 7 of the sleeve 6 until the sloped bottom surface 5a of the connector end 5 contacts the sloped lower inside wall 6a of the sleeve 6, and the teeth lll of the connector end 5 are close enough to engage the teeth 8 on the length 4, The free end da of the length 4 .is then pulled further through the sleeve 6 until the strap loop encircling the wires l is taut to a tension suliicient to adequately ,hold the wires l. tightly together. Such a condition is shown in FlG. 7 where the strap is shown bent sharply in the region of the notch l2 due to the tautness of the strap in its loop about the wires li. It should be noted that the slope of the teeth 8 and lll is such that they can slide over each other without difficulty while tensioning the strap, but hook into engagement with each other thereafter to prevent reverse movement and any slackening of the strap tension.

During the strap tensioning period, the tension developed in the strap causes the connector end 5 to wedge more tightly against the strap end da to cause tighter engagement of the mating teeth 3 and li and tighter abutment or engagement of the upper surface of the strap end da with the upper inner surface 6e of the sleeve 6, and this guarantees that, once the binder is tensioned, it will not loosen. After tensioning is completed, the free strap end 4a portion as indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 7 is severed from the remainder of the strap in a region 4b close to the sleeve 6 and the connector end 5 to provide a iinal neat appearance like that shown on the secured binder straps 2 in FIG. l. It is self-apparent, of course, that after the binder strap has been applied and tensioned about an object in the manner described above, any forces applied to the strap tending to withdraw the strap length 4 from the sleeve 6 in the direction opposite to that in which the strap length 4 was initially inserted through the sleeve, will tend to move the wedging surface 5a on the connector end 5 still more iirmly against the internal wedging surface 6a of the sleeve 6 and thereby still more firmly urge the connector end 5 and the portion 4 of the strap into locking engagement.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be clearly understood that the invention can be made in many different ways, without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

il. A binder strap comprising: an elongated flexible strap, one end of said strap being a connector end and the remainder of said strap length constituting a free end portion, a tapered wedge integrally formed on said connector end of said strap, said wedge having a sloping wedging surface thereon, a discrete connector sleeve encircling said strap and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, an internal sloping wedging surface in said sleeve adapted to engage said first-mentioned wedging surface, and an internal abutment surface in said sleeve opposite said internal wedging surface, said free end portion of said strap being bent back upon itself to provide a loop and being inserted through said sleeve in a iirst direction toward said connector end of said strap with said free end portion of said strap overlying said connector end thereof, said free end portion of said strap being movable through said sleeve in said overlying position and in said direction toward said connector end of said strap to tighten said 4loop about an associated object, the initial movement of said free end portion of said strap through said sleeve in said direction toward said connector end tending to urge said wedge on said connector end out of engagement with said internal wedging surface, thereby to permit free movement of said free end portion of said strap in said direction, the tensioning of said loop about the associated object causing said wedge on said connector end of said strap slidably to bear against said internal wedging surface in said sleeve to urge said connector end into forceful engagement with said free end portion of said strap and iirrnly to urge said free end portion of said strap against said internal abutment surface in said sleeve thereby to secure said loop in a tightened condition, any force tending to withdraw said free end portion of said strap from said sleeve in a direction opposite said first direction tending to move said wedge on said connector end of said strap still more firmly against said internal wedging surface in said sleeve and thereby more firmly to urge said connector end and said free end portion of said strap into locking engagement, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said free end portion of said strap from said sleeve and to prevent loosening of said loop.

2. A binder strap comprising: an elongated flexible strap having a relatively smooth surface on one side thereof and a row of teeth on the opposite side thereof, one end of said strap being a connector end and the remainder of said strap length constituting a free end portion, a tapered wedge integrally formed on said connector end of said strap, said wedge having a sloping first wedging surface on a side thereof opposite the toothed surface of said strap, a discrete connector sleeve encircling said strap and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, an internal sloping wedging surface in said sleeve adapted to engage said first-mentioned Wedging surface, and an internal abutment surface in said sleeve opposite said internal wedging surface, said free end portion of said strap being bent back upon itself to provide a loop and being inserted through said sleeve in a rst direction toward said connector end of said strap with said free end portion of said strap overlying said connector end thereof and with said teeth of said free end portion overlying and engaging said teeth of said connector end, said free end portion of said strap being movable through said sleeve in said overlying position and in said direction toward said connector end of said strap to tighten said loop about an associated object, the initial movement of said free end portion of said strap through said sleeve in said direction toward said connector end tending to urge said wedge on said connector end out of engagement with said internal wedging surface, thereby to permit free movement of said free end portion of said strap in said direction, the tensioning of said loop about the associated object causing said wedge on said connector end of said strap slidably to bear against said intemal wedging surface in said sleeve to urge said teeth on said connector end into locking engagernent with said teeth on said free end portion of said strap and firmly to urge said plain surface of said free end portion of said strap against said internal abutment surface in said sleeve thereby to secure said loop in a tightened condition, any force tending to withdraw said free end portion of said strap from said sleeve in a direction opposite said first direction tending to move said wedge on said connector end of said strap still more irrnly lagainst said internal wedging surface in said sleeve and thereby more firmly to urge said teeth into interlocking engagement, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said free end portion of said strapfrom said sleeve and to prevent loosening of said loop.

3. A binder strap comprising: a exible free strap length, said length being joined at one end to a connector portion, `a connector sleeve surrounding said strap length, said strap length having a projection thereon which restricts passage of the sleeve oil one end of the binder strap, the connector portion having a projection thereon which restricts passage of the sleeve ott the other end of the binder strap, the free end of said strap length being bent back upon itself into a loop and inserted forwardly through said connector sleeve toward said connector portion, said connector portion being wedge shaped and adapted to engage an internal wedge shaped recess in the connector sleeve to urge the portion of said strap length extending through said connector sleeve tightly against said connector portion as the connector sleeve is moved toward said connector portion.

4. A binder strap comprising: a flexible free strap length provided with a plurality of teeth along one of its surfaces, said length being joined at one end to a connector portion which is also provided with teeth along it projecting in the same direction as the teeth of the strap length, a connector sleeve surrounding said strap length, said strap length having a projection thereon which restricts passage of the sleeve off one end of the binder strap, the connector portion having a projection thereon which restricts passages of the sleeve oli the other end of the binder strap, the free end of said strap length being bent, back upon itself, into a loop and inserted forwardly through said connector sleeve toward said connector portion, said connector portion being wedge shaped and engageable with an internal wedge shaped recess in the connector sleeve to urge the portion of said strap length extending through said connector sleeve tightly against said connector portion and thereby urge the teeth on the strap length into engagement with the teeth on the connector portion as the connector sleeve is moved toward said connector portion.

5. A binder strap as deiined by claim 4 characterized by, said teeth on both the strap length and the connector portion being of sawtooth shape so that they interlock and resist reverse movement of the strap and past the connector portion, but readily allow slippage of the strap end over the connector portion in a forward direction.

6. A binder strap as defined by claim 4 characterized by, said binder strap being of reduced cross-section in the region of the connector portion so that the binder strap preferentially bends easier at said region due to tension in the strap loop when said loop of binder strap is tensioned onto an object.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 21,305 8/58 Agnew 24k25 211,331 1/79 Johnson 24`25 1,278,779 9/18 Springer 24-17 2,474,372 6/ 49 Schmith 24-206 2,632,217 3/53 Flora 24-16 2,915,268 12/59 Wrobel 24-206 X 2,979,794 4/61 De Bartolo 24-17 3,009,220 11/61 Fein 24-16 FOREIGN PATENTS 209,500 8/ 57 Australia.

518,012 3/53 Belgium.

137,072 12/ 19 Great Britain.

DONLEY l. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Examiner.

Claims

3. BINDER STRAP COMPRISING: A FLEXIBLE FREE STRAP LENGTH, SAID BEING JOINED AT ONE END TO A CONNECTOR PROTION, A CONNECTOR SLEEVE SURROUNDIONG SAID STRAP LENGTH, SAID STRAP LENGTH HAVING A PROJECTION THEREON WHICH RESTRICTS PASSAGE OF THE SLEEVE OFF ONE END OF THE BINDER STRAP, THE CONNECTOR PROTION HAVING A PROJECTION THEREON WHICH RESTRICTS PASSAGE OF THE SLEEVE OFF THE OTHER END OF THE BINDER STRAP, THE FREE END OF SAID STRAP LENGTH BEING BEND BACK ITSELF INTO A LOOP AND INSERTED FORWARDLY THROUGH SAID CONNECTOR SLEEVE TOWARD SAID CONNECTOR PORTION, SAID CONNECTOR PORTION BEING WEDGE SHAPED AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AN INTERNAL WEDGE SHAPED RECESS ION THE CONNECTOR SLEEVE TO URGE THE POTION OF SAID STRAP LENGTH EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CONNECTOR SLEEVE TIGHTLY AGAINST SAID CONNECTOR PORTION AS THE CONNECTOR SLEEVE IS MOVED TOWARD SAID CONNECTOR PORTION.