Cable tie

Claim 2

A cable tie to be tensioned around a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated strap having a retaining head at one end and a tongue portion at the other end, said retaining head having a strap receiving locking means for normally receiving and positively retaining said tongue portion against movement in one direction to form said cable tie in a loop around the bundle of wires or the like, said strap receiving locking means comprising a single passage through said retaining head and means for engaging said tongue portion to permit only unidirectional movement of said tongue portion through said passage, said retaining head having a strap receiving and positioning means spaced from said strap receiving locking means for receiving and positively positioning the end of said tongue portion in said direction whereby said end is substantially bent double and thereby positioned parallel and generally adjacent to a portion of said strap, said portion of said strap being positioned between said end and said bundle of wires or the like.

Claim 3

A cable tie as defined in claim 1 wherein said strap locking means comprises a pawl pivotally mounted in said passage.

Claim 4

A cable tie as defined in claim 2 wherein a tab is provided on said pawl opposite said pivot and extending beyond said retaining head whereby said tab is engageable to cause said pawl to pivot out of locking engagement with said strap to release said strap.

Claim 5

A cable tie as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for engaging said tongue comprises unidirectional abutments on said pawl and said tongue has cooperating complemental unidirectional abutments.

Claim 6

A cable tie to be tensioned around a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated strap having a retaining head at one end and a tongue portion at the other end, said retaining head having a strap receiving locking means for normally receiving and positively retaining said tongue portion against movement in one direction to form said cable tie in a loop around the bundle of wires or the like, said strap receiving locking means comprising a single passage through said retaining head and means for engaging said tongue portion to permit only unidirectional movement of said tongue portion through said passage, said retaining head having a strap receiving and positioning means for receiving and positively positioning the end of said tongue portion in said direction whereby said end is substantially bent double and thereby positioned parallel and generally adjacent to a portion of said strap, said portion of said strap being positioned between said end and said bundle of wires or the like, said strap positioninG means comprising a pair of longitudinal projections adapted to receive said tongue therebetween, and a lateral portion laterally bridging said pair of projections and spaced from said locking means to provide a passage for receiving and positioning said tongue between said strap locking means and said lateral bridge portion.

Claim 7

A cable tie to be tensioned around a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated strap having a retaining head at one end and a tongue portion at the other end, said retaining head having a strap receiving locking means for normally receiving and positively retaining said tongue portion against movement in one direction to form said cable tie in a loop around the bundle of wires or the like, said strap receiving locking means comprising a single passage through said retaining head and means for engaging said tongue portion to permit only unidirectional movement of said tongue portion through said passage, said retaining head having a strap receiving and positioning means for receiving and positively positioning the end of said tongue portion in said direction whereby said end is substantially bent double and thereby positioned parallel and generally adjacent to a portion of said strap, said portion of said strap being positioned between said end and said bundle of wires or the like, said strap positioninG means comprising a pair of longitudinal projections adapted to receive said tongue therebetween, and a lateral portion laterally bridging said pair of projections and spaced from said locking means to provide a passage for receiving and positioning said tongue between said strap locking means and said lateral bridge portion.

Claim 8

A cable tie to be tensioned around a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated strap having a retaining head at one end and a tongue portion at the other end, said retaining head having a strap receiving locking means for normally receiving and positively retaining said tongue portion against movement in one direction to form said cable tie in a loop around the bundle of wires or the like, said strap receiving locking means comprising a single passage through said retaining head and means for engaging said tongue portion to permit only unidirectional movement of said tongue portion through said passage, said retaining head having a strap receiving and positioning means for receiving and positively positioning the end of said tongue portion in said direction whereby said end is substantially bent double and thereby positioned parallel and generally adjacent to a portion of said strap, said portion of said strap being positioned between said end and said bundle of wires or the like, said strap receiving and positioning means comprising a pair of longitudinal projections each having a lateral projection extending inwardly therefrom to define a space between said strap locking means and said lateral projections, said lateral projections defining an opening therebetween adapted to permit entry of said tongue portion, said opening being larger than the thickness of said tongue portion and smaller than the width of said tongue portion whereby said tongue portion is laterally insertable directly into said space by twisting and inserting said tongue portion on a lateral diagonal between said lateral projections.

Claim 9

A cable tie to be tensioned around a bundle of wires or the like comprising an elongated strap having a retaining head at one end and a tongue portion at the other end, said retaining head having a strap receiving locking means for normally receiving and positively retaining said tongue portion against movement in one direction to form said cable tie in a loop around the bundle of wires or the like, said strap receiving locking means comprising a single passage through said retaining head and means for engaging said tongue portion to permit only unidirectional movement of said tongue portion through said passage, said retaining head having a strap receiving and positioning means for receiving and positively positioning the end of said tongue portion in said direction whereby said end is substantially bent double and thereby positioned parallel and generally adjacent to a portion of said strap, said portion of said strap being positioned between said end and said bundle of wires or the like, said strap receiving and positioning means comprising a pair of longitudinal projections each having a lateral projection extending inwardly therefrom to define a space between said strap locking means and said lateral projections, said lateral projections defining an opening therebetween adapted to permit entry of said tongue portion, said opening being larger than the thickness of said tongue portion and smaller than the width of said tongue portion whereby said tongue portion is laterally insertable directly into said space by twisting and inserting said tongue portion on a lateral diagonal between said lateral projections.

Claim 10

A cable tie as defined in claim 6 wherein said inner ends of said lateral projections comprise surfaces which converge generally inwardly toward said locking means of said head whereby said lateral projections provide an entry space therebetween which is larger than the exit space therebetween to respectively augment entry and retention of said tongue end within said lateral and longitudinal projections.

Claim 11

A cable tie as defined in claim 6 wherein said strap positioning means comprises a pair of longitudinal projections laterally spaced to receive said tongue therebetween, and one of said lateral projections extends further laterally inwardly than the other of said projections to provide a laterally offset opening in said positioning means for receiving said tongue end.

Claim 12

A cable tie as defined in claim 8 wherein said longitudinal and lateral projections are positioned to provide a restricted tongue end retaining space requiring resilient deflection of said projections upon insertion of said tongue end therebetween whereby said tongue end will be retained in a restricted space.