Tie strap device having locking head with line of weakness

• US 5,881,435 A
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Jermyn Jr
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Jermyn Jr
• Inventors: Jermyn, Richard A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US09/107,602
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 24/16 PB, 24/17 AP, 24/30.5 P, 24/3.4
• US Class Current: 24/16.0PB
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 63/1036 the female locking member being provided with at least one metal barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/141 Plastic bands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/153 Plastic band bag tie

Abstract

A tie strap device is in the form of an elongated body of substantially yieldably resilient deformable and reformable material. The elongated body includes a strap and a locking head. The strap has opposite longitudinal surfaces and opposite ends. The locking head is formed at one end of the strap while the other end of the strap is free. The locking head defines a cavity therethrough having an interior surface. The locking head has portions which are connected together and define a line of weakness in the locking head in communication with the cavity. The line of weakness allows for separation of the portions from one another and forcible removal of the strap from the cavity in response to a pulling force applied by the strap on the locking head at the line of weakness. The elongated body also has retention elements defined on the interior surface of the locking head and on one of the opposite longitudinal surfaces of the strap for forming a locking engagement between the strap and locking head and thereby preventing withdrawal of the strap from the cavity in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the strap through the cavity.

Claims

1. A tie strap device, comprising:

(a) an elongated body of substantially yieldably resilient deformable and reformable material, said elongated body including

(i) an elongated strap being substantially flat and having opposite longitudinal surfaces and opposite ends, one of said opposite ends being free, and

(ii) a locking head formed at the other of said opposite ends of said strap opposite from said free end and extending therefrom, said locking head defining a cavity therethrough having an interior surface, said locking head having portions connected together and defining a line of weakness in said locking head in communication with said cavity, said line of weakness in said locking head permitting separation of said portions from one another and forcible removal of said strap from said cavity in response to a pulling force applied by said strap on said locking head at said line of weakness; and

(b) retention means on said locking head and strap for forming a locking engagement between said strap and locking head preventing withdrawal of said strap from said cavity in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of said strap through said cavity.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said substantially yieldably resilient deformable and reformable material of said elongated body is plastic.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said locking head has a substantially wedge-shaped recess continuous with said cavity and disposed directly below said line of weakness of said locking head.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said line of weakness is constituted by a reduction in thickness of a portion of said locking head.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said locking head has a substantially wedge-shaped cutout aligned with said line of weakness of said locking head.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said line of weakness is constituted by a reduction in thickness of a portion of said locking head.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said line of weakness is a series of indentations in a portion of said locking head.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said line of weakness is a series of slots through a portion of said locking head.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said locking head has a pair of opposite internal facing side walls which releasably interconnect with one another so as to form said line of weakness in said locking head.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said opposite facing side walls of said locking head define and form releasably interlocking pockets and protrusions.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said retention means includes:

a series of grooves defined on at least one of said opposite longitudinal surfaces of said strap; and

at least one locking element extending from said interior surface of said locking head for locking insertion into one of said grooves defined on said at least one opposite surface of said strap upon insertion of said free end of said strap through said cavity.

12. A tie strap device, comprising:

(a) an elongated body of substantially yieldably resilient deformable and reformable material, said elongated body including

(i) an elongated strap being substantially flat and having opposite longitudinal surfaces and opposite ends, one of said opposite ends being free, and

(ii) a locking head formed at the other of said opposite ends of said strap opposite from said free end and extending therefrom, said locking head defining a cavity therethrough having an interior surface, said locking head having portions connected together and defining a line of weakness in said locking head in communication with said cavity, said line of weakness in said locking head permitting separation of said portions from one another and forcible removal of said strap from said cavity in response to a pulling force applied by said strap on said locking head at said line of weakness, said locking head also defining a substantially wedge-shaped cutout along said line of weakness; and

(b) retention means on said interior surface of said locking head and on at least one of said opposite longitudinal surfaces of said strap for forming a locking engagement between said strap and locking head preventing withdrawal of said strap from said cavity in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of said strap through said cavity.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said substantially yieldably resilient deformable and reformable material of said elongated body is plastic.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said retention means includes:

a series of grooves defined on at least one of said opposite longitudinal surfaces of said strap; and

at least one locking element extending from said interior surface of said locking head for locking insertion into one of said grooves defined on said at least one opposite surface of said strap upon insertion of said free end of said strap through said cavity.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein said line of weakness is constituted by a reduction in thickness of a portion of said locking head.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein said line of weakness is a series of indentations in a portion of said locking head.

17. A tie strap device, comprising:

(a) an elongated body of substantially yieldably resilient deformable and reformable material, said elongated body including

(i) an elongated strap being substantially flat and having opposite longitudinal surfaces and opposite ends, one of said opposite ends being free, and

(ii) a locking head formed at the other of said opposite ends of said strap opposite from said free end and extending therefrom, said locking head defining a cavity therethrough having an internal surface, said locking head having portions connected together and defining a line of weakness in said locking head in communication with said cavity, said line of weakness in said locking head permitting separation of said portions from one another and forcible removal of said strap from said cavity in response to a pulling force applied by said strap on said locking head at said line of weakness, said locking head having a pair of opposite internal facing side walls which releasably interconnect with one another so as to form said line of weakness; and

(b) retention means on said interior surface of said locking head and on at least one of said opposite longitudinal surfaces of said strap for forming a locking engagement between said strap and locking head preventing withdrawal of said strap from said cavity in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of said strap through said cavity.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said substantially yieldably resilient deformable and reformable material of said elongated body is plastic.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein said opposite facing side walls of said locking head defining said line of weakness of said locking head have releasably interlocking recesses and protrusions formed thereon.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein said retention means includes:

a series of grooves defined on at least one of said opposite longitudinal surfaces of said strap; and

at least one locking element extending from said interior surface of said locking head for locking insertion into one of said grooves defined on said at least one opposite surface of said strap upon insertion of said free end of said strap through said cavity.