Dual spacing clamp tie

• US 6,240,602 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tyton Hellermann Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hellermanntyton Corporation (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Geiger, Gerard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US09/396,027
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 24/16.PB, 24/17.AP, 24/605.P, 248/74.3
• US Class Current: 24/16.0PB
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/137 and consisting of a flexible band
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/237 for two pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/32 using mounting clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/141 Plastic bands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band

Abstract

A dual spacing clamp tie includes a locking head and two flexible straps extending outwardly in opposite directions from the locking head. The straps are insertable through the locking head to form two, spaced loops that can be used to secure items in spaced, parallel relationship to each other. A pair of releasable pawls in the locking head secures the straps around the items to be secured. An aperture through the locking head is provided for securing the dual spacing clamp tie to a mounting structure such as a threaded stud. An additional pawl mechanism is provided within the aperture to secure the clamp tie to the mounting stud. A nut or other fastener can be used to further secure the clamp tie to the mounting stud. If desired, the additional pawl mechanism can be configured to permit insertion of the mounting element into the aperture from one end only. The locking head may be bifurcated wherein one of the halves contains the aperture for securing the dual spacing clamp tie to the mounting structure.

Claims

1. A dual spacing clamp tie comprising:

a unitary member including;

a single locking head including a pair of laterally spaced apertures,

a pair of straps extending in opposite directions from the locking head,

a first pawl mechanism contained within one of said locking head apertures for engaging and retaining one of the straps,

a second pawl mechanism contained within the other of said locking head apertures for engaging and retaining the other of the straps,

said locking head including a third aperture located intermediate said pair of laterally spaced apertures and for receiving a mounting element therethrough, and

structure for facilitating insertion of the mounting element into the aperture from one end only and for engaging the mounting member to secure the locking head to the mounting element.

2. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 1 wherein the structure comprises an additional pawl mechanism operable to permit movement of the mounting element in a first direction through the aperture and to resist movement of the mounting element in the opposite direction through the aperture.

3. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 2 wherein the additional pawl mechanism includes a distal end point located within the aperture, and wherein said pawl mechanism includes an innermost portion proximate to the wall surface defining said aperture.

4. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 2 wherein the aperture includes a central axis and wherein said additional pawl mechanism is oriented obliquely relative to the central axis of the aperture.

5. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 2 wherein the additional pawl mechanism includes a pair of opposed pawls located substantially opposite one another within the aperture.

6. A dual spacing claim tie as defined in claim 2 wherein the additional pawl mechanism includes a pawl extending inwardly of said third aperture and includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth.

7. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 1 wherein said structure for facilitating insertion of the mounting element allows for insertion from one end only.

8. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 1 wherein said unitary structure is formed of injection molded plastic.

9. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 8 wherein the aperture includes a central axis and each of said opposed pawls is angled relative to the central axis.

10. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 9 wherein the dual spacing clamp tie comprises a unitary structure formed of injection molded plastic.

11. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 10 wherein the third pawl mechanism includes a distal end point located within the aperture and wherein said pawl mechanism includes an innermost portion proximate to the wall surface defining said aperture.

12. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 11 wherein the dual spacing clamp tie comprises a unitary structure formed of injection molded plastic.

13. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 12 wherein the aperture includes a central axis and each of said opposed pawls is angled relative to the central axis.

14. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 10 wherein the third pawl mechanism includes a pair of opposed pawls located substantially opposite one another within the aperture.

15. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 14 wherein the dual spacing clamp tie comprises a unitary structure formed of injection molded plastic.

16. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 15 wherein the aperture includes a central axis and each of said opposed barbs is angled relative to the central axis.

17. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 10 wherein the third pawl mechanism includes a plurality of barbs located within the aperture.

18. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 17 wherein the dual spacing clamp tie comprises a unitary structure formed of injection molded plastic.

19. A dual spacing clamp tie for securing elongate items adjacent a mounting member in spaced substantially parallel relationship to each other, comprising:

a locking head having a pair of arcuate surfaces for engaging the items and further having an aperture for receiving therethrough the mounting member,

a pair of straps extending in opposite directions from the locking head and insertable through the locking head to form a loop in conjunction with each of the arcuate surfaces,

a first pawl mechanism within the locking head for engaging and retaining one of the straps in looped relationship with the locking head and one of the arcuate surfaces,

a second pawl mechanism within the locking head for engaging and retaining the other of the straps in looped relationship with the locking head and the other of the arcuate surfaces, and

a third pawl mechanism within the aperture for permitting movement of the mounting element in a predetermined direction therethrough while resisting movement of the mounting element in the opposite direction and for engaging and retaining the mounting element within the aperture.

20. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 19 wherein the aperture includes a central axis and wherein said third pawl mechanism is oriented obliquely relative to the central axis of the aperture.

21. A dual spacing clamp tie comprising:

a bifurcated locking head including adjoining rotatable members and wherein each of said adjoining members is apertured,

a pair of straps extending in opposite directions from the bifurcated locking head,

a first pawl mechanism contained within one of said apertured adjoining members for engaging and retaining one of the straps,

a second pawl mechanism contained within the other of said apertured adjoining members for engaging and retaining the other of the straps, and

said bifurcated locking head including a third aperture located intermediate said adjoining members and for receiving a mounting element therethrough.

22. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 21 wherein individual straps of said pair of straps extend laterally from a respective adjoining member of said bifurcated locking head.

23. A dual spacing clamp tie comprising:

a bifurcated locking head including adjoining members and wherein each of said adjoining members is apertured,

a pair of straps extending in opposite directions from the bifurcated locking head,

a first pawl mechanism contained within one of said apertured adjoining members for engaging and retaining one of the straps,

a second pawl mechanism contained within the other of said apertured adjoining members for engaging and retaining the other of the straps,

said bifurcated locking head including a third aperture located intermediate said adjoining members and for receiving a mounting element therethrough,

a first structure for facilitating insertion of the mounting element into the aperture and for engaging the mounting element to secure the bifurcated locking head to the mounting element, and a second structure for allowing relative rotational, movement of the adjoining members of the bifurcated locking head.

24. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 23 wherein said structure for allowing rotational movement includes a set of interlocking members.

25. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 24 wherein the additional pawl mechanism includes a pair of opposed, triangularly shaped pawls carried at the ends of two elongate hinges disposed substantially diametrically opposite each other within the aperture.

26. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 24 wherein said interlocking members include an inter-fitting male member and a female receptor.

27. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 26 wherein said male member includes a spherical portion and said female receptor includes a mating concave surface.

28. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 23 wherein the first structure engages the mounting member.

29. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 23 wherein the first structure engages the mounting member.

30. A dual spacing clamp tie as defined in claim 23 wherein the first structure comprises a through hole.