The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
May. 15, 2001
Jack E. Caveney, Hinsdale, IL (US);
Robert J. Krisel, Oak Forest, IL (US);
James A. Brownlee, Park Forest, IL (US);
Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, IL (US);
Abstract
A two piece cable tie is provided having an improved locking device support. The cable tie includes a strap with a first end and a free end, a locking head having a strap accepting channel, and a metal locking device mounted within an anchoring housing region of the head to form a cantilever beam having a mounted end fixed to a support of the locking head and a free end positioned within the strap accepting channel. The strap includes a central inwardly projecting groove of a predefined width that defines a thinned portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the strap to the free end of the strap. The strap accepting channel has a channel width W defined between an end wall and the inner wall The strap accepting channel also includes a support guide projecting from the inner wall of the locking head into the strap accepting channel to restrict the width of the channel accepting channel to a width W , which is less than W . The free end of the metal locking device has a length L that is greater than W and preferably no greater than W . The support guide has a width transverse to the width of the strap accepting channel that is less than the predefined width of the projecting groove of the strap. The support guide also includes a ledge that provides a support surface for the metal locking device that changes the locking device from one having a cantilever support to one with a simple beam support when the locking device is bent downward by a sufficient withdrawal force. This withdrawal force is sufficient to cause the locking device to fully pierce the thinned portion of the strap, which allows the free end of the locking device to rest upon the ledge. The strap may include a V-shaped groove at the first end to improve flexibility of the strap.