US3735448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wire tie
Assignee: Buchanan Electrical Products Corp
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Filing: 1970-02-25
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1990-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A unitary wire tie of the type in which spaced ratchet teeth are provided along the length of a strap portion for engagement with a pawl in a head portion to retain the wire tie in a looped configuration, the pawl being provided with at least a pair of teeth spaced apart slightly less than the spacing between adjacent ratchet teeth.
Inventors
- 👤 W Waddington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D63/00; B65D63/10; B65D63/1018; B65D63/1027; B65D63/1063; B65D63/1072; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/14; Y10T24/1498
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A unitary wire tie of flexible material for being looped about a plurality of wires and retained in such looped configuration to hold said wires in a bundle, said wire tie comprising: an elongate strap portion including a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced from one another along at least a part of the length of the strap portion, each ratchet tooth having an inclined leading face, an apex, and a trailing face inclined slightly from said apex toward said leading face; a head portion adjacent one end of the strap portion and including an aperture through which the strap portion may be advanced in a longitudinal direction from an entrance toward an exit of the aperture; and at least one pair of pawl teeth extending laterally into said aperture, each pawl tooth having an inclined leading face, an apex, and a trailing face inclined slightly from said apex toward said leading face, the teeth of said pair being spaced longitudinally from one another, said pawl teeth being located for engaging the ratchet teeth of the strap portion when the strap portion is advanced through said aperture; the spacing between the pawl teeth of said pair being slightly less than the spacing between adjacent ratchet teeth such that one of said ratchet teeth will be seated between said pair of pawl teeth to retain the strap portion against withdrawal from the head portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A unitary wire tie of flexible material for being looped about a plurality of wires and retained in such looped configuration to hold said wires in a bundle, said wire tie comprising: an elongate strap portion including a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced from one another along at least a part of the length of the strap portion, each ratchet tooth having an inclined leading face, an apex, and a trailing face inclined slightly from said apex toward said leading face; a head portion adjacent one end of the strap portion and including an aperture through which the strap portion may be advanced in a longitudinal direction from an entrance toward an exit of the aperture; and at least one pair of pawl teeth extending laterally into said aperture, each pawl tooth having an inclined leading face, an apex, and a trailing face inclined slightly from said apex toward said leading face, the teeth of said pair being spaced longitudinally from one another, said pawl teeth being located for engaging the ratchet teeth of the strap portion when the strap portion is advanced through said aperture; the spacing between the pawl teeth of said pair being slightly less than the spacing between adjacent ratchet teeth such that one of said ratchet teeth will be seated between said pair of pawl teeth to retain the strap portion against withdrawal from the head portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wire tie of claim 1 wherein the spacing between the pawl teeth of said pair is approximately 2 percent to 20 percent less than the spacing between adjacent ratchet teeth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wire tie of claim 1 wherein the spacing between the pawl teeth of said pair is nominally 10 percent less than the spacing between adjacent ratchet teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The wire tie of claim 1 wherein the inclination of the trailing face of the ratchet teeth is in the order of magnitude of 10* from the normal to said longitudinal direction and the inclination of the trailing face of the pawl teeth is in the order of magnitude of 13* from said normal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
187 words
The wire tie of claim 1 wherein the head portion includes: a tongue projecting laterally into the aperture, said pawl teeth being carried upon said tongue, said tongue including a forward end adjacent the entrance of the aperture and a rearward end adjacent the exit of the aperture; there being a first groove extending into said tongue from the rearward end toward the forward end thereof; and there being a second groove extending into said tongue from the forward end toward the rearward end thereof; said grooves establishing a relatively thin neck between the pawl teeth and the remainder of the head portion such that the tongue may flex through a forward and rearward rocking motion, said first groove allowing rocking of the tongue in response to advancement of the strap portion through the aperture sufficient to permit passage of the ratchet teeth over the pawl teeth and said second groove allowing limited rocking of the tongue in response to retraction of the strap portion to engage said one of the ratchet teeth between said pair of pawl teeth and preclude further retraction of the strap portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The wire tie of Claim 5 wherein said neck is located axially between the entrance end of the aperture and the pair of pawl teeth such that the tongue may rock about an axis located forward of the pawl teeth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wire tie of claim 6 wherein the spacing between the pawl teeth of said pair is approximately 2 percent to 20 percent less than the spacing between adjacent ratchet teeth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wire tie of claim 6 wherein the spacing between the pawl teeth of said pair is nominally 10 percent less than the spacing between adjacent ratchet teeth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The wire tie of claim 6 wherein the inclination of the trailing face of the ratchet teeth is in the order of magnitude of 10* from the normal to said longitudinal direction and the inclination of the trailing face of the pawl teeth is in the order of magntidue of 13* from said normal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
The wire tie of claim 6 wherein: said aperture has a T-shaped configuration including a lateral portion corresponding to the vertical element of the T and a transverse portion corresponding to the horizontal top of the T; said strap portion has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the transverse portion of the T-shaped configuration; and said tongue is generally coextensive with the lateral portion of the T-shaped configuration and the pawl teeth extend laterally into the transverse portion to intercept the ratchet teeth of the strap portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The wire tie of claim 1 wherein at least a part of the strap portion upon which the ratchet teeth are carried lies in a plane and the end of the strap portion opposite the end adjacent the head portion makes an acute angle with said plane in the direction of said looped configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The wire tie of claim 1 wherein at least a part of the strap portion upon which the ratchet teeth are carried lies in a plane and a further part of the strap portion contiguous with the head portion is directed out of said plane in the direction of said looped configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The wire tie of claim 12 wherein said further part is curved in the direction of said looped configuration, said curve having a radius of curvature approximating the radius of an average size bundle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3214808A
Cited
US3368247A
Cited
FR1573303A
Cited
US3486200A
Cited
US3486201A
Cited
US3605199A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |