Bundling tie

Claim 2

A flexible bundling tie including an elongated strap and a head attached to one end thereof adapted for locking coaction with the strap, said strap having teeth formed on one side thereof, said head having a generally vertically extending aperture therethrough adapted to receive the strap, a generally flexible vertically elongated pawl formed on said head and extending into said aperture in the same general direction of extension as the axis of said aperture, said pawl having a plurality of spaced teeth projecting therefrom in said aperture adapted for abutting engagement with respective of the strap teeth to hold the tie in encompassing relation to a bundle, at least certain of said pawl teeth in a direction transverse of said pawl extending laterally a lesser distance than the width of said pawl and being staggered with respect to one another in a direction transverse of said pawl.

Claim 3

A tie in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tie is formEd of resilient moldable material, such as for instance, plastic.

Claim 4

A tie in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aperture is defined in part by an interior face of said head adapted for engagement with the side of said strap opposite the toothed side thereof when the strap is in locked condition in said head.

Claim 5

A tie in accordance with claim 3 wherein the surfaces of said pawl teeth disposed in confronting relation to said face are of generally convex configuration.

Claim 6

A tie in accordance with claim 4 wherein said aperture is elongated and comprises an entry end and an exit end spaced along said aperture axis from said entry end, said aperture being of generally T-shaped configuration in plan at said exit end and includes a base section and a cross arm section, said bridge portion extending across said base section adjacent said entry end with said pawl extending into said aperture from said bridge portion and in a direction toward said exit end, said cross arm section being defined in part by an interior face of said head disposed in confronting relation to said pawl, said face being adapted for engagement with the side of said strap opposite the toothed side thereof when the strap is received in said head, each of said pawl teeth in the inward lateral direction terminating generally at the longitudinal vertical center plane of said tie, the lengthwise axis of said aperture being disposed generally in said center plane.

Claim 7

A tie in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pawl resiliently depends from a bridge portion on said head, so that said pawl can flex as the strap is drawn through the aperture past the pawl.

Claim 8

A tie in accordance with claim 1 including means on said pawl teeth for facilitating insertion of the toothed strap through the aperture past said pawl teeth.

Claim 9

A tie in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pawl is connected to said head by means of a bridge portion extending across said head adjacent the connection of said head to said strap, said pawl being adapted to flex with respect to said head at said bridge portion upon insertion of the strap through said aperture to permit passage of the strap teeth past the pawl teeth during looping of the tie about a bundle.

Claim 10

A tie in accordance with claim 1 wherein the entrance to said aperture for receiving said strap is divergent for facilitating entry of the strap end into the aperture.

Claim 11

A tie in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aperture has an entrance end and an exit end, the free end of the strap being bent out of the plane of the remainder of the strap in a direction away from said exit end of said head aperture.

Claim 12

A tie in accordance with claim 10 wherein said securing means comprises a dart on said head adapted to be received in secured relation in a hole in the support.

Claim 13

A tie in accordance with claim 10 wherein said securing means comprises an apertured tab on said head portion, adapted for receiving a fastener therethrough to secure said tie to a support.

Claim 14

A tie in accordance with claim 12 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a plate-like portion.

Claim 15

A tie in accordance with claim 13 wherein said teeth on said strap are of generally buttress type and the surfaces of said pawl teeth which are disposed in confronting relation to said face are of generally convex configuration for increasing the strength of the pawl teeth and for facilitating insertion of the toothed strap through the aperture past the pawl teeth.

Claim 16

A tie in accordance with claim 10 including means thereon for receiving identifying indicia.

Claim 17

A tie in accordance with claim 1 including means for securing the tie to a support.

Claim 18

A flexible bundling tie including an elongated strap and a head attached to one end thereof adapted for locking coaction with the strap, said strap having teeth formed on one side thereof, said head having an aperture therethrough adapted to receive the strap, a generally flexible pawl formed on said head extending into said aperture, said pawl having a plurality of spaced teeth of generally convex configuration which extend for a lateral dimension of no more than half the width of the strap teeth, adapted for abutting engagement with respective of the strap teeth to hold the tie in encompassing relation to a bundle, at least certain of said pawl teeth being staggered with respect to one another in a direction transverse of said pawl.

Claim 19

A flexible bundling tie including an elongated strap and a head attached to one end thereof adapted for locking coaction with the strap, said strap having teeth formed on one side thereof, said head having an aperture therethrough adapted to receive the strap, a generally flexible pawl formed on said head extending into said aperture, said pawl having a plurality of spaced teeth of generally convex configuration which extend for a lateral dimension of no more than half the width of the strap teeth, adapted for abutting engagement with respective of the strap teeth to hold the tie in encompassing relation to a bundle, at least certain of said pawl teeth being staggered with respect to one another in a direction transverse of said pawl.