Bundling tie

Claim 1

In a bundling tie comprising a relatively rigid head and a relatively flexible strap integrally attached thereto and having ratchet teeth thereon, said head having a slot therethrough transverse to the strap and containing a pawl member having ratchet teeth complementary to those on said strap, the complementary ratchet teeth being capable of engaging in an interlocking relationship as the flexible strap is drawn through the transverse slot: the improvement wherein the transverse slot is formed between first and second end walls and two side walls of said head, the inner surfaces of said side walls being generally planar and substantially parallel, wherein said strap is attached at the base of the outer surface of the first end wall, wherein said pawl member is attached at the base of the inner surface of said first end wall by a neck portion making an angle b with the first end wall of from about 23° to about 42°, said neck having upper and lower surfaces which are substantially parallel and having a thickness sufficient to provide pawl strength and effective locking, and said neck having a widened shoulder where it is attached to the first end wall of said head, and wherein the neck portion of said pawl extends upwardly to an enlarged portion having the complementary ratchet teeth thereon and defining an opening between the second end wall and the pawl having a width of less than the thickness of said strap.