Tying device

Claim 1

A tying device comprising: (a) a resilient, flexible material having a generally flat configuration with a base portion defining a slot therethrough and a tongue portion extending from the base portion configured for insertion into the slot; (b) said tongue portion including two portions, an intermediate portion having a plurality of wedge portions arranged contiguous with one another, and a tail portion extending from a wedge portion distal from said base portion, said tail portion have a width less than the width of the slot defined in the base portion for facilitating insertion of the tail portion therethrough; (c) at least one of said wedge portions defining a grasping member extending from the surface thereof for grasping material to which said device can be secured; (d) adjacent wedge portions being crimped therebetween to provide a tear line where the remaining portion of the tongue portion can be torn away once the device is locked in place, said wedge portion distal from said base portion is a distal wedge portion and includes a crimped portion at its juncture with the tail portion to provide a tear line where the tail portion can be torn away from the remaining portion of the device; and (e) said wedge portions having one end with a width less than the width at the opposite end, the maximum width of said wedge portion being less than the length of the slot but greater than the slot width to permit passing of said wedge portions through the slot while preventing retraction when oriented such that the maximum width of a wedge portion engages the adjacent surfaces of the base portion defining the slot.