Barbed tape with reinforced barbs

Claim 1

A helical barbed tape formed from a unitary strip of metallic material having a thickness of between approximately 0.015 inches and 0.030 inches, said helical barbed tape comprising a continuous elongated central supporting portion of generally helical configuration with the plane of the central supporting portion being aligned generally perpendicular to the axis of the helix, said helical barbed tape further comprising a plurality of barb clusters disposed at spaced apart locations along said central supporting portion, each said barb cluster comprising first and second generally planar pairs of barbs disposed on opposite sides of said central supporting portion and connected thereto, each said barb comprising a reinforcement defining a portion of said barb extending out of the plane of said pair, each said reinforcement defines an embossment formed in each said barb which substantially prevents the associated barb from being bent out of the plane of the associated pair of barbs, the embossment in each said barb being of generally teardrop configuration and including a pointed end, said pointed end of said embossment being aligned with the point of said barb, and wherein each said barb cluster comprises first and second roots extending respectively from opposite sides of said central supporting portion and connecting said first and second pairs of barbs to said central supporting portion and wherein the single reinforcing embossment of each said barb extends into the associated root connecting said pair of barbs to said central supporting portion.