Fastener for cable strap

Claim 1

In a cable strap for securing a cable to a panel, the cable strap comprising a flexible strap portion, a buckle on one end of the strap portion, the buckle having a slot for insertion and retention of the other end of the strap portion with the strap wrapped around a cable, a fastener on the outer surface of the strap portion having a section insertable through an opening in a panel for securing of the strap to the panel, the fastener being located adjacent to the buckle, the fastener including a cup-shaped base from within which projects a pair of spaced apart prongs, each prong having a rearwardly extending barb, the fastener being fabricated of a flexible material whereby the prongs and barbs may be flexed towards each other permitting insertion thereof through an opening in the panel of a smaller size than the unflexed size of the prong and barb structure with subsequent outward flexing of the prong and barb structure to prevent removal from the panel with the outer ends of the barbs pressing against one surface of the panel and the cup-shaped base pressing against the opposite surface of the panel, the improvement comprising the provision of a flexible web portion between each of the barbs and its prong, the webs also flexing during insertion of the prong and barb structure through an opening in a panel to permit such insertion, the webs preventing outward splaying of the barbs as a consequence of a force tending to pull the prong and the barb structure back through the opening in a panel after insertion to thereby maintain the integrity of the position of the fastener structure with respect to the panel surfaces, each of said webs being located adjacent to the juncture of its respective prong and barb structure and terminating a short distance therefrom leaving a substantial outer portion of the barb structure unconnected to the prong structure by the web thereby permitting unrestrained flexure of the outer portion of the barb structure.