US5031943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure strap for flexible containers
Assignee: Edge Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1990-12-17
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Granted: 1991-07-16
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Expires: 2010-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A one-piece tamper-proof bundling strap comprised of a head-end portion defining an aperture therethrough, the head-end portion being integrally connected to an elongated narrow body portion, the aperture in the head-end portion corresponding generally to the cross-sectional configuration of the body portion. The head-end portion and the body portion have a locking means integrally associated therewith for preventing reverse movement of the body portion relative to the head-end portion when the body portion is looped upon itself and disposed within the aperture of the head-end portion. The locking means is comprised of a plurality of serrations oriented along a portion of the length of the body portion and a plurality of projecting teeth members disposed within said through-aperture adapted to lock against the serrations when the body portion is looped upon itself and drawn through the aperture in the head-end portion. The strap is a one-piece unit constructed of a single, preferably brittle material which will fracture when exposed to tampering forces.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest D. Scott
- 👤 Donald L. Tedder
- 👤 Gregory Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:46
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D63/00; B65D63/10; B65D63/1018; B65D63/1027; B65D63/1063; B65D63/1081; B65D2563/00; B65D2563/10; B65D2563/101; B65D2563/108; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/14; Y10T24/1498; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/48; Y10T292/4945; Y10T292/496
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A self-clinching tamper-proof bundling strap, comprising: a head-end portion, a tail-end portion and a generally flat elongated body portion therebetween, said head-end portion defining an H-shaped transverse aperture therethrough; locking means associated with said aperture and said body portion for locking the body portion of said strap against relative reverse movement when looped upon itself and fed through said aperture; wherein said locking means is comprised of: a plurality of teeth members projecting upwardly and outwardly from said head-end portion into said aperture; corresponding serrations disposed along opposed side edges of substantially the entirety of said body portion beginning with said head end portion and ending at an indicia receiving means adpated to engage said teeth members in locking engagement against relative reverse movement of said body portion with respect to said head-end portion when said body portion is looped upon itself and fed through said aperture; wherein said body portion is sized and shaped to correspond generally with the aperture; said body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface corresponding generally to a top surface and a bottom surface of said head-end portion, respectively; said side edges being of reduced thickness in profile adjacent said indicia receiving means and extending away from said head-end portion, terminating at said tail-end portion of said strap; said indicia receiving means for receiving identification markings thereon comprised of a smooth flat area defined by and extending across the entire top surface of said body portion between said opposed side edges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A self-clinching tamper-proof bundling strap, comprising: a head-end portion, a tail-end portion and a generally flat elongated body portion therebetween, said head-end portion defining an H-shaped transverse aperture therethrough; locking means associated with said aperture and said body portion for locking the body portion of said strap against relative reverse movement when looped upon itself and fed through said aperture; wherein said locking means is comprised of: a plurality of teeth members projecting upwardly and outwardly from said head-end portion into said aperture; corresponding serrations disposed along opposed side edges of substantially the entirety of said body portion beginning with said head end portion and ending at an indicia receiving means adpated to engage said teeth members in locking engagement against relative reverse movement of said body portion with respect to said head-end portion when said body portion is looped upon itself and fed through said aperture; wherein said body portion is sized and shaped to correspond generally with the aperture; said body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface corresponding generally to a top surface and a bottom surface of said head-end portion, respectively; said side edges being of reduced thickness in profile adjacent said indicia receiving means and extending away from said head-end portion, terminating at said tail-end portion of said strap; said indicia receiving means for receiving identification markings thereon comprised of a smooth flat area defined by and extending across the entire top surface of said body portion between said opposed side edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bundling strap of claim 1, wherein the strap is constructed of a brittle material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bundling strap of claim 2, wherein said teeth members are formed integrally with and as part of the same material as the remainder of the bundling strap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The bundling strap of claim 2, wherein: said head-end portion has a bottom and a top, said aperture being a through-aperture passing from the bottom of said head-end portion to the top of said head-end portion; said teeth members having an upper surface adapted to engage a trailing edge of each serration after the body portion is fed into the head-end portion from the bottom toward the top of said head-end portion and reverse relative movement between the body portion and the head-end portion is attempted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The bundling strap of claim 4, further comprising: said teeth members having a predetermined yield strength, wherein the exertion of a predetermined force upon said body portion in an attempt to remove said body portion from within said aperture will cause said teeth members to break.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bundling strap of claim 2, wherein the bundling strap is constructed of an acetal homopolymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The bundling strap of claim 5, further comprising: at least one sharp projecting member integrally associated with said bottom surface of said body portion adapted to pierce a flexible container being bundled by said bundling strap so as to prevent relative movement between said flexible container and said bundling strap when said bundling strap is engaged about said flexible container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bundling strap of claim 1, wherein said indicia receiving means is disposed in proximity to said tail-end portion of said strap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bundling strap of claim 1, wherein said aperture is H-shaped in cross-section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-15 | 1995-01-14 | 1995-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-15 | 1999-01-14 | 1999-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-15 | 2003-01-14 | 2003-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |