Versatile self-clinching disposable restraints and bundling straps

Claim 1

A self-containing flexible tape of plastic or the like which comprises in combination: an elongated tape portion having a pair of lateral ribs and a central rib each extending in a length direction along one surface of said tape, said tape including a principal axis along the length thereof; two parallel series of ratchet teeth projecting upward from said one surface of said tape on opposite sides of said central rib along a length of said tape; said ratchet teeth having a perpendicular axis normal to said principal axis, said ratchet teeth including a front surface forming an acute angle with said perpendicular axis and a rear surface parallel to said perpendicular axis, a space formed between said front surface of a first one of said ratchet teeth and said rear surface of an adjacent one of said ratchet teeth; said tape terminating at one end in a tip and at the other end in clinching means comprising a head formed integrally with said other end and having a primary bore and a secondary channel intersecting at an acute angle, said primary bore passing clear through said head in a direction which is substantially normal to said principal axis of said tape; said head having a tape entrance face and a tape exit face, said tape entrance face disposed at a position adjacent said acute angle, the cross-section of said primary bore at said tape entrance face being shaped to just accommodate the thickness of said tape including said central rib and said lateral ribs; said intersecting primary bore and secondary channel forming internal walls and an internal roof; a pair of cantilever pawls disposed on opposite sides of said central rib and depending from said inner roof at positions spaced internally between said entrance face and said exit face; and each of said cantilever pawls having a tip which is designed to successively engage each of said parallel series of said ratchet teeth as said tape is pulled in a forward direction through said intersecting primary bore and secondary channel which are angularly shaped to exactly fit said ratchet teeth and oppose movement of said tape in a reverse direction in said primary bore, thereby forming a lock between said tape and said head in a preselected position in said primary bore.