Folding tie

Abstract

An improved tie system for organizing and detachably securing moveable articles comprises a folding tie. The tie includes a foldable support element ( 20 ) having opposing sides and having both a male fastener patch ( 22 ) and a female fastener patch ( 23 ) such as hook-and-loop fasteners, on both opposing sides. Two fastener patches of complementary gender are located opposite one or more folding zones ( 24 ). The tie folds to enfold one or more articles ( 27 ) and detachably engages male and female fastener elements located on the same side of the support element. Upon folding the tie, the fastener elements of the tie engage in a releasable couple, and an article is thereby held and secured inside the fold. The folded tie may be collected with others of its own kind, in weakly-secure clusters, and also may be anchored and labeled.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A folding tie, comprising: 
 a) a foldable support element having a plurality of opposing major sides;    b) at least two male fastening members on said opposing major sides of said support element, respectively; and    c) at least two female fastening members on said opposing major sides of said support element, respectively; whereby, when said support element is folded, at least one of said female fastening members, will be detachably joined to at least one of said female fastening members to form a releasable couple.    
     
     
         2 . The folding tie of  claim 1 , further including a label surface on one of said opposing major sides of said tie.  
     
     
         3 . The folding tie of  claim 1  wherein said fastening members comprise hook-and-loop touch-surface fasteners.  
     
     
         4 . The folding tie of  claim 1  further including; 
 a) at least one discontinuity between segments of said support element; and  
 b) at least one spanning element, spanning said discontinuity, and interconnecting said segments of said support element.  
 
     
     
         5 . A method for managing at least one moveable article, comprising: 
 a) providing at least one folding tie, said tie including a foldable support element having a plurality of opposing major sides and having at least two male fastening members on said opposing major sides of said support element, respectively, and having at least two female fastening members on said opposing major sides of said support element, respectively; and    b) folding said support element around said moveable article for detachably connecting at least one of said male fastening members to at least one of said female fastening members for providing a releasable couple which holds said support element in folded form around said moveable article, thereby to enfold and hold said article to effect organization and detachable securement thereof.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said male and female fastening members comprise hook-and-loop touch-surface fasteners.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further including a label surface on one of said major sides of said tie.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further including; 
 a) at least one discontinuity between segments of said support element; and    b) at least one spanning element, spanning said discontinuity and interconnecting said segments of said support element.    
     
     
         9 . A folding tie, comprising: 
 a) a foldable support element having a plurality of opposing major sides;    b) said support element having at least two arms radiating from a common point; and    c) at least two male fastening members on said opposing major sides of said support element, respectively; and    d) at least two female fastening members on said opposing major sides of said support element, respectively; whereby, when said support element is folded, said one of said male fastening members will be detachably connected to said one of said female fastening members to form a releasable couple.    
     
     
         10 . The folding tie of  claim 9  wherein said arms are furcated.  
     
     
         11 . The folding tie of  claim 9 , further including a label surface on one of said major sides of said tie.  
     
     
         12 . The folding tie of  claim 9  wherein said male and female fastening members comprise hook-and-loop touch-surface fasteners.  
     
     
         13 . The folding tie of  claim 9  further including; 
 a) at least one discontinuity between segments of said support element; and  
 b) at least one spanning element, spanning said discontinuity, and interconnecting said segments of said support element.  
 
     
     
         14 . A folding tie, comprising: 
 a) a sheet-like foldable support element having a plurality of opposing major sides;    b) each of said major sides of said support element having at least two male fastening members on said opposing sides of said support element, respectively; and    c) each of said major sides of said support element having at least two female fastening members on said opposing sides of said support element, respectively; whereby, when said support element is folded, said one of said male fastening members will be detachably connected to said one of said female fastening members to form a releasable couple.    
     
     
         15 . The folding tie of  claim 14 , further including a label surface on one of said opposing major sides of said tie.  
     
     
         16 . The folding tie of  claim 14  wherein said male and female fastening members comprise hook-and-loop touch-surface fasteners.  
     
     
         17 . A folding tie, comprising: 
 a) a foldable support element having a plurality of opposing major sides;    b) at least one of said opposing major sides of said support element conveying an image; and    c) at least two male fastening members on said opposing major sides of said support element, respectively; and    d) at least two female fastening members on said opposing major sides of said support element, respectively; whereby, when said support element is folded, said one of said male fastening members will be detachably connected to said one of said female fastening members to form a releasable couple.    
     
     
         18 . The tie of  claim 17 , further including a label surface on one of said opposing major sides of said tie.  
     
     
         19 . The tie of  claim 17  wherein said male and female fastening members comprise hook-and-loop touch-surface fasteners.  
     
     
         20 . The tie of  claim 17 , further including a decorative component on at least one of said major opposing sides of said tie.