Releasable tie strap

Abstract

A tie strap is provided that is releasable by means of an extended, resilient locking tab within an aperture within a terminal on the strap. The opposite end of the tie strap can be threaded through the aperture in order to tie wires and other objects. The extended resilient locking tab is affixed to the tie strap within the terminal. An extended end of the locking tab can be grasped and pivoted such that the tab's locking tip is pulled out of a groove between retaining ridges on the strap. The strap can then be pulled through the aperture to loosen or release the tie strap. The base of the tab is thickened to a buttress where it adjoins the strap such that the tab can return to a locking position with its tip between retaining ridges on the strap, upon the tab being released by the user, despite the tab having been released a plurality of times.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A releasable tie strap having a strap portion that can be looped through a locking terminal block, the strap portion having a series of grooves and ridges, the locking terminal block having at least one locking tab that snaps into place within the grooves and ridges as the strap portion is passed though the locking terminal block, the locking tab being adjoined to a locking tab member that is resiliently pivotable in one direction to allow the ridges to pass but to catch a ridge and to lock the strap portion when tugged backward, the locking tab member having an extension that enables a user to pivot the locking tab even farther in order to clear the ridges on the strap portion in order to allow the strap portion to be tugged backward through the locking terminal block.  
     
     
         2 . The releasable tie strap of  claim 1 , in which the extension extends parallel to the position of a leading part of the strap portion when it protrudes from the locking terminal block in order that the leading part of the strap portion provides a shield for the extension to guard against accidental release by force from extraneous objects on the extension from the direction of the leading part of the strap portion.  
     
     
         3 . The releasable tie strap of  claim 1 , in which the extension protrudes beyond a surface of the locking terminal block by a distance of approximately 2 millimetres.  
     
     
         4 . The releasable tie strap of  claim 1 , in which the releasable tie strap is reusable after a release by means of the locking tab having a buttress between the locking tab member and the strap portion adjacent to the locking terminal block, that provides increased strength and enhanced resilience to the locking tab member such that it returns to its pre-release position after a release of the tie strap, ready to re-engage with the grooves and ridges of the strap portion.  
     
     
         5 . The releasable tie strap of  claim 4 , in which the buttress at its thickest portion above the strap portion surface is at least 2 millimetres in thickness from its top surface to the juncture of the locking tab to the locking tab member.  
     
     
         6 . The releasable tie strap of  claim 2 , in which: 
 a) the releasable tie strap is reusable after a release by means of the locking tab having a buttress between the locking tab member and the strap portion adjacent to the locking terminal block, that provides increased strength and enhanced resilience to the locking tab member such that it returns to its pre-release position after a release of the tie strap, ready to re-engage with the grooves and ridges of the strap portion;    b) extension protrudes beyond a surface of the locking terminal block by a distance of approximately 2 millimetres;    c) the buttress at its thickest portion above the strap portion surface is at least 2 millimetres in thickness from its top surface to the juncture of the locking tab to the locking tab member.