Fastening system

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved fastener ( 10 ). The fastener comprises: an elongate strap body ( 100 ) having a longitudinal axis and a pair of opposed side portions, a top surface ( 120 ) between said side portions and a bottom surface ( 130 ) between said side portions; a plurality of spaced male protrusions ( 140 ) extending from said top surface ( 120 ), each protrusion comprising a first face and an opposed second face and a protrusion axis, which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said elongate strap body ( 100 ); and, at least one slit ( 150 ) generally extending between said pair of side portions, substantially parallel to said protrusion axis.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . An improved fastener  10 , comprising:
 a. an elongate strap body  100  having a longitudinal axis and a pair of opposed side portions  110 , a top surface  120  between said side portions  110  and a bottom surface  130  between said side portions  110 ;   b. a plurality of spaced male protrusions  140  extending from said top surface  120 , each protrusion  140  comprising a first face  142  and an opposed second face  144  and a protrusion axis, which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said elongate strap body  100 ; and,   c. at least one slit  150  generally extending between said pair of side portions  110 , substantially parallel to said protrusion axis, the location of said slit  150  being customizable and located between adjacent male protrusions  140  extending from said top surface  120 , the slit further comprising end segments  156  and  157  extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, such that a tongue  154  is formed in said elongate strap body  100 ;   
       wherein an end portion of said elongate strap body  100  is positionable through said slit  150  to form a loop  165  with said elongate strap body  100 ; further wherein said loop  165  is adapted to be constricted, such that a portion of said tongue  154  is adapted to slide on the respective first faces  142  of said male protrusions  140  extending from said top surface  120  proximate to said tongue  154 ; further wherein said loop  165  is adapted to be in a FIXED configuration; said FIXED configuration being achieved by a stretching force outwardly directed relative to the center of said loop  165 , adapted to expand said loop  165 ; in said FIXED configuration, said loop  165  is adapted to cause a portion of said tongue  154  to engage on at least one of said second faces  144  of said male protrusions  140  extending from said top surface  120  adjacent the tongue  154 , and by that to fixate said loop  165 ; 
       wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of spaced cuts  145  at said bottom surface  130  of said elongate strap body  100  substantially parallel to said protrusion axis; further wherein said loop  165  in said FIXED configuration, said spaced cuts  145  are adapted to allow said tongue  154  to be bent at an angle of between about 70° and about 90° relative to said bottom surface  130 , thereby increasing the contact area between at least a portion of a second face of at least one male protrusion extending from said top surface of said tongue and at least a portion of the second face of at least one male protrusion extending from said top surface of said elongate strap body adjacent to said tongue, and by that to improve the fixing mechanism of said fastener. 
     
     
         44 . The improved fastener according to  claim 43 , wherein said side portions adjacent to said slit are adapted to extend longitudinally and deform outwardly away from said top surface as said end portion of said elongate strap body is positioned through said slit such that an end portion of said elongate strap body can be positioned without substantial rotational movement. 
     
     
         45 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein at least one of side portions on the end portion of said elongate strap body that is positioned through said slit is foldable inwardly toward the longitudinal axis such that said end portion of said elongate strap body can be positioned without substantial rotational movement. 
     
     
         46 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein expansion of said loop is restricted by engaging at least a portion of a second face of at least one male protrusion extending from said top surface of said tongue with at least a portion of the second face of at least one male protrusion extending from said top surface of said elongate strap body adjacent to said tongue. 
     
     
         47 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein said first face of said male protrusions extending from said top surface creates a predetermined first top face angle with said top surface. 
     
     
         48 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , further comprising a pair of elongate grooves extending substantially along said longitudinal length of said elongate strap body between said male protrusions extending from said top surface and each respective side portion, whereby the end segments of said slit formed in said top surface of said elongate strap body are formed in each respective elongate groove. 
     
     
         49 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein the side portions extend upwardly above said top surface of said elongate strap body. 
     
     
         50 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein said slit is formed by a slit forming mechanism selected from a group consisting of: a cutting mechanism, a stabbing mechanism, a punching mechanism, a pressing mechanism, a melting mechanism or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         51 . The improved fastener of  claim 50 , wherein said slit forming mechanism comprises a knife. 
     
     
         52 . The improved fastener of  claim 50 , wherein said elongate strap body further comprises a plurality of perforations formed through said elongate strap body substantially in a desired area of said slit. 
     
     
         53 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein said male protrusions extending from said top surface are substantially uniformly spaced over the length of said elongate strap body. 
     
     
         54 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein said spaced cuts at said bottom surface of said elongate strap are substantially uniformly spaced. 
     
     
         55 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein the protrusion height of each protrusion is substantially equal over the length of said elongate strap body. 
     
     
         56 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein said plurality of spaced cuts at said bottom surface of said elongate strap are shaped such that a plurality of spaced male protrusions extending from said bottom surface is formed, each protrusion comprises a first bottom face and an opposed second bottom face. 
     
     
         57 . The improved fastener of  claim 56 , wherein said male protrusions extending from said bottom surface of said elongate strap body are located substantially underneath said male protrusions extending from said top surface of said elongate strap body. 
     
     
         58 . The improved fastener of  claim 43 , wherein said slit is substantially H-shaped, such that said tongue and a second tongue are formed in said elongate strap body. 
     
     
         59 . The improved fastener of  claim 58 , further wherein said loop adapted to be constricted, such that a portion of said second tongue is adapted to slide on the respective first faces of said male protrusions extending from said bottom surface proximate to said second tongue; further wherein in said FIXED configuration, said loop is adapted to cause a portion of said second tongue to engage on at least one of said second faces of said male protrusions extending from said bottom surface adjacent said tongue, and by that to fixate said loop. 
     
     
         60 . An improved fixing mechanism within a fastener; said mechanism comprising:
 a. a plurality of spaced male protrusions extending from a top surface an elongate strap body having a longitudinal axis and a pair of opposed side portions, a top surface between said side portions and a bottom surface between said side portions; each protrusion comprising a first face and an opposed second face and a protrusion axis, which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said elongate strap body; and,   b. a tongue which is formed by at least one slit generally extending between said pair of side portions, substantially parallel to said protrusion axis; said slit further comprising end segments and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; the location of said slit being customizable and located between adjacent male protrusions extending from said top surface;   
       wherein an end portion of said elongate strap body is positionable through said slit to form a loop with said elongate strap body; further wherein said loop is adapted to be constricted, such that a portion of said tongue is adapted to slide on the respective first faces of said male protrusions extending from said top surface proximate to said tongue; further wherein said loop is adapted to be in a FIXED configuration; said FIXED configuration being achieved by a stretching force outwardly directed relative to the center of said loop, adapted to expand said loop; in said FIXED configuration, said loop is adapted to cause a portion of said tongue to engage on at least one of said second faces of said male protrusions extending from said top surface adjacent said tongue, and by that to fixate said loop; 
       wherein the improvement of said mechanism comprises: a plurality of spaced cuts at said bottom surface of said elongate strap body substantially parallel to said protrusion axis; further wherein said loop in said FIXED configuration, said spaced cuts are adapted to allow said tongue to be bent at an angle of between about 70° and about 90° relatively to said bottom surface, and by that to increase the contact area between at least a portion of a second face of at least one male protrusion extending from said top surface of said tongue and at least a portion of the second face of at least one male protrusion extending from said top surface of said elongate strap body adjacent to said tongue, and by that to improve said fixing mechanism of said fastener. 
     
     
         61 . A method of using an improved fastener, comprising steps of:
 a. providing an improved fastener, comprising:
 i. an elongate strap body having a longitudinal axis and a pair of opposed side portions, a top surface between said side portions and a bottom surface between said side portions; 
 ii. a plurality of spaced male protrusions extending from said top surface, each protrusion comprising a first face and an opposed second face and a protrusion axis, which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said strap body; and, 
 iii. a plurality of spaced cuts at said bottom surface of said elongate strap substantially parallel to said protrusion axis; 
   b. forming at least one slit through a selected portion of said top surface of said elongate strap body between adjacent male protrusions extending from said top surface; said slit generally extending between said pair of side portions, substantially parallel to said protrusion axis; wherein said slit further comprises end segments extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, such that a tongue is formed in said elongate strap body;   c. positioning an end portion of said elongate strap body through said slit to form a loop with said elongate strap body;   d. constricting said loop by causing a portion of said tongue to slide on the respective first faces of said male protrusions extending from said top surface proximate to said tongue;   e. fixing said loop by expanding said loop via a stretching force outwardly directed relative to the center of said loop, and by that causing a portion of said tongue to engage on at least one of said second faces of said protrusions extending from said bottom surface adjacent said tongue; and,   f. bending said tongue thus engaged at an angle between about 70° and about 90° relatively to said bottom surface;   
       wherein said plurality of spaced cuts at said bottom surface of said elongate strap allows said steps of bending said tongue, and by that fixing said loop. 
     
     
         62 . The improved fastener of  claim 56 , wherein said slit is substantially H-shaped, such that said tongue and a second tongue are formed in said elongate strap body.