Accordian strap with formed waves

Abstract

A tie strap tie for holding an article or group of articles together includes an elongate strap having a locking head at one end and a tail at the other end and an elongate strap body therebetween. The tail is insertable into the locking head for locking the strap around the article or articles. The locking head contains a ball positioned for lockingly engaging said tail upon insertion via a first direction and for locking engagement therewith upon movement of the tail in a second direction opposite said first direction, thereby retaining said tail associated with said locking head. The strap body further defines a major plane and a diametrically opposite minor plane. A plurality of formed waves extends from the major plane opposite the minor plane of the strap body for providing resilient retention of the strap body about said articles or articles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tie strap for securing about an article or articles, comprising:
 an elongate strap having a locking head at one end and a tail at the other end, the elongate strap body therebetween and the tail being insertable into the locking head for locking the strap around the article or articles; and   the locking head containing a ball positioned within said locking head for lockingly engaging said tail upon insertion via a first direction and for locking engagement therewith upon movement of the tail in a second direction opposite said first direction thereby retaining said tail associated with said locking head;   wherein the strap body further defines a major plane and a diametrically opposite minor plane, a plurality of formed waves extending from the major plane opposite the minor plane of the strap body for providing resilient retention of the strap body about said articles or articles upon said locking engagement of said tail with said head.   
     
     
         2 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein the formed waves number four. 
     
     
         3 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein the formed waves number five. 
     
     
         4 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein each formed wave forms a sixty degree angle with other formed waves. 
     
     
         5 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein each formed wave forms an angle with other formed waves, said angle between a fifty five degree angle and a sixty five degree angle. 
     
     
         6 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein the tie strap is formed of stainless steel. 
     
     
         7 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate strap has a length between 26 and 27 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein the formed waves do not extend from the minor plane. 
     
     
         9 . The tie strap of  claim 8 , wherein the formed waves are located adjacent the head. 
     
     
         10 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein all formed waves have a combined length of less than 1 inch. 
     
     
         11 . The tie strap of  claim 8 , wherein the formed waves are located adjacent the tail. 
     
     
         12 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate strap has a length of between 200 mm and 680 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate strap has a length of selectively one of the following: 200 mm, 260 mm, 360 mm, 520 mm, and 680 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The tie strap of  claim 6 , wherein the stainless steel is 304 stainless steel or 316 stainless steel. 
     
     
         15 . The tie strap of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate strap has a width of 4.6 mm or 7.9 mm.