Flexible Tie and Related Methods

Abstract

A flexible tie comprises a body, bulbs with holes and at least one end piece, arranged such that bulbs can be passed through the holes in other bulbs to form loops in the apparatus. These loops can be used to bundle objects together, add a handle to an existing object or prevent other loops from coming undone. The tie can also be undone and used again. Multiple loops can be formed using the same tie.

1 . An apparatus comprising
 a body;   a plurality of bulbs within said body;   said plurality of bulbs each having a hole, said hole sized such that another of said bulbs, of similar size, can be moved through said hole without damaging the side walls of the bulb on entry or removal, and said body having one or more end pieces sized to fit inside said holes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said bulbs comprise said body. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said body possesses flanges. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said bulbs are regularly spaced. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said holes possess at least one of the following characteristics:
 A) a circular cross-sectional shape; 
 B) an elliptic cross-sectional shape; 
 C) a cross-shaped cross-sectional shape; and 
 D) a polygonal six-pointed star cross-sectional shape; 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said body is straight between said body's end pieces. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said body possesses an angle between said body's end pieces. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said body is curved between at least one pair of said bulbs. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, the said body contains a rigid endoskeleton in at least one location. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, at least one end piece of said body is capped with a rigid material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, at least one end piece of said body has an enlargement suitable for grasping with hands or tools. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, the body has a round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, the bulbs are of a plurality of sizes. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein, the arrangement of bulbs conforms to a repeating pattern based on the size of said bulbs. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said apparatus is comprised of a thermoplastic such as, but not limited to thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said apparatus is comprised of nylon. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, said apparatus is comprised of a thermoset such as, but not limited to silicone rubber. 
     
     
         18 . A method of making a loop for the bundling of cables or other articles, comprising the following steps:
 A) providing a group of articles to be bundled, such as, but not limited to, cables or rope;   B) providing an apparatus embodying the features of the apparatus described in  claim 1 ;   C) wrapping said apparatus around said articles; and   D) forcing one end piece of said apparatus through one of said holes until at least one bulb passes completely through said hole;   whereby said apparatus will form a loop around said articles.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising the additional step of:
 forcing an end piece of said apparatus through at least one additional hole in said apparatus to form at least one additional loop.   
     
     
         20 . A method for creating a secure loop comprising the following steps:
 A) providing an apparatus embodying the features of the apparatus described in  claim 1 ;   B) forcing one end piece of said apparatus through one of said holes until a plurality of said bulbs pass completely through said hole, creating a first loop;   C) forcing said end piece of said apparatus through one of said bulbs that has passed completely through said hole, creating a second loop suitable for stopping said first loop from coming undone.   
     
     
         21 . A method for making a weave comprising the following steps:
 A) providing an apparatus embodying the features of the apparatus described in  claim 1 ;   B) forcing one end piece of said apparatus through one of said holes until a plurality of said bulbs pass completely through said hole;   C) forcing said end piece through the next hole in the apparatus, in the direction opposite to the previous forcing; and   D) optionally repeating the previous step one or more times;   whereby a weave will be formed.   
     
     
         22 . A method of making a loop for the bundling of cables or other articles, comprising the following steps:
 A) providing a group of articles to be bundled, such as, but not limited to, cables or rope;   B) providing at least one apparatus of  claim 1 ;   C) wrapping said apparatus around said articles; and   D) forcing one end piece of said apparatus through one of said holes until at least one bulb passes completely through said hole;   whereby said apparatus will form a loop around said articles.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising the additional step of:
 forcing an end piece of said apparatus through at least one additional hole in said apparatus to form at least one additional loop.   
     
     
         24 . A method for creating a secure loop comprising the following steps:
 A) providing at least one apparatus of  claim 1 ;   B) forcing one end piece of said apparatus through one of said holes until a plurality of said bulbs pass completely through said hole, creating a first loop; and   C) forcing said end piece of said apparatus through one of said bulbs that has passed completely through said hole, creating a second loop suitable for stopping said first loop from coming undone.   
     
     
         25 . A method for making a weave comprising the following steps:
 A) providing at least one apparatus of  claim 1 ;   B) forcing one end piece of said apparatus through one of said holes until a plurality of said bulbs pass completely through said hole;   C) forcing said end piece through the next hole in the apparatus, in the direction opposite to the previous forcing; and   D) optionally repeating the previous step one or more times;   whereby a weave will be formed.