Cable tie

Abstract

.[.A one piece cable tie for positioning first and second wires relative to one another comprising spacer means for spacing the first wire a predetermined distance from the second wire, retaining means for releasably retaining the first wire, securing means for securely holding the first and second wires against relative movement and spaced the predetermined distance, and abutment means for tightening the hold of the cable tie about the wires..]. .Iadd.A one piece tie for attaching an elongate object such as an electrical cable to a support wire. The tie includes an elongate flexible strap, a locking head jointed to one end of the strap for receiving the other end of the strap and at least one relatively rigid leg extending from the locking head between the held cable and wire. The leg is offset relative to the strap so that the strap can be deflected toward, threaded into and drawn tight in the locking head without interference from the leg. .Iaddend.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A one-piece cable tie for attaching one or more elongate objects such as electrical conductors to a support wire, said tie comprising, 
     
        objects and said wire spaced from one another by said leg..]. 2. .[.A tie as set forth in claim 1 which is.]. .Iadd.A one-piece cable tie for attaching one or more elongate objects such as electrical conductors to a support wire, said tie comprising, an elongate flexible strap;   a locking head joined to one end of said strap and including a strap entry face, a strap exit face and a strap receiving aperture extending therebetween for receiving the other end of said strap, said strap including spaced transverse abutments and said locking head having a locking pawl engageable with said abutments for maintaining a threaded strap in said locking head; and   at least one relatively rigid leg extending from said locking head between said strap and said strap entry face with said strap disposed between said leg and said strap exit face, said leg being offset relative to said strap so that said strap can be deflected toward, threaded into and drawn tight in said locking head without interference from said leg whereby said strap formed into a single loop and passed through said locking head holds said objects and said wire spaced from one another by said leg, said tie being .Iaddend.formed by molding and .[.in which in the as-molded condition of said tie.]. said strap and leg .[.define.]. .Iadd.defining .Iaddend.a recess for receiving said support wire, .Iadd.when said tie is in the as-molded condition .Iaddend.said strap and leg further defining a constricted throat to said recess which is smaller than the diameter of said support wire whereby the support wire, once inserted into said recess, is retained therein prior to association of said objects and said   
     
     
        tie. 3. .[.A tie as set forth in claim 1.]. .Iadd.A one-piece cable tie for attaching one or more elongate objects such as electrical conductors to a support wire, said tie comprising, an elongate flexible strap;   a locking head joined to one end of said strap and including a strap entry face, a strap exit face and a strap-receiving aperture extending therebetween for receiving the other end of said strap, said strap including spaced transverse abutments and said locking head having a locking pawl engageable with said abutments for maintaining a threaded strap in said locking head; and   at least one relatively rigid leg extending from said locking head between said strap and said strap entry face with said strap disposed between said leg and said strap exit face, said leg being offset relative to said strap so that said strap can be deflected toward, threaded into and drawn tight in said locking head without interference from said leg whereby said strap formed into a single loop and passed through said locking head holds said objects and said wire spaced from one another by said leg, said tie further .Iaddend.comprising a pair of legs extending from said locking head and straddling said strap when the latter is formed into a loop and   
     
     
        inserted into said locking head. 4. .[.A tie as set forth in claim 1.]. .Iadd.A one-piece cable tie for attaching one or more elongate objects such as electrical conductors to a support wire, said tie comprising, an elongate flexible strap;   a locking head joined to one end of said strap and including a strap entry face, a strap exit face and a strap-receiving aperture extending therebetween for receiving the other end of said strap, said strap including spaced transverse abutments and said locking head having a locking pawl engageable with said abutments for maintaining a threaded strap in said locking head; and   at least one relatively rigid leg extending from said locking head between said strap and said strap entry face with said strap disposed between said leg and said strap exit face, said leg being offset relative to said strap so that said strap can be deflected toward, threaded into and drawn tight in said locking head without interference from said leg whereby said strap formed into a single loop and passed through said locking head holds said objects and said wire spaced from one another by said leg, .Iaddend.wherein said abutments .[.are.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.disposed on the surface of the strap disposed toward the bundled objects, said strap having spaced lugs on the surface of said strap disposed away from the bundled objects, said locking head comprising a load-bearing support surface disposed adjacent said strap exit face so that said strap can be tightened by use of a tool such as a pliers. .[.5. A tie as set forth in claim 1 comprising a release member extending from said pawl past said   
     
     
        strap exit face..]. 6. .[.A tie as set forth in claim 1.]. .Iadd.A one-piece cable tie for attaching one or more elongate objects such as electrical conductors to a support wire, said tie comprising, an elongate flexible strap;   a locking head joined to one end of said strap and including a strap entry face, a strap exit face and a strap-receiving aperture extending therebetween for receiving the other end of said strap, said strap including spaced transverse abutments and said locking head having a locking pawl engageable with said abutments for maintaining a threaded strap in said locking head; and   at least one relatively rigid leg extending from said locking head between said strap and said strap entry face with said strap disposed between said leg and said strap exit face, said leg being offset relative to said strap so that said strap can be deflected toward, threaded into and drawn tight in said locking head without interference from said leg whereby said strap formed into a single loop and passed through said locking head holds said objects and said wire spaced from one another by said leg, .Iaddend.wherein said leg .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.an   
     
     
        arcuate surface for engaging said objects.Iadd.. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7.  A one-piece cable tie comprising: an elongate strap;   a locking head joined to one end of said strap including a strap entry face, a strap exit face and a strap-receiving passageway extending therebetween for receiving the other end of said strap, said locking head further comprising a strap abutment wall partially defining said passageway and a locking pawl extending toward said abutment wall for engaging one surface of said strap and for pushing said strap against said abutment wall; and   a plurality of spaced tool-engageable lugs carried by the opposite surface of said strap, said opposite surface being the outer surface of the strap when said tie is installed, said lugs extending only partially across said opposite surface, said abutment wall having a recess adjoining said passageway and shaped so that said lugs can pass through said locking head without interference from said head, said locking head further comprising a load-bearing support surface whereby the tie is adapted to be tightened by using a pliers. .Iaddend.