US3660869A

US3660869A - One-piece cable tie

Info

Publication number: US3660869A
Application number: US828075A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack E Caveney; Roy A Moody
Original assignee: Panduit Corp
Current assignee: Panduit Corp
Priority date: 1969-05-01
Filing date: 1969-05-01
Publication date: 1972-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-09
Also published as: DE1944489A1; GB1287651A; DE1944489B2; BE738780A; CH517396A; FR2044611A5; CA983245A; NL6913531A

Abstract

An integral one-piece cable tie including an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth thereon, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an abutment wall and an end wall and an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening therethrough, a ledge on the end wall, and a pawl pivotally mounted on and integral with the ledge within the opening and having a set of teeth shaped complementary to the row of the teeth and defining with the end wall a strap-receiving throat disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded; there also are disclosed methods of molding such a cable tie.

Description

ll llmted States Patent [151 3,660,869 (Caveney et al. 1 May 9, 1972 [54] ONE-PIECE CABLE TIE 3,484,905 12/1969 Eberhardt ..24/16 PB [72] Inventors: Jack E. Caveney Chicago; Roy A. Mandy 3,486,201 12/1969 Bourne ..24/l6 PB Flossmoor, both f Ill.

0 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Gnffin Assigneel Pandlli n, T y Park, Attorney-Prangley, Clayton, Mullin, Dithmar & Vogel 22 Filed: Ma 1, 1969 1 y 57 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.: 828,075

An integral one-piece cable tie including an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth thereon, a frame integral with one US. Clt end of the strap and having an abutment wall and an end wall [51] Int. Cl t ..B65d 63/00 and an entry Surface and an exit Surface and a swapqeceiving [53] Field of Search "24/16 PB, 305 PB, 73.7; Opening therethrough, a ledge on h d wall and a pawl 248/68 74 PB pivotally mounted on and integral with the ledge within the opening and having a set of teeth shaped complementary to [56] References Cited the row of the teeth and defining with the end wall a strap- UNITED STATES PATENTS receiving throat disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded; there also are disclosed methods of molding 3,214,808 1l/l965 Litwin ..24/16 PB such a Cable 9 3,009,220 11/1961 Fein ..24/16 PB 3,368,247 2/l968 Orban ..24/16 PB 14 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures //5 V r 130 I55 I20 50 PATENTEBMAY 9 I972 sum 2 [IF A ONE-PIECE CABLE TIE The present invention is directed to an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, and to methods of molding such a cable tie.

It is an object of the invention to provide an integral onepiece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of the strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of the strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, the frame having an entry and an exit surface and a strapreceiving opening therethrough, a pawl disposed within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted and integral with the end wall, the pawl being limited to only pivotal movement with respect to the frame about the pivot connection to the end wall, the pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within the frame between the entry and the exit surfaces thereof, the abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward the pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of the throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a set of teeth on the pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward the abutment wall and shaped complementary to the row of teeth on the strap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cable tie of the type set forth, wherein a plurality of teeth in the set of teeth are positioned opposite the strap-bearing surface and lie in a common surface which is disposed substantially equidistantly from the strap-bearing surface in the tensioned condition of the strap with the strap-bearing surface extending beyond the plurality of teeth.

In connection with the foregoing object, another object of the invention is to provide a cable tie of the type set forth wherein the crests of the plurality of teeth lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the strap-bearing surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cable tie of the type set forth wherein the planes defined by the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface in the tensioned condition converge with the planes defined by the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface in the tensioned condition at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as zero degrees.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cable tie of the type set forth wherein a ledge is provided on the end wall extending longitudinally therefrom toward the abutment wall and the pawl is pivotally mounted on the ledge.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of molding a cable tie of the type set forth comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with the core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, one of the core sections having undercut portions thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in the set of teeth, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by the core portions useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as zero degrees; closing the first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; and moving the mold members away from each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded to permit removal of the molded cable tie therefrom.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of molding cable ties of the type set forth, wherein upon moving the mold members away from each other, the surfaces of the one core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface of the frame drawing away from the molded pawl to permit flexure thereof toward the one core section to remove the set of teeth from the undercut portions of the one core section, thus to permit removal of the molded cable tie fromthe mold members without injury to the pawl and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut portions of the one core section.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of molding cable ties of the type set forth, wherein the core sectionhaving the undercut portions thereon is moved away from the other core section having the molded cable tie remaining thereon, and thereafter knocking out the molded cable tie from the other core section and the associated mold member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of molding cable ties of the type set forth, wherein the core section having no undercut portions thereon is moved away from the other core section having the molded cable tie remaining thereon, and thereafter knocking out the molded cable tie from the other core section and the associated mold member.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the cable tie and the steps of the molding method, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view with certain of the parts broken away of the integral one-piece cable tie made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with certain parts broken away of the cable tie of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view with certain parts broken away of the reverse side of the cable tie of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4.is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross section of the portion of FIG. 2 within the circle designated by the reference numeral 4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the frame forming a part of the cable tie of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 to 10, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the application of the cable tie of FIGS. 1 to 3 about a bundle of wires;

FIG. I 1 is a view illustrating the cable tie of FIGS. 1 to 3 applied about a bundle of wires;

FIG. 12 is a'fragmentary plan view on a large scale of a second form of cable tiemade in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view in vertical section through the frame of the cable tie of FIG. 12 along the line 13-13 thereof;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in transverse section along the line 14-14 in FIG. 13;

FIGS. 15 to 17, inclusive, diagrammatically illustrate a first preferred method of molding the cabletie of the present invention; and

FIGS. 18 and 19 are diagrammatic views illustrating a second preferred embodiment of molding the cable tie of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of an integral one-piece cable tie made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention. The cable tie 100 includes generally a strap 101 carrying on one end thereof a frame or head having a strap-receiving opening or throat therethrough in which is disposed a pawl 150. The cable tie 100 is used to bind a bundle formed of a plurality of wires 161, and accordingly, the cable tie 100 has been illustrated in this end-use in FIG. 11. However, it will be appreciated that the cable tie 100 can be advantageously used to bind other objects in a like manner.

A preferred material of construction of the cable tie 100 is a suitable synthetic organic plastic resin, the preferred resin being one of the polyamide resins; the resin must be sufficiently flexible to accommodate the deformation of the several parts of the cable tie 100 as illustrated throughout the drawings. It is an important object of the invention that each of the parts of the cable tie 100 is integral with the adjacent parts thereof, whereby the cable tie 100 is truly one-piece and formed integral throughout.

The strap 100 is elongated and flexible and includes an outer end 102 that is deflected downwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 with respect to the remaining portion of the strap 101 as molded, the outer end 102 carrying thereon a tip 103 provided with tapered sides 104. The outer end 102 further has an inner or bundle-engaging surface 106 and an outer surface 107, the inner surface 106 carrying a plurality of transversely spacedapart pairs of gripping projections 108 equidistantlyspaced along the length of the outer end 102. A high ridge or detent 109 is provided on the outer surface 107 and is arranged transversely with respect thereto and adjacent to the juncture 111 between the outer end 102 and the remaining portion of the strap 101. In use, the detent 109 is caused to engage the strap 101 on the frame 120 temporarily in an encircling position with respect to an associated bundle 160, all as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The strap 101 further includes a pair of longitudinally extending strap sides 110 which extend the length of the strap 101, and there is provided on the portion of the strap 101 disposed between the juncture 111 with the outer end 102 and the juncture with the frame 120 an inner or bundle-engaging surface 112 and an outer surface 113. Disposed in the surface 112 is a row of abutments or teeth 115 (see FIG. 4 also), the teeth 115 being disposed in a recessed position with respect to the surface 112 and extending laterally of the strap 101 and having a length slightly less than the width of the surface 112, whereby to be confined completely within the body of the strap 101. As illustrated, each of the teeth 115 has a shorter side 116 disposed substantially normal to the adjacent strap surface 112 and a longer or inclined side 117.

The frame 120 is integral with the strap 101 and comprises a pair of side walls or members 121, a rear wall or member 131 and a front wall or member 141. As may be best seen in FIG. 6, the side walls 121 are laterally spaced apart and include inner surfaces 122 that extend the full height of the frame 120 and are disposed essentially parallel to one another, the inner surfaces 122 more specifically extending from the inner surface 112 which serves as an entry surface for the frame 120 to an exit surface 130 on the top of the frame 120 as viewed in FIG. 6. The inner surfaces 122 further are spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between the strap sides 110, whereby the strap 101 may be received between the inner surfaces 122, all as will be explained more fully hereinafter. Each of the side walls 120 further includes an outer surface 123 that extends from the entry surface 112 to the exit surface 130.

The rear wall or end wall 131 includes an inner surface 132 and an outer surface 133 the inner surface 132 diverging downwardly away from the outer surface 133 from the exit surface 130 to the entry surface 112, whereby the rear wall 131 is thicker at the bottom thereof as illustrated in FIG. 7 than at the top thereof. As is also illustrated in FIG. 7, the strap 101 is joined at the frame 120 at the lower and thicker portion of the end wall 131.

Extending between the side walls 121 and adjacent to the lower portion of the end wall 131 is a ledge 135 extending longitudinally toward the front wall 141 and disposed substantially parallel to the entry surface 112 and the longitudinal axis of the strap 101 as molded. The lefthand edge of the ledge 135 as viewed in FIG. 7 terminates in a vertical wall 136 that is disposed essentially normal to the entry surface 112 and is joined thereto by a curved portion thereof. More specifically, the ledge 135 and the wall 136 both extend from and in effect interconnect the inner surfaces 122 of the side walls 121.

The front wall or abutment wall 141 has an inner surface 142 which is spaced from the rear wall 131 in the direction opposite to the strap 101, the inner surface 142 being disposed substantially normal to the entry surface 112 and the longitudinal axis of the strap 101 as molded, the rear wall 131 and the abutment wall 141 cooperating to provide therebetween a strap-receiving opening 140 that has the longitudinal axis thereof generally parallel to the strap-bearing surface 142. The front wall 141 also has an outer surface 143 which extends downwardly from the exit surface 130 and terminates a short distance away from the entry surface 112 and joins thereat a guide surface 145 which connects the inner surface 142 and the outer surface 143. More specifically, the guide surface 145 is spaced away from the entry surface 112 and together with the inner surfaces 122 of the side walls 121 defines a strap-receiving channel in the frame 120. The channel thus provided in the frame and beneath the front wall 141 permits the frame 120 to lie more closely against the associated bundle 160 when the parts are in the tensioned condition as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. In passing, it is noted that the exit surface is inclined with respect to the entry surface 112 and the strap-bearing surface 142, and more specifically slopes downwardly toward the entry surface 112 in a direction away from the strap 101.

Mounted within the strap-receiving opening in the frame 120 is the pawl 150, the pawl being directly seated upon the ledge 135 and integral therewith. The pawl 150 being so constructed is limited essentially to only pivotal movement with respect to the frame 120 about the pivot connection of the pawl 150 to the ledge 135. As will be pointed out further hereinafter, due to this construction and mounting of the pawl 150, the pawl 150 in the as-molded position thereof and in all of the other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof is disposed entirely within the frame 120 and between the entry surface 112 and the exit surface 130 thereof.

The pawl 150 has a pair of side surfaces 152 disposed essentially parallel to one another (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the side surfaces 152 being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the transverse dimensions of the teeth 115 on the strap 101. The pawl 150 also has a top surface 153 (see FIG. 7) and a rear surface 154 disposed toward the inner surface 132. A set of teeth 155 is provided on the surface of the pawl 150 disposed toward the inner surface 142, the teeth 155 each having a shorter side 156 and a longer inclined side 157. The shorter sides 156 are disposed substantially normal to the inner surface 142 when in the as-molded condition as illustrated in FIG. 7. The crests of the teeth 155 all lie in a common plane which is essentially parallel to the opposed inner surface 142 on the front wall 141 as molded; and the roots of the teeth 155 on the pawl 150 also lie in a common plane that is essentially parallel to the opposed inner surface 142 on the front wall 141 as molded. Furthermore, the crest-to-crest distance on the pawl teeth 155 is slightly less than the crest-to-crest distance on the strap teeth 115, whereby to insure that all of the teeth 155 on the pawl 150 engage the teeth 115 on the strap 101, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The pawl 150 further has a bottom surface 159 disposed substantially normal to the strap-bearing surface 142 and substantially parallel to the entry surface 112.

In use, the cable tie 100 is encircled about a bundle 160 of wires 161 as illustrated in FIG. 11. Prior to such encirclement of the bundle 160, the frame 120 and the several parts associated therewith including the pawl 150 are in the positions shown in FIG. 7, i.e., in the as-molded condition thereof. It will be noted that the crests of the teeth 155 lie in a plane that is essentially parallel to the inner surface 142 of the front wall 141, while the inner surface 142 and the longitudinal axis of the throat 140 are disposed normal to the entry surface 112 and the longitudinal axis of the strap 101 as molded.

The first step in applying the cable tie 100 about the bundle is to insert the outer end 102 into the frame 120 in the direction of the arrow 162 in FIG. 8. If desired, the detent 109 may be caused to engage the juncture between the exit surface 130 and the strapbearing surface 142 temporarily to hold the strap 101 about a group of wires 161. In this manner, the workman can continue to add wires 161 to the bundle 160 or remove wires 161 therefrom, if required, all before locking engagement of the strap teeth 115 with the pawl teeth 155.

Thereafter the user grasps the strap end 102 utilizing the projections 108 and pulls the strap further through the frame 120 in the direction of the arrow 163 in FIG. 9. The rows of projections 108 are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the teeth 155 so that the projections 108 will not engage the teeth 155 during the insertion of the strap 101 into the frame 120. Initial engagement between the strap 101 and the pawl 150 is with the lowermost one of the teeth 155, i.e., the tooth 155 disposed toward the entry surface 112, such engagement pivoting the pawl 150 in the clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 9. During further tightening movement of the strap 101 as illustrated in FIG. 9, the teeth 115 of the strap 101 successively engage the lowermost one of the teeth 155 on the pawl 150, thereby to hold the pawl 150 generally in the position illustrated during tightening movement of the strap 101 through the frame 120. Preferably a tool such as that illustrated in the Caveney and Moody U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,560, granted Feb. 16, 1965, or that illustrated in the Caveney and Moody U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,680, granted June 8, 1966, is utilized to tighten the strap 101 about the bundle 160, which tool automatically at the end of the tightening operation severs the strap 101 at a point disposed beyond the exit surface'130 of the frame 120, such as is illustrated by the arrows 164 in FIG. 10.

Immediately after severing of the strap 101, the tension in the portion of the strap 101 about the bundle 160 tends to withdraw the strap 101 from the frame 120 in the direction of the arrow 165, i.e., in a retrograde or strap withdrawal or strap-loosening direction. During such movement of the strap 101 relative to the frame 120, the tooth 115 disposed above the lowermost tooth 155 engages the lowermost tooth 155 and begins to pivot the pawl 150 in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 9 to that illustrated in FIG. 10. As the retrograde movement of the strap 101 continues, the teeth 155 above the lowermost tooth 155 progressively engage the teeth 115 of the strap 101, until all of the teeth 155 on the pawl 150 engage the adjacent ones of the teeth 115 on the strap 101. The parts finally arrive in the position illustrated in FIG. 10, the position of the pawl 150 in FIG. which illustrates the tensioned condition of the parts being essentially the same as that in the as-molded position illustrated in FIG. 7. With the parts in the position illustrated in FIG. 10, the strap 101 is firmly gripped between the abutment wall 141 and the pawl 150, and specifically, the strap-bearing surface 142 on the abutment wall 141 is in firm engagement with the surface 113 of the strap 101 while certain of the teeth 115 on the strap 101 are in firm locking engagement with the teeth 155 on the pawl 150.

It is noted that in the described operation of the pawl 150, during the insertion of the strap 101 into the frame 120, during the tensioning of the strap 101 about the bundle 160, and during the retrograde movement of the strap 101 to the final locked or tensioned position of FIG. 10, the pawl 150 is limited essentially only to pivotal movement with respect to the frame 120 about the pivotal connection to the ledge 135. It is further pointed out that the pawl 150 in the as-molded position thereof illustrated in FIG. 7 and in all of the other positions thereof including the flexed position of FIG. 9 and the tensioned position of FIG. 10 is disposed well within the frame 120 between the entry surface 112 and the exit surface 130 thereof. In other words, no part of the pawl 150 leaves the frame 120 during the application of the cable tie 100 about the bundle 160.

The channel in the front wall 141 provided by the surface 145 thereon and the inner surfaces 122 on the side walls 121 assists in the entry of the tip 103 into the throat 140 and also assists in permitting the frame 120 to lie more nearly flat against the associated bundle 160.

Once the parts are in the tensioned condition of FIG. 10, any force tending to withdraw the strap 101 from within the throat 140 in a strap-loosening direction serves to move the teeth 155 on the pawl 150 into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of the teeth 115 on the strap 101, thereby firmly to grip the strap 101 between the strap-bearing surface 142 and the pawl 150. This described action prevents inadvertent withdrawal of the strap 101 from the frame 120 thus to lock the strap 101 in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

Referring again to FIG. 7 of the drawings, it will be appreciated that the crests of the teeth 155 lie in a common surface, i.e., a plane, which common surface is disposed substantially equidistant from the strap-bearing surface 142 along the length thereof both in the as-molded condition of the parts, and also in the tensioned condition of the parts. It further is pointed out that the strap-bearing surface 142 extends beyond the teeth 155 both toward the entry surface 112 and toward the exit surface 130, thereby to provide a backing for the engaged portion of the strap 101 so that the engaged teeth 115 are encompassed thereby. All of the teeth 155 in the tensioned condition are engaged and loaded.

The planes defined by the surfaces of the teeth 155 disposed toward the entry surface 112, i.e., the surfaces 157, converge with the planes defined by the surfaces of the pawl 150 disposed toward the exit surface 130, i.e., the

surfaces

153 and 154. The two sets of planes named converge at points disposed on the exit side of the frame 120, convergence being at angles as small as 0, i.e., the sets of planes might be essentially parallel. This convergence of the several surfaces permits the pawl 150 and the teeth 155 thereon tobe properly molded as one piece with the remaining portions of the cable tie 100, all as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 9, it will be noted that even at the full clockwise position of the pawl 150 with respect to the frame 120, there is ample clearance between the rear surface 154 of the pawl 150 and the inner surface 132 of the end wall 131, thereby to permit unrestricted flexure of the pawl 150 during insertion of thestrap 101 into the frame 120. This feature is important to prevent damage to the teeth 155 on the pawl 150 and to prevent tearing of the pawl 150 from the frame 120 during the insertion of the strap 101 through the frame 120.

In a constructional example ofthe cable tie for use with bundles having a diameter of 1.75 inches, the overall length thereof is 7.5 inches, the width of the strap 101 is 0.180 inch, the length of the outer end 102 is 1.225 inches, the portion of the strap 101 carrying the teeth has a length of 5.675 inches, the depth of the teeth 115 is 0.010 inch and the pitch thereof is 0.025 inch, the inclination of the surfaces 117 to the surface 112 being 22; the dimension of the frame 120 in the direction of the strap 101 is 0.270 inch, the overall height of the frame 120 is 0.205 inch, the overall width of the frame 120 is 0.320 inch, the inclination of the

surfaces

123, 133 and 143 is 5 and the inclination of the surface 132 is 3; the thickness of the strap 101 is 0.040 inch; the distance between the

surfaces

153 and 159 is 0.1 inch, the distance between the

surfaces

112 and 145 is 0.010 inch, and the distance between the surfaces 145 and is 0.074 inch.

There is illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14 of the drawings, a second embodiment of the integral one-piece cable tie made in accordance with the present invention, the cable tie of FIGS. 12 to 14 being generally designated by the numeral 200. Many of the parts of the cable tie 200 are identical in construction to like parts in the cable tie 100 described above, and accordingly, there has been applied to each part of the cable tie 200 a reference numeral in the 200 series corresponding to the reference numeral in the 100 series that was applied to the like part of the cable tie 100 described above.

The fundamental difference between the cable tie 200 of FIGS. 12 to 14 and the cable tie 100 described above is in the formation of the ledge 235. Referring specifically to FIG. 13, it will be seen that the ledge 235 in the cable tie 200 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strap 201 as molded, rather than being parallel as is the case of the ledge 135 of the cable tie 100. In all other respects, the construction and operation of the cable tie 200 is like that of the cable tie 100 described above. It is noted that the surface 235 is inclined at an angle of 30 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strap 201 as molded and with respect to the entry surface 212.

There is illustrated in FIGS. to 17 of the drawings the preferred method of molding the cable tie 100. As illustrated, a set of molds 300 is provided including a top die or mold member 310 and a bottom die or mold member 320, the dies 310 and 320 meeting at a parting line 301, and having closure faces 311 and 321, respectively. Disposed in and forming part of the mold member 310 is a top core section 315 having a closure face 318. Disposed in and forming a part of the mold member 320 is a bottom core section 325 having a closure face 328 cooperating with the closure face 318. The

mold members

310 and 320 together with the

respective core sections

315 and 325 cooperate in the closed positions thereof to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie 100. The several surfaces of the

mold members

310 and 320 and the several surfaces of the

core sections

315 and 325 used in molding surfaces of the cable tie 100 have had applied thereto numerals in the 300 series that correspond to the surfaces identified by the numerals in the 100 series that are molded thereby. Accordingly, in the interest of brevity, a more full description of the several molding surfaces of the

mold members

310 and 320 and of the

core sections

315 and 325 need not be given.

It is pointed out that the

core sections

315 and 325 cooperate to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening 140 and the pawl 150, and more specifically, the core section 315 has undercut portions thereon defined by the surfaces 357 thereof for molding the corresponding surfaces 157 of the three uppermost teeth 155 as viewed in FIG. 15.

The mold set 300 is constructed and arranged so that the

mold members

310 and 320 are moved away from each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap 101 as molded and also normal to the entry surface 112 as molded. When the mold set 300 is closed, means (not shown) is provided to inject a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin into the mold cavity defined thereby, which resin after cooling forms a cable tie 100. As illustrated, the cable tie 100 is held by the bottom mold member 320 as the top mold member 310 is removed therefrom, and thereafter the completed cable tie 100 is removed from the bottom mold member 320. To this end, a plurality of knockout pins 340 has been provided vertically reciprocable with respect to the mold member 320 and useful to eject the molded cable tie 100 from the bottom mold member 320.

In order to permit removal of the molded portions of the cable tie 100 from the undercut portions of the top core section 315, the various molding surfaces thereof must have a particular configuration. More specifically, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth 155 disposed toward the entry surface 112, i.e., the molding surfaces 357 useful in the molding the teeth surfaces 157 (that plane being diagrammatically illustrated by the line 346 in FIG. 15), must converge with the planes defined by the core surfaces useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl 155 disposed toward the exit surface 130 and away from the abutment wall 141, i.e., the surface 354 for forming the surface 154, for example (the latter plane being diagrammatically illustrated by the line 347 in FIG. 15), which convergence must be at points disposed on the exit side of the frame 120. As can best be seen from FIG. 15, the

lines

346 and 347 in fact converge, the angle between the plane 346 and the surface 330 being greater than the angle between the plane 347 and the surface 330.

As is best illustrated in FIG. 16, by providing the described convergence of the

planes

346 and 347, the pawl 150 can be rotated in a clockwise direction as the mold set 300 is opened, the surface 354 of the core section 315 moving away from the molded surface 154 as the core section surface 357 acting against the molded tooth surface 157 tends to rotate the pawl 150 in a clockwise direction. In other words, clearance is provided to the rear or righthand side of the pawl 150 as viewed in FIG. 16 as the mold set 300 opens so as to permit the pawl 150 to be rotated in a clockwise direction to remove the molded teeth 155 from the undercut portions of the core section 315.

After the top mold member 310 has been cleared from the molded cable tie as illustrated in FIG. 17, the knockout pins 340 are actuated to eject the molded cable tie 100 from the bottom mold member 320.

By means of the molding method illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17, a multiple internal toothed cable tie 100 can be molded, which molding method does not require any side action or moving cores on the mold set 300. During the mold opening illustrated in FIG. 16, the pawl deflects backwardly into the cavity in the core section 315, whereby the cable tie 100 can be molded in one piece with multiple internal teeth and the teeth 155 can be removed from the mold set 300 in a conventional manner as illustrated. As a consequence, the core section 315 can be a fixed part ofthe die member 310.

In the method illustrated in FIGS. 15-17 of the drawings, the deflection of the pawl 150 into the cavity which molded the pawl 150 occurs during the separation of the

mold members

310 and 320, after which the molded cable tie 100 is ejected by the knockout pins 340 from the mold member 320. It will be appreciated that the mold members could first be separated with the molded cable tie held in the mold member having the undercut portions therein, after which the cable tie 100 could be ejected by means of knockout pins with the pawl 150 being deflected into the mold cavity thereof during part ejection, rather than during mold opening. Such a molding method is illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 wherein there is provided a set of molds 400 including a top die or mold member 410 and a bottom die or mold member 420, the dies 410 and 420 meeting at a parting line 401, and having closure faces 411 and 421, respectively.

Disposed on and forming a part of the mold member 410 is a top core section 415 having a closure face 418. Disposed in and forming a part of the mold member 420 is a bottom core section 425 having a closure face 428 cooperating with the closure face 418. The

mold members

410 and 420 together with the

respective core sections

415 and 425 cooperate in the closed positions thereof to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie 100. The several surfaces of the

mold members

410 and 420 and the several surfaces of the

core sections

415 and 425 used in molding the surfaces of the cable tie 100 have had applied thereto numerals in the 400 se ties that correspond to the surfaces identified by the numerals in the 100 series that are molded thereby. Accordingly, in the interest of brevity a more full description of the several molding surfaces of the

mold members

410 and 420 and of the

core sections

415 and 425 need not be given.

It is pointed out that the

core sections

415 and 425 cooperate to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening 140 and the pawl 150, and more specifically, the core section 425 has undercut portions thereon defined by the surface 457 thereof for molding the corresponding surfaces 157 of the three uppermost teeth 155 on the pawl 150.

The mold set 400 is constructed and arranged so that the

mold members

410 and 420 are moved away from each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap 101 as molded and also normal to the entry surface 112 as molded. When the mold set 400 is closed, means (not shown) is provided to inject a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin into the mold cavity provided thereby, which resin after cooling forms a cable tie 100. As illustrated, the cable tie 100 is held by the bottom mold member 420 as the top mold member 410 is removed. therefrom, and thereafter the completed cable tie 100 is removed from the bottom mold member 420. To this end, a plurality of knockout pins 440 has been provided vertically reciprocable with respect to the mold member 420 and useful to eject the molded cable tie 100 from the bottom mold member 420.

In order to permit removal of the molded portions of the cable tie 100 from the undercut portions of the bottom core section 425 during ejection of the cable tie 100 from the boti and release of said strap causing at least one of said abutments tom mold member 420, the various molding surfaces thereof must have a particular configuration. More specifically, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming thetsurfaces of the set of teeth 155 disposed toward the entry surface'll2, i.e., the molding-surfaces 457 useful in molding the teeth surface 157, must converge with the planes definedby the core surfaces useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl 150 disposed toward the exit surface 130 and away from the abutment wall 141, i.e., thesurface 454 for forming the surface 154, for example, which convergence must be at points disposed on the exit side of the frame 120.

As is best illustrated in FIG. 19, by providing the described convergence of the planes named, the pawl 150 can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as the cable tie 100 is ejected from the mold member 420 by means of the knockout pins 440, the molded surface 154 moving away from the surface 454 of the core section 425 as the core section surface v457 acting against the molded tooth surface 157 tends to rotate the pawl 150 in a counterclockwise direction. In other-words, clearance is provided to the rear or righthand side of the pawl 150 as viewed in FIG. 19 as the knockout pins 440 push the cable tie 100 from the mold member 420, thereby to permit the pawl 150 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to remove the molded teeth 155 from the undercut portions of the core section 425.

By means of the molding method illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, a multiple internal toothed cable tie 100 can be molded, which molding method does not require any side action or moving cores on the mold set 400. During part ejection illustrated in FIG. 19, the pawl 150 deflects backwardly into the cavity in the core section 425, whereby the cable tie 100 can be molded in one piece with multiple internal teeth 155 and the teeth 155 can be removed from the mold set 400 in a conventional manner as illustrated. As a consequence, the core section 425 can be a fixed part of the die member 420.

From the above, it will be seen that there have been provided improved cable ties, and improved methods of molding cable ties, which fulfill all of the objects and advantages set forth above.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intendedtocover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of abutments disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a ledge on said end wall extending longitudinally therefrom toward said abutment wall, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said ledge, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a tooth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of abutments on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said tooth being disposed toward said row of abutments as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires toa tensioned condition firmly to engage said tooth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosen- .ing direction serving to move said tooth into more firm en- .gagement with the engaged ones of said row of'abutments -firmlyto grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

2. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on onelongitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with oneend of the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, and a pawl pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and having a set of teeth 'thereon shaped to engage the row of teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, one of said core sections having undercut portions thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in the set of teeth, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said core portions useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as 0; closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; and moving'said mold members away from each otherin a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded to permit removal of the molded cable tie therefrom.

3. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, one of said core sections having undercut portions thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in the set of teeth, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said core portions useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as smali as 0; closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; and moving said mold members away from each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, the surfaces of the one core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface of the frame drawing away from the molded pawl to permit flexure thereof toward said one core section to remove the set of teeth from the undercut portions of said one core section, thus to permit removal of the molded cable tie from said mold members without injury to the pawl and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut portions of the one core section.

4. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, said first core section having undercut por-' tions thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in said set of teeth, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said first core portion useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; moving said first mold member with said first core section thereon away from said second mold member with said second core section thereon and the molded cable tie positioned therein in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, the surfaces of said first core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface of the frame drawing away from the molded pawl to permit fiexure thereof within said first core section to remove the set of teeth from the undercut portions of said first core section, thus to permit removal from said first mold member of the portion of the molded cable tie molded thereby without injury to the pawl and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut portions of said first core section, and knocking out the molded cable tie from said second mold member and said second core section thereon.

5. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable tie includes. an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of teeth, said method of molding comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, said second core section having undercut portion thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in said set of teeth, the planes defined by the molded surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said second core portion useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as 0; closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; moving said first mold member with said first core section thereon away from said second mold member with said second core section thereon and the molded cable tie positioned therein in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and knocking out the molded cable tie from said first mold member and said first core section thereon, the molded pawl drawing away from the surfaces of said second core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface of the frame to permit flexure of the pawl within said second core section to remove the set of teeth from the undercut portions of said second core sections, thus to permit removal from said second mold member of the portion of the molded cable tie molded thereby without injury to the pawl and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut portions of said second core sections.

6. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the asmolded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crest-to-crest distance of said set of teeth being slightly less than the crest-to-crest distance of said row of teeth so that when the tooth in said set of teeth disposed toward said entry surface is the first to engage one of said row of teeth all of the teeth in said set of teeth will ultimately engage teeth in said row of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

7. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the asmolded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surface thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap b'eing deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crests of a plurality of the teeth in said set of teeth being positioned opposite said strap-bearing surface in the tensioned condition of said strap and being disposed substantially equidistant from said strap-bearing surface with said strapsbearing surface extending beyond said plurality of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

8. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the asmolded position thereof and in allother positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap .is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crests of a plurality of the teeth in said set of teeth being positioned opposite said strap-bearing position in the tensioned condition of said strap and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the frame of said strap-bearing surface with said strap-bearing surface extending beyond said plurality of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

9. An integral one-piece cable tie to betensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the asmolded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crests of the teeth in said set of teeth being positioned opposite said strap-bearing surface and lying in a plane substantially parallel thereto in the tensioned condition of said strap withsaid strap-bearing surface extending beyond said plurality of teeth, the planes defined by the surface of said set of teeth disposed toward said entry surface in the tensioned condition converging with the planes defined by the surfaces of said pawl disposed toward said exit surface and away from said abutment wall in the tensioned condition at points disposed on the exit side of said frame at angles as small as 0.

10. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of abutments disposed on one longitudinaltsurface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall and a pair of Iongitudinally extending and spaced-apart side walls interconnecting said endwall and said abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a ledge on said end wall extending between and interconnecting said side walls and extending longitudinally from said end wall toward said abutment wall, a pawl'disposed within said frame in said strap receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said ledge, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strapreceiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a tooth on said pawl arranged transverse- 1y with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of abutments on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strapreceiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said tooth being disposed toward said row of abutments as said strap is tensioned about and release said strap causing at least one of said abutments firmly to engage said tooth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said tooth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of abutments firmly to grip said strap between-said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

11. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame on one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and an opening extending therethrough for receiving the other end of said strap, a pawl. disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crestto-crest distance of said set of teeth being slightly less than the crest-to-crest distance of said row of teeth so that when the tooth in said set of teeth disposed toward said entry surface is the first to engage one of said row of teeth all of the teeth in said set of teeth will ultimately engage teeth in said row of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

12. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of abutments disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame on one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and an opening extending therethrough for receiving the other end of said strap, a ledge on said end wall extending longitudinally therefrom toward said abutment wall and including a support surface disposed toward said exit surface, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with the support surface of said ledge, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a tooth on on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of abutments on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said tooth being disposed toward said row of abutments as said strap is tensioned about and release said strap causing at least one of said abutments firmly to engage said tooth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said tooth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of abutments firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

13. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the asmolded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the planes defined by the surfaces of said set of teeth disposed toward said entry surface in the tensioned condition converge with the planes defined by the surfaces of said pawl disposed toward said exit surface and away from said abutment wall in the tensioned condition at points disposed on the exit side of said frame at angles as small as 0, any force tending to with draw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

14. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the asmolded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposedtoward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said frame having a channel therein through said abutment wall for receiving the other end of said strap to permit said frame to lie more nearly flat against the associated bundle of wires, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from 'said frame nd thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 660, 869 Dated May 9 1972 lnventor(s) Jack E. Caveney and Roy A. Moody It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 5, Column 11, Line 60, change "portion" to portions Claim 7, Column 12, Line 68, change "surface" to surfaces (,laim 9, Column 14, Line 24, change "surface" to surfaces Claim 1.0, Column 14, Line 55, after "about" insert the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition Line 55, after "release" insert of Claim 13, Column 16, Line 29, change "with draw" to withdraw Claim 12, Column 15, line 50, cancel "on", second occurrence.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of February 1973.

SEAL) Attcst:

EDWARD M 1"'LE'ICI"I]ER,.IR ROBERT GOTTSCIIALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 6037 8-P69 h u 5, GOVERNMENT vmmmo OFFICE I969 o36e-J3A

Claims

1. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of abutments disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a ledge on said end wall extending longitudinally therefrom toward said abutment wall, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said ledge, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a tooth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of abutments on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said tooth being disposed toward said row of abutments as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least one of said abutments firmly to engage said tooth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said tooth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of abutments firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

2. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, and a pawl pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, one of said core sections having undercut portions thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in the set of teeth, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said core portions useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as 0*; closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; and moving said mold members away from each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded to permit removal of the molded cable tie therefrom.

3. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, one of said core sections having undercut portions thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in the set of teeth, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said core portions useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as 0*; closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; and moving said mold members away from each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, the surfaces of the one core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface of the frame drawing away from the molded pawl to permit flexure thereof toward said one core section to remove the set of teeth from the undercut portions Of said one core section, thus to permit removal of the molded cable tie from said mold members without injury to the pawl and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut portions of the one core section.

4. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of teeth; said method of molding comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, said first core section having undercut portions thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in said set of teeth, the planes defined by the molding surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said first core portion useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from the abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as 0*; closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; moving said first mold member with said first core section thereon away from said second mold member with said second core section thereon and the molded cable tie positioned therein in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, the surfaces of said first core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface of the frame drawing away from the molded pawl to permit flexure thereof within said first core section to remove the set of teeth from the undercut portions of said first core section, thus to permit removal from said first mold member of the portion of the molded cable tie molded thereby without injury to the pawl and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut portions of said first core section, and knocking out the molded cable tie from said second mold member and said second core section thereon.

5. The method of molding an integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, wherein the cable tie includes an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth on one longitudinal surface thereof, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and a pawl pivotally mounted within the frame in the strap-receiving opening and having a set of teeth thereon shaped to engage the row of teeth, said method of molding comprising the steps of providing first and second mold members having respectively first and second core sections thereon and cooperating to provide a mold cavity shaped complementary to the cable tie with said core sections cooperating to mold the surfaces of the strap-receiving opening and the pawl, said second core section having undercut portion thereon for molding one or more of the teeth in said set of teeth, the planes defined by the molded surfaces of the undercut portions useful in forming the surfaces of the set of teeth disposed toward the entry surface converging with the planes defined by said second core portion useful in forming the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface and away from tHe abutment wall at points disposed on the exit side of the frame at angles as small as 0*; closing said first and second mold members to form a mold cavity; placing a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin in the mold cavity to form a cable tie; moving said first mold member with said first core section thereon away from said second mold member with said second core section thereon and the molded cable tie positioned therein in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the strap as molded, and knocking out the molded cable tie from said first mold member and said first core section thereon, the molded pawl drawing away from the surfaces of said second core section molding the surfaces of the pawl disposed toward the exit surface of the frame to permit flexure of the pawl within said second core section to remove the set of teeth from the undercut portions of said second core sections, thus to permit removal from said second mold member of the portion of the molded cable tie molded thereby without injury to the pawl and the set of teeth thereon including those molded by the undercut portions of said second core sections.

6. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crest-to-crest distance of said set of teeth being slightly less than the crest-to-crest distance of said row of teeth so that when the tooth in said set of teeth disposed toward said entry surface is the first to engage one of said row of teeth all of the teeth in said set of teeth will ultimately engage teeth in said row of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

7. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and includIng an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surface thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crests of a plurality of the teeth in said set of teeth being positioned opposite said strap-bearing surface in the tensioned condition of said strap and being disposed substantially equidistant from said strap-bearing surface with said strap-bearing surface extending beyond said plurality of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

8. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crests of a plurality of the teeth in said set of teeth being positioned oPposite said strap-bearing position in the tensioned condition of said strap and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the frame of said strap-bearing surface with said strap-bearing surface extending beyond said plurality of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

9. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crests of the teeth in said set of teeth being positioned opposite said strap-bearing surface and lying in a plane substantially parallel thereto in the tensioned condition of said strap with said strap-bearing surface extending beyond said plurality of teeth, the planes defined by the surface of said set of teeth disposed toward said entry surface in the tensioned condition converging with the planes defined by the surfaces of said pawl disposed toward said exit surface and away from said abutment wall in the tensioned condition at points disposed on the exit side of said frame at angles as small as 0*.

10. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of abutments disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall and a pair of longitudinally extending and spaced-apart side walls interconnecting said end wall and said abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a ledge on said end wall extending between and interconnecting said side walls and extending longitudinally from said end wall toward said abutment wall, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said ledge, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strAp-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a tooth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of abutments on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said tooth being disposed toward said row of abutments as said strap is tensioned about and release said strap causing at least one of said abutments firmly to engage said tooth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said tooth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of abutments firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

11. A cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame on one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and an opening extending therethrough for receiving the other end of said strap, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the crest-to-crest distance of said set of teeth being slightly less than the crest-to-crest distance of said row of teeth so that when the tooth in said set of teeth disposed toward said entry surface is the first to engage one of said row of teeth all of the teeth in said set of teeth will ultimately engage teeth in said row of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

13. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, the planes defined by the surfaces of said set of teeth disposed toward said entry surface in the tensioned condition converge with the planes defined by the surfaces of said pawl disposed toward said exit surface and away from said abutment wall in the tensioned condition at points disposed on the exit side of said frame at angles as small as 0*, any force tending to with draw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said Strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.

14. An integral one-piece cable tie to be tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, said cable tie comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on one longitudinal surface of said strap and arranged transversely with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of said strap and including an end wall and an abutment wall, said frame having an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl disposed within said frame in said strap-receiving opening and pivotally mounted on and integral with said end wall, said pawl being limited to essentially pivotal movement with respect to said frame about the pivot connection to said end wall, said pawl in the as-molded position thereof and in all other positions thereof including the tensioned position thereof being disposed entirely within said frame between the entry and exit surfaces thereof, said abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward said pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, the longitudinal axis of said throat being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strap as molded, and a set of teeth on said pawl arranged transversely with respect thereto and disposed toward said abutment wall and shaped to engage said row of teeth on said strap, said strap being deformable into a loop encircling a bundle of wires with the free end of said strap extending into said strap-receiving throat and through the opening in said frame and therebeyond, said frame having a channel therein through said abutment wall for receiving the other end of said strap to permit said frame to lie more nearly flat against the associated bundle of wires, said set of teeth being disposed toward said row of teeth as said strap is tensioned about the bundle of wires to a tensioned condition and release of said strap causing at least certain ones of said row of teeth firmly to engage said set of teeth, any force tending to withdraw said strap from within said strap-receiving throat in a strap-loosening direction serving to move said set of teeth into more firm engagement with the engaged ones of said row of teeth firmly to grip said strap between said strap-bearing surface and said pawl, whereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said strap from said frame and thus to lock said strap in its tensioned condition about the bundle of wires.