Patent Application
20240228089
The present disclosure relates to hand-held tensioning and cutting tools and in particular, to an improved hand tool for tensioning and cutting cable ties.
Cable ties, also known as zip ties or hose ties, are widely used in a variety of environments and applications. For example, cable ties may be used to securely bundle a plurality of wires, cables or conduits such as those found in the automotive industry. Also, cable ties may be used to secure articles to rigid structures (e.g. a chassis), but may also be utilised as hose clamps. Typically, a cable tie comprises a tie head portion and a tie tail portion of various lengths that is integrally formed with the head portion. During use, the tie tail is threaded through the tie head so as to encircle the articles to be bound or secured. The tie tail section is usually provided with teeth that engage with a pawl provided in the tie head and forming a ratchet so that, as the free end of the tie tail is pulled, the cable tie tightens and does not come undone. Once the tie tail of the cable tie has been pulled through the tie head and past the ratchet, it is prevented from being pulled back, thus, the resulting loop may only be pulled tighter. Some cable ties may include a tab that can be depressed to release the ratchet so that the cable tie can be loosened or be removed and possibly reused.
A cable tie tensioning device, also known as cable tie tool or cable tie gun, may be used to install cable ties and apply a predefined degree of tension, as well as, cut off the extra tail. Preferably, the cut tie tail is flush with the tie head portion so as to avoid sharp edges, which might otherwise cause injuries. Light-duty tools may be operated by simply and repeatedly squeezing the handle and trigger with the fingers until a desired tension of the cable tie has been reached to then cut off the tail section of the tightened cable tie. Heavy-duty or automated tools may be powered, for example, by compressed air or a solenoid (i.e. actuator) to assist the user when operating the tool.
Available tools can be rather inaccurate in the desired tension applied to the cable tie, as well as, in leaving protruding remnants of the cut tie tail portion. As a result, higher-quality tools have become rather complex (and expensive) in order to achieve a desired tensioning at sufficient accuracy, as well as, a consistently clean and flush cut-off section.
As mentioned before, the accuracy of the selected cable tension and the reliability of the cut-off threshold can be a crucial factor when using cable ties to fasten or fix specific components. On the other hand, the cost of manufacture, wear resistance and durability, as well as, its ease of use and user handling are equally as important.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved, as well as simplified cable tie tool for tensioning and cutting cable ties, thus, reducing manufacturing costs while improving durability and ease of use.
Aspects of the present disclosure is set out in the independent claims. Dependent claims describe optional features.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tool for tensioning and severing an elongate cable tie having a tie head portion and a tie tail portion, said tool comprising:
This provides the advantage that the guide aperture can be defined so as to optimise the path of the gripping pawl relative to the pawl link, thus, allowing a maximised contact engagement between the gripping pawl and the cable tie tail, during use. In addition, using a biased sliding movement of the gripping pawl allows for a greater range of tie tail thicknesses that can be accommodated (i.e. sufficiently gripped) with the tool.
Preferably, said second position is distal to said first position.
Advantageously, said pawl link comprises two substantially matching parallelly arranged arms extending along said longitudinal axis, each one provided with a respective one of said at least one guide aperture at said distal end portion, configured to operably receive and slidingly retain said gripping pawl, therebetween. Preferably, two guide apertures may be provided at said distal end portion of each one of said two substantially matching parallelly arranged arms.
Advantageously, said pawl link further comprises a backing plate at said distal end portion configured to cooperate with said gripping pawl so as to operably engage the cable tie, during use. Preferably, said backing plate is provided on an upper surface of said pawl link facing in a direction opposite said handle portion.
Advantageously, said second position is towards said backing plate.
Advantageously, said at least one guide aperture defines a predetermined cam profile for said guide member configured to maximise contact engagement between said gripping pawl, the tie tail and said backing plate, during use.
Advantageously, said gripping pawl is resiliently biased towards said second position via a spring element operably coupled between said gripping pawl and said pawl link.
Advantageously, said at least one guide member extends from a side portion of said gripping pawl in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
Advantageously, said gripping pawl is further adapted to contactingly engage with an engagement portion of said distal housing end portion so as to push said gripping pawl towards said first position by a predetermined distance when said pawl link is in a starting position.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tool for tensioning and severing an elongate cable tie having a tie head portion and a tie tail portion, said tool comprising:
This provides the advantage of obtaining a more stable and repetitive tension in the cable tie tail, allowing for cleaner and closer tail cuts, i.e. minimising or even avoiding any protruding edges from the tie head portion.
Advantageously, said contact portion of said locking lever is arranged so as to contactingly engage with a cutting lever of said cut-off mechanism.
Preferably, said locking lever is biased towards said locked position.
Advantageously, said locking mechanism further comprises a lever support member mounted to said proximal end portion of said pawl link and configured to supportingly engage with said proximal lever end when in said unlocked position.
Advantageously, said lever support member comprises a first biasing member configured to resiliently bias said locking lever towards said locked position. Preferably, said first biasing member is a coil spring integrated with a support surface of said lever support member.
Advantageously, said stop member comprises at least one tooth-shaped protrusion extending from said proximal lever end towards said rack member. Preferably, said stop member comprises a plurality of tooth-shaped protrusions.
Advantageously, said rack member comprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced recesses on a bottom surface, each one configured to interlockingly receive said stop member.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tool for tensioning and severing an elongate cable tie having a tie head portion and a tie tail portion, said tool comprising:
The use of a cutting linkage directly coupling the cutting lever with the trigger mechanism provides for a simplified and more hardwearing (i.e. more reliable) assembly with a reduced number of parts compared to tools with similar capability, that are known to generally have a relatively complicated mechanism utilising, for example, a cooperating cut-off cam and dog bone cam shaft operably coupled with a rack and biased pinion. Thus, the present disclosure provides for reduced overall manufacturing costs and improved durability.
Advantageously, said proximal cutting lever end comprises a protrusion extending towards said locking mechanism.
Advantageously, said cutting linkage comprises a pivot link and a sliding link operably coupled so as to translate a force generated through an inner trigger link of said trigger mechanism from a direction towards said distal housing end portion along said longitudinal axis into a rotational movement of said cutting lever about said second fulcrum pin.
Advantageously, said sliding link is operably coupled within said housing so as to allow sliding movement in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Advantageously, said pivot link is biased so as to move said cutting lever towards said lower position.
Advantageously, said predetermined condition is a predetermined tension of the tie tail transmitted via said inner trigger link, during use.
Advantageously, said tool further comprises an adjustable biasing mechanism operably coupled to said inner trigger link via said cutting linkage, configured to provide an adjustable threshold force defining said predetermined tension of the tie tail during use.
According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tool for tensioning and severing an elongate cable tie having a tie head portion and a tie tail portion, said tool comprising:
Advantageously, said biasing mechanism comprises a lever link configured to operably couple said second biasing member with any one of said trigger mechanism, said tension mechanism and said cut-off mechanism.
Advantageously, said lever link is pivotably mounted to a third fulcrum pin of said housing, so as to translate a linear movement from a sliding link of a cutting linkage of said cut-off mechanism into a rotational movement of said lever link about said third fulcrum pin.
Advantageously, said second biasing member is operably coupled with said lever link so as to biasingly counteract rotational movement of said lever link about said third fulcrum pin.
Advantageously, said tool further comprises a preload control mechanism configured to selectively change said biasing load provided by said second biasing member in predetermined steps.
Advantageously, said preload control mechanism comprises a lead screw mechanism operably coupled between an adjustment knob and said second biasing member and adapted to convert a rotational movement of said adjustment knob into a change of said biasing load provided by said second biasing member.
This provides the advantage of allowing adjustment of the maximum tension applied to the tie tail at which the cutting mechanism is actuated, and the tie tail is cut. Thus, the user has the option to apply different cable tie pressures to the bundled components.
Additionally, said preload control mechanism may comprise a gear mechanism operably coupled between said adjustment knob and said lead screw mechanism, configured to provide a predetermined transmission ratio between rotational movement of said adjustment knob and a resulting rotational movement of a threaded shaft of said lead screw mechanism.
Preferably, said a gear mechanism is a spin multiplier.
An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the figures:
The described example embodiment relates to a hand-held tensioning and cutting tool such as a cable tie tool for use with cable ties. However, the present disclosure is not limited to hand-held devices and may be used for any tool suitable for tensioning and cutting cable ties.
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words ‘right’, ‘left’, ‘lower’, ‘upper’, ‘front’, ‘rear’, ‘upward’, ‘down’, ‘downward’, ‘above’ and ‘below’ designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made and are with respect to the described component when assembled and mounted (e.g. in situ). In particular, the designated directions used in the description are with respect to the hand held tool held by the user in a normal, upright position, i.e. the handle portion pointing downwards and the barrel portion pointing forward and away from the user. It is understood that the tool may be used in any other orientation suitable for the job at hand, though, for simplicity, the designated directions are used when the tool is in a “normal” orientation. The words ‘inner’, ‘inwardly’ and ‘outer’, ‘outwardly’ refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, a designated centreline or a geometric centre of an element being described (e.g. central axis), the particular meaning being readily apparent from the context of the description.
Further, as used herein, the terms ‘connected’, ‘attached’, ‘coupled’, ‘mounted’ are intended to include direct connections between two members without any other members interposed therebetween, as well as, indirect connections between members in which one or more other members are interposed therebetween. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
Further, unless otherwise specified, the use of ordinal adjectives, such as, ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘third’ etc. merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner.
Through the description and claims of this specification, the terms ‘comprise’ and ‘contain’, and variations thereof, are interpreted to mean ‘including but not limited to’, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality, as well as, singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the present disclosure are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The present disclosure is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The present disclosure extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract or drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
Referring now to
The cable tie tool 100 mechanism is operably embedded into the housing 102 and, for a better understanding, has been divided into separate functional groups that are operably coupled to each other so as to provide the desired functions of the tool 100. The mechanism of the cable tie tool 100 can be grouped into the trigger mechanism 200, mostly embedded within the handle portion 112 and trigger housing portion 206 and is adapted to be moved by the user's hand during operation, the tension mechanism 300, embedded within the barrel portion 104 and adapted to grippingly engage the cable tie tail and apply a predetermined maximum tension, the locking mechanism 400, embedded within the barrel portion 104 and adapted to lock the trigger mechanism 200 and tensioning mechanism 300 at the predetermined (i.e. selected) maximum tension applied to the cable tie tail, the cut-off mechanism 500, partly embedded within the barrel portion 104 and at the distal housing end portion 106 of the tool 100 and configured to cut through the cable tie tail when the predetermined tension applied to the cable tie tail is reached, and the adjustable biasing mechanism 600, partly embedded within the proximal housing end portion 108 of the barrel portion 104 and adapted to adjust the biasing force defining the maximum tension applied to the cable tie tail, during use.
Referring now to
The trigger mechanism 200 is partially integrated into the handle portion 112 of the housing 102. An elongate trigger lever 202 is located forwardly of the handle portion 112 and pivotably mounted within the housing 102 at its proximal (or upper) end 227 so as to allow movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis 208. The trigger lever 202 may include two substantially parallel spaced side faces 210a,b and a front face 212 forming a generally U-shaped profile with an elongate recess 214. Thus, the trigger lever 202 is movable from an initial forward position to a final rearward position and back to its initial forward position. An inner trigger link 204 extends upwardly within the elongate recess 214 of the trigger lever 202, a lower link end 216 of the inner trigger link 204 is pivotally joined to the trigger lever 202 for pivot movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis 218. The upper link end 220 comprises an elongate aperture 222 suitable to operably link to the cutting mechanism 500 (described in more detail in a following section). A handle lever 224 is pivotally coupled at its lower (distal) lever end 226 at a pivot axis 242 within the handle portion 112 of housing 102 and its upper (proximal) lever end 228 is operably coupled to a proximal end of a pawl link 302 of the tension mechanism 300 (described in more detail in a subsequent section). The handle lever 224 is pivotally movable about its pivot axis 242 between a forward position (relative to the handle portion) and a rearward position within the handle portion 112. The handle lever 224 is biased towards its forward position by biasing member 246, such as, for example, a coil spring or a leaf spring or a torsion spring as shown in
A forward end 232 of a short link 230 is pivotally joined to the inner trigger link 204 and a rearward end 234 of the short link 230 is pivotally joined to the handle lever 224. Each one of the forward end 232 and the rearward end 234 are configured to allow pivot movement about respective pivot axes 236 and 238. A trigger bearing 240a,b (see
The tension mechanism 300 is operably linked to and actuated by the trigger mechanism 200 in order to securely grip the inserted tie tail of the cable tie and pull the engaged tie tail backwards (i.e. towards the proximal end portion of the tool 100), thus, tightening the cable tie around the bundle of components until a predetermined maximum tension of the tie tail is reached.
Referring now to
As shown in more detail in
In a preferred embodiment, the pawl link 302 comprises two parallel arranged symmetrical pawl link members 302a, 302b (see
As illustrated in
Furthermore, and with reference to
(iii) Locking Mechanism
The locking mechanism 400 is operably coupled with the tension mechanism 300 and its function is to lock the movement of the pawl link 302 (i.e. interrupt the backward movement of the pawl link 302) and initiate the actuation of the cutting mechanism 500 when reaching a predetermined tension applied to the tie tail during use.
Referring now to
The lower contact surface 408 of the distal lever end 410 is configured to contactingly engage with a protrusion 508 situated on an upper surface of the cutting lever 502 (see also
A lever support member 418 is mounted to the proximal end portion 320 of the pawl link 302 and configured to support the proximal lever end 406 when in its unlocked position. The lever support member 418 comprises a spring element 420 operably embedded within the support surface 422 of the lever support member 418 and configured to bias the proximal lever end 406 towards its locked position (i.e. towards the rack member 414). This bias is counteracted by the protrusion 508 of the cutting lever 502 when the cutting lever is pivoted into its upper position (i.e. blade 504 is retracted). In the preferred embodiment, the locking lever 402 and lever support member 418 are “sandwiched” or operably installed between the two assembled pawl link members 302a and 302b (see
The simple arrangement of the few components of the locking mechanism 400 provides a robust and highly repetitive lever mechanism that forms the basis for a consistently accurate predetermined maximum tension of the cable tie tail (i.e. the cable tie tension at which the tie tail is cut off) so as to produce clean cuts with no cutting protrusions.
The cut-off mechanism 500 cuts or severs the engaged cable tie tail when a predetermined tension is reached. As illustrated in the simplified assembled tool mechanism shown in
Referring now to
The cutting lever 502 is configured to move between an upper position, i.e. blade member 504 is cuttingly engaged with the tie tail, and a lower position, blade member 504 is disengaged from the tie tail. When the blade member 504 is in the lower position, the protrusion is supportingly engaging the distal lever end 410 of the locking lever 402 of the locking mechanism 400, i.e. pushing the distal lever end 410 of the locking lever 402 into its upper position.
A cutting linkage 514 is coupled to the proximal cutting lever end 510 so as to operably link the cutting lever 502 with the inner trigger link 204 of the trigger mechanism 200. In particular, the cutting linkage 514 comprises a pivot link 516 (i.e. two parallel pivot link members 516a,b) directly and pivotally coupled to the proximal cutting lever end 510 via a pivot pin 520, and a sliding link 518 operably coupled between the pivot link 516 (via pivot pin 522) and the inner trigger link 204. The sliding link 518 is slidingly retained by a third cam surface or guide 122 within the housing 102 via a cam follower 524 so as to only allow reciprocating linear movement of the sliding link 518 between a forward (distal) position and a rearward (proximal) position. Here, the sliding link 518 is provided with a pin 524 configured to slidingly engage with the complementary cam guide 122 of the housing 102.
Tension springs 528, e.g. coils springs 528a,b, are provided between the pivot link 516 and the lever link 602 so as to bias the pivot link 516 and the distal cutting lever end 506 towards respective upper positions. In this particular example, the third fulcrum pin 606 laterally extends from the side wall of the lever link 602 also comprising respective circumferential grooves 605 for coupling with end loops of the tension springs 528a,b. These circumferential grooves 605 and respectively coupled tension springs 528a,b end loops allow for a smooth relative movement (sliding movement) between the tension springs 528a,b and the third fulcrum pin 606.
In addition, the bias provided by the tension springs 528a,b is adapted to maintain the locking lever 402 in a relatively horizontal position in order to avoid a premature and uncontrolled locking engagement between the stop member 404 and the rack member 414. Thus, the force from tension springs 528a,b pushing up on locking lever 402 is overcome when the sliding link 518 is moved forward (towards distal end) and the pivot link is pushingly rotated down (moving the protrusion 508 down) so as to allow the stop member 404 and rack member 414 to lockingly engage and the blade 504 to cut through the tie tail.
Referring now to
In summary, the cut-off mechanism 500 provides a simplified and robust assembly for very precise and repeatable cutting action of the blade member 504.
The adjustable biasing mechanism 600 provides for a selectively adjustable biasing force setting the maximum tension applied to the cable tie at which the tie tail section is cut off. The adjustable biasing mechanism 600 is operably coupled with the cut-off mechanism 500 and the trigger mechanism 200 via a fulcrumed lever link 602 and operably incorporates the rack member 414 of the locking mechanism 400.
Referring now to
The position of the plunger member 614 within its housing 610 determines the precompression of the torsion spring 608 and thus controls the biasing force provided by the adjustable biasing mechanism 600 via the fulcrumed lever link 602. A thrust bearing 632 may be provided between the lead screw mechanism 624 and the rack member 414 in order to prevent the transmission of any axial pressure to the adjustment knob 630.
Additionally (i.e. optionally), a gear mechanism 1634 (see
It is understood by the person skilled in the art, that the adjustable biasing mechanism 600 of the present disclosure provides for a simplified and more robust assembly having a reduced number of components. Moreover, the use of a spin multiplier 634, such as, for example, an epicyclic gear, allows for a more user-friendly number of rotation of the adjustment knob 630 required to adjust the tension, as well as, an intuitive choice of the direction of rotation of the adjustment knob 630, i.e. a clockwise rotation for increasing precompression (i.e. increase cut-off tension of the tie tail) and an anti-clockwise rotation for decreasing precompression (i.e. reduce cut-off tension of the tie tail).
The operation of the cable tie tool 100 is now described with reference to
A user may first set a desired cut-off tension for the cable tie looped around the components by rotating the adjustment knob 630 and changing the precompression of the torsion spring 608 within the spring housing 610. The precompression of the spring 608 will set a predetermined bias applied via the fulcrumed lever link 602 and coupling member 604 of the spring housing 610.
A tie tail of a looped cable tie is then inserted through the blade guard aperture 536 and distal housing cover 114 and into engagement with the gripping pawl 310 and backing plate 314. When the user squeezes the trigger lever 202, the pawl link 302 moves back “releasing” the gripping pawl 310 engagement with the engagement portion 120 allowing the gripping pawl 310 to slide up and forward and into gripping engagement with the tie tail. The engaged gripping pawl 310 and tie tail are then pulled back by the handle lever 224 via the pawl link 302, thus, pulling the tie tail backwards towards the proximal housing end portion 108 and closing the cable tie loop around the components. Upon release of the trigger lever 202, the biased handle lever 224 pushes the trigger lever 202 back into its starting position, ready for the user to squeeze the trigger lever 202 again to further tighten the loop until the tension in the tie tail gradually increases.
When the pre-set tension within the tie tail is reached, any additional force on the trigger lever 202 is translated into a forward rotation of the inner trigger link 204 (via handle lever 224 and short link 230). The forward movement of the inner trigger link 204 pushes the sliding link 518 forward and rotates the pivot link about its pivot pin 522, subsequently rotating the proximal cutting lever end 510 downward about fulcrum pin 512. This movement will remove the support for the distal lever end 410 of the locking lever 402, which is now “free” to be rotated about its fulcrum pin 412 by the coil spring 420 embedded in the lever support member 418 moving the distal lever end 410 down and the stop member 404 upward into locking engagement with the rack member 414. The tension mechanism 300 is now locked into position while the blade member 504 is moved upward (along inclined inner front wall surface 534 of the blade guard 526) to cut through the tie tail.
The sudden release of the tension in the cut tie tail removes the force counteracting the spring biased coupling member 604 and lever link 602, such that the lever link 602 rotates back moving the sliding link 518 back and the pivot link 516 up, thus, pushing the distal lever end 410 back up and rotating the stop member 404 of the locking lever 402 out of engagement with the rack member 414. The tension mechanism 300 and pawl link 302 are now free to reciprocatingly move within the barrel portion 104 so that the gripping pawl 310 can be moved backward when contactingly engaging with the engaging portion 120 of the distal housing end portion 106 and disengage from the cut tie tail. The movements of each one of the involved components is timely coordinated such that locking and cutting is practically simultaneous, therefore, preventing any sudden pull-back of the gripping pawl 310 and pawl link 302 and allowing a very clean cut through the tie tail before the pawl link 302 is released again.
(vii) Alternative Embodiment of the Cable Tie Tool 1000
The embodiment of the tool shown in
As illustrated in
Further, instead of the fulcrumed lever link, a rack and pinion mechanism 1602, 1604 is utilised to couple the cut-off mechanism 1500 with the adjustable biasing mechanism 1600.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment(s) have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Various modifications to the detailed designs as described above are possible, for example, variations may exist in shape, size, arrangement (i.e. a single unitary components or two separate components), assembly or the like.
indicates data missing or illegible when filed
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21175559.0 | May 2021 | EP | regional |
| 21211181.9 | Nov 2021 | EP | regional |
This application is a national stage application of PCT/US2022/030530, filed on May 23, 2022, which claims priority to and the benefit of European Patent Application No. 21175559.0, which was filed on May 24, 2021 and European Patent Application No. 21211181.9, which was filed on Nov. 29, 2021, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2022/030530 | 5/23/2022 | WO |
