Patent Application
20130276271
Adhering fastening strips, such as for example hook and loop ties, are generally known. Adhering fastening strips may include a first complementary material, such as a hook material, and a second complementary material, such as a loop material.
Adhering fastening strips are useful in many applications, such as for use in securing items. For example, fastening strips incorporating VELCRO material are commonly used to secure data cables. However, conventional hook and loop ties do not grip the cables sufficiently, which can place undue stress on the cables, connectors, and equipment. Hook and loop ties also tend to slide down the support/equipment that the cables are often attached to. VELCRO is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V. in the United States and other countries.
Currently, cable ties and hook and loop fastening strips are used together in an attempt to secure bundles of cables. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20100192331(A1) presents an approach to improved bundle tensioning without risk to the bundle in which one side of a adhering fastening strip includes a large non-slip area that is flanked by a smaller first adhering material, with the opposing side of the fastening strip including a second adhering material, complementary to the first adhering material. While this approach provides some gripping by provisioning a non-slip area, it is does not provide adhering material along the length of the fastening strip, which weakens the fastening strip's adhering strength. Some other attempts, in different contexts, for pairing of gripping areas/materials with other material have been made. For example, the garment industry has used fabric impregnated with patterned silicon for support garments that would grip the skin and stay up.
Notwithstanding these approaches, there is a need to securely grip items (such as a bundle of data cables) secured by a fastening strip to keep the items from moving longitudinally with respect to the fastening strip, while still providing adequate protection from potential damage to the bundled items and still providing a fastener with adequate adhering strength.
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments.
Referring to
In an example embodiment, hook and loop tie 100 may have on one side, illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
Likewise, the hook portion 103 includes hook fabric, such as nylon or polypropylene hook fabric or other materials capable of engaging loops on the loop portion 101. Again, the second side of the tie may include any adhering material that is complementary to the first side. In the example illustrated, the loop portion 101 and the hook portion 103 are interchangeable. Example material suitable for use in the hook and loop tie 100 hook portion 103 and loop portion 101 is VELCRO material.
A grip area 102 includes a grip material. The grip area 102 configuration as well as the grip material may be suitably chosen to prevent slippage of item(s), for example data cables, secured by a fastening strip such as the hook and loop tie 100, as further described herein (refer to
The grip area 102 may thus include a material with a softness of 20 or less on the Shore A scale (ASTM D2240-05 (2010) Standard Test Method for Rubber Property—Durometer Hardness—hereinafter “type A” scale). Texture may be added to increase grip. It is also desirable that the grip material adhere well to the central material, either on its own, or via an effective adhesive. Example grip materials include but are not limited to rubber, silicone, urethane, vinyl, or a suitable combination of the foregoing. In one embodiment, a grip material for use in grip area 102 is selected for interfacing with (gripping to) the outer coating of a data cable and equipment associated therewith, such as a metal support. An example material suitable for such an application includes silicone.
Referring to
As illustrated in
With reference to
Alternatively, the central portion 104 may be integral to another portion, such as the hook portion 103. For example, the hook portion 103 having an integral central portion 104 or backing portion may be attached to the loop portion 101 using a permanent adhesive, stitching, et cetera.
From
An example hook and loop tie 100 bundling a plurality of cables 105 to a piece of equipment 106 is illustrated in
As shown in the figures, the grip area 102 may be disposed on the loop portion 101. In embodiments, the grip area 102 may be disposed on the hook portion 103. The grip area 102 is disposed, for example centrally, on either side of the fastening strip, or both. The grip material is disposed in the grip area 102. The grip material of the grip area 102, in the example of a hook and loop tie 100, may be on top of the hook or loop material or in direct contact with the central material, for example if there is no hook or loop material in the grip area 102. The grip area 102 may be a central strip, as in the illustrated examples of the figures; however, the grip material may be in the in another form, such as described herein.
The grip area 102 protrudes from (and above) loop portion 101 and an underlying hook portion in the example illustrated in
While example fastening strips have been illustrated herein, it is noted that the dimensions of the fastening strip or portions/areas thereof may be modified as suitable for particular applications. Thus, the width of the fastening strip, the regions/portions/areas of the fastening strip, and selection and thickness of the grip and complementary materials may be selected according to a specific application. For example, a relatively narrow fastening strip may be used for a low-impact application such as bundling computer cables, while a relatively wide fastening strip may be used for a high-impact application such as bundling athletic equipment for easier transportation (for example, skis).
This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain principles and practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.
