The present invention relates generally to strap mounts for connecting to pipes, tubes, and like objects that can be encompassed by a strap, and in particular to quick release strap mounts utilizing a cable tie strap with teeth engaging a locking wedge.
One-piece cable ties utilizing a cable tie strap with teeth engaging a locking wedge are generally well-known for securing a bundle of wires or cables. Cable ties are well known and generally include an elongated strap body integrally formed with a head having a strap body passageway which includes a strap body locking mechanism for securing the strap body around a bundle of wires or cables.
However, known cable tie apparatuses only wrap wires and cables and do not provide mounting of other devices except by routing the cable tie's strap body over the device and securing it to the bundle of wires or cables.
The present invention is a releasable strap mount having a strap body and a cooperating locking head. The strap body is elongated between first and second ends with an outer interlock engagement member positioned adjacent to the first end. The locking head has an interface surface and an opposite external interconnect, and a passageway extended therethrough that is sized to accept the strap body lengthwise therethrough. The locking head also has an interlock member for releasably interlocking with the outer interlock engagement member of the strap body within the passageway. A releasable rotation coupling is formed between the locking head and the second end of the strap body. The strap body has a plurality of intervening coupling members spaced at intervals along a length thereof, and the strap body is divisible adjacent to each of the intervening coupling members between the intervening coupling member and its second end for shortening the strap body.
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of making the releasable strap mount is disclosed.
Other aspects of the invention are detailed herein.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present releasable strap mount is disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems and operating structures in accordance with the present releasable strap mount may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein which define the scope of the present releasable strap mount. The following presents a detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present releasable strap mount.
In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.
Elongated strap body 12 is formed with a first end 12a and a second end 12b opposite first end 12a. Strap body 12 includes an outer interlock engagement member 18 positioned at least adjacent to first end 12a, and a coupling member 20 formed adjacent to second end 12b. For example, outer interlock engagement member 18 is formed of a plurality of individual teeth 22 oriented substantially crosswise of strap body 12 and substantially uniformly extended between a pair of side rails 24 positioned at least adjacent to first end 12a of strap body 12 and extending longitudinally there along. Strap body 12 is optionally terminated at its first end 12a in a manual strap tightening grip member 26, for example serrations substantially of the type described by O'Young, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,807,714, incorporated by reference herein above, or a pull ring as shown. Strap body 12 is formed of a substantially non-stretch material, such as thermoplastic or metal, which can be formed around a target mount. For example, strap body 12 may be molded from a suitable polymeric thermoplastic material such as nylon. However, strap body 12 is optionally molded from different grades of nylon and non-nylon materials are also contemplated and may be substituted without deviating from the scope and intent of the present invention. Strap body 12 optionally includes a rubberized or otherwise substantially compressible anti-slip mechanism 28 coupled or adhered to an inner target engaging surface 30 thereof opposite from outer interlock engagement member 18. Anti-slip mechanism 28 optionally extends along substantially an entire length 32 of inner target engaging surface 30 of strap body 12.
Strap body 12 is releasably coupled to locking head 14 through partially rotatable rotation coupling 16 therebetween. For example, coupling member 20 of strap body 12 is formed of a part-cylindrical coupler body 34 having a longitudinal tubular passage 36 therethrough. Optionally, tubular passage 36 either extends completely through coupler body 34, else two tubular passages 36 extend partway through coupler body 34 and each terminates therewithin without intersecting. Part-cylindrical coupler body 34 is inserted into a mating socket 38 of locking head 14 through a wide angle mouth portion 40 such that tubular passage 36 substantially aligns with a corresponding passage 42 formed in locking head 14 adjacent to opposite ends of coupling member 20. When alignment is substantially achieved, an interconnect pin or axle 44 is removably inserted through tubular passage 36 and corresponding passage 42. Thereafter, coupling member 20 is interconnected with socket 38 in partially rotatably rotation coupling 16 for coupling strap body 12 with locking head 14 in a partially rotatable manner.
Strap body 12 is optionally formed of any desired initial overall length 46. According to one embodiment, initial length 46 of strap body 12 is shortenable to any of a plurality of various shorter lengths 48, 50. For example, strap body 12 is formed with one or a plurality of alternative intervening coupling members 52, 54 at optionally regular intervals along its length 46 corresponding to shorter lengths 48, 50, respectively. Similarly to coupling member 20 each intervening coupling member 52, 54 is formed of part-cylindrical coupler body 34 having longitudinal tubular passage 36 formed therethrough. Optionally, tubular passage 36 either extends completely through coupler body 34, else two tubular passages 36 extend partway through coupler body 34 and each terminates therewithin without intersecting.
Rotation coupling 16 between strap body 12 and locking head 14 is illustrated by example and without limitation as coupler body 34 of the extreme distal one of coupling member 20, 52, 54 being inserted into socket 38 of locking head 14. Tubular passage 36 of coupling member 20, 52, 54 is substantially aligned with corresponding passage 42 of locking head 14. Here, corresponding passage 42 of locking head 14 is illustrated by example and without limitation as a slot (shown) terminated by interface portion 56 adjacent to target interface surface 58 approximately in the middle of locking head 14 and substantially opposite from external interconnect 62.
Locking head 14 forms a substantially rectangular strap body passageway 66 open therethrough between target interface surface 58 and external interconnect 62 and sized to accept strap body 12 lengthwise therethrough. Strap body passageway 66 is formed of a compression surface 68 adjacent and spaced above interface surface 58 of locking head 14 and a substantially opposing cover surface 70 opposite and spaced away from compression surface 68. Compression surface 68 and cover surface 70 extend between spaced apart side walls 72. Strap body passageway 66 terminates at a first end in a wide strap inlet mouth 74 (more clearly shown in subsequent views) and terminates at a second opposite end in a narrow strap outlet mouth 76 at opposite ends of locking head 14.
Locking head 14 further comprises an interlock member 78 adjacent to the strap outlet mouth 76 and structured to matingly interlock with outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12. Interlock member 78 is formed as a resiliently flexible lever arm cantilevered at a root portion 80 thereof from locking head 14 cover portion 64 and having a thumb plate 82 distal from root portion 80 for manual release of interlock. Locking head 14 may optionally include a tensioner member 84 on compression surface 68 of strap body passageway 66 adjacent to strap outlet mouth 76 and substantially opposite of interlock member 78, as more clearly shown in
Strap body 12 is illustrated as having part-cylindrical coupler body 34 of coupling member 20 inserted into mating socket 38 of locking head 14, and tubular passage 36 is aligned with corresponding passage 42 of locking head 14. Interconnect pin 44 is removably inserted through mutually aligned tubular passage 36 corresponding passage 42 of locking head 14 for forming partially rotatable rotation coupling 16 therebetween. Thereafter, strap body 12 is rotatable (arrow 90) through rotation coupling 16 within wide angle mouth portion 40 of socket 38 for rotating partially about locking head 14 for engaging bar 86 of larger or smaller sizes. Although illustrated as cylindrical in cross-section bar 86 is alternately square, rectangular or non-uniform in cross-section with the only requirement being that elongated strap body 12 is sufficiently long to encompass bar 86 and still engage locking head 14, as disclosed herein.
Interlock member 78 of locking head 14 is further illustrated here as forming a cooperating interference member 92 structured to interfere with retrograde movement of strap body 12 within strap body passageway 66. For example, interference member 92 is one wide tooth or a plurality of teeth positioned within and partially occluding strap body passageway 66 substantially opposite of tensioner member 84 on compression surface 68. Tooth or teeth of interference member 92 is oriented substantially crosswise of passageway 66 between opposing side walls 72 and facing away from strap outlet mouth 76 and toward strap inlet mouth 74 into notches between teeth 22 in a position to engage and matingly interlock with in outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12. Furthermore, resilient cantilevered lever arm of interlock member 78 exerts a compression force (arrow 94) on outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12 for maintaining engagement of interference member 92 with outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12. Furthermore, compression force 94 compresses strap body 12 against compression surface 68 of strap body passageway 66 and presses inner target engaging surface 30 of strap body 12 into compressive engagement with tensioner member 84 on compression surface 68 thereof. Accordingly, while interference member 92 of interlock member 78 engages outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12, tensioner member 84 cooperates with opposing compressible anti-slip mechanism 28 on inner target engaging surface 30 thereof both to directly interfere with retrograde movement of strap body 12, and to press outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12 into more secure interlocking engagement with interference member 92 of interlock member 78. Therefore, locking head 14 is securely positioned on surface 60 of target mounting bar 86.
Interference member 92 is resiliently dislocatable (arrow 96) from partially occluding strap body passageway 66 by operation of resiliently flexible cantilevered lever arm of interlock member 78, whereupon interference member 92 disengages from outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12 and permits heretofore prevented retrograde movement of strap body 12 within strap body passageway 66 and subsequent loosening and removal of strap mount 10 from target mounting bar 86.
Optionally, inner target engaging surface 30 of strap body 12 is formed with an inner interlock engagement member 98 positioned at least adjacent to first end 12a thereof opposite from outer interlock engagement member 18. For example, inner interlock engagement member 98 is formed of a plurality of teeth oriented substantially crosswise of strap body 12 and substantially uniformly extended longitudinally there along. Plurality of teeth of inner interlock engagement member 98 protrudes from surface of anti-slip mechanism 28 on inner target engaging surface 30 of strap body 12 for ready engagement with tensioner member 84 on compression surface 68 of strap body passageway 66. Alternatively, plurality of teeth of inner interlock engagement member 98 operate to resist compression of compressible anti-slip mechanism 28 of inner target engaging surface 30 of strap body 12 when interference member 92 of interlock member 78 of locking head 14 engages outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12, as disclosed herein, thereby securing engagement of interlock member 78 with outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12. Individual ones of plurality of teeth of inner interlock engagement member 98 are optionally extended longitudinally of strap body 12, as shown, thereby resisting deflection of outer interlock engagement member 18 of strap body 12 during engagement with interference member 92 of interlock member 78 of locking head 14.
While the preferred and additional alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the inventor makes the following claims.