Wide Cushioned Cable Tie for Optical Fiber Bundle

Abstract

A wide bodied cushioned cable tie for use with securing optical fiber bundles is formed of a sturdy polymer e.g. polyethylene with a strap width of about one inch and with broad longitudinal flanges on either side of the rack of teeth on the strap. Neoprene foam cushions extend along each of the flanges. The ratchet or pawl can be provided with a release tab. A service opening at the tip or tail of the strap facilitates hanging the bundle from support structure.

I claim: 
     
         1 . Cable tie for use in bundling optical fiber cables in which pressure from the cable tie is distributed over a wide area on the bundle of optical fiber cables, the cable tie comprising a head, an elongated flat strap, a neck portion joining the head to the strap, and a tail end of the strap remote from said head, the strap having an outer side adapted to face away from the optical fiber cables of the bundle and an inner side adapted to face towards and to contact the optical fiber cables, said strap having a rack of teeth on its inner side and extending between said neck portion and said tail end, with longitudinal flanges extending along either side of said rack of teeth; said head having a tunnel therein dimensioned to accommodate said strap and to permit said tail end and at least a portion of said strap to be pushed therethrough, and having a pawl member formed at said tunnel to engage said rack of teeth to hold said strap in place in said head; wherein said strap is formed with a lateral width of substantially one inch, and said strap includes resilient foam cushions disposed on said longitudinal flanges respectively, such that the foam cushions contact against said bundle of optical fiber cables when said cable tie is in place over said bundle. 
     
     
         2 . The cable tie of  claim 1 , wherein said pawl member a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the teeth of the rack, a spring hinge urging said plurality of teeth deflectably towards said rack but permitting the rack to be inserted in said tunnel past said pawl member, and a release tab extending out from said tunnel. 
     
     
         3 . The cable tie  claim 2 , wherein head and said strap are formed of a stiff, flexibly resilient polypropylene. 
     
     
         4 . The cable tie of  claim 1 , wherein said flanges and said foam cushions each have a width of substantially one-eighth inch. 
     
     
         5 . The cable tie of  claim 1 , wherein said foam cushions are formed of a neoprene foam. 
     
     
         6 . The cable tie of  claim 1 , wherein said foam cushions extend over at least a majority of the length of said flanges between said neck portion and said tail portion. 
     
     
         7 . The cable tie of  claim 1 , wherein said tail end is provided with a through hole adapted for hanging said tie and an associated bundle of fiber optic cables from a suitable support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The cable tie of  claim 1 , wherein said tail end is provided with a taper of the order of about 5 to 10 degrees.