Cable tie with wide neck

Abstract

A cable tie is provided that includes an integral cable tie head and strap. The strap includes a first end forming a neck section, a free end opposite the first end, and an intermediate section between the first end and the free end, the intermediate section having a predetermined width B 1 and thickness T 1 defining a predetermined cross-sectional area. The cable tie head is secured to the neck area of the strap at the first end of the strap, the cable tie head having a width E that is wider than strap width B and including a strap accepting channel containing a locking device. The strap accepting channel is sized to receive the free end of the strap. The neck section has a width that transitions from a width of B to a width E′ that is substantially the same as width E and a thickness T 2 that is thinner than T 1 , the neck section having a cross-sectional area that is at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the intermediate section of the strap so as to have a tensile strength at least equal to a tensile strength of the intermediate section of the strap. The cable tie may be a bent neck type cable tie. Preferably, the neck section has at least one recessed channel defining the reduced thickness T 2 and thickened side portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cable tie, comprising:
 a strap including a first end forming a neck section including an angular bend of approximately 90°, a free end opposite the first end, and an intermediate section between the first end and the free end, the intermediate section having a predetermined width B and thickness T 1  defining a predetermined cross-sectional area;   a cable tie head secured to the neck section of the strap at the first end of the strap, the cable tie head having a width E that is wider than strap width B and including a strap accepting channel containing a locking device, the strap accepting channel being sized to receive the free end of the strap,   wherein the neck section has a width that transitions from the width B to a width E′ that is substantially the same as width E and a thickness T 2  that is thinner than T 1 , the neck section having a cross-sectional area that is at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the intermediate section of the strap so as to have a tensile strength at least equal to a tensile strength of the intermediate section of the strap.   
     
     
       2. The cable tie of  claim 1 , wherein the strap accepting channel of the cable tie head is oriented along an axis substantially perpendicular to the intermediate section of the strap. 
     
     
       3. The cable tie of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the neck section includes at least one reduced thickness channel of thickness T 2  and thickened side portions of a thickness T 3 , that is greater than T 2 . 
     
     
       4. The cable tie of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one reduced thickness channel is provided on an outer side of the neck section. 
     
     
       5. The cable tie of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one reduced thickness channel increases in width from the intermediate section of the strap to the cable tie head. 
     
     
       6. The cable tie of  claim 5 , wherein the increase in width of the at least one reduced thickness channel is proportional to the increased width of the neck section. 
     
     
       7. A cable tie, comprising:
 a strap including a first end forming a neck section, a free end opposite the first end, and an intermediate section between the first end and the free end, the intermediate section having a predetermined width B and thickness T 1  defining a predetermined cross-sectional area;   a cable tie head secured to the neck section of the strap at the first end of the strap, the cable tie head having a width E that is wider than strap width B and including a strap accepting channel containing a locking device, the strap accepting channel being sized to receive the free end of the strap,   wherein the neck section has a width that transitions from the width B to a width E′ that is substantially the same as width E and a thickness T 2  that is thinner than T 1 , the neck section having a cross-sectional area that is at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the intermediate section of the strap so as to have a tensile strength at least equal to a tensile strength of the intermediate section of the strap,   wherein the cross-section of the neck section includes at least one reduced thickness channel of thickness T 2  on an inner side of the neck section and thickened side portions of a thickness T 3  that is greater than T 2 .   
     
     
       8. A cable tie, comprising:
 a strap including a first end forming a neck section, a free end opposite the first end, and an intermediate section between the first end and the free end, the intermediate section having a predetermined width B and thickness T 1  defining a predetermined cross-sectional area; 
 a cable tie head secured to the neck section of the strap at the first end of the strap, the cable tie head having a width E that is wider than strap width B and including a strap accepting channel containing a locking device, the strap accepting channel being sized to receive the free end of the strap, 
 wherein the neck section has a width that transitions from the width B to a width E′ that is substantially the same as width E and a thickness T 2  that is thinner than T 1 , the neck section having a cross-sectional area that is at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the intermediate section of the strap so as to have a tensile strength at least equal to a tensile strength of the intermediate section of the strap, 
 wherein the cross-section of the neck section includes at least one reduced thickness channel of thickness T 2  and thickened side portions of a thickness T 3  that is greater than T 2 , wherein the at least one reduced thickness channel includes a first channel formed on an inner side of the neck section and a second channel formed on an outer side of the neck section. 
 
     
     
       9. A cable tie, comprising:
 a strap including a first end forming a neck section including an angular bend of approximately 90°, a free end opposite the first end, and an intermediate section between the first end and the free end, the intermediate section having a predetermined width B and thickness T 1  defining a predetermined cross-sectional area;   a cable tie head secured to the neck section of the strap at the first end of the strap, the cable tie head having a width E that is wider than strap width B and including a strap accepting channel containing a locking device, the strap accepting channel being sized to receive the free end of the strap,   wherein the neck section has a width that transitions so as to continuously increase from the width B to a width E′ that is substantially the same as width E, and a thickness T 2  that is thinner than T 1 , all of the neck section having a cross-sectional area that is at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the intermediate section of the strap so as to have a tensile strength at least equal to a tensile strength of the intermediate section of the strap.   
     
     
       10. The cable tie of claim 9, wherein the strap accepting channel of the cable tie head is oriented along an axis substantially perpendicular to the intermediate section of the strap. 
     
     
       11. The cable tie of claim 9, wherein the cross-section of the neck section includes at least one reduced thickness channel of thickness T 2  and thickened side portions of a thickness T 3 , that is greater than T 2 , and the thickened side portions extend from the intermediate section to the cable tie head such that a length of the thickened side portions is substantially the same as a length of the neck section. 
     
     
       12. The cable tie of claim 11, wherein the at least one reduced thickness channel is provided on an outer side of the neck section or an inner side of the neck section. 
     
     
       13. The cable tie of claim 11, wherein the at least one reduced thickness channel increases in width from the intermediate section of the strap to the cable tie head. 
     
     
       14. The cable tie of claim 13, wherein the increase in width of the at least one reduced thickness channel is proportional to the increased width of the neck section. 
     
     
       15. The cable tie of claim 9, wherein the cross-sectional area of the neck section includes at least one reduced thickness channel, and the strap accepting channel of the cable tie head is separated from the at least one reduced thickness channel. 
     
     
       16. The cable tie of claim 9, wherein the cross-sectional area of the neck section is substantially constant along the length of the neck section. 
     
     
       17. The cable tie of claim 9, wherein the width B of the intermediate section is substantially equal to a minimum width of the neck section and the width E′ of the neck section is substantially a maximum width of the neck section. 
     
     
       18. The cable tie of claim 9, wherein the neck section has a point of flexure, the cross-sectional area of the neck section at the point of flexure is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the intermediate section. 
     
     
       19. A cable tie, comprising:
 a strap including a first end forming a neck section, a free end opposite the first end, and an intermediate section between the first end and the free end, the intermediate section having a predetermined width B and thickness T 1  defining a predetermined cross-sectional area;   a cable tie head secured to the neck section of the strap at the first end of the strap, the cable tie head having a width E that is wider than strap width B and including a strap accepting channel containing a locking device, the strap accepting channel being sized to receive the free end of the strap, wherein
 the neck section has a width that transitions from the width B to a width E′ that is substantially the same as width E and a thickness T2 that is thinner than T1, 
 the neck section has a cross-sectional area substantially constant along a length of the neck section, and that is at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the intermediate section of the strap so as to have a tensile strength at least equal to a tensile strength of the intermediate section of the strap, and 
 the cross-section of the neck section includes at least one reduced thickness channel of thickness T 2  on an inner side of the neck section and thickened side portions of a thickness T 3  that is greater than T 2 . 
   
     
     
       20. The cable tie of claim 19, wherein the thickened side portions extend from the intermediate section of the strap to the cable tie head such that a length of the thickened side portions is substantially the same as the length of the neck section. 
     
     
       21. The cable tie of claim 19, wherein another reduced thickness channel is provided on an outer side of the neck section. 
     
     
       22. The cable tie of claim 19, wherein the at least one reduced thickness channel increases in width from the intermediate section of the strap to the cable tie head. 
     
     
       23. The cable tie of claim 22, wherein the width of the neck section increases from the width B to the width E′ proportional to the increase in width of the at least one reduced thickness channel. 
     
     
       24. The cable tie of claim 19, wherein the strap accepting channel of the cable tie head is separated from the at least one reduced thickness channel. 
     
     
       25. The cable tie of claim 19, wherein the width B of the intermediate section of the strap is substantially equal to a minimum width of the neck section and the width E′ of the neck section is substantially a maximum width of the neck section. 
     
     
       26. The cable tie of claim 19, wherein the neck section has a point of flexure, the cross-sectional area of the neck section at the point of flexure is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the intermediate section.