Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Cable Tie Holder
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cable tie holder. The holder of the present
invention is adapted to store cable ties of the type used by electrician and
other trades
people.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cable ties are widely used by tradespeople in the construction industries most
notably
by electricians. A cable tie is a convenient way in which a number of cables
can be
joined together quickly to ensure that wiring bundles and the like are neatly
and safely
positioned.
Typically any tradesperson will carry cable ties of varying lengths, so that
the correct
length can be selected for any given task. The ties are typically provided in
a plastic
bag container that may have been heat-sealed. The electrician opens the bag by
piercing and tearing. Unfortunately, once the bag holding the ties has been
opened
there is no convenient method of resealing the bag. All too easily the ties
slide out of
the bag and become lost or difficult to retrieve. The ties may, for example,
spill into
the vehicle in which they are being transported or into a larger tool bag in
which they
are held.
In either event this is a nuisance for the electrician as this means that time
has to be
spent retrieving the ties or that they have to be abandoned. Where ties of
different
sizes have spilled they can become jumbled making the selection of a preferred
size
of tie more difficult.
The present invention is addressed to this situation. It is an object of the
present
invention to provide a means by which cable ties of a variety of sizes can be
stored for
carriage or transport in manner that allows them to be easily retrieved for
use. It will
also become apparent from the description that follows that the use of the
holder of
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the present invention provides other incidental benefits to both the
electrician, or other
user of the cable ties and to the provider of the holder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore according to a first aspect of the present invention there is
provided a cable
tie holder including sheets of flexible material joined together so as to make
a series
of pockets into which cable ties can be inserted, each of said pockets having
a
closable side opening at one edge thereof and a central transverse slot,
whereby
cable ties inserted into said pockets through a side opening may be retrieved
from the
cental slot.
Preferably, the sheets of flexible material includes a base attached to which
are two
sheets of material being spaced apart so as to provide a slot therebetween,
said
sheets being partitioned into a series of pockets by diving means extending
across
said sheets at spaced intervals. The upper sheet is preferably made of clear
material.
Preferably, said pockets are of differing sizes to accommodate cable ties of
differing
lengths.
More preferably, said pockets are accessible by a zippered opening serving as
a
closable side opening.
Preferably said holder may be rolled into a cylindrical shape and secured by
fastening
means for storage.
Preferably, the holder of the invention is adapted to be suspended vertically
during
use.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention
will
be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment
in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates in perspective view a cable tie holder in accordance with
a
first aspect of the present invention in open view with an inner face
uppermost;
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Figure 2 illustrates a second perspective view of the cable tie holder of
figure 1
with an outer face uppermost; and
Figure 3 illustrates the cable tie holder of figure 1 in a rolled condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying
drawings. Although the description of the invention includes exemplary
embodiments,
the invention may be embodied in alternative forms, and changes may be made to
the
embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the
drawings
and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.
Shown in the drawings is a cable ties holder 10 formed in accordance with the
present
invention. In figures 1 and 2 the cable tie holder 10 is shown in an open form
ready
for use, whereas in figure 3 the holder 10 is shown in a rolled condition. The
holder
10 is formed of a base sheet of 11 any flexible material of sufficient
strength that is
able to take the weight of cable ties and withstand the somewhat rugged
treatment
that it is likely to encounter in use by a tradesperson. Without limiting the
type of
material that may be used for the holder 10, woven nylon material of the type
of
weight typically used in back packs, briefcases and other carrying devices is
a
suitable material for construction.
The cable ties holder 10 is, in open form a quadrilateral shape being
generally
trapezoidal having upper and lower parallel edges 12 and 14 respectively. In
the form
of the invention Illustrated the upper edge 12 is longer than the lower edge
14
although there is no reason why this should always be so and alternative forms
of the
invention may vary the shape of the holder 10. The distance between the
opposing
side edges 16 corresponds to the lengths of cable ties that are in common us
being
fractionally larger than the length of the tie. . Thus, the upper edge 12 is
closer to the
longest length of tie in widespread use and the lower edge approximates the
length of
the shorter cable ties in use.
Opposing converging side edges 16 join the upper and lower edges 12, 14 side
edges
16. The side edges 16 are arranged so as to make the holder 10 symmetrical in
plan
view. The holder 10 is, as can be seen generally planar in open view and thus
has
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two faces. A first face 18 designated an outer face is shown uppermost in
figure 2
and a second face, an inner face, 20 is shown uppermost in figure 1. When the
holder 10 is in the rolled position shown in figure 3 the outer face 18 is
visible.
The inner face 20 of the holder 10 is adapted to hold cable ties 22 of a
variety of
sizes. The inner face 20 has attached thereto two plastic retaining sheets
24,26. The
sheets 24, 26 are disposed towards the side edges of the inner face 20 and
extend
from the lower edge 14 towards the upper edge 12. The plastic sheets 24, 26
are
clear to allow an unhindered view of any contents held behind the sheets. An
open
slot 28, defined by parallel spaces sides of the sheets 24 and 26, runs
between the
sheets and allows access to the space between each respective sheet 24,26 and
the
underlying material of the holder 10. A first sheet 24, shown at the top of
the drawing
in figure 1 is secured by an outer edge to the side edge 16 of the holder by
means of
a sewn band 30 extending from top to bottom of the holder. A similar sewn edge
32 is
used to neaten the inner edge of the sheet 24. A second sheet 26 has one side
of a
zipper 34 attached to its outer edge. The outer side of the zipper 34 is
attached to the
side edge 16 of the holder by means of a sewn band 36. A sewn edge 38 is used
to
neaten the inner edge of the sheet 26.
In alternative forms of the invention a separate zippered opening is provided
for each
pocket in the holder. In still further embodiments of the invention other
fastening
means such as a hook and loop or clip closure is used to access the pockets
from a
side thereof.
The space formed between the sheets 24, 26 on the one hand and the underlying
material of the holder on the other is divided into a series of pockets 40 by
parallel
spaced apart lines of stitching 42. The lines of stitching 42 extend across
the sheet
24, the slot 28 and sheet 26 as far as the zipper 34. The stitching 42 does
not affect
the action of the zipper 34. Because of the converging sides 16 of the holder
10 it can
be seen that the pockets are not of equal size but that the width of the
pockets 42
diminishes from the upper edge 12 to the lower edge 14. Careful observation
will also
reveal that the upper, wider pockets 42 are deeper than the lower narrower
pockets
42 are shallower. In the embodiment under consideration there are 5 pockets 42
although there is no reason why this figure may not vary.
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The zipper 34 extends along the sheet 26 adjacent the side edge 16 of the
holder and
thereby provides access to the space between the sheet 26 and the underlying
material of the holder 10 in much the same way as the slot 28. However, it can
be
observed that the zipper 34 is movable between open and closed conditions. In
the
open position cable ties 22 can easily be inserted into, or removed from, the
pockets
42 through the opening thereby created. With the zipper 34 closed, the
contents of
the pockets 42 can only be access through the centre slot 28.
It can be observed that the function served by the zipper 34 can equally well
be
served by a number of alternative fastening means such as a hook and loop
fastening
arrangement extending along the side edge 16. Further, although it is not
deemed
necessary for the adequate operation of the holder it is also possible for
fastening
means in the form of zippers or otherwise to be provides at both edges 16.
Thus, in use, cable ties 22 can be quickly and easily inserted into the
pockets 42 with
the zipper 34 open. When the zipper 34 is closed the ties are unlikely to be
able to
inadvertently fall out of the centre slot 28. However, it is an easy task for
the user to
simply remove a tie 22 via the slot 28 by pulling on the tie in question. As
shown in
the drawings, the ties can either be completely removed from any packaging and
inserted into the holder, or they may be left in their packet 44, and the
whole of the
packet 44 inserted into the pocket 42. A transverse slot 46 formed in the
package
allows access to the ties therein through the centre slot 28. The clear
plastic sheets
24, 26 ensure that it will always be apparent whether the user needs to
replenish their
stock of any particular tie size.
Although the cable tie holder 10 of the invention has been illustrated in a
flat position it
is in fact convenient if the holder 10 is used vertically. To this end the
holder is
provides with hanging eyelets 48 at upper corners thereof. The holder 10 can
thus be
suspended from any convenient hanging place.
When the task for which the ties 22 are needed has been completed the user can
then roll the holder 10 into the rolled position shown in figure 3. The holder
10 is
secured in this fashion by a hook and loop fastening arrangement of the type
sold
under the trade name VELCRO~. Thus, the holder 10 is rolled form the lower
edge 14
upwards and a band of hook material 50 at the upper edge 12 of the inner face
20
secured against two strips of loop material 52 on the outer face 18. The
strips 52 are
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arranged transverse to the strip 50 to thereby ensure that a connection be
made
between the strips 50,52 irrespective of whether the holder is full and
bulging with ties
or is empty. It is also convenient if the looped material is located on the
outer face 18
to avoid, so far as is possible the hook material collecting any debris
thereon.
On the inner face of the holder and positioned directly below the strip of
hook material
50 is a blank section of the holder. This is provided for the inclusion of
advertising or
other indicia. Advertising or other written material can be incorporated on
the sheets
24,26.
Thus, the user of the holder is able to quickly locate ties of the correct
size needed for
the job and retrieve the number required with there being little or no
likelihood of
escape of ties from their packaging.
Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be
the
most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may
be
made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to
be limited
to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the
claims so as
to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.
In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where
the
context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication,
the
word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features
specified may
be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.
