Systems and methods for mountable and connectable twist ties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11091305-B2
Application number	US-201414777215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus includes a body, the body including an attachment mechanism for mounting the body; and a twist tie, the twist tie integrated with the body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for securing items, the apparatus comprising:
a twist tie; and
an end for the twist tie, wherein the end comprises a nylon portion molded to the twist tie and a ring end defining an aperture sized to accommodate the twist tie to grip the twist tie as the twist tie is passed through the aperture, and wherein the aperture comprises protrusions or teeth adding to the grip of the twist tie as the twist tie is passed through the aperture,
wherein the twist tie includes:
an elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material;
a cover covering the shape-retaining deformable material along a length of said elongated piece, the cover and the shape-retaining deformable material being bonded along their length; and
an outer cover covering the cover, the outer cover bonded to the cover, wherein said cover has an interior surface, the cover being bonded to the elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material along the entire interior surface of the cover, wherein the cover has a durometer of greater than 50 A and the outer cover has a durometer of less than 50 A.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said outer cover has ribs.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said cover and outer cover are thermoplastic polymers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said outer cover is composed of a softer material than said cover.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the twist tie has a gripping surface that grips the ring end as the twist tie is passed through the aperture.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the gripping surface includes outwardly extending ribs.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a durometer of approximately 85 A and the outer cover has a durometer of approximately 15 A.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring end has a circular cross-section transverse to a length of a ring defining the aperture.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end is composed of nylon with glass fibers.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover provides a high friction gripping surface for gripping objects or gripping the ring end when the twist tie is passed through the aperture.

11. An apparatus for securing items, the apparatus comprising:
a twist tie, the twist tie having opposing first and second end portions defining terminal ends of the twist tie; and
an end connected to the twist tie and comprising a nylon portion molded to the first end portion of the twist tie and an aperture defined by a closed loop to grip the twist tie as the second end portion of the twist tie is passed through the aperture, the aperture sized such that it compresses the second end portion of the twist tie when the second end portion of the twist tie is passed through the aperture, the aperture including protrusions or teeth adding to the grip of the twist tie as the second end portion of the twist tie is passed through the aperture,
wherein the twist tie includes:
an elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material;
a cover covering the shape-retaining deformable material along a length of said elongated piece, the cover and the shape-retaining deformable material being bonded along their length; and
an outer cover covering the cover, the outer cover bonded to the cover, wherein said cover has an interior surface, the cover being bonded to the elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material along the entire interior surface of the cover, wherein the cover has a durometer of greater than 50 A and the outer cover has a durometer of less than 50 A.

12. An apparatus for securing items, the apparatus comprising:
a twist tie, the twist tie having a molded-in-place portion; and
an end for the twist tie, the end comprising a nylon portion molded to the molded-in-place portion of the twist tie and an end ring portion having an aperture configured to grip the twist tie as the twist tie is passed through the aperture, the aperture sized slightly smaller than a diameter of the twist tie and including protrusions or teeth adding to the grip of the twist tie as the twist tie is passed through the aperture to loop the twist tie around an object,
wherein the twist tie includes:
an elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material;
a cover covering the shape-retaining deformable material along a length of said elongated piece, the cover and the shape-retaining deformable material being bonded along their length; and
an outer cover covering the cover, the outer cover bonded to the cover, wherein said cover has an interior surface, the cover being bonded to the elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material along the entire interior surface of the cover, wherein the cover has a durometer of greater than 50 A and the outer cover has a durometer of less than 50 A.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aperture defines an axis that is transverse to a long axis of the twist tie.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the outer cover provides a gripping surface for gripping objects or gripping the closed loop when the twist tie is passed through the aperture.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the gripping surface includes outwardly extending ribs.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the aperture defines an axis that is transverse to a long axis of the twist tie.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the cover and the outer cover are thermoplastic polymers.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the cover has a durometer of approximately 85 A and the outer cover has a durometer of approximately 15 A.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the outer cover provides a gripping surface for gripping objects or gripping the end ring portion when the twist tie is passed through the aperture.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the gripping surface includes outwardly extending ribs.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the aperture defines an axis that is transverse to a long axis of the twist tie.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cover and the outer cover are thermoplastic polymers.

23. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cover has a durometer of approximately 85 A and the outer cover has a durometer of approximately 15 A.

Assignees

• Nite Ize Inc

Inventors

• Martinson Daniel J

Classifications

• B65D63/10 Primary

  Non-metallic straps, tapes, or bands; Filamentary elements, e.g. strings, threads or wires; Joints between ends thereof · CPC title

• A47F5/0846

  Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein · CPC title

• F21V21/08

  Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet · CPC title

• F21V33/00

  Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B65D63/12

  Joints produced by deformation or tying of ends of elements · CPC title