US20090211061A1 - Tie wrap connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A tie wrap connector is formed of a strap, a locking head and an insert positioned adjacent said locking head. The insert has an arc shaped surface positioned remote from the locking head. The strap is positioned around a device to be secured to the locking head. The insert is adjacent the locking head and the device to be secured and is drawn against the outer surface of the device to be secured by the strap as it is secured to the locking head.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/066,760, filed on Feb. 22, 2008 the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• This invention relates to a tie wrap connector for connecting a flexible conduit a fitting such as a barbed fitting.
• 2. Description of Prior Art
• Flexible tubing is widely utilized to deliver fluid from a fluid source to a storage site or fluid treatment site. The flexible tubing is connected to the storage volume or fluid treatment site in order to provide the desired fluid delivery. It is common practice to secure the flexible tubing to a barbed conduit in order to transfer fluid from a first location to a second location. It is necessary to provide a secure and leak proof connection at the end of the flexible tubing in order to avoid fluid contamination and/or leakage. Such a secure connection is particularly required in medical and pharmaceutical applications such as blood pumps, oxygen concentration cartridges, filtration cartridges, intravenous bags or the like.
• At the present time, cable ties are utilized to provide a secure connection at the end of the flexible tubing. Cable ties comprise a strap and a locking head shaped to be locked to each other during their use. Presently available cable ties have the disadvantage of not being capable of providing a compressive force about the entire. circumference of the flexible tubing. This disadvantage results from the locking head not being sufficiently flexible to follow the contour of the outside surface of the flexible tubing. Accordingly, the risk of leakage is increased at the portion of the outside surface of the flexible tubing subject to decreased compressive force.
• Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a connector for connecting a flexible tubing to a barbed fitting which prevents leakage and/or contamination of fluid located within the flexible tubing. In addition, it would be desirable to provide such a connector which remains intact even at elevated fluid pressure within the flexible tubing. Such a connector would provide ease of installation as well as security against fluid leakage or fluid contamination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention provides a tie wrap connector which includes a solid insert having an arc shaped surface which conforms to an outside surface of a flexible conduit. The insert can be a separate piece or can be formed integrally with the tie wrap connector. The tie wrap connector includes a strap having a free end and a second end joined to a strap locking head. The strap includes a stepped surface which permits locking the strap within the locking head. The locking head has an opening to receive the free end of the strap. The locking head includes a ratcheting panel that receives the steps of the strap thereby to lock the strap within the locking head. The insert is positioned adjacent the locking head. When the strap is locked within the locking head and positioned about the surface of the flexible conduit, the arc surface of the insert exerts a compressive force on the outside surface of the flexible conduit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a side, partially cross sectional view of the tie wrap connector of this invention.
• FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the tie wrap connector ofFIG. 1 taken along line2-2 ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a front view of the tie wrap connector ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 is a side view of a tie wrap connector of the prior art in use.
• FIG. 5 is a side view of a tie wrap connector of this invention in use.
• FIG. 6 is a top, partial cross sectional view of the tie wrap connector ofFIG. 5 in use.
• FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a tie wrap connector of this invention in use.
• FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a tie wrap connector of this invention in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
• Referring toFIGS. 1,2 and3, the tie wrap connector of thisinvention10 includes astrap12, alocking head14 and aninsert16 having an arc shapedsurface18. Theinsert16 is formed integrally with thestrap12, such as by any conventional molding process. Thelocking head14 includes anopening20 that extends through the thickness of thelocking head14 and alocking device22 such as the ratcheting panel shown in the Figure. Thestrap12 includessteps24 that cooperate with thedevice22 so that thestrap12 is locked within thelocking head14 and, usually through thelocking head14 so that thesteps24 contact thelocking device22 thereby to lock thestrap12 in place within thelocking head14.
• Referring toFIG. 4, atie wrap connector30 of the prior art is shown. Thetie wrap connector30 includes astrap32 havingsteps34 and alocking head36. Thelocking head36 includes any conventional means for passing thefree end38 through thelocking head36 and for locking thestrap34 within thelocking head36. Since thelocking head36 is not sufficiently flexible, agap38 is formed between thestrap32 and aportion40 of the outside surface offlexible conduit42. Theflexible conduit42 is positioned overhollow barbed conduit44. Thus there is no compression force on theportion40 of theflexible conduit42 thereby increasing the possibility of leakage between the flexible conduit.42 andbarbed conduit44.
• Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the tie wrap connector of this invention is shown. The tie wrap connection includes thestrap12, thelocking head14 and theinsert16 having the arcshaped surface18. As theend24 of thestrap12 is pulled through thelocking head14, a compressive force is exerted on theinsert16 by thestrap12. This, in turn, causes a compressive force to be exerted on theflexible conduit42 by theinsert16. The remaining portion of thestrap12 in contact with theflexible conduit42 also exerts a compressive force on theflexible conduit42 so that the entire outside surface of theflexible conduit42 is subject to direct compressive force. Thestrap12 is kept in place against theflexible conduit42 by the interaction of thelocking device22 and thesteps24 of thestrap12 thus securing theflexible conduit42 to thebarbed conduit44 This results in an improved seal between theflexible conduit42 and thebarbed conduit44.
• It is to be understood that theinsert16 need not be formed integrally with the strap. It can comprise a separate piece that can be inserted in the desired area when it is desired to use the tie wrap connector. Optionally, in such a free-standing design theinsert16 may contain a device (not shown) for removably securing it to thestrap12 if desired such as a slot on the side of theinsert16 facing thestrap12 through which thestrap12 may be placed.
• Additionally, the height of theinsert16 and the length of thearc18 can be varied to accommodate a greater or lesser amount of the surface of theflexible tubing42 as is required by the desired application, as is shown inFIGS. 5,7 and8. InFIG. 5, the height of theinsert16 relative to the opening20 of thelocking head14 is substantially the same as that of thelocking device22 so that thearc18 is spread over as much surface of theflexible conduit42 as possible. InFIG. 7, the height of theinsert16 is less than that of the embodiment ofFIG. 5 and is substantially the same as that of thebase50 of thelocking device22 in thelocking head14. InFIG. 8, the height of theinsert16 is substantially the same as thelower base52 of the opening20 of thelocking head14.

Claims (10)

1. A tie wrap connector comprising:

a cable tie, including a strap having a free end and an opposite end joinable to a strap locking head,

said locking head having a strap receiving opening therein, the opening having a device for securing a portion of the strap within the opening and

an insert positioned adjacent said locking head, said insert having an arc shaped surface positioned remote from said locking head.

2. The connector ofclaim 1 wherein said locking head, insert and strap are formed integrally.

3. The connector ofclaim 1 wherein said insert is formed separately from said locking head and said strap.

4. The connector ofclaim 1 wherein the device for securing a portion of the strap is a ratchet and the strap has a series of steps that mate with the ratchet of the locking head.

5. The connector ofclaim 1 wherein the insert is of a height that is substantially equal and planar with the opening of the locking head.

6. The connector ofclaim 1 wherein the insert is of a height that is substantially equal and planar with the device for securing a portion of the strap within the opening of the locking head.

7. A method of securing a flexible conduit to a hose barb comprising providing a flexible conduit having an inner and outer surface, providing a hose barb having an inner and outer surface wherein the barb is formed on the outer surface and has a substantially planar surface on the outer surface beyond the barb, mounting the flexible conduit to the hose barb such that the inner surface of the conduit is adjacent the outer surface of the barb and a portion of the flexible conduit extends to the substantially planar surface beyond the barb, providing a connector formed of a cable tie, including a strap having a free end and an opposite end joinable to a strap locking head, said locking head having a strap receiving opening therein, the opening having a device for securing a portion of the strap within opening and an insert positioned adjacent said locking head, said insert having an arc shaped surface positioned remote from said locking head and placing the strap around the portion of the flexible conduit at the substantially planar surface of the hose barb beyond the barb, placing the free end of the strap into the opening of the locking head and securing the strap portion within the opening of the locking head in the device for securing a portion of the strap.

8. The method ofclaim 7 wherein a portion of the free end of the strap extends through and beyond the opening.

9. The method ofclaim 7 wherein the device for securing a portion of the strap is a ratchet and the strap has a series of steps that mate with the ratchet of the locking head in order to secure the strap within the opening of the locking head.

10. The connector ofclaim 1 wherein said insert is formed separately from said locking head and said strap and contains a device for removably securing the insert to the strap.

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