Importance

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Abstract

A clamping device is provided in the form of a one-piece cable tie. The cable tie includes a band section having a free end for positioning about an object to be constrained, such as an electrical cable, and a buckle section through which the free end of the band section is inserted. In a preferred embodiment, the buckle section includes a first portion operatively connected to the band and terminating adjacent a slot. A second, raised portion of the buckle section is longitudinally or horizontally offset from the first portion. The second portion extends from a point adjacent the aforementioned slot to a free end. The width of the slot occupied by the band is greater when the band is loosely wrapped about the object constrained. The greater width of the slot when the band is loosely wrapped facilitates single or multiple wrappings of the object constrained. Any gaps between the band the object constrained are reduced by positioning only the first portion of the buckle section adjacent the object thereby improving clamping. Lips are also provided on the buckle section to accommodate positioning of the buckle section in a grooved area formed in the object being constrained. The cable tie is preferably made by a machining process in which buckle sections are alternately formed on opposing sides of a sheet of metal material to enhance the use of the material and avoid waste.

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First Claim