WO1996000175A1

WO1996000175A1 - Binding coil

Info

Publication number: WO1996000175A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/008098
Authority: WO
Inventors: David C. Mchenry, Jr.
Original assignee: Mchenry David C Jr
Priority date: 1994-06-27
Filing date: 1995-06-27
Publication date: 1996-01-04

Abstract

A binding coil (5) having shape memory, portions of the coil defining end hooks (12), (16) and a bite (10) with a flattened first face (11) disposed therebetween, for bundling elongate members (64), such as sections of electrical cord, cable, hose and the like. Unused, the coil (5) recoils in a spiral with the face (11) being directed inwardly. Once the hook (12) has been anchored to one of a bundle of elongate members (64) to be tied, the bite (10) so structured is self-righting, tending to roll onto the face (11) as the coil (5) is wound onto the bundle. Absent a self-righting bite (10), the coil (5) must be stretched substantially straight as it is wound around the bundle in order to bind the elongate members (64) securely. In such case, a pull stalk (55) of elastic material connected to the hook (16) is provided for simultaneously stretching the coil (5) and relieving twist created when it is uncurled, thereby facilitating winding the coil, in a stretched state, around the bundle.

Description

BINDING COIL

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to reusable ties for either confining and constricting a single object, or else bundling two or more objects, such as strands of wire, cable, hose or the like.

BACKGROUND ART The prior art reveals only very limited use of curly shaped materials as binding ties.

Among the curly shaped materials so used is a simple spiral plastic band of just under two turns of cylindrically coiled solid round plastic cable. National Band and Tag Company of Newport, Kentucky, describes this band as being useful for electrical wire harnessing, a binding tie application. Another curly shaped material, spiral cut tubing, is being used to wrap wiring harnesses, even though installing spiral cut tubing is an ordeal, in part because each piece of spiral cut tubing has a very limited si2e range. Since any given size cannot expand much, several different stock sizes must be kept on hand if spiral cut tubing is utilized.

In other art employing curly shaped materials. Fast, in U.S. Patent No. 5,167,086, teaches the use of a thin, flat coil for tying an identification tag on the limb or stem of a plant. In a situation in which this thin, flat coil is barely long enough for it to reach once around the limb or stem, substantial portions of the coil twist away from the surface thereof. Only minimal contact occurs between the limb or stem and the coil, without the coil binding it in any way.

In contrast to curly shaped materials, coilless ties are widely used in the prior art for bundling electrical wires, cables and the like. Unfortunately, many of these ties rely upon the ends thereof being joined together, usually with excess material on one of tie ends protruding from the joint. Any such protuberance can make threading bundled cables through an opening difficult; and in the case of one-time, disposable common nylon cable ties, cutting off this excess material often creates a dangerously sharp edge, a source of injury experienced by most electricians and mechanics.

Use of cable bundling ties that rely on hook and loop fastening material, while reducing the likeli- hood of such injury, also has drawbacks. This cloth-like material picks up dirt and water and sticks undesirably to itself and to gloves, clothing, furniture, carpet, and the like. Hook and loop ties are particularly unsuitable for applications, in which the binding tie should not carry contaminants or be soiled in any way, including uses around delicate electronic instruments.

Damage to a tied object can also be caused by overtightening the binding tie. Some ties, especially the common nylon cable tie, are prone to being over¬ tightened. Additionally, most binding ties are inelastic and become loose when the tied object shifts or settles.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a reusable binding tie which is convenient and easy to use for gathering and tying bundles of elongate members, such as sections of electrical cord, cable, hose and the like. A further object of the present invention is to provide a bundling tie for elongate members which is secured by interaction with strands within the bundle of elongate members and not by interaction between the ends of the tie. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bundling tie that forms an uniform low profile surface without the protrusion of an excess length of one end of the tie and in which the entire length of the tie is used for bundling.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bundling tie which can be easily and quickly attached to a single strand of the elongate members to be tied without requiring extra parts, such as a cable tie, and without the use of tools.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bundling tie which is self-tightening and which is not easily overtightened, thereby avoiding damage to wire insulation. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bundling tie that is unitary in design and uncomplicated to mold or, alternately, can be made by thermo-forming a plastic extrusion. In accordance with the present invention, the tie comprises a coil having shape memory, with portions of the coil defining a standing end, a working end and a bite disposed therebetween. The coil, when not binding an object, recoils around an imaginary axis in a compact, substantially flat spiral shape or, alternately, into a helical spiral. A side of the bite, which defines a first face, is directed inwardly toward the axis whenever the coil so recoils. The bite further includes structure which causes the coil to automatically orient itself so that the first face is directed toward the bundle of elongate members as it is being tied.

In an improved binding tie having a bite with such structure, the side of the bite defining the first face is flattened; and each transverse cross-section of the bite that includes the first face is of decreasing thickness in a direction parallel to the first face as the cross- section of the bite is traversed outwardly beginning with an imaginary line connecting rounded edges bounding the first face. Alternately, each transverse cross-section of the bite is substantially thinner in a direction perpendicular to the flattened first face than in a direction parallel thereto. Once the standing end of the tie has been properly anchored to one of the elongate members of a bundle to be tied, an improved tie having a bite with either one of these structures will not fail to orient itself with the first face being directed toward the bundle as it is being tied. Preferred means for so anchoring the standing end includes a first hook which opens on the side of the bite defining the first face. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment, the first hook, the bite, and the standing and working ends together comprise a single, unitary piece formed from a flexible and somewhat resilient material, such as plastic, rubber, or the like which has been molded or, alternately, extruded using thermo-forming techniques. Generally, the preferred embodiment is fabricated by thermo-forming a plastic extrusion, a less expensive approach than making binding ties by injection molding or die cutting processes.

In an alternate embodiment having a bite that lacks structure for automatically orienting the first face toward the bundle, such as a bite of symmetrical cross-section, the improved binding tie includes a coupling connected to the working end, the coupling permitting substantially unrestricted rotation thereof while an end of the coupling distal from the working end is being pulled, so that a portion of the bite can be stretched immediately prior to its being wound about the bundle. To restrain the standing end as the bite is being so stretched, means for anchoring the standing end to at least one of the elongate members in the bundle is provided.

The coupling in the latter improved binding tie preferably comprises a pull stalk formed of elastic material, such that when grasping means attached to the coupling is pulled, the elastic material stretches and also stretches the coil. Conversely, when the grasping means is released, the elastic material contracts and the coil contracts to substantially its original shape. For a use in which a semi-permanent means for anchoring the standing end to one of the elongate members to be tied is needed, there is provided an anchoring curl of substantially helical shape, the standing end of the coil being connected to said anchoring curl approximately halfway along its length.

In general, bundling at least one object with an improved binding tie having a coupling such as the pull stalk is accomplished by anchoring the standing end to the object; grasping and pulling a free end of the coupling away from the standing end until the coil is stretched substantially straight, and winding the coil along substantially its entire length around the object while keeping the coil straight, thereby causing said coil to curl around and to bind said object. The coupling facilitates this process by relieving twist created by uncurling the coil.

To prevent entanglement of two or more of the improved binding ties prior to initial use, contiguous coil windings in the spiral formed by the coil in each respective tie are preferably linked by shearable bridging attachments.

Further objects and advantages of the binding tie may be drawn from consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference numerals designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the binding tie according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows the binding tie according to FIG. 1 as the coil is being stretched by a user around a bundle of elongate members, the user's fingers being illustrated by dashed lines;

FIG. 4 shows the binding tie according to FIG. 1 securely tied around a bundle of elongate members; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the binding tie according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the binding tie according to FIG. 5, showing the coil windings in cross-section along line 6-6; FIG. 7 shows the binding tie according to FIG. 5 securely tied around a bundle of elongate members;

FIG. 8 shows a binding tie, according to the present invention, which has been made integral to a larger structure, in this case a handle;

FIG. 9 shows a binding tie, according to the present invention, adapted for semi-permanent attachment to an elongate member;

FIG. 10 shows the binding tie according to FIG. 9 being attached to a section of an elongate member with a specialized tool;

FIG. 11 shows the binding tie according to FIG. 9 as the coil is being stretched by a user around a bundle of elongate members, the user's fingers being illustrated by dashed lines;

FIG. 12 shows the binding tie according to FIG. 9 securely tied around a bundle of elongate members;

FIG. 13 shows a binding tie, according to the present invention, which has been made integral to a larger structure, in this case a cloth bag;

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein the binding tie is anchored to an elongate member by a clip; and FIG. 15 shows a fragmentary portion, partially in cross-section, of the tie according to FIG. 14. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the preferred alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, a binding coil 5 comprises a coiled, elongate object, line, lanyard, length of extruded cord fabricated in a substantially flat spiral shape. Moreover, a flattened face 11 on the coil 5 defined by a side of bite 10 is directed inwardly toward an imaginary axis at the center of the spiral whenever the coil recoils. Suitable material for forming the binding coil 5 has shape memory and bends but stretches in length very little, so that after being stretched out straight repeatedly, the coil, when released, will curl back up to substantially the same overall diameter. Preferably, said material is a thermoplastic rubber or a polyurethane compound such as that used by Freelin-Wade of McMinnville, Oregon, to make non-electrical retractile cords. Other acceptable materials include rubber encased wire, various plasticized materials, various woven constructions and a variety of plastic polymers.

In coil 5, bite 10 is provided with a self-righting structure in which each transverse cross-section of the bite that includes the flattened face 11, past the slightly rounded edges bounding it, is of decreasing thickness in a direction parallel to the face 11 as the bite is traversed from the first face outwardly (FIG. 2). With this structure, the coil 5 tends to roll off any rounded corners along the length of the bite 10 and onto its flattened face 11, so that it is directed toward the bundle of elongate members 64 as it is being tied. Said structure of the bite 10 thus comprises means for automatically orienting the flattened face, as an object is being bound by the coil 5, toward the object.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention illus¬ trated in FIGS. 5-7, a binding coil 30 has bite with a self-righting structure in which each transverse cross- section of the bite that includes the flattened face 31 is substantially thinner in a direction perpendicular to the flattened face than in a direction parallel thereto. Having a greater thickness of the transverse cross-section measured in a direction parallel to the axis of the coil 30 rather than perpendicular thereto prevents the coil from rolling or buckling as compared to a coil having a bite with transverse cross-section of rounded outer peri¬ phery or of "narrow contact edge", respectively. Once standing end hook 32 of the coil 30 has been properly anchored to one of the elongate members 64 of a bundle to be tied, the coil will not fail to orient itself with the flattened face 31 being directed toward the bundle as it is being tied. Each of the binding coils 5, 30 further includes a standing end terminating in a hook 12, 32, respectively, for receiving a single strand of an elongate member 64. Preferably, the hook 12, 32 has an eye 13, 33, respec¬ tively, sized to fit snugly around a single strand of the elongate member 64. Each hook 12, 32, which is disposed at the outside of the spiral, opens in the direction of the flattened face 11, 31, respectively, between it and seizing end 14, 34, respectively. Means for anchoring the standing end of the coil 5, 30 to an object to be bound includes the hook 12, 32, respectively. In use, the hook 12, 32 is preferably first snapped around a single strand of the elongate member 64 which is part of the bundle to be tied. The remaining strands of the bundle can then be gathered together on the inner side of the spiral (FIGS. 3 and 4; FIG. 7). While holding the hook 12, 32 securely to said single strand, the coil 5, 30 is wound tightly around the bundle. Both coils 5, 30 also have working end hooks 16, 35, preferably sized for receiving a single strand of one of the elongate members 64. In use, the working end hook 16, 35 is looped around such a strand in the tied bundle. Once installed in this manner, the coil 5, 30 maintains the bundle in a neatly and securely tied state. To release the bundle, the hook 16, 35 is pulled in an appropriate direc¬ tion away from the strand around which it has been hooked.

In the case of coil 5, the working end hook 16, with pull stalk 51 connected thereto, is somewhat easier to locate in, and release from, a bundle of elongate mem¬ bers 64 than is the hook 35. As shown in FIG. 1, the pull stalk 51 extends away from the seizing end 14 of the hook 16 and is disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the spiral to which coil 5 recoils. The presence of pull stalk 51 on the hook 16 not only distinguishes it but also the stalk acts as a stop preventing the hook 16 from becoming wound too far around the strand to which it is anchored, otherwise making its removal from a bundle more difficult.

The pull stalk 51 is also useful in holding and controlling the working end hook 16 during bundling. Coupled to the hook 16 so as to permit substantially unrestricted rotation of the stalk 52, the stalk includes a twist neck 55 formed of elastic material and received by a bore 53 formed in the hook 16. Alternatively, the pull stalk is integrally molded with the coil 5 or thermally welded thereto. Distal ends of the twist neck 55 termi¬ nate in an end stop 54 and grasping means 52. The twist neck 55 is constructed and sized so that it will freely absorb twisting forces created when the coil 5 is stretched out to wind it around a bundle. once the standing end hook 12 has been anchored to one of the elongate members 64, pulling the grasping means 52 away from the hook 12 causes the elastic material of the twist neck 55 to stretch and simultaneously stretch any unwound portion of the bite 10, immediately prior to its being wound about the bundle. On the other hand, releasing the grasping means 52 causes both the twist neck 55 and the bite lO to contract.

Coil 5, exclusive of the pull stalk 51, and coil 30 is preferably fabricated by one of two basic techniques, including forming an extrusion simultaneously with an extrusion process and thermo-forming post extrusion. In the former process, the coil 5, 30 is formed simultaneous¬ ly as it is being extruded. That is, before the thermo- nlastic or, alternatively, rubber from which the coil 5, 30 is formed cools to set temperature. In the latter process, the coil 5, 30 is fabricated from a substan¬ tially straight length of finished extruded filament by winding it into a desired spiral shape and heating the wound filament sufficiently so that it will set in this shape when coiled. The filament can be wound mechanically using a plate with two pins, one rotatable to which the working end is attached and one movable in the direction of the other pin, the working end being attached to the movable pin.

In the case of both binding coils 5, 30, shearable bridging attachments 39, as are illustrated in FIG. 6, tend to form, during post extrusion thermo- forming, between contiguous coil windings in the flat spiral formed by each respective coil. During thermo- setting, the contiguous coil windings adhere slightly to each other. The bridging attachments 39 are useful in preventing entanglement of two or more of the coils prior to their initial use.

Further alternative embodiments of the binding coil according to the present invention utilize a rotational coupling connected to the binding coil at its working end to faciliate stretching the coil as it is being wound about an object.

In FIG. 8, such an alternative embodiment includes a binding coil 45 fabricated, preferably by injection molding or by thermo-forming a plastic extrusion, in a substantially flat spiral. Unlike coils 5 and 30, however, coil 45 has a bite 50 with transverse cross- section of generally circular outer periphery. In the absence of self-righting structure in the bite 50, there is provided means for automatically orienting the coil 45 so that the surface of the bite facing inwardly during its free spiral also faces an object or objects bundled by the coil, once the standing end 47 has been properly anchored. In this case, the end 47 is secured to an anchoring handle 46 through a hole 58 formed therein by an end stop (not shown) at the top of the end 47; and the handle is then bound together with the elongate members in a bundle. The orienting means includes a rotational coupling such as a connector 22. The working end of the coil 45 goes through the eye of the connector 22 and is held in place there by working end stop 48. The connector 22 itself is coupled to a common bead type chain 21 attached to grasping means such as pendant 43.

Interaction between the coil 45 and chain 21 is fundamental to the automatic operation of the coil 45. As the bite 50 is stretched straight, the twist in it, resulting from its coiled shape, makes it try to turn. Chain 21 allows the twist in coil 45 to unwind nearly fully and with ease. Chain 21 also allows the coil 45, as it recoils while being wound around the object being tied, to turn freely in the opposite direction. The coil 45 can turn freely in either direction because each bead in the chain 21 has two rotationally free bearings. The flexibility of the chain 21 forces these rotational bearing axes to self-align with the bite 50 when it is stretched straight. Unless these bearing axes remain in line with the stretched bite 50, the coil cannot unwind or rewind.

Any coupling between pendant 43 and the working end of the coil 45 which is rotationally unrestricted or having relatively free flexibility to rotate and self-aligning will suit the functional requirements. In particular, a pull stalk similar to pull stalk 51 connected to the working end of the coil 50 as described herein above or in an equivalent manner can be employed instead of the rotational coupling provided by chain 21. Whatever coupling is used, the coil 45 must unwind as it is stretched and rewind as it is wound around the object being tied. If not, the coil 45 will fail to recoil itself with its inside diameter toward the object being tied. The resulting binding tie will fail to hold the tied object.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 9-12, a binding coil 15 comprises a coiled, elongate object, line, lanyard, length of extruded shape or cord fabricated in a substantially helical spiral shape. Suitable material for forming the binding coil 15 has shape memory and bends but stretches in length very little, so that after being stretched out straight repeatedly, the coil, when released, will curl back up to substantially the same overall diameter. Again the material can be a thermoplastic rubber, a polyurethane compound, rubber encased wire, one of various plasticized materials or woven constructions, or one of a variety of plastic polymers.

The binding coil 15 includes a working end termi¬ nating in a hook 40. The working end of the coil 15 goes through the eye of a slidable end ring or eyelet connector 20. The connector 20 is coupled to a common bead type chain 21 which is attached to a clasp or split ring 24. Instead of the ring 24, other grasping or attaching means can be employed, such as a key, hook, clip, hook and loop fastener, magnet, adhesive or the like. The connector 20 includes a coupling that permits substantially unres¬ tricted rotation of the chain 21. Eyelet connector 20 is free to slide along the length of bite 19 but is prevented from sliding off by integral end stop 18. Means for anchoring standing end 17 of the binding coil 15 to an object to be bound includes an anchor curl 26 connected to the standing end. The anchoring means in this embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG. 8 except anchoring handle 46 is replaced by the anchoring curl 26. Adapted for semi-permanent attachment to an elongate member 64, the anchor curl 26 is made of the same material as the coil 15 and is joined to it, at the approximate raid- point of curl 26, by a thermal weld shown at 23 (FIGS. 9 and 10). The anchoring curl 26 can alternately be mechanically attached or be formed integral to coil 15.

In FIGS. 9-12, anchoring curl 26 is shown wound around a section of an elongate member 64. Attachment to member 64 is secure yet semi-permanent. The binding coil 5 can be released, repositioned, or removed and used elsewhere all without requiring the use of tools. However, a easy-to-operate tool can be used to expedite installation of the curl 26. As shown in FIG. 10, the tool is made up of a payout pin 42 mounted perpendicular near the end of a split tube 44. The tube 44 is open from end to end on the side opposite pin 42 along aperture 63. To use this tool, split tube 44 is first place over the elongate member 64. Anchoring curl 26 is then slipped over pin 42. The end of the anchoring curl 26 is held together with elongate member 64. Rotating the tool on elongate member 64 causes anchoring curl 26 to wind off pin 42 and onto elongate member 64.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of an embodiment in which a binding coil 25 has a standing end 27 and bite 28, formed of the same material and having the same structure as standing end 27 and bite 19, respectively. In this embodiment, the coil 25 is made integral to a larger structure, in this case a bag 36. The standing end 27 of the coil 25 is threaded through an opening 38 formed in the bag 37. An end stop (not shown) in the coil 25 prevents the standing end 27 from coming out through opening 38. The working end 29 of coil

28 with crimped end stop 41 can be tucked securely into the folds of the bag 36.

Coil 25 is shown tied so that the neck of the bag indicated generally at 37 is held closed. As illus¬ trated, eyelet connector 20 has been positioned in such a way that bag 36 can be hung or attached to a hook (not shown), by split ring 24.

In a further alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a binding coil 65 in the shape of a helical spiral includes a self-righting bite 60 with an indicator tab 61 attached to the working end thereof and a standing end 67 anchored to an elongate member 64 by a single clip 66. Similarly to the bite 10 of the coil 5 described herein, the bite 60 is provided with a self- righting structure in which each transverse cross-section thereof is of decreasing thickness in a direction parallel to a flattened face as the bite is traversed outwardly (FIG. 15). Transverse cross-sections of the bite 6θ including the flattened face are characterized as having an outer periphery of a "D" shape, which provides more gripping surface on a^* bundle than do bites which are generally circular in transverse cross-section. Bite 60 so shaped not only provides more griping surface on a bundle than does bite 19 but also tends to roll off its rounded corners and onto its flattened face, much as a snake rights itself, the flattened face automatically orienting itself in the direction of a bundle being tied.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A tie for binding at least one object, comprising:

(a) a coil of flexible material having shape memory, said coil defining a bite and terminating in a working end and in a standing end, the coil being recoil- able in a spiral about an imaginary axis, a side of the bite defining, along substantially its entire length, a first face, the first face being directed inwardly toward the axis when the coil recoils upon itself; (b) means for anchoring the standing end of the coil to the object to be bound; and

(c) means for automatically orienting said first face, as the object is being bound by the coil, toward the object.

2. The binding tie according to claim 1 wherein the orienting means directs the first face toward the object even when the coil is barely long enough for it to be wound once around the object.

3. The binding tie according to claim 1 wherein the means for automatically orienting said first face toward the object further comprises the side of the bite defining the first face being flattened, each transverse cross-section of the bite that includes the first face being of decreasing thickness along a series of imaginary lines disposed generally parallel to the first face as the cross-section is traversed outwardly, beginning with one of said lines which is disposed proximate with the first face and which connects points on edges bounding the first face.

4. The binding tie according to claim l wherein the means for automatically orienting said first face toward the object further comprises the side of the bite defining the first face being flattened, each transverse cross- section of the bite that includes the first face being substantially thinner in a direction perpendicular to the first face than in a direction parallel thereto.

5. The binding tie according to claim 1 wherein the means for automatically orienting said first face toward the object further comprises the side of the bite defining the first face being flattened, each transverse cross- section of the bite that includes the first face being of decreasing thickness in a direction parallel to the first face as the bite is traversed from points contiguous with the first face outwardly.

6. The binding tie according to claim l wherein the orienting means comprises a coupling permitting substan¬ tially unrestricted rotation, the coupling having a first terminus and a second terminus, the first terminus being connected to the working end of the coil, the second terminus having grasping means attached thereto, so that a portion of the bite can be stretched immediately prior to said portion being wound about the object.

7. The binding tie according to claim 5 wherein the coupling comprises a length of elastic material, such that when the grasping means is pulled, said material will stretch and also stretch said coil and when said grasping means is released, said material will contract and said coil will contract to substantially its original shape.

8. The binding tie according to claim 6 wherein the coil is further characterized as being recoilable in a helical spiral, each transverse cross-section of the bite that includes the first face having a generally circular outer periphery.

9. The binding tie according to claim 6 wherein the coil is further characterized as being recoilable in a spiral disposed generally in a single imaginary plane, each trans- verse cross-section of the bite that includes the first face having a generally circular outer periphery.

10. The binding tie according to claim 1 wherein the anchoring means comprises the standing end of the coil in combination with the object to be bound, the standing end of the coil being fastened to the object.

11. A binding tie for a bundle of elongate members, comprising:

(a) a coil of flexible material having shape memory, said coil defining a bite and terminating in a standing end and in a working end, the coil being recoilable in a spiral about an imaginary axis, a side of the bite defining, along substantially its entire length, a first face, the first face being directed inwardly toward the axis when the coil recoils upon itself;

(b) means for anchoring the standing end of the coil to at least one of the elongate members to be bound; and (c) means for automatically orienting said first face, as the bundle is being bound by the coil, toward the bundle.

12. The binding tie according to claim 11 wherein the anchoring means further comprises an anchoring curl of sub¬ stantially helical shape, the standing end of the coil being connected to said anchoring curl approximately halfway along its length, the anchoring curl acting in combination with a section of one of the elongate members when the curl is wound about said section.

13. The binding tie according to claim 11 wherein the anchoring means further comprises a first hook for receiving a section of one of the elongate members, the first hook and the bite comprising a single unitary piece formed of plastic, the first hook opening on the side of the bite defining the first face.

14. The binding tie according to claim 13 wherein the working end comprises a second hook for receiving a short portion of one of the elongate members, the second hook and the bite comprising a single unitary piece formed of plastic, the second hook opening on the side of the bite defining the first face.

15. The binding tie according to claim 14 which further includes a pull stalk having a first terminus and a second terminus, the first terminus being connected to the working end proximate with the second hook and extending away therefrom, the second terminus having grasping means attached thereto, the pull stalk comprising a length of elastic material, such that when the grasping means is pulled, said material stretches and also stretches said coil and when said grasping means is released, said material contracts and said coil contracts to substantially its original shape.

16. The binding tie according to claim 14 which further comprises means including an indicator tab attached to the working end for identifying the working end, thereby facilitating releasing the working end when the bundle is untied.

17. The binding tie according to claim 11 wherein the coil, when disposed as a spiral about said imaginary axis, defines at least two coil windings disposed contiguous with each other, the coil windings, prior to initial use of the tie, being linked by shearable bridging attachments, thereby preventing entanglement of said tie with another unused tie.

18. A method for winding a coil around at least one object thereby securely binding said object, the coil having a shape memory and terminating in a standing end and in a working end, the working end being connected to a coupling permitting substantially unrestrained rotation, the coupling having a first end and a second end, comprising the steps of: (a) anchoring the standing end adjacent to the object;

(b) grasping and pulling the second end away from the standing end until the coil is stretched substantially straight, the coupling thereby allowing untwisting of the twist created by uncurling of the coil; and

(c) winding the coil along substantially its entire length around the object while keeping the coil straight, thereby causing said coil to curl around and to bind said object.