Robert E Deweez

US Patent:

7935412, May 3, 2011

Filed:

Dec 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/638235

Inventors:

Richard Laporte - Collierville TN, US
Robert DeWeez - Bartlett TN, US

Assignee:

Thomas & Betts International, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B32B 7/02

US Classification:

428212, 428220, 24 25

Abstract:

A buoyant cable tie formed from a composition that includes a plastic material and metal particles. The average density of the composition is less than 1. 25 g/cm, preferably less than 1. 15 g/cm, and the cable tie floats. In one embodiment, the plastic material has a first melting point and the plastic carrier material has a second melting point. The first melting point is lower than the second melting point so that the plastic material can be melted without melting the plastic carrier material. The cable tie floats and the metal particles allow the cable ties to be easily detected by metal detection devices. Some embodiments can also be detected by X-ray, sonar, optical or visual detection devices.

US Patent:

20070234525, Oct 11, 2007

Filed:

Dec 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/638241

Inventors:

Richard Laporte - Collierville TN, US
Robert DeWeez - Bartlett TN, US

International Classification:

B65D 63/00

US Classification:

24 16PB

Abstract:

A plastic cable tie and a method of making a plastic cable tie that can be detected by X-ray and metal detection devices as well as sonar, optical or visual detection devices. The cable ties are formed from a composition that includes metal particles; a compound; and a plastic material. The metal particles are preferably metal flakes and can be ferrous or non-ferrous materials. The compound can include iodine or barium, and is preferably barium sulfate. The plastic material can include a polypropylene, a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a polyterephthalate (PET) or a polyamide.