IP Library Granted Patent US 10,781,021
Granted Patent B2
US 10,781,021 · App. 15/398,570 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

Systems and methods for a cord holder

Inventor: Daniel J. Martinson (Medina, MN)
Assignee: NITE IZE, INC.
B65D63/109B65B13/02B65D63/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,781,021
App. No.
15/398,570
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for securing items includes a twist tie and a stretchable end for the twist tie, the stretchable end molded around the twist tie. The stretchable end includes an aperture, a narrow slit in the stretchable end. In one configuration, the aperture may stretch wider and longer than a starting shape. The stretchable end is made of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) and has a durometer between 30 and 100 shore A.

Claims (28)

1. An apparatus for securing items, the apparatus comprising:

a twist tie; and

a stretchable end for the twist tie, the stretchable end molded around the twist tie, the stretchable end comprising a round or oval profile from a first view, a rectangular profile from a second view, and an aperture defined through the rectangular profile of the stretchable end, wherein the aperture of the rectangular profile is a narrow slit in the stretchable end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aperture may stretch wider and longer than a starting shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the stretchable end is made of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) and has a durometer between 30 and 100 shore A.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the stretchable end is overmolded on the twist tie.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the stretchable end is designed to hold an object, and the aperture of the stretchable end is sized such that, to hold the object, the stretchable end stretches and, therefore, frictionally holds the object.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , 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 the 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 the 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 shore A and the outer cover has a durometer of less than 50 shore A.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the outer cover has ribs.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the cover and outer cover are thermoplastic polymers.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the outer cover is composed of a softer material than the cover.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the twist tie has a gripping surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the gripping surface includes outwardly extending ribs.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the cover has a durometer of approximately 85 shore A and the outer cover has a durometer of approximately 15 shore A.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the outer cover provides a high friction gripping surface for gripping objects or gripping the twist tie when the twist tie is twisted together.

14. A method of holding an object, comprising:

providing a twist tie having a stretchable end with an aperture, the stretchable end overmolded on the twist tie and comprising a round or oval profile from a first view and a rectangular profile from a second view, the aperture defined through the rectangular profile of the stretchable end, wherein the aperture of the rectangular profile is a narrow slit in the stretchable end; and

stretching the stretchable end around the object such that the object is in the aperture.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

wrapping a twist tie end of the twist tie around the object.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the object is a cord, the stretchable end is placed around the cord, the cord is coiled, and then the cord is held by the wrapping.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the aperture may stretch wider and longer than a starting shape.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the stretchable end is made of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) and has a durometer between 30 and 100 shore A.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stretchable end comprises top and bottom sides extending parallel to the narrow slit in an unstretched configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stretchable end does not include rigidity features, such that the stretchable end stretches to fit around objects to hold them firmly.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 19, 2026
From: NITE IZE, INC.
To: NITE IZE, LLC
Reel/Frame 076014/0073 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2020
From: MARTINSON, DANIEL J
To: GEAR TIE, LLC
Reel/Frame 053510/0545 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2020
From: GEAR TIE, LLC
To: NITE IZE, INC
Reel/Frame 053510/0616 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62274650 · Jan 4, 2016
Related Publication 20170190486A1 · Jul 6, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 1,114,600