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Grades K–2 · Everyday Life

How does a zip tie tighten and stay tight?

A common plastic zip tie has a long strip with a row of little teeth. One end has a small head with an opening. The strip passes through the opening to make a loop.

T004 visual explanationA catch allows one direction and blocks return; enlarged locking head; forward; return blocked; This toothed plastic design uses a flexible internal catch.A catch allows one direction and blocks returnenlarged locking headforwardreturn blockedThis toothed plastic design uses a flexible internal catch.

In the diagramA catch allows one direction and blocks returnenlarged locking headforwardreturn blockedThis toothed plastic design uses a flexible internal catch.

An enlarged tooth and catch allow forward travel and resist backward travel. The head’s internal catch is much smaller than shown.

Inside the head is a flexible catch. As the strip moves forward, the sloping sides of its teeth can push the catch aside. The catch then drops behind the next tooth.

A backward pull meets the steep side of a tooth, where the catch blocks it. This makes the loop easy to tighten but hard to loosen. Some ties have a release tab that lifts the catch; many ordinary ties do not.

About this explanation

Starting knowledge: Follow a strip passing through an opening and recognize repeated teeth.

Sources

  • HellermannTyton — Cable Ties and Fixings: locking technologies
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