초록 ▼

An apparatus may include an elongate piece of first material having flexible qualities with a flexible strip of second, more rigid, and bendable material enclosed within the first material. The apparatus may be twist-tied around equipment for relatively easy transport or may also be used to secure i

An apparatus may include an elongate piece of first material having flexible qualities with a flexible strip of second, more rigid, and bendable material enclosed within the first material. The apparatus may be twist-tied around equipment for relatively easy transport or may also be used to secure items in place.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for securing an elongate article and a second adjacent article, said system comprising: a first elongate tie having a length of at least 10 inches and a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches, the first elongate tie comprising a first strip of flexible

What is claimed is: 1. A system for securing an elongate article and a second adjacent article, said system comprising: a first elongate tie having a length of at least 10 inches and a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches, the first elongate tie comprising a first strip of flexible wire enclosed within a first flexible foam member along the length of the first elongate tie, wherein the first flexible foam member is co-extruded onto the first strip of flexible wire so that the first flexible foam member abuts the first strip of flexible wire, a second elongate tie having a length of at least 10 inches and a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches, the second elongate tie comprising a second strip of flexible wire enclosed within a second flexible foam member along the length of the second elongate tie, wherein the second flexible foam member is co-extruded onto the second strip of flexible wire so that the second flexible foam member abuts the second strip of flexible wire, wherein said first elongate tie and said second elongate tie each have a degree of rigidity so as to retain its form when bent or straightened and each are operable to wrap around an elongate article and a second adjacent article to secure said articles together. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible foam member of each of the first and second elongate ties has a tubular shape extending a length of at least 10 inches to about 50 inches, wherein the strip of flexible wire of each of the first and second elongate ties is solid wire of about 14 gauge. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first flexible foam member engages the first strip of flexible wire without an intermediate layer therebetween. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second flexible foam member engages the second strip of flexible wire without an intermediate layer therebetween. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first flexible foam member is co-extruded onto the first strip of flexible wire without an intermediate layer therebetween. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second flexible foam member is co-extruded onto the second strip of flexible wire without an intermediate layer therebetween. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongate ties are operable to physically wrap around the elongate article and the second adjacent article in a non-slip, soft, and non-scratch engagement. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the elongate article and the second adjacent article comprise an elongate piece of recreational equipment and an elongate piece of adjacent equipment. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising end caps arranged on free ends of each of the first and second elongate ties. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said first flexible foam member and said second flexible foam member comprises a soft foam material selected from the group consisting of foam rubber and sponge rubber. 11. A twist-tie device for securing an elongate article and a second adjacent article, comprising: an elongate piece of foam material having flexible qualities; a strip of flexible wire enclosed within the length of said elongate piece of foam material; the elongate piece of foam material being co-extruded onto the strip of flexible wire so that the elongate piece of foam material abuts the first strip of flexible wire; a first end cap placed over a first end of said elongate piece of foam material; and a second end cap placed over a second end of said elongate piece of foam material; wherein said strip of flexible wire comprises a metal material that is bendable and has a degree of rigidity so that the twist-tie device retains its form when bent or straightened, and wherein said twist-tie device is at least ten inches in length and is operable to wrap around an elongate article and a second adjacent article to secure said articles together. 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the elongate piece of foam material has a tubular shape extending a length of at least 10 inches to about 50 inches, wherein the strip of flexible wire is solid wire of about 14 gauge. 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the elongate piece of foam material engages the strip of flexible wire without an intermediate layer therebetween. 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the elongate piece of foam material is co-extruded onto the strip of flexible wire without an intermediate layer therebetween. 15. The device of claim 11, wherein the twist-tie device is operable to be physically wrapped around the elongate article and the second adjacent article in a non-slip, soft, and non-scratch engagement. 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the elongate article and the second adjacent article comprise an elongate piece of recreational equipment and an elongate piece of adjacent equipment. 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the twist-tie device of foam material has a length of at least 10 inches to about 50 inches and a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein said first flexible foam member comprises a soft foam material selected from the group consisting of foam rubber and sponge rubber.