BigPatents India

A banding material gripping mechanism and band tightening tool using the same are disclosed, wherein there is a reduced likelihood of the banding material buckling in the tool. The gripping mechanism includes gripping body and a banding material gripper component (“gripper”) that reciprocates within the gripping body for iteratively: (i) gripping the banding material so that a band being formed from the banding material can be tightened, and (ii) releasing the banding material so that the gripper can slide along the banding material as the gripping body moves forwardly over a further length of excess banding material in preparation for performing (i) again. The gripper has a banding material contacting portion with a shape that cooperatives with a slot provided within a banding material support platform of the gripping body such that during (i) above, the banding material is deformed into the slot thereby reducing a likelihood that (i) results in a hump in the banding material forwardly of the gripper that could prevent the gripper from effectively sliding over the banding material in (ii).