Abstract
A strand of connected elastics is disclosed. The strand includes a series of elastic bands and a series of connecting portions that connect the series of elastic bands to each other. The connecting portions may have configurations that enable them to broken when separation and use of an elastic from an end of the strand is desired. Methods for manufacturing and using strands of connected elastics are also disclosed.
Claims
1. A series of connected elastic bands, comprising; an elongated tube, including: a single connecting portion defined by a material of the elongated tube extending over a surface of the elongated tube, adjacent elastic bands of the series of connected elastic bands being connected to each other along the single connecting portion; and a series of circumferential cuts along a length of the elongated tube, each circumferential cut of the series of circumferential cuts extending through the elongated tube to the single connecting portion and partially through a thickness of the single connecting portion to separate each elastic band of the series of connected elastic bands from each adjacent elastic band of the series of connected elastic bands, with only the single connecting portion connecting each elastic band to each adjacent elastic band.
2. The series of connected elastic bands of claim 1, wherein the single connecting portion comprises a tangent to the surface of the elongated tube.
3. The series of connected elastic bands of claim 1, wherein the single connecting portion comprises a spiral extending around a circumference of the elongated tube.
4. The series of connected elastic bands of claim 1, wherein each cut of the series of circumferential cuts extends partially through the thickness of the single connecting portion.
5. The series of connected elastic bands of claim 4, wherein a remaining thickness of the single connecting portion coincident with each cut of the series of circumferential cuts enables separation of an elastic band of the series of connected elastic bands from an adjacent elastic band of the series of connected elastic bands without breaking the elastic band or the adjacent elastic band.
6. A method for using an elastic band, comprising: obtaining a series of elastic bands that are connected only along a single connecting portion of an elongated tube, with the elastic bands and the single connecting portion being defined by a series of circumferential cuts extending through the elongated tube and into a thickness of the single connecting portion, but not completely through the thickness of the single connecting portion, the single connecting portion being defined by a portion of a wall of the elongated tube and comprising a material of the elongated tube; grasping an elastic band located at an end of the elongated tube; separately grasping a remainder of the elongated tube; and pulling the elastic band located at the end of the elongated tube from the remainder of the elongated tube to disrupt material of the single connecting portion that connects the elastic band to the remainder of the elongated tube and to remove the elastic band from the remainder of the elongated tube.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein pulling the elastic band comprises disrupting material along a cut line extending into a thickness of a wall of the elongated tube defining the single connecting portion.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: after pulling the elastic band, storing the remainder of the elongated tube as a unitary element.
9. A series of connected elastic bands, comprising; an elongated tube, including: a connecting portion extending over a surface of the elongated tube, adjacent elastic bands of the series of connected elastic bands being connected to each other along the connecting portion, the connecting portion comprising a spiral extending around a circumference of the elongated tube; and a series of circumferential cuts along a length of the elongated tube, each circumferential cut of the series of circumferential cuts extending through the elongated tube to the connecting portion, but not completely through the connecting portion, to define each elastic band of the series of connected elastic bands.
10. The series of connected elastic bands of claim 9, wherein the series of circumferential cuts extend partially through a thickness of the connecting portion.
11. The series of connected elastic bands of claim 10, wherein each cut of the series of circumferential cuts extends partially through the thickness of the connecting portion.
12. The series of connected elastic bands of claim 10, wherein a remaining thickness of the connecting portion coincident with each cut of the series of circumferential cuts enables separation of an elastic band of the series of connected elastic bands from an adjacent elastic band of the series of connected elastic bands without breaking the elastic band or the adjacent elastic band.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of an embodiment of a strand of connected elastics according to this disclosure, with a linear connecting portion arranged along a length of the strand of connected elastics and parallel to a longitudinal axis through the strand of connected elastics;
(3) FIG. 1A is a bottom view of the embodiment of strand of connected elastics shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the connection portion of the strand of connected elastics;
(4) FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of an embodiment of a strand of connected elastics with connecting portions between adjacent pairs of elastic bands being located at different rotational positions around the strand of connected elastics;
(5) FIG. 2A is a bottom view of the embodiment of strand of connected elastics shown in FIG. 2, showing the connection portion of the strand of connected elastics;
(6) FIG. 3 is an orthogonal view of another embodiment of a strand of connected elastics with a connecting portion that is oriented helically around an outer surface of the strand of connected elastics;
(7) FIG. 3A is a bottom view of the embodiment of strand of connected elastics shown in FIG. 3, depicting the connection portion of the strand of connected elastics;
(8) FIG. 4 illustrates a strand of connected elastics with a connecting portion that lacks a cut or a score line;
(9) FIG. 5 illustrates a strand of connected elastics with a connecting portion that extends into an interior surface of a wall of the strand of connected elastics;
(10) FIGS. 6 and 7 provides a representation of a method for manufacturing a strand of connected elastics; and
(11) FIG. 8 illustrates a method for separating an elastic band from a strand of connected elastics.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(12) FIGS. 1-3 illustrate various embodiments of strands 10, 10′, 10″ of connected elastic bands 20, 20′, 20″. The elastic bands 20, 20′, 20″ of each strand 10, 10′, 10″ and, thus, the strands 10, 10′, 10″ themselves may be made from an elastic polymer, or a so-called “elastomer.” As an example, a thermoplastic polyurethane may be used to define a strand 10, 10′, 10″ of elastic bands 20, 20′, 20″ that are connected to each other. Among a variety of other suitable materials, natural rubber may also be used to define a strand 10, 10′, 10″ of elastic bands 20, 20′, 20″ that are connected to one another.
(13) The embodiments of strands 10, 10′, 10″ that are depicted by FIGS. 1-3 have elongated cylindrical configurations. Strands 10, 10′, 10″ that have tubular configurations with other (i.e., non-circular) cross-sectional shapes are also within the scope of this disclosure.
(14) FIGS. 1 and 1A illustrate an embodiment of a strand 10 of elastic bands 20a, 20b, 20c, etc. (each of which may also be referred to as an “elastic band 20” for the sake of simplicity), that are connected to one another. Adjacent elastic bands 20a and 20b, 20b and 20c, etc., of the strand 10 are connected to one another along a connecting portion 30 of the strand 10. The connecting portion 30 of the strand 10 has a linear configuration, is positioned tangentially relative to a body of the strand 10, and extends along a length of the strand 10, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the strand 10.
(15) FIGS. 2 and 2A depict another embodiment of a strand 10′. The connecting portions 30a′, 30b′, etc. (each of which may also be referred to herein as a “connecting portion 30′” for the sake of simplicity), between each pair of adjacent elastic bands 20a′ and 20b′, 20b′ and 20c′, etc. (each of which may also be referred to herein as an “elastic band 20′” for the sake of simplicity), respectively, of the strand 10′ are not arranged linearly. Instead, the positions of the connecting portions 30′ around the circumference or periphery of the strand 10′ vary in sequence between each adjacent pair of elastic bands 20′. As an example, the locations of sequentially adjacent (along the length of the strand 10′) connecting portions 30′ (e.g., 30a′ and 30b′, 30b′ and 30c′, etc.) may alternate from one side of the strand 10′ to another (e.g., at a 180° rotation from one pair of elastic bands 20′ to the next pair of elastic bands 20′), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, imparting the strand 10′ with an accordion-like configuration. In another example, the positions of sequentially adjacent connecting portions 30′ around the strand 10′ may be rotationally offset by about 120° from one connecting portion 30′ to the next. In another example, the positions of sequentially adjacent connecting portions 30′ around the strand 10′ may be rotationally offset by about 90° from one connecting portion 30′ to the next.
(16) FIGS. 3 and 3A show an embodiment of strand 10″ with connecting portions 30a″, 30b″, 30c″, etc., that are arranged helically around the strand 10″. Thus, the rotational offsets between sequentially adjacent connecting portions 30a″ and 30b″, 30b″ and 30c″, etc., are less than 90° (e.g., about 45° or less, about 30° or less, about 20° or less, about 15° or less, about 10° or less, about 5° or less, etc.). Like strands 10 (FIGS. 1 and 1A) and 10′ (FIGS. 2 and 2A), strand 10″ includes a series of elastic bands 20a″, 20b″, 20c″, etc., that may be pulled apart from one another.
(17) Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the relationship between the elastic bands 20, 120 of a strand 10, 110 is described in further detail. Each of FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a strand 10, 110 of connected elastic bands 20, 120, with an elastic band 20, 120 at an end of thereof being pulled down, away from a remainder of the strand 10, 110.
(18) Each strand 10, 110 includes a body 12, 112 with an inner surface 14, 114 and an outer surface 16, 116. The inner surface 14, 114 of the body 12, 112 defines a lumen 15, 115 that extends through a length of the strand 10, 110.
(19) Each elastic band 20, 120 includes a body 22, 122 with an inner surface 24, 124 and an outer surface 26, 126. The inner surface 24, 124 of the body 22, 122 defines an opening 25, 125 of the elastic band 20, 120.
(20) Each elastic band 20, 120 is connected to a remainder of its strand 10, 110 by way of a connecting portion 30, 130. Each connecting portion 30, 130 may comprise a material from which the body 12, 112 of the strand 10, 110 and the body 22, 122 of the elastic band 20, 120 are defined (e.g., the same material as the body 12, 112 of the strand 10, 110 and as the body 22, 122 of the elastic band 20, 120). As illustrated by FIG. 4, one or more connecting portions 30 of a strand 10 may have a thickness that is the same as the thicknesses of the body 12 of the strand 10 and the body 22 of the elastic band 20. As depicted by FIG. 5, a strand 110 may include one or more connecting portions 130 with a score line 132 or other features (e.g., perforations, etc.) that render such connecting portions 130 thinner or otherwise weaker than the bodies 22 and 122 of the strands 10 and 110, respectively.
(21) FIGS. 6 and 7 provide a graphical representation of a manner in which a strand 10 (FIGS. 1 and 1A) of connected elastic bands 20 may be defined. A suitable elastomer may be extruded in a manner known in the art to define a tube 11 with a desired shape and dimensions. The tube 11 may then be supported (e.g., upon a surface S, as depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7) and cut lines 18 may be defined substantially, but not completely, therethrough. The cut lines 18 may be defined at a series of locations along a length of the tube 11. As illustrated, a blade 200 may impact the tube 11, optionally smashing it down and defining a cut line 18 through the tube 11. The travel of the blade 200 may be limited, enabling an edge 202 of the blade 200 to stop short of a surface S by which the tube 11 is supported and, thus, leave the newly defined elastic band 20 connected to a reminder of the tube 11 by way of a connecting portion 30, 130 (FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively). More specifically, the travel of the blade 200 may enable the edge 202 of the blade 200 to cut into the material of to define the connecting portion 130, imparting the connecting portion 130 with a weakening feature (e.g., a score line 132, perforations, etc.) along which the tube 11 may be torn or otherwise disrupted to facilitate the separation of one elastic band 20 from another, adjacent elastic band 20 or from a remainder of the tube 11. The location of the tube 11 may then be incrementally advanced relative to the blade 200 or the location of the blade 200 may be incrementally advanced along the length of the tube 11, and the process may be repeated. Alternatively, a series of blades 200 may simultaneously define a corresponding series of cut lines in a tube 11.
(22) As an alternative to a strand 10 (FIGS. 1 and 1A), 10′ (FIGS. 2 and 2A), 10″ (FIGS. 3 and 3A), etc., that consists essentially of (e.g., with the exception of decorative features (e.g., glitter, colored particles, fluorescent particles, phosphorescent particles, etc.), fragrance, etc.) or consists of an elastomeric material, other embodiments of a strand of connected elastics according to this disclosure may include a series of elastic bands that are completely distinct from one another (e.g., have been completely severed, etc.), but are secured together in a series by one or more separate connecting features. As an example, a series of elastic bands could be secured (e.g., adhered, etc.) to a connecting feature that comprises a strip of polymer (e.g., an adhesive tape, etc.) that resides on a surface (e.g., an outer surface, an inner surface, etc.) of the strand. In embodiments where such a connecting feature resides on an outer surface of the strand, the strand may be defined by providing a tube 11 (FIGS. 6 and 7), adhering the connecting feature to an outer surface of the tube 11, and cutting the tube 11 with a blade 200 (FIGS. 6 and 7) or similar apparatus to define cut lines 18 (FIGS. 6 and 7) completely through the tube 11, but not completely through the connecting feature.
(23) As another option, a connecting feature comprising an elongated strip of a suitable material (e.g., a cured adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, etc.) may be applied to an assembly of previously separated elastic bands. As yet another option, connecting features may be applied to a series of pre-separated elastic bands as discrete elements (e.g., circular drops, etc.) to one or more adjacent locations of adjacent elastic bands to secure them to each other.
(24) Turning now to FIG. 8, an embodiment of use of a strand 10 of connected elastic bands 20 is depicted. Specifically, FIG. 8 depicts separation of an elastic band 20 from a strand 10 of which the elastic band 20 is a part. As an example, an individual may hold the strand 10 with one hand H.sub.1 (e.g., between his or her thumb and index finger of that hand H.sub.1, etc.) and grasp an elastic band 20 at an end of the strand 20 with the other hand H.sub.2 (e.g., between his or her thumb and index finger of the other hand H.sub.2, etc.). The individual may then pull the elastic band 20 away from the remainder of the strand 10 (e.g., with his or her hand H.sub.2) in the direction of arrow A, pull the strand 10 away from the elastic band 20 (e.g., with his or her hand H.sub.1) in the direction of arrow B, or pull the elastic band 20 and the remainder of the strand 10 apart from one another in the directions of arrows B and A, respectively, to separate the elastic band 20 from the remainder of the strand 10. The individual may then use the elastic band 20 in any suitable manner (e.g., for styling hair, for holding gathered items together, for holding an item in a rolled configuration, etc.).
(25) The preceding specification provides a description of some specific embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. It should not be considered in such a way as to limit the scope of any of the claims that follow. Each claim should be construed in a manner consistent with its plain language, and encompass all equivalents to each of its elements.
