CONNECTING RING APPARATUS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

Abstract

A key ring comprises an elastomeric material. Specifically, the key ring comprises an outer coating of an elastomeric material, such as a silicone material such as, for example, polysiloxane, and an inner material of a relatively rigid material, such as metal, or other like material, for forming into a wound ring for holding keys, for example, and remaining in the wound ring formation. Alternatively, the key ring comprises no internal hard material and comprises an elastomeric material or a blend of an elastomeric material, such as silicone, thereby forming the key ring with the silicone material.

Claims

1. A connecting ring comprises: an elastomeric material, wherein the elastomeric material is selected from the group of a silicone material, a natural rubber, and blends thereof.

2. The connecting ring of claim 1 wherein the connecting ring is a keyring.

3. The connecting ring of claim 1 wherein the silicone material is polysiloxane.

4. The connecting ring of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material coats a rigid material.

5. The connecting ring of claim 4 wherein the rigid material is selected from the group of a metal and a rigid plastic.

6. The connecting ring of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material forms the connecting ring without a rigid material therein.

7. The connecting ring of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material is crosslinked.

8. The connecting ring of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material is crosslinked to another material.

9. The connecting ring of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material is crosslinked to itself.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present invention relates to a connecting ring, such as a keyring, for example, comprising an elastomeric material. Specifically, the connecting ring comprises an outer coating of an elastomeric material, such as a silicone material such as, for example, polysiloxane or other like elastomeric material, and an inner material of a relatively rigid material, such as metal, or other like material, for forming into a wound ring for holding keys, for example, and remaining in the wound ring formation. Alternatively, the connecting ring comprises no internal hard material and comprises an elastomeric material or a blend of an elastomeric material, such as silicone, thereby forming the connecting ring with the silicone material.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, a connecting ring is provided. The connecting ring comprises an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material may be a silicone material, such as polysiloxane. Other elastomeric materials that may be useful for the present invention may include natural rubbers, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, fluoroelastomers, polyurethane elastomers, and nitrile rubbers. Alternatively, the elastomeric material may be a blend of an elastomeric material and another material or materials that helps to strengthen and/or stiffen the elastomeric material. In addition, the elastomeric material may be crosslinked to itself or crosslinked or otherwise bonded to another material to impart toughness, resiliency, and strength. Moreover, the elastomeric material may retain its softness but comprise a rigidity that allows it to be formed into a ring shape and maintain its shape. More specifically, the elastomeric material may be blended or bonded with another material allowing the same to retain its shape when wound into a ring form or shape, and hold its shape when keys are slid thereon.

[0022] In an embodiment, the elastomeric material as described herein may coat a rigid material. Specifically, the rigid material may be a metal material, a plastic material, or any other material that may allow the ring to maintain its shape and hold rings thereon. In an alternate embodiment, the elastomeric material forms the key ring without another rigid material therein.

[0023] The connecting ring of the present invention may have a plurality of uses. Specifically, as mentioned above, the connecting ring may be utilized preferably as a key ring, for holding keys or other objects thereon. Such a key ring may be relatively light, when compared to metal key rings, relatively soft and easy and safe to manipulate, allowing a user to easily open the same and add and/or remove keys or other objects easily and without damage or injury. The connecting ring of the present invention may further be any size and may be utilized generally to connect items to each other, such as for connecting items to tags, in place of hood pins on classic cars or race cars, to connect items to backpacks, purses, and/or laptop bags, such as ID tags. Further, the connecting rings may have applications in aerospace, automotive, personal uses, military, and/or medical applications.

[0024] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. Further, references throughout the specification to the invention are nonlimiting, and it should be noted that claim limitations presented herein are not meant to describe the invention as a whole. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.