Abstract:
A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. Elastic bands can be utilized to form such links in a desired manner. A disclosed kit includes a template for mounting an initial band and a hook utilized for attaching additional bands to the initial bands placed on the template. The template includes pins that hold the initial band in place while additional bands are linked onto each other. The kit further includes a clip utilized to attach ends once the desired length is formed.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/227,638 filed on Sep. 8, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/410,399 filed on Nov. 5, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure generally relates to method and device for creating a linked item. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a method and device for creating a linked wearable item from elastic bands. 
     Kits that include materials for making a uniquely colored bracelet or necklace have always enjoyed some popularity. However such kits usually just include the raw materials such as different colored threads and beads and rely on the individual&#39;s skill and talent to construct a usable and desirable item. Accordingly there is a need and desire for a kit that provides not only the materials for creating a unique wearable item, but also that simplifies construction to make it easy for people of many skill and artistic levels to successfully create a desirable and durable wearable item. 
     SUMMARY 
     A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. Elastic bands can be utilized to form such links in a desired manner. The example kit and device provides for creation of Brunnian link articles. Moreover, the example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques. 
     The example kit includes a template for mounting an initial band and a hook utilized for attaching additional bands to the initial bands placed on the template. The template includes pins that hold the initial band in place while additional bands are linked onto each other. The kit further includes a clip utilized to attach ends once the desired length is formed. 
     These and other features disclosed herein can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  perspective view of an example kit for creating a Brunnian link article. 
         FIG. 2  is schematic view of Brunnian link articles. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a series of Brunnian links. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an example template. 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of the example template. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the example template. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of an example clip for securing loose ends of a Brunnian linked article. 
         FIG. 8  is perspective view illustrating elastic bands secured with the example clip. 
         FIGS. 9A-9K  are views of an example method of creating a Brunnian link article using the example template and kit. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of another example template. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the example template shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the example template shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an example kit is indicated at  10  for creating Brunnian link items such as bracelets, necklaces and other wearable or decorative article as generally indicated at  26  in  FIG. 2 . The example kit  10  includes one of a template  12  ( FIG. 4-6 ), or  15  ( FIGS. 10-12 ), a clip  16  and a hook  14 . The example kit  10  also includes a number of elastic members  18  that are used with the kit  10  to form Brunnian links for the resulting wearable article  26 . The elastic members  18  are consumed as articles  26  are fabricated, and are replaced and replenished with additional elastic members. Moreover, the example elastic members  18  are of a size corresponding with the example template  12 . Further, although a single clip  16  is illustrated, the example kit  10  will include many clips  16  to provide for the fabrication of many articles  26 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a Brunnian link  20  is formed from a continuous looped structure without forming an actual knot. Several links  20  are formed in a chain to form a circular structure. Ends  22  of each elastic member  18  are secured and a durable wearable article  26  is created. In this example three links  20  forming a single chain. Each link  20  is formed by capturing the ends  22  of one loop structure with a mid portion  24  of another loop structure in series. Each link  20  depends on the previous and subsequent links  20  to maintain the desired shape and integrity. Removing one link  20  results in all of the links becoming loose from each other. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , the example template  12  includes two pins  28 A,  28 B spaced a distance  52  apart from each other. Each of the pins  28 A,  28 B includes a flange  30 A,  30 B , a base  32 A,  32 B, and an access groove  34 A, 34 B. The pins  28 A,  28 B are connected at the base  32 A,  32 B by a bridge  36 . The bridge  36  defines the distance  52  between the pins  28 A,  28 B. 
     The access grooves  34 A,  34 B are disposed on outward facing sides  38 A,  38 B of the template  12 . Each of the access grooves  34 A,  34 B extend entirely through the pins  28 A,  28 B including through the flanges  30 A,  30 B and the bases  32 A,  32 B and the bridge  36 . 
     The pins  28 A,  28 B include a barrel portion  40 A,  40 B between the corresponding flanges  30 A,  30 B. The barrel portion  40 A,  40 B is formed of a diameter  46  that is less than a diameter  44  of the flanges  30 A,  30 B and a diameter  42  of the base  32 A,  32 B. The barrel portion  40 A,  40 B support the elastic band  18 , while the flanges  30 A,  30 B and the base  32 A,  32 B prevent the elastic bands  18  from sliding off. 
     Each of the flanges  30 A,  30 B is interrupted by the corresponding access grooves  34 A,  34 B. The access grooves  34 A,  34 B are sized to receive an end of the hook tool  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the example clip  16  is generally C-shaped with inwardly facing ends  48 . The inwardly facing ends  48  point inwardly to an open space  50  where parts of the elastic members are kept  18 . The inwardly facing ends  48  prevent ends  22  from sliding out from the inner area  50  off of the clip  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9A-K , the example template  12  is utilized for the formation of a series of Brunnian links  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As appreciated, elastic bands  18  can be difficult to manipulate and hold during the construction of a desired article. The example template  12  provides for holding of an initial number of links  20  to facilitate the initial few links of a desired linked article. The template  12  includes the first and second pins  28 A,  28 B along with the full height groove  34 . 
     The initial step illustrated in  FIG. 9B  includes assembling a first end of an elastic band  18  on to the second pin  28 B. The first elastic band  18  is then pulled and looped around the first pin  28 A as shown in  FIG. 9C . Once looped around the first pin  28 A, the second end  18  is hooked back onto the second pin  28 B as shown in  FIG. 9D . With the first elastic band  18  assembled to the template  12  a clip  16  as is shown in  FIG. 9E  is attached to the band  18 . The clip  12  is inserted into the groove  34 A of the first pion  28 A and under the ends of the elastic band  18  such that the band  18  is received within the open area  50 . 
     Once the clip  16  is hooked to the ends  22  of the elastic band  18 , the hook tool  14  is inserted through the access groove  34  as shown in  FIG. 9F . A second elastic band  18  is then hooked by the hook  14  as shown in  FIG. 9G . The end of the hook  14  is shown extending through the access groove  34 A such that it extends outward from the flange  30 A to provide for hooking of the second band  18 . 
     One end of the second band  18  is then pulled through the groove  34 A while holding the other end as shown in  FIG. 9H . The hook  14  is then put through the ends  22  of the second band  18  to hold them in an orientation where the midsection  24  is wrapped about the first band  18  that is secured to the template  12  as shown in  FIG. 9I . A third band  18  is then hooked utilizing the hook  14  and pulled through the second band  18 . 
     The third band  18  is looped over the hook  14  to hold the third band  18  in the orientation illustrated in  FIG. 9J . The hook  14  is utilized to hold one band  18  onto the subsequent band  18  and prepare for the threading of subsequent band  18  through the previous band  18 . The process is repeated until a desired number of bands  18  are linked together to form a chain as illustrated  FIG. 9K . Once the desired length and number of links  20  are formed, the first band  18  including the clip  16  can be removed from the template  12 . The clip  16  is then circled around and clipped onto the loose ends indicated at  54  to complete the article. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12 , another template  15  includes a holder  17  that supports pins  21 . Each of the pins  21  includes a first or top end  23  and a base end  27 . The pins  21  each include arms  19  disposed on either side of an access groove  25 . The entire template  15  is a single part that is held during creation of the article. The pins  21  provide support for the elastic member  18  during fabrication of a linked article similar to that indicated at  26  in  FIG. 2 . The example template  15  is utilized according to the same assembly procedure set out in  FIGS. 9   a - k.    
     Accordingly, the example kit and method provide for the creation of many different combinations and configurations of Brunnian links for the creation of bracelets, necklaces, and other wearable items. Moreover, the example kit is expandable to further create and expand the capabilities of potential Brunnian link creations. Further, the example kit provides for the creation of such links and items in an easy manner allowing persons of varying skill levels to be successful in creating unique wearable items. 
     Although an example embodiment has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of this invention.