Abstract:
An elastic band includes an elongate elastic core, a sheath, and an elongate friction member. The elongate elastic core comprising a continuous loop and the sheath has an outer surface and surrounds the elongate elastic core. The elongate friction member is disposed in the sheath, such that at least a portion of the elongate friction member protrudes past the outer surface of the sheath.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     The present application is a non-provisional application based on, and claiming the priority benefit of, co-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/628,148, which was filed on Nov. 16, 2004, and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates generally to an elastic band and, more particularly, to an elastic band having a woven exterior that includes a friction member.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0003]     Elastic bands in general and elastic bands for retaining hair in bundles are generally known in the art. Such elastic bands come in a great variety of shapes and sizes and include different features.  
         [0004]     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,532 discloses an elastic band having opposing ends that are coupled together to form an annular-shaped accessory. An outer face of the elastic band is decorated and can include a label and one or more circumferential stripe-like decorations printed or constructed thereon, so that there is no need to cover the surface of the band with a layer of additional fabric or other covering material.  
         [0005]     In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,144 discloses a three-component band having two outer rows and a middle row. The two outer rows are of generally greater contraction than the middle row such that the middle row may flex to a greater degree than the outer rows, thereby forming a band for association with garments including hats, caps and underwear or the like. A moisture absorbing material, such as cotton, may be used in conjunction with the three-component band in order to provide absorption for perspiration or other moisture.  
         [0006]     In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,637 discloses a warp knit elastic band that includes at least one filler yarn knitted into the band on an outside surface. A method for manufacturing the elastic band is also disclosed in which at least one filler yarn is laid into the band adjacent either a back weft yarn or a front weft yarn on a side thereof opposite the elastomer threads.  
         [0007]     In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,236 discloses an elastic knitted band having a stretch woven appearance and feel. A filling yarn is secured to the elastic band by the conventional warp yarn chain stitches so as to become an integral component of the elastic knit band without creating warp or filling ridges.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0008]     In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, an elastic band including an elongate elastic core, a sheath, and an elongate friction member is disclosed. The elongate elastic core comprising a continuous loop and the sheath has an outer surface and surrounds the elongate elastic core. The elongate friction member is disposed in the sheath, and at least a portion of the elongate friction member protrudes past the outer surface of the sheath.  
         [0009]     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure an elastic band including an inner elongate elastic member, an inner elongate elastic member, and an outer woven member is disclosed. The inner elongate elastic member forms a continuous loop, and the outer woven member includes an outer surface and is disposed around the inner elongate elastic member. The elongate protruding member is attached to the outer woven member, such that at least a portion of the elongate protruding member protrudes past the outer surface of the outer woven member, and at least a portion of the outer woven member and at least a portion of the elongate protruding member are fixedly attached to the inner elongate elastic member.  
         [0010]     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an elastic band including an elongate elastic core, a woven sheath, and an elongate friction member is disclosed. The elongate elastic core includes a first end fixedly connected to a second end, and comprising a continuous loop. The woven sheath includes an outer surface and surrounds the elongate elastic core. The elongate friction member is woven into the sheath and is disposed around the core in a helical manner. At least a portion of the elongate friction member protrudes past the outer surface of the sheath. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an elastic band according to one embodiment of the disclosure;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the elastic band along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a detailed view of a portion of the elastic band of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the elastic band of  FIG. 1  placed around a user&#39;s strands of hair; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the elastic band of  FIG. 1  twisted into a plurality of loops. 
     
    
       [0016]     While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring now to the drawings and with specific reference to  FIG. 1 , an elastic band constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure is generally depicted by reference numeral  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the elastic band  20 , in this exemplary embodiment, includes a core  22 , a sheath  24 , and a friction member  26 . The elastic band  20 , as disclosed herein, may be disposed around objects, such as strands of hair. In one exemplary embodiment, the elastic band  20  may be used as a pony tail holder to hold or retain the strands of hair together. In such an example, the friction member  26  may allow the elastic band  20  to obtain a better hold around the strands of hair such that during use the elastic band  20  is better able to resist sliding or movement relative to the bundle of hair. Contemporaneously, the force or engagement of the elastic band  20  with the strands of hair is not so great as to cause excessive discomfort to the user from tugging of the hair when the elastic band  20  is removed.  
         [0018]     The core  22  of the elastic band  20 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , may be an elongate core  22  that is constructed from an elastic material, such rubber, plastic, natural rubber, silicone, or other elastic or visco elastic materials. The core  22  may form a continuous loop, but may also contain breaks there between. The core  22  may be constructed from one single piece formed as a loop or with opposite ends attached to form a loop, but may also be constructed from a plurality of pieces that may be connected in any known manner. For example, ends of the core  22  may be glued, melted, or stitched together, or may be connected by being covered in adhesive material or by being connected with a connection piece (such as one constructed of metal or plastic). The core  22  may have a generally rectangular cross-sectional area, as seen in  FIG. 2 , but may have other cross-sectional shape, such as round, oval, square, triangular, etc.  
         [0019]     The sheath  24  of the elastic band  20 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , may be an elongate sheath  24  that is constructed from material, including but not limited to plastic, paper, cloth, and elastic or visco elastic materials, but could be any material that does not have excessive adhesion to the strands of hair. The sheath  24  may be a woven material, but may be constructed from a non-woven material as well, and may be constructed such that the sheath  24  can expand with the core  22  when the elastic band  20  is stretched. The sheath  24  may surround the entire core  22  and, as such, may have a ring-like shape, in the center of which is the core  22 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the sheath  24  may be woven in a criss-cross pattern with the friction member  26  threaded or woven through the sheath  24 . The friction member  26  may, in this exemplary embodiment, be part of the weave thereby replacing one or more of the threads or bunches of threads of the weave, or may be an addition to the weave, such that the friction member  26  is simply disposed between the previously woven sheath  24 .  
         [0020]     The friction member  26  may be disposed at a surface of the sheath  24  such that additional threads or bundles of threads may be woven around the friction member  26  with portions of the friction member  26  exposed through an exterior of the sheath to the hair. Like the core  22 , the sheath  24  the may form a continuous loop, but may also contain breaks there between. The sheath  24  may be constructed from one single piece, but may also be constructed from a plurality of pieces, that may be connected in any known manner. In one exemplary embodiment, ends of the sheath  24  may be connected at or substantially adjacent to the connection point of ends of the core  22 .  
         [0021]     The friction member  26 , as seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , may be constructed from a material that preferably has a higher friction coefficient that the material of which the sheath  24  is constructed. The friction member  26  may be constructed from material, including but not limited, to plastic, rubber, natural rubber, silicone, or other elastic or visco elastic materials. The friction member  26  may form a continuous loop, but may also contain breaks there between. For example, the friction member  26  may be constructed from one single piece, but may also be constructed from a plurality of pieces, that may or may not be connected. In one exemplary embodiment, ends of the friction member  26  may be connected at or substantially adjacent to the connection point of the ends of the core  22  and/or the ends of the sheath  24 . The friction member  26  may have a round cross-sectional area, as seen in  FIG. 2 , but may have other cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangular, oval, square, triangular, etc.  
         [0022]     The friction member  26 , as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , may be woven into the sheath  24 , such that the friction member  26  becomes part of the woven sheath  24 . In one exemplary embodiment, an outer surface  30  of the friction member  26  may extend outwardly from an outer surface  32  of the sheath  24 , such that the friction member  26  may contact the object around which it is disposed. Additionally, the outer surface  30  of the friction member  26  may abut the core  22 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . As such, a cross-sectional area of the friction member  26  may be larger, or substantially larger, than a cross-sectional area of the material of which the woven sheath  24  is constructed, thereby ensuring that at least a part of the friction member  26  contacts the object around which the elastic band  20  is disposed.  
         [0023]     The above exemplary embodiment may include many variations thereof to achieve and/or create additional or alternative features. For example, the sheath  24  may be woven in other patters. More specifically, the sheath  24  may be constructed from a maypole braiding weaving pattern. Similarly, the friction member  26  may be attached to the elastic band  20  in alternate ways, including but not limited to gluing the friction member to the elastic band  20 , such as with hot melt glue or cyanoacrylate glue, and stitching the friction member to the sheath  24 . The adhesive can be applied at intervals along the length of the product to allow the stretch properties required for use to still be intact.  
         [0024]     The elastic band  20  may be manufactured using any known braiding or weaving system or method, including but not limited to, a maypole braiding system and a flat braiding system. The maypole braiding system forms strands or fabrics by an operation commonly known as braiding or plating. Bobbins, or carriers having bobbins thereon, travel in predetermined paths. The carriers either pass each other so as to interlace the strands, or the strands leading from bobbins are caused to pass other bobbins to cause interlacing of the strands. The flat braiding system weaves three or more strands into a single braid by interlacing the strands longitudinally over one another.  
         [0025]     In operation, the user may dispose the elastic band  20  around any variety of objects and may be used to retain, hold, or control those or other objects. For example, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the elastic band  20  may be disposed around a bundle of hair to hold and retain the same. In this exemplary embodiment, the user may twist the elastic band  20  into a plurality of loops until the user has achieved a desired inner diameter D or a desired amount of retaining force of the elastic band  20 , as seen in  FIG. 5 , but may utilize the elastic band  20  without twisting. The user need not, however, twist the elastic band  20  prior to disposing the elastic band  20  around the bundle of hair, but may achieve the desired inner diameter D or the desired amount of retaining force anytime during the use of the elastic band  20 . Once the desired inner diameter D or the desired amount of retaining force has been achieved, the user may thread the bundle of hair through the inner diameter D of the elastic band  20 , or conversely may expand the elastic band  20  around the bundle of hair.  
         [0026]     While the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.