Abstract:
A wrap for securing objects having an elastomeric band, a retainer having a body defining a notch for receiving widthwise a portion of the elastomeric band, a band receiving portion of the notch, a first tab extending axially over the band receiving portion of the notch and defining a mouth portion of the notch, wherein the mouth portion has a width less than the width of the elastomeric band.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a rubber band retaining apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to a rubber band retainer which selectively joins end loops in a rubber band positioned about one or more objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rubber band retainer which attaches to an end loop of a rubber band for insertion through a second end loop of the rubber band when wrapped around one or more objects.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Elastomeric bands have long been employed to bundle or otherwise organize one or more objects. Typically, these bands are used to organize objects such as: computer cables and cords, telephone system cords, power tool cords, building materials, automotive parts, jumper cables, gardening stakes, plants, appliance cords, extension cords, decorative lights, skies and poles, fishing equipment, boating lines, camping equipment and sleeping bags. The most common use of such bands is to stretch the band over a plurality of items to hold them together or double-up the band, when the length of the elastomeric band prevents it from holding items snugly together. In this instance the objects pass through the loop or loops defined by the band.  
           [0003]    An alternative use of elastomeric bands is to create a loop, when organizing objects, by securing the ends of the band together. Since the ends of the band cannot be readily attached or secured to each other, it is known to employ a dowel pin or “handle” to join the ends of the band. In this process the dowel is typically used to prevent the ends of the elastomeric band from coming apart. The combination of the elastomeric band and dowel incorporating this type of attachment are often referred to as binding devices or binder ties.  
           [0004]    In one such binding device, the elastomeric band is wrapped around a bundle such that the ends are brought into an opposing relation with each other. Then, a first end of the loop is passed through a second end of the loop. The band may be pulled tight against the bundle by pulling the first end back against itself. The dowel pin is then inserted through the first loop, which is free, to prevent the first loop from withdrawing through the second loop. To function properly, the bands are generally sized and/or wrapped in such a way that the dowel is held in tension. In this way, the axial length of the dowel, which is generally longer than any opening created by the second end of the band, when the band is in tension, bears against the elastomeric band, preventing the dowel and thus the first loop from withdrawing through the second loop.  
           [0005]    In one such device, the dowel was provided with a tapered end to facilitate insertion of the dowel in the end of the band allowing the band to be stretched onto a generally cylindrical portion of the dowel. This portion of the dowel, however, was smooth and offered no axial restraint to keep the band on the dowel. In some instances, the band would roll, slide or otherwise move axially to a point where the end of the band came free of the dowel. To prevent this disengagement, another design, functioning in the same way, incorporated a circumferential open notch formed centrally of the dowel to restrict axial movement of the band. In this design, the first end is threaded through the second end, as in the previous design, but, when the dowel is inserted, the first end of the band is placed within the notch such that the walls of the notch tend to prevent the end of the band from sliding off of the dowel. While these designs are successful in organizing a bundle, they are somewhat inefficient in that the process of bundling requires several steps, namely, encircling the bundle, passing one end of the band through the other, and inserting the dowel. Further, the end of the band may slide off the dowel when the bundle is subject to distortion during movement or handling.  
           [0006]    Recognizing these deficiencies, efforts have been made to affix a handle to the elastomeric band, such that when wrapping the elastomeric band around a bundle, the free end of the band is simply stretched over the handle end. To affix the handle to the loop, one design incorporated an axial slot extending through the handle. One end of the elastomeric band is threaded through the slot, such that a looped portion of the end extends beyond the handle. A pin having a greater axial extent than that of the slot is then inserted through the extending loop to preclude the extending loop from returning through the slot. Recessed notches were formed adjacent either end of the slot for receiving the ends of the pin, thereby allowing the pin to be recessed within the body of the handle. The elastomeric band was then pulled tight against the pin to hold the pin within the recessed notches. This design relied on the force of the band against the pin to hold the pin within the recess. In most uses, the band is suitably tensioned to hold the pin fast, but, in some instances, the pin may fall out allowing the band to withdraw from the notch in the handle. At this point, the band is no longer secured to itself and fails to hold the bundle. Also, when not in use, the pin may fall out because the band is slack with no force being applied to hold the pin in the notches. Since the pin used to secure the dowel to the end of the elastomeric band is typically small, when it comes free of the handle, it is easily lost. If the pin is lost, the handle cannot be used to couple the ends of the loop. At this point, the user must endeavor to obtain a substitute pin or purchase additional binder ties.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide rubber band retainer apparatus which may be selectively attached to a rubber band for securing the ends of the rubber band when wrapped around one or more objects. Another object of the present invention is to provide such retainer apparatus which may be configured for ease of attachment to and removal from a rubber band while remaining firmly attached to the rubber band when operatively positioned thereon. A further object of the invention is to provide such retainer apparatus which may be configured to maintain a selected position on a rubber band when mounted thereon.  
           [0008]    A still further object of the invention is to provide such retainer apparatus which is a one-piece configuration without separable parts which can be lost or misplaced or accidentally separated during utilization. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a retainer which can be readily molded of plastic material, which is durable and can be repeatedly reused and which is relatively inexpensive.  
           [0009]    The present invention provides a wrap for securing objects having an elastomeric band, a retainer having a body defining a notch for receiving widthwise a portion of the elastomeric band, a band receiving portion of the notch, a first tab extending axially over the band receiving portion of the notch and defining a mouth portion of the notch, wherein the mouth portion has a width less than the width of the elastomeric band. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrap having a retainer according to the present invention depicting the retainer affixed to a first end of an elastomeric band and having a second end opposite the first end, where the band is shown in an unsecured position partially wrapped about a fragmentary portion of a plurality of cylindrical objects.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, depicting the wrap where the retainer and elastomeric band have been placed in a secured position with the retainer and first end passed through the second end of the elastomeric band and oriented to prevent the retainer from withdrawing through the second end.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of a retainer according to the present invention affixed to an elastomeric band by a retaining notch having opposed tabs securing the sides of the elastomeric band.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an enlarged top elevational view similar to FIG. 3 with the elastomeric band shown in phantom lines and depicting the retaining notch in greater detail.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a retainer similar to the retainer depicted in FIG. 3 where the retainer has opposed first and second retaining notches capable of receiving either or both sides of an elastomeric band, which is shown in phantom lines.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the retainer, taken substantially along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 4, with the retainer attached to an end of an elastomeric band, shown in phantom lines, depicting passage of each side of the first end of an elastomeric band through opposed retaining notches formed in the retainer.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a retainer according to the present invention with a partially sectioned and fragmented band depicting insertion of a first edge of the elastomeric band into a notch formed in the retainer through a mouth portion of the notch into one side of a band receiving portion of the notch.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7B is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7A depicting insertion of a second edge of the elastomeric band into the notch, where the second edge has been pinched toward the first edge to allow insertion of the second edge through the mouth portion of the notch and into the second side of the band receiving portion of the notch. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    A rubber band retainer according to the concepts of the present invention is depicted in the Figures where it is generally referred to by the numeral  5 . In FIG. 1, retainer  5  is shown attached to an elastomeric band, generally indicated by the numeral  10 , having a first end  11  and a second end  12  and first and second sides  13 ,  14  extending between the first and second end  11 ,  12  forming a continuous band of material. Elastomeric bands of this configuration are commonly made of a variety of elastomeric compounds in a wide variety of different sizes.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1, retainer  5  may be attached to one end, in this case first end  11  of band  10 . As depicted in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the retainer  5  is attached to band  10  by inserting first and second edges  17 ,  18  of band  10  sequentially or simultaneously into a retaining notch  20  formed in retainer  5 . The free end of band  10 , in this case second end  12 , may be wrapped around one or more objects  15 , such as the several cylindrical strands of material shown for exemplary purposes in FIGS. 1 and 2, to organize or secure objects  15 . The band  10  is coupled end-to-end by inserting retainer  5  carrying first end  11 , in button-hole or other fashion, through second end  12  to attain a secured position (FIG. 2). To prevent withdrawal of the first end  11  from second end  12 , the retainer  5  maybe of any suitable dimensions, paying due attention to the size of the band  10  and the retainer&#39;s ability to resist bending forces imparted by the band  10 . Referring to FIG. 3, representative retainer  5 , used with a band  10  having a width W B  ranging from about 0.375 to about 0.625 inches, might have a length L R  of about 1.3 inches to about 2.2 inches and a diameter thickness DR of about 0.25 inches to about 0.375 inches. It will be appreciated, however, that these dimensions may be varied to accommodate a band  10  of any width W B . While retainer  5  is shown as a cylindrical member, it will be appreciated that other cross-sectional configurations could be employed.  
         [0020]    To attach retainer  5  to the band  10 , retainer  5  generally includes at least one notch, generally indicated by the numeral  20 , formed in a body portion  21 . As best shown in FIG. 5, the notch  20  generally includes a band receiving portion  23 , which may be in the form of a slot lying substantially parallel to the axis A of body portion  21 , and a mouth portion  24 . The band receiving portion  23  is generally formed such that one or more sides  13 ,  14  of the elastic band  10  may rest within the notch  20  in a substantially relaxed position. To prevent the retainer  5  from easily sliding axially along band  10 , the width W W  of band receiving portion  23  may be made very close to the width W B  of the elastic band  10 . For example, to accommodate bands having a width W B  of about 0.375 inches to about 0.625 inches retainer  5  may have a notch  20  having a band receiving portion  23  having a width W W  of about 0.35 inches to about 0.625 inches and a thickness T W  of about 0.045 inches to about 0.075 inches with a mouth  24  having a width W M  of about 0.125 inches to about 0.25 inches and mouth thickness T M  of about 0.035 inches to about 0.05 inches. When two notches  20 ,  20 ′ are present, as seen in FIG. 5, each respective base  26  of a notch  20  may be located at a distance D of about 0.08 inches to about 0.125 inches from the outer surface  31  of retainer  10  leaving a strip of material  27  between notches  20 ,  20 ′ sufficient to resist bending forces applied by the elastomeric band  10  during the use of the retainer  5  without failure.  
         [0021]    In the embodiment shown, a tab portion  28  extends axially inward from body portion  21  to partially cover band receiving portion  23  and define the mouth  24  through which the band  10  is inserted. A single tab  28  may be used to form a substantially L-shaped notch  20  (not shown). To better secure the band the single tab  28  may extend over a majority of the width W W  of band receiving portion  23 . Preferably, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a second tab  29  may extend axially inward opposite first tab  28  with mouth  24  located therebetween defining a substantially T-shaped notch  20 . Tabs  28 ,  29  may extend such that the mouth  24  is centered between the tabs  28 ,  29  or off-set to one side or the other. By partially covering band receiving portion  23 , tabs  28 ,  29  limit the elastomeric band&#39;s ability to move radially relative to the band receiving portion  23 , when fully inserted. When the notch  20  of retainer  5  is formed with a single tab  28 , the elastomeric band  10  would be inserted through the mouth portion  24  and beneath the tab  28  within the band receiving portion  23 .  
         [0022]    In a retainer  5  having two tabs  28 ,  29  the elastomeric band  10  may be sequentially or simultaneously inserted beneath the tabs  28 ,  29  into a first side  31  and a second side  32  of band receiving portion  23 . In the former type of insertion, the first edge  17  of a side  13  or  14  is passed through the mouth portion  24  and into the first side of band receiving portion  23 . Then, the elastomeric band  10  is laterally compressed to allow insertion of the second edge  18  through mouth portion  24  into the second side  32  of band receiver portion  23 . In the latter instance, with a suitably wide mouth portion  24  the edges  17 ,  18  may be simultaneously inserted.  
         [0023]    As best shown in FIG. 5, a second notch  20 ′ may be formed opposite the first notch  20 , such that each side of the band  10  maybe received within a respective notch  20 ,  20 ′ on either side of the retainer  5 . The second notch  20 ′ may be constructed identical to first notch  20 , and thus, its characteristics need not be described. As will be appreciated, although notches  20 ,  20 ′ are shown as symmetrical in shape and placement, the notches  20 ,  20 ′ do not have to be so formed.  
         [0024]    To insert the band  10  within the notch  20 , first edge  18  of side  13  maybe inserted at an angle through mouth  24 , as depicted in FIG. 7A. Then, as depicted in FIG. 7B, the second edge  18  of band  10  may be squeezed inwardly such that it too may pass through mouth  24 . Once the second edge  18  enters band receiving portion  23 , the squeezed band  10  may relax causing the second edge  18  to expand outwardly until the band  10  resumes a substantially relaxed or resting position, where the band  10  is generally flat. When using second notch  20 ′, the procedure is repeated for the second side  14  of the band  10  in notch  20 ′. Once the band  10  is fitted within one or more of the notches  20 ,  20 ′ as shown in FIG. 6, the retainer  5  may be pulled against the first end  11  of the band  10  to establish a snug fit.  
         [0025]    With the sides  13 ,  14  of band  10  resting in notches  20 ,  20 ′ in the preferred embodiment, the user may use the elastomeric band  10  and retainer  5  to bundle or otherwise organize one or more objects, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second ends  11 ,  12  of the band  10  are wrapped around the object  15  and the retainer  5 , located on the first end  11  of band  10 , is then inserted through second end  12  of band  10 , typically, in a button hole fashion or by stretching the first end  11  open to receive the length L R  of retainer  5 . At this point, the tension on the band  10  pulls the retainer  5  taut against the sides  13 ,  14  adjacent the second end  12  of band  10  preventing withdrawal of the retainer  5  and consequently, the first end  11  of the band  10  from the second end  12 . In this way, the band  10  is held in the secured position around object  15 , as shown in FIG. 2. As will be appreciated, the placement of the band  10  in the secured position may be used for attachment to or to organize one or more objects  15 .  
         [0026]    It should be apparent from the above description and the appended Figures, that the present invention eliminates the use of a separate pin to attach a retainer to an elastomeric band. It will further be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. To appreciate the scope of the invention, reference should be made to the following claims.