Abstract:
An elastic wristband with an elongate strip of injection molded resilient thermoplastic material and one or more graphic panels. The elongate strip includes a center portion, a left side portion and a right side portion joined by left and right living hinges. The central portion includes recessed areas for receiving the graphic panels which are visable through the molded thermoplastic material. The central portion of the elongate strip also includes end tabs that are welded together to form a continuous circular band. The band is elastic in nature and can fit over a person&#39;s hand and onto a person&#39;s wrist to form a decorative wristband.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part application of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/385,152, filed Feb. 6, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to the field of decorative wristband bracelets and more specifically to a customizable elastic wristband. 
         [0003]    Decorative wrist bands have been worn by people from all countries for thousands of years. They can be made out of rigid materials such as metal, wood or plastic, and may have a hinged portion and clasp to allow the user to fit the band around the wrist without needing to ride over the larger hand portion. Some wristbands are made of flexible material such as leather or fabric or rubber. Rubber is one of the materials that is elastic and can therefore by placed on a person&#39;s wrist without the need for a hinge or clasp. The band can simply be stretched to fit over the hand portion and then released once the band is in the area of the wrist. 
         [0004]    In recent times, rubber bracelets have been used and worn to tell the world that you support a certain cause. For example, a person might wear a pink breast cancer bracelet to tell the world that you support breast cancer research. The bracelet may have lettering embossed into it that identifies the cause. Some bracelets are made of cast rubber or silicone, which is a form of rubber. However, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that each bracelet must be manufactured for a specific purpose. A breast cancer bracelet can not also be set up to be a diabetes bracelet, or a bracelet that has a sports team logo printed on it. Therefore it would be ideal to have a universal elastic bracelet that can be adapted to include any graphic image of choice depending on the likes and interests of the user. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary object of the invention is to provide an elastic wristband that allows a user to customize the band with insertable graphic panels. 
         [0006]    Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic wristband where the graphic panels are removable and/or interchangeable. 
         [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic wristband that is translucent or substantially transparent to allow the graphic panels held within the band to be easily seen. 
         [0008]    Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic wristband that is manufactured in strip form and then has its ends joined to form a continuous band. 
         [0009]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
         [0010]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an elastic wristband having an elongate strip of injection molded translucent or almost transparent, resilient thermoplastic material and one or more graphic panels. The elongate strip includes an elongate center portion and an elongate left side and an elongate right side portions, wherein the right and left side portions are joined to the elongate center portion along its elongate edges by integral living hinge members, or other attachment. The central portion includes recessed areas for receiving and holding graphic panels. The central portion of the elongate strip includes end tabs which are suitable for being joined together by welding or other means, including gluing. Once the end tabs are joined together a continuous circular band is formed. As the band is elastic in nature, it is capable of fitting over a person&#39;s hand and onto a person&#39;s wrist to form a decorative wristband. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention in bracelet form; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention in strip form; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side section view of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention in bracelet form; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the second embodiment in the invention when partially open before welding the opposite ends; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an outside view of the second embodiment in an open flat position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an inside view of the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a display portion of the second embodiment taken as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a solid portion of the second embodiment taken as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a face view of a graphic panel; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a graphic panel. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of the wristband with a colored surface and extended flat before welding; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a third embodiment of the wristband invention with releasable adhesive panels. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , we see a perspective view of the invention wristband  100  in the closed circular position. The circular band has an outside face and an inside face and includes a plurality of vertically oriented indentations  4  each extending transversely to the wristband elongate direction on the outside face eat at a position between recess locations  8  to allow for easier injection molding 
         [0028]    An example of such a plastic is Versaflex CL 40 manufactured by GLS Corporation in McHenry Ill. However other manufacturers also make similar elastic moldable plastics. Because the plastic is almost transparent, a graphic panel  6  installed within the band  100  can be clearly seen. A seam line  2  is the edge of the tow folded left side and right side strips  18 ,  20 , respectively. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the invention wristband  100  in the open position just after being released from an injection mold. The elongate strip includes an integral elongate central strip  22 , an elongate left side strip  18  and an elongate right side strip  20 . The left side strip  18  is attached to the left elongate edge of the central strip  22  by living hinge  14 . The right side strip  20  is attached to the right elongate edge of the central strip  22  by a second living hinge  16 . The recessed areas for receiving the graphic panels are the depressions  8  which are positioned at plural successive locations on the central strip  22  to allow room for the insertion of a graphic panel  6 . After the graphic panels  6  are inserted, the left and right side strips  18 ,  20  are folded over and the two opposite end tabs  10 ,  12  are overlapped on each other and heat welded together forming a circular wrist band  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The graphic panels  6  can be customized to show a sports team as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a special cause, such as fighting breast cancer, or simply a decorative colorful design. The present design allows a user to fold open the two side strips  18 ,  20  and change the decorative panels  6  stored inside the wristband  100 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  shows a side section view that bisects the invention  100  when in the finished circular shape. Graphic panel  6  can be clearly seen trapped inside the outer central strip  22  and left side and right side inner strips  18 ,  20 . The invention is economical to manufacture and can fit a variety of wrist sizes due to its elastic quality. Obviously various diameters of wristbands  100  can be manufactured for children or adults. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a wristband  200  having a top, i.e., outside strip  25  of stretchable plastic material, which has series, i.e., a plurality, of receiving indentations  27 , i.e., pockets, on its inner face, extending around the outside strip  25 . Each pocket  27  is used for holding a respective graphic panel  29 . The wristband  200  has an inside strip  31  of stretchable plastic material bonded to the outside strip  25  at their respective edges. This inside strip includes a longitudinal slit  33  which permits access to the inside area between the inside face of the outside strip  25  and the inside face of the inside strip  31 . 
         [0032]    The individual graphic panel receiving indentations  27 , on the inner face of the outside strip  25 , are manually accessed through the slit  33 . With the inside strip  31  being of stretchable plastic material, slit  33  expands and stretches, whereby graphic panels  29  can be manually installed and removed from the respective receiving indentations  27 . When permitted to return to its original size and shape, the inside strip  31  holds each graphic panel  29  in place within its respective indentation  27 . 
         [0033]    Each end of the outside strip  25  and inside strip  31  have a respective end tab  35 ,  37 . These end tabs  35 ,  37  are bonded together by heat welding to form the circular wristband. 
         [0034]    The wristband  200  can be seen in a perspective view in  FIG. 5 , in an open state, before the welding of the end tabs  35 ,  37 . The inside strip  31  is bonded on its peripheral edges, by any of several means, including over-molding, to the peripheral edges of the outside strip  25 . 
         [0035]    The outside strip  25  may be molded separately as an elongate member,  FIG. 6 , with the series graphic panel indentations  27 , i.e., pockets  27 , formed into one side thereof. The panel indentations  27  defines the inside face  39  of the outside strip  25 . 
         [0036]    The outside face  41  of the inside strip  31  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The slit  33  extends longitudinally down the middle through the outside face  41  of the inside strip  31  to provide access to the series of panel indentations  27 . 
         [0037]    The end tabs  35 ,  37  face in opposite directions,  FIG. 7 , which become juxtaposed when the elongate strips  25 ,  31  sandwich is curved around to form the wristband  200  shape,  FIG. 4 . Each end tab  35 ,  37  extends entirely across the width of the elongate strips  25 ,  31 . 
         [0038]    The slit  33  provides access to a respective indentation pocket  27  in the inside face of the outside strip  25 ,  FIG. 9 . In a region of the outside strip  25 , without an indentation pocket  27 ,  FIG. 10 , inside strip  31  seats against the inside face of the outside strip  25 . 
         [0039]    The graphic panel can be of any size and shape compatible with the size and shape of an indentation pocket. Conveniently, the graphic panels  29  can be rectangular in shape,  FIG. 11 , and uniformly flat with a uniform thickness,  FIG. 12 . 
         [0040]    The wristband can be made in many sizes and size ratios. Changing sizes will contribute to a change in the looks of the finished wristband and its durability. As an example, the outside strip  25  and inside strip  31  can each be about 208 mm long and about 18 mm wide. The outside strip  25  can be about 2-7-3.3 mm thick with an indentation pocket being about 1.5-2.0 mm deep. Each indentation pocket can be about 26 mm long and about 12 mm wide when made rectangular. Each side edge from the edge of a pocket to the edge of the strip is about 3.5 mm. The pockets are spaced apart about 4 mm. The end pockets are spaced about 6 mm inward from the adjacent end of a strip, to allow a tab extension of about 3 mm. The thickness of each end tab is about 1.29-1.3 mm, with each tab extending across the width of the outside and inside strips. 
         [0041]    The step between the thickness of an end tab and the sandwiched strips is about 1.5-2.0 mm. Thus, the thickness of the wristband is about 2.79-3.30 mm. The length and width of a rectangular graphic panel is slightly less than the length and width of an indentation pocket. This means that a graphic panel can be about 45 mm long, by about 11 mm wide, with a thickness of about 1.5-2.0 mm. The thickness of the inside strip is about 1.01-1.52 mm. 
         [0042]    The outside strip  25  and inside strip  31  may also be made of transparent material with a stretch factor of about 150%. The length of the outside strip  25  is about 208 mm and its width is about 19 mm, with a total thickness of about 2.79-3.30 mm. Each window, i.e., indentation pocket  27  is about 45 mm in length, about 18 mm in width and about 2 mm id depth. The area  43 ,  FIG. 13 , of the outside strip  25  around each indentation pocket  27  may be transparent, or made translucent, or can be colored or tintied  43 ,  FIG. 13 . The inside strip  31 ,  FIG. 13 , is generally not seen when the wristband is on the wrist. It can be translucent or transparent, which would facilitate viewing a graphic panel and making the grasping of the graphic panel easier for removal or for insertion of the graphics. Alternatively, the inside strip can be tinted or colored to match the outside strip. The length and width of the inside strip are about 208 mm and about 19 mm, respectively, thereby matching the size of the outside strip. The thickness of the inside stip is about 1.01-1.52 mm. The width of the longitudinal slit is about 2-3 mm, with the longitudinal slit  33  terminating about 5-7 mm from each end of the inside strip. 
         [0043]    A third embodiment of the wristband  300  has its outside strip  25 ,  FIG. 14 , made of a clear silicon rubber with a series of indentation pockets along its length. There is no inside strip. The graphic panels  29  have a releasable glue on the periphery of their front face. This releasable glue will permit a graphic panel to adhere to a respective outside strip indentation pocket. The graphic panel may then be removed by prying it free. 
         [0044]    The graphic panels may be made of flexible material, or semi-flexible material and sufficiently stretchable so as not to break the adhesion when the wristband is stretched of the hand. 
         [0045]    Regardless of the embodiment, the graphic panels may have the graphics embossed, or printed, or painted on the outside face which abuts the window or the indentation pocket. 
         [0046]    Various materials may be used to construct the wristband. Polypropylene or other flexible, stretchable material that can be injection molded and over-molded, i.e., attached to a more transparent material which may be used for the inside strip. 
         [0047]    The outside strip can be molded from TPE or a clear silicone rubber, or another transparent or highly translucent, flexible, stretchable material that can be over-molded (bonded to) a material like TPE. 
         [0048]    VERSAFLEX CL 30 is also a material that may be used considered. 
         [0049]    The TPE outside strip is injection molded. The polypropylene inside strip is first injection molded and then over-molded onto the outside strip. The longitudinal slit is cut into the inside strip by stamping or other means, generally before the over-mold operation. 
         [0050]    The invention has been described in connection with several specific embodiments. However, many changes can be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is therefore intended that the above description be read in the illustrative sense and not in the limiting sense. Substitutions and changes can be made while still being within the scope and intent of the invention and of the appended claims.