NARROW FABRIC ELASTICS

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to elastics and bands for hair, or hairbands. More specifically, this disclosure relates to elastics made from fabric and, even more specifically, to narrow (e.g., about one eight of an inch or less thick), or thin, elastics made from fabrics. This disclosure also relates to methods for manufacturing narrow elastics made from fabrics and to methods for using narrow elastics made from fabrics.

SUMMARY

A narrow elastic made from fabric may comprise a small band or a thin band. The small band or thin band may be used to secure hair. For example, a small band may be used to secure an end of braided hair, or a braid ends. As another example, a thin band may be used to secure hair that has been arranged into a ponytail, a pigtail, or the like. Small bands and thin bands are useful for securing small groupings of hair and groupings of fine hair. The small bands and thin bands may be generally referred to as “hair bands” or, even more simply, as “bands.”

A hair band includes a continuous loop of circular knit fabric (e.g., nylon, polyester, etc.) with a rolled configuration. The circular knit of the fabric may impart the fabric with some stretchability and/or elasticity. In addition, the fabric may include elastic fibers (e.g., spandex fibers, etc.). In some embodiments, a knit of the circular knit fabric may cause the edges of the continuous loop to automatically roll inward upon themselves.

The continuous loop may include a first edge, a first portion, a middle, a second portion, and a second edge. Each of the first edge, first portion, middle, second portion, and second edge may extend completely around the loop, or circumferentially around the loop. The rolled configuration may be a natural state of the hair band. While in the rolled configuration, the first portion of the continuous loop may be repeatedly rolled inwardly over an interior surface of the continuous loop, from the first edge toward the middle of the continuous loop to define a first roll. The second portion of the continuous loop may also be repeatedly rolled inwardly over the interior surface of the continuous loop, from the second edge toward the middle to define a second roll. The first roll and second roll may be located adjacent to each other inside the continuous loop. While in the rolled configuration, the continuous loop may have a height (i.e., a shortest distance between outermost extents of the first roll and the second roll) of about one eighth of an inch or less.

The continuous loop may also have an unrolled configuration, in which the first edge and second edge are pulled apart from each other such that the continuous loop resembles a short cylinder. While in its unrolled configuration, the continuous loop may have a height of three-fourths of an inch or less.

In embodiments where the hair band comprises a small band, it may have an outer diameter of about one inch or less while in a circular shape, regardless of whether the hair band is in its rolled configuration or its unrolled configuration. In embodiments where the hair band comprises a thin band, it may have an outer diameter of about three inches or less while in a circular shape, regardless of whether the hair band is in its rolled configuration or its unrolled configuration.

In another aspect of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing hair bands may include knitting a tube. The tube, when in a cylindrical configuration, may have a diameter that corresponds to a desired diameter for a small band or a thin band. Once the tube has been knit, logos may be applied to it. The logos may be applied to the tube at locations where individual hair bands are to be separated from the tube. Machine vision may then be used to identify locations of the logos along a length of the tube and, based on the locations of the logos, locations where individual hair bands will be separated from the tube may be determined. The individual hair bands may then be separated from the tube at the predetermined locations.

Other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as features and advantages of the disclosed subject matter, should become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a small band of this disclosure in a rolled configuration;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the small band in the rolled configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an edge view of the embodiment of the small band in the rolled configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional representation through the embodiment of the small band in the rolled configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the small band shown in FIG. 1 in an unrolled configuration;

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of use of the embodiment of the small band shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a thin band of this disclosure in a rolled configuration;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the embodiment of the thin band in the rolled configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an edge view of the embodiment of the thin band in the rolled configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional representation through the embodiment of the thin band in the rolled configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the thin band shown in FIG. 1 in an unrolled configuration;

FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment of use of the embodiment of the thin band shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 13-16 illustrate a method of manufacturing a band (i.e., a small band or a thin band).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, an embodiment of a small band 10 is depicted. FIGS. 1-4 show the small band 10 in a rolled configuration, while FIG. 5 shows the small band 10 in an unrolled configuration.

The small band 10 may include a continuous loop 12 defined by a circular knit fabric 14, consist essentially of a circular knit fabric 14 (e.g., it may nonessentially include a logo 16, etc.), or consist of a circular knit fabric 14. Alternatively, the small band 10 may consist of a circular knit fabric 14 and a logo 16. The circular knit of the circular knit fabric 14 may impart the circular knit fabric 14 with some stretchability and elasticity. A knit of the circular knit fabric 14 (e.g., tension, stitch size, yarn/thread weight, etc.) may cause the edges of the continuous loop to automatically roll inward upon themselves.

The circular knit fabric 14 may comprise any suitable material. For example, the circular knit fabric 14 may comprise fibers formed from nylon, polyester, or the like and yarns including any of these materials or combinations thereof. Optionally, the circular knit fabric 14 may further include elastic fibers (e.g., spandex fibers, etc.). For example, the circular knit fabric 14 may include polyester yarn and spandex yarn. More specifically, the circular knit fabric 14 may include about 40% to about 80% of the polyester yarn and about 20% to about 60% of the spandex yarn. As another example, the circular knit fabric 14 may include nylon yarn and spandex yarn. More specifically, the circular knit fabric 14 may include about 40% to about 80% of the nylon yarn and about 20% to about 60% of the spandex yarn. In a specific embodiment, the circular knit fabric 14 may include about 50% polyester yarn and about 50% spandex yarn. In embodiments where the circular knit fabric 14 includes elastic fibers, the continuous loop 12 and the small band 10 may stretch to at least 200% of their unstretched diameter.

The circular knit fabric 14 may have a thickness of about one twenty-fifth of an inch (i.e., about 40 mils; about 1 mm) or less. In the rolled configuration, a height of the continuous loop 12, or a thickness of the small band 10, may be as narrow as about one-fourth of an inch or less or even as narrow as about one eighth of an inch or less (e.g., about ¼ inch (about 6 mm), about 3/16 inch (about 4.5 mm), about ⅛ inch (about 3 mm), about 1/16 inch (about 1.5 mm), etc.). In the unrolled configuration, a height of the continuous loop 12 may be about five-eighths of an inch or less (e.g., about ⅝ inch (about 16 mm), about ½ inch (about 13 mm), about ⅜ inch (about 10 mm), about ¼ inch (about 6 mm), about ⅛ inch (about 3 mm), etc.). A diameter of the continuous loop 12, while in a circular shape, may be about one inch or less (e.g., about 1 inch (about 25 mm), about ¾ inch (about 19 mm), about ½ inch (about 13 mm), etc.).

As shown in FIG. 5, the continuous loop 12 may include a first edge 20, a first portion 22, a middle 24, a second portion 26, and a second edge 28. Each of the first edge 20, first portion 22, middle 24, second portion 26, and second edge 28 may extend completely around the continuous loop 12, or circumferentially around the continuous loop 12.

The rolled configuration of the small band 10, which is shown in FIGS. 1-4, may be a natural state of the small band 10. While in the rolled configuration, the first portion 22 of the continuous loop 12 may be repeatedly rolled inwardly over an interior surface 13 of the continuous loop 12, from the first edge 20 toward the middle 24 of the continuous loop 12 to define a first roll 30. The second portion 26 of the continuous loop 12 may also be repeatedly rolled inwardly over the interior surface 13 of the continuous loop 12, from the second edge 28 toward the middle 24 to define a second roll 32. The first roll 30 and second roll 32 may be located adjacent to each other inside the continuous loop 12. The first roll 30 and second roll 32 may meet at a central circumferential location 34 along the height of the continuous loop 12, or along the thickness of the small band 10, which is midway between the first edge 20 and second edge 28 of the continuous loop 12.

The logo 16 may appear on an outer surface 11 of the small band 10 at or adjacent to the central circumferential location 34. The logo 16 may be painted on the outer surface 11. Alternatively, the logo 16 may comprise a preformed element that is bonded or adhered to the outer surface 11.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of use of a small band 10 is depicted. Specifically, FIG. 6 depicts use of the small band 10 to secure an end of braided hair and, thus, to hold the braid in place. While FIG. 6 shows the small band 10 being used to secure the end of a single, simple braid, small bands 10 may be used to secure other types of braids (e.g., cornrows, microbraids, etc.). Small bands may also be used to secure a variety of other hair arrangements in place, and they may be useful for securing the hair of children. Small bands 10 may also be used for many of the purposes like-sized elastics are used for.

FIGS. 7-11 illustrate an embodiment of a thin band 10′. FIGS. 7-10 show the thin band 10′ in a rolled configuration, while FIG. 11 shows the thin band 10′ in an unrolled configuration.

The thin band 10′ may include a continuous loop 12′ defined by a circular knit fabric 14′, consist essentially of a circular knit fabric 14′ (e.g., it may nonessentially include a logo 16′, etc.), or consist of a circular knit fabric 14′. Alternatively, the thin band 10′ may consist of a circular knit fabric 14′ and a logo 16′. The circular knit of the circular knit fabric 14′ may impart the circular knit fabric 14′ with some stretchability and elasticity. A knit of the circular knit fabric 14′ (e.g., tension, stitch size, yarn/thread weight, etc.) may cause the edges of the continuous loop to automatically roll inward upon themselves.

The circular knit fabric 14′ may comprise any suitable material. For example, the circular knit fabric 14′ may comprise fibers formed from nylon, polyester, or the like and yarns including any of these materials or any combination of suitable materials. Optionally, the circular knit fabric 14′ may further include elastic fibers (e.g., spandex fibers, etc.). For example, the circular knit fabric 14′ may include polyester yarn and spandex yarn. More specifically, the circular knit fabric 14′ may include about 40% to about 80% of the polyester yarn and about 20% to about 60% of the spandex yarn. As another example, the circular knit fabric 14′ may include nylon yarn and spandex yarn. More specifically, the circular knit fabric 14′ may include about 40% to about 80% of the nylon yarn and about 20% to about 60% of the spandex yarn. In a specific embodiment, the circular knit fabric 14′ may include about 50% polyester yarn and about 50% spandex yarn. In embodiments where the circular knit fabric 14′ includes elastic fibers, the continuous loop 12′ and the small band 10′ may stretch to at least 200% of their unstretched diameter.

The circular knit fabric 14′ may have a thickness of about one twenty-fifth of an inch (i.e., about 40 mils; about 1 mm) or less. In the rolled configuration, a height of the continuous loop 12′, or a thickness of the thin band 10′, may be as narrow as about one fourth of an inch or less or even as narrow as about one eighth of an inch or less (e.g., about ¼ inch (about 6 mm), about 3/16 inch (about 4.5 mm), about ⅛ inch (about 3 mm), about 1/16 inch (about 1.5 mm), etc.). In the unrolled configuration, a height of the continuous loop 12′ may be about five-eighths of an inch or less (e.g., about ⅝ inch (about 16 mm), about ½ inch (about 13 mm), about ⅜ inch (about 10 mm), about ¼ inch (about 6 mm), about ⅛ inch (about 3 mm), etc.). A diameter of the continuous loop 12′, while in a circular shape, may be about one inch or less (e.g., about 1 inch (about 25 mm), about ¾ inch (about 19 mm), about ½ inch (about 13 mm), etc.).

As shown in FIG. 11, the continuous loop 12′ may include a first edge 20′, a first portion 22′, a middle 24′, a second portion 26′, and a second edge 28′. Each of the first edge 20′, first portion 22′, middle 24′, second portion 26′, and second edge 28′ may extend completely around the continuous loop 12′, or circumferentially around the continuous loop 12′.

The rolled configuration of the thin band 10′, which is shown in FIGS. 7-10, may be a natural state of the thin band 10′. While in the rolled configuration, the first portion 22′ of the continuous loop 12′ may be repeatedly rolled inwardly over an interior surface 13′ of the continuous loop 12′, from the first edge 20′ toward the middle 24′ of the continuous loop 12′ to define a first roll 30′. The second portion 26′ of the continuous loop 12′ may also be repeatedly rolled inwardly over the interior surface 13′ of the continuous loop 12′, from the second edge 28′ toward the middle 24′ to define a second roll 32′. The first roll 30′ and second roll 32′ may be located adjacent to each other inside the continuous loop 12′. The first roll 30′ and second roll 32′ may meet at a central circumferential location 34′ along the height of the continuous loop 12′, or along the thickness of the thin band 10′, which is midway between the first edge 20′ and second edge 28′ of the continuous loop 12′.

The logo 16′ may appear on an outer surface 11′ of the thin band 10′ at or adjacent to the central circumferential location 34′. The logo 16′ may be painted on the outer surface 11′. Alternatively, the logo 16′ may comprise a preformed element that is bonded or adhered to the outer surface 11′.

An embodiment of the use of a thin band 10′ is shown in FIG. 12. In particular, FIG. 12 illustrates the use of a thin band 10′ to hold a ponytail of an individual with fine hair. Thin bands 10′ may also be used to secure normal hair and coarse hair in various arrangements. Thin bands 10′ may also be used for many of the purposes like-sized elastics are used for.

Turning now to FIGS. 13-16, an embodiment of a method for manufacturing an elastic, or band, is depicted. FIG. 13 shows a tube 110 from which a plurality of bands 10, 10′ (FIGS. 1-5 and FIGS. 7-12, respectively) may be cut. The tube 110 may be made by circular knitting a suitable type of yarn (e.g., a nylon yarn, a nylon-spandex yarn, a polyester yarn, a polyester-spandex yarn, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of logos 16 may be applied to an outer surface 111 of the tube 110. The logos 16 may be applied in any suitable manner. The logos 16 may be arranged substantially linearly or linearly along a length of the tube 110. The logos 16 may be spaced at substantially equal or equal increments along the length of the tube 110. As an example of a specific embodiment for applying logos 16 to the outer surface 111 of the tube 110, preformed logos 16 may be secured to the outer surface 111 (e.g., with a suitable adhesive, by bonding a material from which the logos 16 are formed to the fabric of the tube 110, etc.). More specifically, a strip 115 that includes a plurality of preformed logos 16 may be positioned against the tube 110, with the preformed logos 16 being positioned against the outer surface 111 of the tube 110. The preformed logos 16 may be spaced equally along the length of the strip 115. The strip 115, the logos 16, and the tube 110 may then be heat pressed to secure the logos 16 to the outer surface 111 of the tube 110. Once the logos 16 have been secured to the outer surface 111 of the tube 110, the strip 115 may be removed from the outer surface 111, for example, by pulling the strip 115 away from the outer surface 115. As another example, the logos 16 may be defined on the outer surface 111 of the tube 110 (e.g., by screen printing, printing, etc.).

With the logos 16 in place on the outer surface 111 of the tube 110, as shown in FIG. 15, the positions of the logos 16 on the outer surface 111 relative to each other (e.g., adjacent logos 16, etc.) may be determined and cutting locations 117 may be set along the length of the tube 110. For example, in embodiments where each band 10, 10′ (FIGS. 1-5 and FIGS. 7-12, respectively) cut from the tube 110 includes a logo 16, midpoints between adjacent logos 16 may be set as the cutting locations 117. Alternatively, in embodiments where some of the bands 10, 10′ to be cut from the tube 110 will lack logos 16, a plurality of cutting locations 117 may be set between adjacent logos 16; such cutting locations 117 may be substantially equidistant or equidistant from each other. Each logo 16 on the tube 110 may be centered between a pair of cutting lines 117.

Next, as illustrated by FIG. 16, the tube 110 may be cut at the cutting locations 117 to define individual bands 10 from the tube 110. More specifically, an end 112 of a flattened tube 110 may be incrementally advanced a distance D (FIG. 15) that was determined while evaluating the positions of the logos 16 and setting the cutting locations 117 of the tube 110. Such incremental advancement may the next cutting location 117 along the tube 110 (i.e., closest to the end 112 of the tube 110) at a location where a cutter 120 (e.g., a blade, a laser, etc.) will cut the tube 110 through the cutting location 117. As the tube 110 is cut at each cutting location 117, a continuous loop 12, 12′ is defined, separated from a remainder of the tube 110, and the newly formed edges of the continuous loop 12, 12′ and the tube 110 automatically roll inwardly into the continuous loop 12, 12′ and the tube 110, respectively. For each band 10, 10′ that includes a logo 16, the logo 16 may be substantially centered between or centered between a top edge (e.g., a first edge 20, etc.) and a bottom edge (e.g., a second edge 28, etc.) of the band 10, 10′.

Although this disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the claims that follow, but merely as providing illustrations of some embodiments of elements and features of the disclosed subject matter. Other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, and of their elements and features, may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of any of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. Accordingly, the scope of each claim is limited only by its plain language and the legal equivalents thereto.