JPS6329603A - Extensible band - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an elastic band.

[Conventional technology]

Stretchable bands are well known and typically consist of interconnected outer and inner overlapping υ links. Each outer link is connected to a pair of inner links by a U-shaped connecting member commonly referred to as a "staple." The link has an overall elongated hollow box shape with holes at each end for receiving the legs of the staple. The staples are maintained engaged with the inner and outer links by folded end tabs or other means. Links are connected to adjacent lines to form bands of appropriate length. The force acting to stretch the band turns the staples within each link, causing the links to separate and allow for approximately 3 to 5 inches of stretching.

A spring within the link flexibly resists rotation of the staple and biases the band into a contracted condition. In the contracted state, the outer links coalesce so that adjacent sides of successive links touch, giving the band a pleasing and decorative appearance.

In this state, the staple extends generally perpendicular to a reference plane extending between the overlapping inner and outer links. FIG. 1 shows the structure of such a conventional elastic band.

The construction of such a stretchable band is shown in the following US patent specifications:

No. 2,689,450, No. 2,918,785, No. 2゜799.135, No. 2.941.351, No. 2
, No. 957,303, No. 3,158.989, No. 3.
No. 307,347, No. 3.307.348, No. 3,3
No. 15,463, (transferred), No. 543,507, No. 3, 7
The decorative appearance of the 86,629 prior art band is provided by the outer surface of the outer links, and preferably by a top shell attached to the outer links as a decorative covering. Until now, the variety of styles available through the use of decorative topshells has been significantly limited by functional considerations related to band elongation performance. More particularly, it has been recognized by those skilled in the art that there is a need for spacing between the inner links of the retracted band to avoid pinching the skin or hair of the arm of the user. However, if the interval is widened, the stretching function of the band will be impaired, so the interval must be made as narrow as possible.

〔problem〕

In conventional bands, the inner and outer links are approximately equal in width (U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,135) or the outer links are wider than the inner links (U.S. Pat. No. 3.
No. 786.629). In both cases, the width by which the upper shell can extend laterally beyond the width of the outer links is such that the extension causes a wider spacing between the inner links;
It is severely restricted in order to worsen elongation performance. Therefore, either the structure and dimensions of the upper shell approximately match that of the lower outer link (see FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,135 or FIG. 13 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,629). , it is necessary to determine the structure of the outer link itself in accordance with the structure of the upper shell (U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,629).
Figures 14-17 of the issue).

The former technique limits the degree of freedom in design, while the latter requires changing the structure of the outer link depending on the upper shell used, making it difficult to accept.

It is an object of the invention to obtain an elastic band in which the dimensions of the inner and outer links are related in such a way that the upper shell can be expanded laterally by more than the width of the outer links.

Another object of the present invention is to attach various decorative top shells to the outer links without unduly restricting the stretchability of the band and without requiring special outer links for each top shell. It is possible to obtain a stretchable band.

[Summary of the invention]

According to the invention, an elastic band is obtained which has outer links that are much thinner than the lower inner links, so that when the band is fully retracted there is sufficient clearance between the outer links. A decorative upper shell is attached to the outer link. The sides of the upper shell are decoratively shaped such that a portion of their side walls engage the side wall of the outer link, and other portions of the side wall of the upper shell are spaced from the side wall of the outer link;
into the gap. The result is a unique decorative and flattering appearance that is not possible with conventional elastic band constructions. The upper shell has interengaging lateral projections and indentations forming an interlocking structure that can resemble any of a variety of decorative shapes, including, for example, a braided net structure or a link-type structure. It is preferable. It is also preferable that there is a slight stripe fit between adjacent upper shells. The gap between the inner links can then be as narrow as required.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The elastic band 10 of the present invention includes a row of inner links 12 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction rLJ of the bracelet. The inner link is a hollow box-shaped structure having an end tab 14 and a side wall defining a first width dimension rxJ.

A row of outer links 16 is arranged above the row of inner links. The outer links also extend laterally with respect to the length of the bracelet. The outer link is also a hollow box-shaped structure having an end tab 18 and a side wall defining a second width dimension.

The inner links 12 and outer links 16 are staggered in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet and are interconnected by U-shaped staples 20. During assembly, the end tabs 14.18 of the inner link 12 and outer link 16 are
is open to receive the staple leg. A leaf spring 22 within the inner link 12 forces the staple into the vertical position shown in FIG. If no other interfering force or external force is applied,
The force of the leaf springs forces the wide inner links 12 into contact with each other. Since the width dimension Y of the outer link 16 is significantly narrower than the width dimension X of the inner link 12, a sufficiently wide gap rzJ remains between adjacent outer links.

The inner link 12 and the outer link 16 together with the staple 20 and leaf spring 22 form a basic skeleton structure.

Its skeletal structure can be produced in large quantities and can be applied to a wide range of decorative upper shells. Its decorative upper shell is shown at 24 in FIGS. 3 and 5-8.

Upper shell 24 covers outer link 16. The upper shell 24 has shaped side walls including a laterally projecting portion 24m and a recessed portion 24b. 5th~
As best shown in FIG. 7, the laterally projecting sidewall portions 24 of the upper shell are laterally separated from the sidewalls of each lower outer link 16 by a distance rdJ;
The recessed sidewall portions 24b engage respective outer links 16 at contact areas 26. Contact area 26 serves to position each upper shell over its respective outer link. The recessed wall portion 24b cooperates with the laterally projecting side wall 24m to form a recess 28 (FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 5, the laterally protruding side wall portions 24a of each upper shell 24 form a corner 28 of the adjacent upper shell.
can be received in Laterally projecting side wall portions 24& and recesses 28 are located only in the gap 2 and are located within the outer link 1.
It does not fit within the width dimension Y of 6. Therefore, when this band is in its contracted state (FIGS. 5-7), the laterally projecting side wall portions 24m of each upper shell 24 enter into the recesses 28 of the adjacent upper shell and fill the gap Z. vinegar.

As shown in FIG. 8, the end tabs 18 of one outer link 16 are angled outwardly, and the end tabs 30 of the upper shell are superimposed thereon. End tabs 30 are bent inwardly at position 30' and mechanically cooperate with end tabs 18 to secure the upper shell to the respective lower outer links.

At least some of the laterally projecting side wall portions 24m of the upper shell 24 contact the recessed wall portions 24b of the adjacent upper shell at locations 32 (see FIG. A narrow gap sl is formed, and a slight gap S is formed along the sides of the band between adjacent upper shells 24.
2 is established. The gap 511 between them
S2 functions to prevent pinching of skin and hair.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a part of a conventional elastic band, and Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway side view showing the elastic band of the present invention in its prime state with the decorative upper shell attached to the outer link. , FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the elastic band of the present invention in a partially extended state with a decorative upper shell attached to several outer links, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of the elastic band of the invention. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the elastic band showing the relationship between the inner and outer links at an intermediate stage; FIG. 5 is a plan view of the elastic band shown in FIG. 3 with the links in a retracted state;
Figures 6 and 7 are lines 6-6 and 7- of Figure 5, respectively.
7, and FIG. 8 shows details of the interengagement of the end tabs of the outer link and the decorative topshell.
It is a partial sectional view along the -8 line. 10...Elastic band, 12...Inner link, 1
4.18- End tab, 16 Fist/outside link, 20 Stable, 22- Leaf spring, 24
... Upper shell, 24 & ... Laterally projecting portion of the side wall of the upper shell, 24b... Recessed portion of the upper shell. Patent applicant: Thixtron Incorporated Agent: Masaki Yamakawa (and 2 others) FIG, + (Kei Kei 7) FIG, 2 FIG, 5 FIG, 6 FIG, 7 Procedural amendment (method) 1 Indication of the case 1988 Patent Application No. 106534 2) Name of the invention Elastic band 3 Person making the amendment

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) a row of inner links having a first width dimension and extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet; and a row of inner links having a second width dimension smaller than the first width dimension; a row of outer links extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bangle, interconnecting said inner links and said outer links, said inner links contacting each other, and said outer links extending laterally with respect to said inner link; means for resiliently pushing the inner and outer links into a contracted state separated from each other by a top gap; and a decorative top shell covering the outer links, the inner and outer links being arranged in a longitudinal direction of the bangle. arranged in a staggered manner with respect to each other, said upper shell having shaped side walls including laterally projecting portions spaced laterally from respective lower outer links; a recessed portion contacting the lower outer link and forming a recess between the laterally projecting portions, the upper shell having a recessed portion contacting the lower outer link to form a recess between the laterally projecting portions; A telescopic band disposed laterally over the links, characterized in that when said links are in a retracted state, the protruding wall portion of each upper shell is received in a recess of an adjacent upper shell. (2) The elastic band according to claim 1, wherein the protruding wall portion of each upper shell is in contact with the recessed wall portion of the adjacent upper shell, and is transversely between the inner links. An elastic band characterized by providing an interference relationship with a directional spacing. (3) The elastic band according to claim 1, wherein the laterally projecting wall portion and the recessed wall portion of the upper shell are located exclusively within the gap between the outer links. A method characterized by: (4) The elastic band according to claim 1, wherein the outer link has an outwardly inclined end tab, and the upper shell has an outwardly inclined end tab. Elastic band, characterized in that it has end tabs cooperating with these end tabs above the upper shell to secure said upper shell over the respective lower outer links.