Narrow Fabric Elastics

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.

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.

With reference to, an embodiment of a small bandis depicted.show the small bandin a rolled configuration, whileshows the small bandin an unrolled configuration.

The small bandmay include a continuous loopdefined by a circular knit fabric, consist essentially of a circular knit fabric(e.g., it may nonessentially include a logo, etc.), or consist of a circular knit fabric. Alternatively, the small bandmay consist of a circular knit fabricand a logo. The circular knit of the circular knit fabricmay impart the circular knit fabricwith some stretchability and elasticity. A knit of the circular knit fabric(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 fabricmay comprise any suitable material. For example, the circular knit fabricmay comprise fibers formed from nylon, polyester, or the like and yarns including any of these materials or combinations thereof. Optionally, the circular knit fabricmay further include elastic fibers (e.g., spandex fibers, etc.). For example, the circular knit fabricmay include polyester yarn and spandex yarn. More specifically, the circular knit fabricmay 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 fabricmay include nylon yarn and spandex yarn. More specifically, the circular knit fabricmay 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 fabricmay include about 50% polyester yarn and about 50% spandex yarn. In embodiments where the circular knit fabricincludes elastic fibers, the continuous loopand the small bandmay stretch to at least 200% of their unstretched diameter.

The circular knit fabricmay 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, or a thickness of the small band, 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 loopmay 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, 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, the continuous loopmay 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 edgemay extend completely around the continuous loop, or circumferentially around the continuous loop.

The rolled configuration of the small band, which is shown in, may be a natural state of the small band. While in the rolled configuration, the first portionof the continuous loopmay be repeatedly rolled inwardly over an interior surfaceof the continuous loop, from the first edgetoward the middleof the continuous loopto define a first roll. The second portionof the continuous loopmay also be repeatedly rolled inwardly over the interior surfaceof the continuous loop, from the second edgetoward the middleto define a second roll. The first rolland second rollmay be located adjacent to each other inside the continuous loop. The first rolland second rollmay meet at a central circumferential locationalong the height of the continuous loop, or along the thickness of the small band, which is midway between the first edgeand second edgeof the continuous loop.

The logomay appear on an outer surfaceof the small bandat or adjacent to the central circumferential location. The logomay be painted on the outer surface. Alternatively, the logomay comprise a preformed element that is bonded or adhered to the outer surface.

Turning now to, an embodiment of use of a small bandis depicted. Specifically,depicts use of the small bandto secure an end of braided hair and, thus, to hold the braid in place. Whileshows the small bandbeing used to secure the end of a single, simple braid, small bandsmay 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 bandsmay also be used for many of the purposes like-sized elastics are used for.

illustrate an embodiment of a thin band′.show the thin band′ in a rolled configuration, whileshows the thin band′ in an unrolled configuration.

The thin band′ may include a continuous loop′ defined by a circular knit fabric′, consist essentially of a circular knit fabric′ (e.g., it may nonessentially include a logo′, etc.), or consist of a circular knit fabric′. Alternatively, the thin band′ may consist of a circular knit fabric′ and a logo′. The circular knit of the circular knit fabric′ may impart the circular knit fabric′ with some stretchability and elasticity. A knit of the circular knit fabric′ (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′ may comprise any suitable material. For example, the circular knit fabric′ 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′ may further include elastic fibers (e.g., spandex fibers, etc.). For example, the circular knit fabric′ may include polyester yarn and spandex yarn. More specifically, the circular knit fabric′ 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′ may include nylon yarn and spandex yarn. More specifically, the circular knit fabric′ 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′ may include about 50% polyester yarn and about 50% spandex yarn. In embodiments where the circular knit fabric′ includes elastic fibers, the continuous loop′ and the small band′ may stretch to at least 200% of their unstretched diameter.

The circular knit fabric′ 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′, or a thickness of the thin band′, 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′ 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′, 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, 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 continuous loop′, or circumferentially around the continuous loop′.

The rolled configuration of the thin band′, which is shown in, may be a natural state of the thin 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′. The first roll′ and second roll′ may meet at a central circumferential location′ along the height of the continuous loop′, or along the thickness of the thin band′, which is midway between the first edge′ and second edge′ of the continuous loop′.

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

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

Turning now to, an embodiment of a method for manufacturing an elastic, or band, is depicted.shows a tubefrom which a plurality of bands,′ (and, respectively) may be cut. The tubemay 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, a plurality of logosmay be applied to an outer surfaceof the tube. The logosmay be applied in any suitable manner. The logosmay be arranged substantially linearly or linearly along a length of the tube. The logosmay be spaced at substantially equal or equal increments along the length of the tube. As an example of a specific embodiment for applying logosto the outer surfaceof the tube, preformed logosmay be secured to the outer surface(e.g., with a suitable adhesive, by bonding a material from which the logosare formed to the fabric of the tube, etc.). More specifically, a stripthat includes a plurality of preformed logosmay be positioned against the tube, with the preformed logosbeing positioned against the outer surfaceof the tube. The preformed logosmay be spaced equally along the length of the strip. The strip, the logos, and the tubemay then be heat pressed to secure the logosto the outer surfaceof the tube. Once the logoshave been secured to the outer surfaceof the tube, the stripmay be removed from the outer surface, for example, by pulling the stripaway from the outer surface. As another example, the logosmay be defined on the outer surfaceof the tube(e.g., by screen printing, printing, etc.).

With the logosin place on the outer surfaceof the tube, as shown in, the positions of the logoson the outer surfacerelative to each other (e.g., adjacent logos, etc.) may be determined and cutting locationsmay be set along the length of the tube. For example, in embodiments where each band,′ (and, respectively) cut from the tubeincludes a logo, midpoints between adjacent logosmay be set as the cutting locations. Alternatively, in embodiments where some of the bands,′ to be cut from the tubewill lack logos, a plurality of cutting locationsmay be set between adjacent logos; such cutting locationsmay be substantially equidistant or equidistant from each other. Each logoon the tubemay be centered between a pair of cutting lines.

Next, as illustrated by, the tubemay be cut at the cutting locationsto define individual bandsfrom the tube. More specifically, an endof a flattened tubemay be incrementally advanced a distance D () that was determined while evaluating the positions of the logosand setting the cutting locationsof the tube. Such incremental advancement may the next cutting locationalong the tube(i.e., closest to the endof the tube) at a location where a cutter(e.g., a blade, a laser, etc.) will cut the tubethrough the cutting location. As the tubeis cut at each cutting location, a continuous loop,′ is defined, separated from a remainder of the tube, and the newly formed edges of the continuous loop,′ and the tubeautomatically roll inwardly into the continuous loop,′ and the tube, respectively. For each band,′ that includes a logo, the logomay be substantially centered between or centered between a top edge (e.g., a first edge, etc.) and a bottom edge (e.g., a second edge, etc.) of the band,′.

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.