U.S. patent application number 09/940815 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-18 for decorated articles of elastic material.
Invention is credited to Boyadjian, Nahapet.
Application Number | 20020043077 09/940815 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26922463 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020043077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boyadjian, Nahapet |
April 18, 2002 |
Decorated articles of elastic material
Abstract
A system for producing decorated articles of elastic material in
which a rubber band is selected and a design is selected for that
rubber band. A preferred embodiment prints or paints at least one
of a series of graphic designs around at least a portion of the
outer flat width of the rubber band. In a preferred embodiment, the
design images are line drawing and silhouette style. In a preferred
embodiment, the designs are applied to the rubber band with a
wearable, washable, and stretchable paint process. The design may
be repeated to go around the entire rubber band or only partially
around, whichever way each particular design works best for the
width and length of the rubber band.
Inventors: |
Boyadjian, Nahapet;
(Honolulu, HI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James P. Murphy
McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd.
34th Floor
500 West Madison Street
Chicago
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
26922463 |
Appl. No.: |
09/940815 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60228549 |
Aug 28, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
63/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 5/0069 20130101;
A44C 27/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
63/3 |
International
Class: |
A44C 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An article of elastic material, said article comprising: a band
of elastic material; and a design on at least a portion of said
band of elastic material.
2. The article of claim 1 wherein said design comprises a design
painted on at least a portion of said band of elastic material.
3. The article of claim 1 wherein said design comprises a design
printed on at least a portion of said band of elastic material.
4. The article of claim 1 wherein said design comprises a design
embedded in at least a portion of said band of elastic
material.
5. The article of claim 1 wherein said design comprises a line
drawing on at least a portion of said band of elastic material.
6. The article of claim 1 wherein said design comprises a
silhouette style design on at least a portion of said band of
elastic material.
7. A method of forming a decorated article of elastic material
comprising: selecting a band of elastic material; and applying a
design to at least a portion of said band of elastic material.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said applying step further
comprises applying a design to at least a portion of said band
using a wearable, washable, and stretchable paint process.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting a design from
a set of designs.
10. A system for producing a decorated article of elastic material
comprising: at least one band of elastic material; at least one
design for said at least one band of elastic material; a control
unit for selecting at least one design from said at least one
design; and an applicator for applying said at least one design to
at least a portion of said band of elastic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] A large market exists for jewelry. People of all ages enjoy
buying and wearing jewelry and decorative articles. In particular,
a large market also exists for novelty jewelry. People of all ages
enjoy buying and wear novelty jewelry in relation to a new fad or
fashion trend.
[0002] Decorated articles may serve an ornamental purpose. Wearable
decorated articles also may be used for purposes other than
ornamentation. Decorated articles may be used for identification.
Decorated articles also may be used for advertisement. In addition
to being worn, decorated articles may be attached to other objects
and used for identification, decoration, or advertisement.
[0003] Currently, most jewelry is not elastic or stretchable to
accommodate many different shapes or sizes. Most jewelry or
decorated articles are not painted with a wide variety of
stretchable designs.
[0004] A need exists for elastic jewelry capable of being worn by
people of many sizes. A further need exists for decorative articles
made of a durable material. A need also exists for elastic articles
decorated with designs.
[0005] Thus, a need exists for decorated articles of elastic
material.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention generally relates to decorated
articles and, more particularly, relates to decorated articles of
elastic material as bracelets or other form of jewelry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a system is providing having at least a supply of rubber
bands, a library of graphic designs for the rubber bands, a control
unit to select a rubber band and a design, and an applicator to
apply the design to the rubber band. In a preferred embodiment, a
rubber band is selected and a design is selected for that rubber
band. A preferred embodiment prints or paints at least one of a
series of graphic designs around at least a portion of the outer
flat width of the rubber band. In a preferred embodiment, the
design images are line drawing and silhouette style. In a preferred
embodiment, the designs are applied to the rubber band with a
wearable, washable, and stretchable paint process. In a preferred
embodiment, the design may be repeated to go around the entire
rubber band or only partially around, whichever way each particular
design works best for the width and length of the rubber band. A
preferred embodiment is marketed and sold primarily as something to
wear on a part of one's body. An alternative embodiment may be used
for special purposes, such as business or company logos or
themes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates preferred embodiments of articles of
elastic material decorated with various designs.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 200 for
forming a decorated article of elastic material.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a system for producing decorated articles
of elastic material.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates preferred embodiments of articles 100 of
elastic material decorated with various designs. In a preferred
embodiment, the article 100 comprises a band of elastic material
110 and a design 120 applied to the band 110. In a preferred
embodiment, the band 110 is a stretchable rubber band. The band 110
is of average to heavy-duty strength. The band 110 is available in
a variety of widths. In a preferred embodiment, widths may range
from as narrow as 4 mm and as wide as 100 mm. The length of the
bands 110 may also vary with the purpose for which the bands 110
will be used. In a preferred embodiment, the bands 110 may be of a
variety of solid colors. For example, rubber bands may be white,
black, red, green, yellow, blue, purple, etc. The shape of the
rubber bands may include flat, round, half-round (half-moon or
barrel), square, squiggly (wavy), triangle, octagon, hexagon or
special cut-out or scalloped designs which may be made at either of
the edges or within the interior portion of the elastic bands.
[0012] A preferred embodiment prints or paints at least one of a
series of graphic designs 120 around at least a portion of the
outer flat width of the rubber band. In a preferred embodiment, the
designs 120 are arranged in a variety of themes, such as Holidays,
Sports, Flowers, Party, Animals, Fish, Diamonds, Stars, Flames,
Hearts, Hawaiian, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the design images
120 are line drawing and silhouette style. In a preferred
embodiment, the designs 120 are applied to the elastic band 110
using a wearable, washable, and stretchable paint process. In a
preferred embodiment, the designs 120 are applied directly to the
elastic band 110 by automated machinery. In a preferred embodiment,
the design 120 may be repeated to go around the entire band 110 or
only partially around, whichever way each particular design 120
works best for the width and length of the band 110. The color of
the design 120 will be in contrast to the color of the band 110. A
variety of paint colors may be used. In an alternative embodiment,
a "glow-in-the-dark" paint may be used for some designs 120. In an
alternative embodiment, the band 110 may be dyed different
colors.
[0013] A preferred embodiment is marketed and sold primarily as
something to wear on a part of one's body and may include a
bracelet, wristband, necklace, choker, belt, earring, armband,
headband, fingerband, ankleband, toeband, etc. An alternative
embodiment may also be used for items such as key chains, purse
straps, other straps, etc. An alternative embodiment may also be
used for any purpose for which a regular rubber band is already
used. An alternative embodiment may be used for special purposes,
such as business or company logos or themes. An alternative
embodiment may be used to promote a company, product, or
service.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 200 for
forming a decorated article of elastic material. In Step 210, an
elastic band is selected. In Step 220, a design is selected. In
Step 230, the design is applied to the elastic band. In a preferred
embodiment, the design is applied to the elastic band using a
wearable, washable, and stretchable paint process.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 for producing decorated
articles of elastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the system
300 comprises at least one band 310 of elastic material, at least
one design 320, an applicator 330 for applying a design 320 to an
elastic band 310, and a control unit 340. The applicator 330
receives a band 310 and a design 320. The applicator 330 applies
the received design 320 to the received band 310 of elastic
material. The applicator 330 outputs the resulting decorated band
of elastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit
340 selects the band 310 to be sent to the applicator 330. In a
preferred embodiment, the control unit 340 selects the design 320
to be sent to the applicator 330. The control unit 340 controls the
operation of the applicator 330. In a preferred embodiment, the
control unit 340 may select the portion of the band 310 to which
the design 320 is to be applied. In an alternative embodiment, the
selection of the band 310 may be executed by a human operator. In
an alternative embodiment, the selection of the design 320 may be
executed by a human operator.
[0016] While the invention has been described with reference to a
preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In
addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the invention without
departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the
invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed,
but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within
the scope of the appended claims.
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