U.S. patent application number 13/961054 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-12 for brunnian link making device and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Five Below, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Five Below, Inc.. Invention is credited to Nathan Myles Tommer, Carl E. Voigt, IV.
Application Number | 20150042091 13/961054 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52447999 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150042091 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tommer; Nathan Myles ; et
al. |
February 12, 2015 |
BRUNNIAN LINK MAKING DEVICE AND METHOD
Abstract
A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over
itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. The example
kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable
articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques and includes
several pin bars that are supported in a desired special
orientation by at least one base. The desired special orientation
is dependent on the desired linked configuration of the completed
article. The base and pin bars may be assembled in various
combination and orientations to provide endless variation of
completed link orientations. Additional bases and pin bars can be
to further expand possible completed article creation.
Inventors: |
Tommer; Nathan Myles;
(Indianapolis, IN) ; Voigt, IV; Carl E.;
(Indianapolis, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Five Below, Inc. |
Philadelphia |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Five Below, Inc.
Philadelphia
PA
|
Family ID: |
52447999 |
Appl. No.: |
13/961054 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
289/1.5 ;
289/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 5/02 20130101; A44C
27/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
289/1.5 ;
289/17 |
International
Class: |
A44C 27/00 20060101
A44C027/00; A44C 5/00 20060101 A44C005/00; B65H 69/04 20060101
B65H069/04 |
Claims
1. A jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item, the
device comprising: a bar having a top surface, a bottom surface and
two opposing sides; a plurality of pins mounted in a predetermined
spacing apart from each other on the top surface of the bar, each
pin including a top flared portion for holding a link in a desired
orientation and an vertical opening of a predetermined radius from
the top surface of the bar to the top flared portion of each pin; a
plurality of openings spaced apart a predetermined distance from
each other along one side of the bar; and a plurality of protrusion
spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other along the
opposing side of the bar.
2. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 1, wherein the openings on the one side of the bar and the
protrusions on the opposing side of the base including
corresponding mating features for securing in an interference fit
at least two or more bars together to form a loom.
3. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins are integrally attached to
the top surface of the bar.
4. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of openings on the one side
of the bar are configured in a circle.
5. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions are
configured in a cylindrical shape corresponding to the
circumference of the plurality of circular openings on the one side
of the bar.
6. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of circular openings
includes an annular recess therein.
7. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical protrusions
include an annular ring corresponding to the annular recess of the
circular openings for mating the annular recess to the annular ring
for a snapped together interference fit between adjacent bars
pushed together to form a loom
8. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pins includes a bottom
flared portion adjacent the top surface of the bar spaced apart
from the top flared portion to form a mid-portion for holding a
Brunnian link.
9. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 2, wherein two or more bars with the plurality of pins are
mated together in a desired orientation for forming the series of
Brunnian links in a desired pattern for the jewelry.
10. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 1, wherein the vertical opening on each pin is connected to a
vertical recess in each pin.
11. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 10, further including a tool adapted to extend into the
vertical recess fur capturing one end of a link.
12. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 2, including a fastener for securing ends of the linked item
together.
13. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 1, wherein the linked item comprises a series of elastic
bands links.
14. The jewelry and craft making bar for creating a linked item of
claim 13, wherein the series of elastic band links is a series of
Brunnian links to form the jewelry.
15. A method of creating a linked item for jewelry comprising the
steps of: aligning at least one bar including a plurality of pins
attached to a top surface of the bar to define a predetermined
spatial relationship between at least two adjacent pins; assembling
at least two elastic bands across adjacent pins; capturing one end
of an elastic band and pulling the end over and onto an adjacent
pin while engaged with another elastic band; and capturing and
pulling subsequent ends over until a desired link length and
configuration is obtained.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein a second of the at least two
elastic hands is placed atop one end of the first of the at least
two elastic bands on a common pin.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein capturing one end of the
elastic band includes using a tool reaching into a vertical recess
of the pin to extend below the top most elastic band and grasp a
bottom elastic band with the tool to capture and pull over the next
adjacent pin.
18. The method of claim 15, further including the steps of
assembling a plurality of bars closely adjacent to one another to
provide parallel rows of pins.
19. The method of claim 15, further including the steps of
assembling the plurality of pin bars closely adjacent to one
another to define a desired pattern of pins for forming the
jewelry.
20. The method of claim 15, further including the steps of pressing
two or more adjacent bars together with corresponding mating male
and female members on opposing sides of each bar to define a
desired pattern of rows of pins to form the jewelry.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the male member is a
cylindrical protrusion and the female member is a circular opening
on opposing sides of each bar to join the bars together in an
interference fit.
22. The method of claim 21, further including assembling a
plurality elastic bands in a desired pattern to the plurality of
bars jointed together including at least one elastic band that
extends between pins of another pin bar.
23. The method as recited in claim 15, including the step of
inserting ends of the elastic bands linked together into a fastener
to form the linked item.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims no priority to any U.S. Provisional
Application or other pending patent application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to a device and method for
creating linked items. More particularly, this invention relates to
a method and device for an ornamental design of a jewelry item and
a craft making bar in linked items.
[0003] Brunnian linked items are made from various materials such
as elastic bands and the like to make multiple colored bracelets or
necklaces and other unique jewelry formed from a series of links.
Due to the recent popularity of Brunnian linked jewelry items, many
new end users are trying to make such jewelry from different
colored threads and beads. Many end users simply buy the materials
to make the jewelry but then must rely upon their various skill
levels to accomplish the task of weaving the links together to form
the jewelry of choice. Thus, there is room for the end user to have
a new method and a device to assist in making the jewelry of
choice. The task of creating linked jewelry pieces is daunting task
for many end users so an improved device to construct the linked
jewelry pieces is most welcome.
[0004] One prior art attempt to provide a device to assist in the
making of bracelets and necklaces is found in pending patent
application Ser. No. 13/227,638 entitled. Brunnian Link Making
Device and Kit. However, this kit includes multiple individual pins
that must have an intricate base pieces to assemble the multitude
of pins into various rows or parallel rows to accomplish a
particular design pattern. The assembly of numerous pins into rows
of equal or substantially equal number of pins becomes a time
consuming effort with a potential that one or more pins are not
securely attached to the base member or the pins might come loose
from the base member during assembly of the elastic band links. To
overcome this problem, the current invention provides means for
assembling rows of pins that are formed integrally with an
elongated bar with a predetermined number of pins thereon wherein
adjacent bars, each bar contains corresponding male and female
members for snapping together into an interference fit to secure
parallel rows of bars with multiple pins for a particular
orientation to form a jewelry item of choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled
over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. Elastic
bands can be utilized to form such links in a desired manner. The
device of the present invention provides for creation of Brunnian
linked jewelry of complex configurations. Moreover, the device
provides for a stable platform or template for the successful
creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly
techniques without the undue setup time of having a base member in
which the pins are individually assembled to the base member to
form the individual rows or parallel rows to form the linked
item.
[0006] The jewelry and craft bar includes a plurality of pins
attached to the top surface of the bar in a predetermined spatial
orientation from one another to define the loom for creating the
jewelry. The desired spatial orientation between the plurality of
pins on each bar is dependent on the desired link configuration of
the completed article. The bars with the plurality of pins thereon
may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide
an endless variation of completed link orientations. A jewelry and
craft making bar for creating a linked item is a device comprising
a bar having a top surface, a bottom surface and two opposing
sides; a plurality of pins are mounted in a predetermined spacing
apart from each other on the top surface of the bar, each pin
including a top flared portion for holding a link in a desired
orientation and an vertical opening of a predetermined radius from
the top surface of the bar to the top flared portion of each pin; a
plurality of openings spaced apart a predetermined distance from
each other along one side of the bar; and a plurality of protrusion
spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other along the
opposing side of the bar
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the
drawings, which may not be to scale or to proportion, similar
symbols typically identify similar components, unless context
dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the
detailed description, drawings and claims, are not meant to be
limiting. Other embodiments may be used and/or and other changes
may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the
present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view showing an embodiment
of the jewelry and craft making bar for creating a Brunnian linked
item.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a back bottom perspective view of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front bottom perspective view of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a back top perspective view of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a front side view of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a back side view of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a top side view of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a bottom side view of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a left side view of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a right side view of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a partial left side perspective view of FIG.
1.
[0019] FIGS. 12A-C shows various clasps according to the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 13 show a hooked tool for the present invention.
[0021] FIGS. 14A-D shows adjacent bars to snap together to form a
template for a Brunnian link.
[0022] FIGS. 15A-D shows a cross section of adjoining bars taken
along the lines 15-15 of FIGS. 14A-D.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1, a device 10 includes a bar 12 for
creating Brunnian linked items such as bracelets, necklaces and
other wearable or decorative items not shown in the Figures. A
plurality pins 14 of essentially identical pins in a vertical row
are attached to a top surface 16 of the bar 12. The pins 14 include
a flared top 18, a mid-portion 20, a flared bottom 22 adjacent the
top surface 16, a vertical opening 24 and a vertical recess 26
corresponding to the vertical height of the vertical pin opening
24. A plurality of cylindrical protrusions or male members 28
extend along an opposing side 29 of the bar 12 in a predetermined
spacing apart. An annular ring 30 is at the distal end of each male
member 28 to create an interference fit with a cylindrical opening
or female member 32 on one side 33 corresponding generally to the
diameter of the female member 32 in FIG. 2 to receive the male
member 28 in a secure manner. The female member 32 includes an
annular recess 34 at a bottom 36 of the opening or female member 32
corresponding generally to the annular ring 30 on the male member
28 for a snap over fit when the male member 28 is pushed into the
female member 32 to generally the bottom 36 of the female member
32. The ring 30 is either of the same material as the male member
28 or a more elastic material to drive into the annular recess 34
of the female member 32.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the bar 12 further includes a bottom
surface 38 along with the top surface 16, opposing side 29 and the
one side 33 with identical rounded ends 40. The bar 12 is of a
predetermined length and is made of plastic or any other suitable
material such as nylon, wood or even metal. The requisite is that
the bar and its pins are solid structures that do not bend or
contort during the operation of stretching elastic bands between
the pins or posts 14. The pins 14 are also capable of being
integrally formed with the bar and of the same material for ease of
manufacturing out of a plastic injection moulding machine.
Similarly, the bar and pins are capable of being manufactured out
of a single piece of nylon, wood or even metal poured into a
mould.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, a front bottom perspective view of FIG.
1 is shown that is capable of creating a Brunnian link formed from
a continuous looped structure without forming an actual knot.
Several links are formed in a chain to form a circular structure.
The ends are then secured together with a fastener to create a
jewelry wearable item such as a bracelet or necklace and the like.
For example, there may be three closed looped elastic material such
as rubber hands or other elastic material to form a single chain of
loops. Each link is formed by capturing the ends of one loop
structure with a mid-portion 20 of another loop structure in
series. Each link depends on the previous and subsequent links to
maintain the desired shape and integrity of the chain. Removing one
link 20 results in all of the links becoming loose from each other.
Moreover, additional bars are added adjacent to one another with a
press fit together to further expand possible number of elastic
members to a completed article creation.
[0026] Each of the plurality of pins attached to the top surface 16
of the bars 12 includes the flanged top portion 18 for holding
elastic bands in place and the front vertical recess 26. The
vertical recess provides for a tool to be inserted below a top most
elastic band such that a lower band can be grasped and pulled over
an adjacent band to form the Brunnian link. The bar and pin
combination on each bar provides for many possible orientations of
adjacent pin by simply press fitting or snapping addition bars into
place adjacent one another to create different orientations of the
plurality of pins receiving the respective elastic bands of various
colors for designing the linked article to form the jewelry of
choice.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a back top perspective view of FIG. 1. When
viewing the bar 12, there are twenty-one female members 32 on the
one side 33 while there are just ten male members 28 on the
opposing side 29. The bar is designed with the larger number of
female holes 32 so the adjacent bar 12 pressed to the first bar 12
orientates the pins 14 to be offset one pin from the adjacent bar
12 to form the loom for doing three or more color bracelets or
necklaces. These and other features disclosed herein are best
understood from viewing the other Figures and description to
follow.
[0028] For example, several bars 12 are attached together to form
the loom for making the jewelry of choice with the elastic bands.
The end user simply pushes the male members 28 on a second bar into
the female members 32 on a first adjacent bar until the annular
ring 30 seats in the annular recess 34 for a snug and snap
interference fit between the first and second bars. Next a third
bar 12 with its male members 28 are pushed into the female members
32 of the second bar 12 and assembled the same way as the first and
second bars. This assembly method is continued until the correct
number of bars 12 are snapped together to form the right number of
bars 12 with the plurality of pins 14 in predetermined rows to form
the linked jewelry of choice with the correct pattern design. In
addition, with the extra holes 32 on each bar 12 allows for a three
bar assembly to have the second bar between the first and third
bars to be incremented one up from the two outermost first and
third bars, which is a desired relative orientation to form certain
bracelets or necklaces of jewelry. FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 show bars 12
that have the extra holes 32 on the one side opposite the lesser
number of protrusions 28 on the opposing side thereof.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a front side view of FIG. 1. This FIG. 5 clearly
shows the male members 28 extending or protruding outwardly from
the opposing side of bar 12 with the annular rings 30 thereon. The
bar 12 includes eleven pins or posts 14 all in a row upon the bar
12 spaced apart a predetermined distance from one another. Each pin
or post 14 includes the flared top 18 to hold the elastic bands in
place on each pin 14 after taking a tool with a means to hook an
elastic band pulls the elastic band to the next pin in the row or
diagonally across to the next pin 14 on an adjacent assembled bar
if two or more bars 12 are snap fitted to one another. Of course,
the bars 12 in the invention are capable of being configured with
less or more pins 14 to make up the desired configuration for the
loom.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a back side view of FIG. 1 or the referred to one
side of bar 12. This shows the alignment of the holes or female
members 32 spaced apart a predetermined distance to allow the
offsetting of one bar to another adjacent bar when assembled
together as described previously. This unique snap fit interference
between the holes 32 on a first bar with the protrusions on a
second bar creates a stable template on which the end user is able
to create the jewelry piece or item of choice. The snap fit between
the male and female member on adjacent bars assembled together
prevents any misalignment of pins or rows of pins that can occur
with prior art templates to make such jewelry. Such an assembly of
bars with the plurality of pins on each bar and the snap fit for
the assembly of adjacent rows to make the loom saves considerable
setup time before creating the jewelry piece of choice. The
advantages of the bar 12 with the pins 14 preassembled upon the top
surface 16 of the bar 12 is obvious because the pins 14 are
incapable of being misaligned or falling out of some other type of
base as shown in the prior art. This bar 12 design eliminates the
need for a separate base to hold the pins 14 when the pins 14 are
integrally formed on the top surface of the bar 12 when
manufactured.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the bar 12 with the pins 14 and
the vertical recess 26 in each pin 14. It is clear that the
vertical recess 26 permits the end user to take a tool with a barb
or hook a pull the desired elastic band around the pin 14 and move
it from one to another in the same row or across to a pin on an
adjacent bar 12 assembled to the current bar where the elastic band
is grasped for movement.
[0032] FIG. 8 show a bottom plan view of the bar 12 with the
rounded corners 40 at either end are clearly show as well as the
outline of the supporting holes on the one side 33 of the bar as
well as the protrusions or male members 28 on the opposing side 29
of the bar 12.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a left side view of FIG. 1 that shows the vertical
recess 26 of the first pin 14 in the row of the plurality of pins
assembled a predetermined space apart from each other on the top
surface 16 of the bar. This view also show the flared top 18 and
the flared bottom 22 that keep the elastic bands pulled over each
pin 14 generally in the mid-portion 20 during the loom operation
without an inadvertent release of the band until grasped and moved
over to the next pin in the row or across to another pin on an
assembled adjacent bar. This view also shows the first protrusion
or male member 28 for assembly into the hole 32 on an adjacent bar
12 when assembling multiple bars to form a loom of a desired
pattern or orientation for making the jewelry of choice.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a right side view of FIG. 1 that shows the
reverse side of the pin without a vertical recess 26. The side
shows that the bar 12 is integrally formed with pin 14 thereon and
the male member 28 protruding from the opposing side 29 is also
integrally formed with the bar 12. Thus the integral structure of
the pins 14, the males members 28 and the holes or female members
32 from a single piece of plastic or similar materials assures that
the pins and the assembled structure is simple in construction but
totally solid template or foundation upon with the end user is able
to make jewelry creations out of the elastic bands of various
colors.
[0035] FIG. 11 shows a partial perspective view from the left side
of the integral bar 12 with the pins 14 thereon. The cut away shows
the male member 28 protruding from the rights side and the female
holes 32 on the left side of the bar 12. The recess 26 on the left
side of the pins shows the ability to insert a hooked tool thereon
to lift up on a rubber band or the like around the mid-section or
mid-portion 20 between the flared top 18 and flared bottom 22.
[0036] FIG. 12 shows three different clasps 42, 44 and 46 for
joining the ends of the Brunnian links to form the various jewelry
of choice. Clasp 42 show a general figure eight form. Clasp 44
resembles a c-clamp. Clasp 46 shows a heart shaped clasp. The
clasps 42, 44 and 46 are shown for purposes to show the type of
clasps that may be used to complete a bracelet or other piece of
jewelry but many other shapes are possible too.
[0037] FIG. 13 shows a hook tool 48 used to grasp the rubber bands
and stretch the rubber bands over adjacent pins 14 on the bar 12 to
form the Brunnian linked jewelry.
[0038] FIG. 14 shows the Section C-C where the adjacent bars with
multiple pins 14 thereon are joined together to form jewelry of
various designs. In the left hand side of FIG. 14 taken along lines
C-C the bars 12 are exactly parallel to each other and the ends 40
at either end of the bars 12 are located and aligned in the same
position. However, the two bars 12 with their respective pins 14
are offset on pin when assembling the male members 28 into the
female holes 32 on the adjacent bar to form different designs of
jewelry.
[0039] FIG. 15 shows the cross section where two adjoining bars 12
taken along line 15 of FIG. 14 are about to be snapped together in
keeping with the present invention to make a design template for
the Brunnian linked jewelry.
[0040] Although the invention has been described in conjunction
with the foregoing specific embodiments, many alternatives,
variations, and modifications will be apparent to those of the
ordinary skill in the art. Other such alternatives, variations, and
modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the
following appended claims.
* * * * *