BRUNNIAN LINK MAKING DEVICE AND KIT
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 pins may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide endless variation of completed link orientations.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/750,670 filed on May 23, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/038,762 filed on Sep. 30, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,337,497 granted on May 24, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/849,898 filed on Dec. 21, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,791,807 granted on Oct. 6, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/562,990 filed on Dec. 8, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,848,679 granted on Dec. 26, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/329,099 filed on Jul. 11, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,936,283 granted on Jan. 20, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/938,717 filed on Jul. 10, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,955,888 granted on Feb. 17, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/227,638 filed on Sep. 8, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,485,565 granted on Jul. 16, 2013, that claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/410,399 filed on Nov. 5, 2010.
BACKGROUNDThis disclosure generally relates to method and device for creating a linked item. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a method and device for creating a linked wearable item from elastic bands.
Kits that include materials for making a uniquely colored bracelet or necklace have always enjoyed some popularity. However, such kits usually just include the raw materials such as different colored threads and beads and rely on the individual's skill and talent to construct a usable and desirable item. Accordingly, there is a need and desire for a kit that provides not only the materials for creating a unique wearable item, but also that simplifies construction to make it easy for people of many skill and artistic levels to successfully create a desirable and durable wearable item.
SUMMARYA 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 example kit and device provide for creation of Brunnian link articles of complex configurations. Moreover, the example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques.
The example kit includes several pin bars that are supported in a desired spatial orientation by at least one base. The desired spatial orientation is dependent on the desired link 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. Moreover, additional bases and pin bars can be added to further expand possible completed article creation.
Each of the pin bars includes a flanged top portion for holding elastic bands in place and a front access groove. The front access groove provides for a hook 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 disclosed kit provides for many possible orientations of adjacent pins, and therefore different orientations of and designs for a completed linked article.
These and other features disclosed herein can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The base 12 includes tabs 32 disposed between the cylinders 28 that fit within corresponding slots 34 defined on the pin bar 14. The interface between the tabs 32 and slots 34 provide alignment and maintain the upright orientation of the pin bars 14. Each of the pins 26 includes a front slot 36 that receives a boss 37 defined between cylinders 28 of the base 12. The front slot 34 and boss 37 interface further aligns and supports the pin bar 14 on the base 12.
The pin bar 14 is an integral structure having the plurality of pins 26 defined in a single row. Each of the pins 26 are spaced an equal distance A apart. Each of the pins 26 includes a flanged top 38 and a front access groove 40.
Referring to
Each of the pins 26 includes a bottom portion 44 that is flared outward from a diameter of a mid portion 46. The mid portion 46 of the pin 26 is where a rubber band is secured during assembly. The bottom portion 44 is flared outward to prevent the rubber band from slipping downward against the bar portion 42. The flanged top 38 and bottom portion 44 centers the rubber bands in the mid portion 46 to provide a desired alignment during assembly. The edges of the flanged top 38 are rounded over to eliminate sharp edges or surfaces.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Once the elastic bands 52, 54, and 56 are placed on each of the pins 26, the hook 16 is inserted into the access groove 40 and moved downward past the top most elastic bands 56. The hook 16 is then moved outward from the groove in a direction indicated by arrow 58 a sufficient distance to allow for one end of the elastic band 54 to be caught in the hook end. Further lifting pulls the captured end of the second elastic band 54 in the direction indicated by 60 up through the end of the third elastic band 56 for assembly on to another adjacent pin 26 as is shown in
The example illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Accordingly, the example kit and method provide for the creation of many different combinations and configurations of Brunnian links for the creation of bracelets, necklaces, and other wearable items. Moreover, the example kit is expandable to further create and expand the capabilities of potential Brunnian link creations. Further, the example kit provides for the creation of such links and items in an easy manner allowing persons of varying skill levels to be successful in creating unique wearable items.
Although an example embodiment has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of this invention.
Claims
1. A device for creating an item with a series of elastic bands, the device comprising:
- at least two pins where at least one elastic band is stretched across and held to facilitate securement to another elastic band, each of the at least two pins include: a flanged top that extends about most of a circumference of a corresponding one of the at least two pins that prevents errant release of an elastic band during the creation of a link between at least two elastic bands; a mid-portion where the at least one elastic band is initially placed during creation of the link; a bottom portion that is flared radially outward from the mid portion to prevent the at least one elastic band from slipping downwardly away from the mid portion; and a longitudinal groove that extends radially inward toward a center of each of the at least two pins and longitudinally through the bottom portion, the mid portion and the flanged top.
2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the mid portion has a width that is less than both a width of the flanged top and a width of the bottom portion.
3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the flanged top expands radially outward to an outer edge that is greater than the width of the mid portion and is rounded.
4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the at least two pins are identically sized.
5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least two pins are part of an integral structure.
6. A kit for creating an item with a series of elastic bands, the device comprising:
- a plurality of elastic bands;
- a device for holding at least some of the elastic bands during creation of a link between at least two of the plurality of elastic bands, the device including at least two pins where at least one elastic band is stretched across and held to facilitate securement to another elastic band, each of the at least two pins include: a flanged top that extends about most of a circumference of a corresponding one of the at least two pins that prevents errant release of an elastic band during the creation of a link between at least two elastic bands; a mid portion where the at least one elastic band is initially placed during creation of the link; a bottom portion that is flared radially outward from the mid portion to prevent the at least one elastic band from slipping downwardly away from the mid portion; and a longitudinal groove that extends radially inward toward a center of each of the at least two pins and longitudinally through the bottom portion, the mid portion and the flanged top; and
- at least one connector configured to attach to at least one end of a series of links formed from at least some of the plurality of elastic bands.
7. The kit as recited in claim 6, further including a hook for use in manipulating elastic bands during creation of a link.
8. The kit as recited in claim 6, wherein the mid portion has a width that is less than both a width of the flanged top and a width of the bottom portion.
9. The kit as recited in claim 8, wherein the flanged top expands radially outward to an outer edge that is greater than the width of the mid portion and is rounded.
10. The kit as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least two pins are part of an integral structure.
11. A kit for creating an item with a series of elastic bands, the device comprising:
- a plurality of elastic bands;
- a device for holding at least some of the elastic bands during creation of a link between at least two of the plurality of elastic bands, the device including at least two pins where at least one elastic band is stretched across and held to facilitate securement to another elastic band, each of the at least two pins include: a top portion configured to prevent errant release of an elastic band during the creation of a link between at least two elastic bands; a mid portion configured to have a width that is less than the top portion where an elastic band is initially located for creation of the link; a bottom portion that configured to have a width that is greater than the mid portion to prevent the at least one elastic band from slipping downwardly away from the mid portion; and a longitudinal groove positioned longitudinally through the bottom portion, the mid portion and the top portion; and
- at least one connector configured to attach to at least one end of a series of links formed from at least some of the plurality of elastic bands.
12. The kit as recited in claim 11, further including a hook for use in manipulating elastic bands during creation of a link.
13. The kit as recited in claim 12, wherein the mid portion has a width that is less than both a width of the top portion and a width of the bottom portion.
14. The kit as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least two pins are part of an integral structure.
15. The kit as recited in claim 14, wherein the link between each of the at least two of the plurality of elastic bands is a Brunnian link formed by capturing ends of one elastic band with a mid-portion of another elastic band.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 28, 2023
Publication Date: Apr 18, 2024
Inventor: Cheong Choon Ng (Novi, MI)
Application Number: 18/398,609