Bendable tubular item and method of manufacture

Abstract

A flexible tubular item having an outer flexible section of hollow tubing with a first end and a second end, a flexible wire positioned within the hollow tubing, a flexible paint layer covering an exterior surface of the flexible wire, and a viscous liquid contained within the hollow tubing. The hollow tubing is a transparent vinyl tube. The flexible wire is copper wire having a bend resistance greater than the bend resistance of the hollow tubing. The liquid is mineral oil filling the area around the flexible wire within the hollow tubing. Ball members are affixed in liquid-tight relationship within the first and second ends of the hollow tubing. These ball members are acrylic spheres having a diameter greater than the interior diameter of the hollow tubing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to articles of jewelry, trinketry and the like, as, for instance, bracelets, chains, necklaces, knick-knacks, and the like. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for the production of such articles.

BACKGROUND ART

A common type of costume jewelry circlet that is, a bracelet or necklace, is formed of a continuous cord or string over which is positioned a tubular sleeve, which may be continuous or discontinuous, and which forms the decorative surface of the circlet. In the past, the sleeves have been made of a variety of materials, including cloth and plastic materials of various colors and surface textures.

Conventionally, the wearer of the jewelry purchases the particular color or texture desired for a particular appearance purpose. Thus, the wearer may have a number of different necklaces or bracelets to wear at different times in accordance with the particular clothing worn at the time. Usually, it is desirable to have an item of jewelry that is both distinctive in appearance and which attracts attention. The color of the jewelry, the image given by the jewelry, and the eye-catching qualities are very important in the decision to purchase a particular type of jewelry.

Various types of jewelry, necklaces, and related items, are made in a very complex fashion. Often the manufacture of such jewelry is expensive, tedious, and difficult. Rapid manufacture and assembly greatly reduces the cost of such jewelry. In addition, the manufacture of such items should ensure suitable quality and aesthetic appeal.

Various U.S. patents have issued in the past which have addressed various types of jewelry items somewhat related to the present invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,031, issued on Dec. 7, 1982, to H. Obermuller shows a multipartite item of jewelry which is used as a finger ring. This is formed of a plurality of sections which are flexibly connected to each other in order to form a closed series of curves. The sections are constructed as tubular pieces which are connected through an elastic element which extends within the tubular pieces. The elastic connections at the contact points between the sections form a series of curves. U.S. Pat. No. 2,738,616, issued on Mar. 20, 1956, describes a tube toy employing a series of flexible tubes which are translucent or completely transparent and which contain various colored liquids. Each of the tubes is joined at one end to make a ring or a loop. Generally, the tube is formed in a circular shape. The rings may be linked together so as to form a particular toy. The tubing receives a liquid which is clear, semi-opaque, or opaque. The liquid is described as having any of a number of unusual properties.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,086, issued on Jun. 28, 1988, to K. G. Schmidt, describes a costume jewelry circlet which is formed of an inner, string-like core having its opposite end connected together. A tubular sleeve is placed on the string-like core and extends around and substantially covers the full length of the core. The sleeve is interchangable with other sleeves which are formed either with different surface textures or colors or cross-sectional shapes. In this patent, it is suggested that the wearer of the costume jewelry may substitute one sleeve for another, as desired, in order to produce different visual effects due to the varying textures, colors, or shapes of the interchangable sleeves.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,398, issued on Sept. 19, 1978, to O. Orlandini describes a process of producing articles of jewelry. This process utilizes a plurality of hollow tubular elements, each made of a different color or having a different appearance. The tubular elements are inserted into each other in order to obtain a multi-layer composite tubular element having adjacent layers of different colors. The length of the tubular elements is cut to a desired length and formed for particular wearing purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive item of jewelry which can be bent in a variety of different configurations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tubular bendable item which is relatively easy to manufacture and inexpensive to produce.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bendable tubular item which creates a magnifying effect on the element found on the interior of the tubular item.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bendable tubular item that conveys a striking and pleasing aesthetic appearance.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a bendable tubular item and method for producing the bendable tubular item. The bendable tubular item of the present invention comprises an outer flexible section of hollow tubing having a first and second end, a flexible wire positioned within the hollow tubing, a flexible paint layer covering an exterior surface of the flexible wire, and a liquid contained within the hollow tubing. The hollow tubing is sealed at the first end and the second end.

The hollow tubing is a transparent vinyl tube having a hollow interior extending for the length of the vinyl tube. The flexible wire is positioned within the hollow tubing and has a length less than the length of the hollow tubing. The copper wire has a plastic sheathing extending therearound. The flexible paint is applied to this plastic sheathing. The flexible wire has a bend resistance greater than the bend resistance of the hollow tubing.

The flexible paint layer is made of a water-resistant paint. Glitter material is applied to the flexible paint layer on the wire. The liquid contained within the hollow tubing is a mineral oil which fills the area between the flexible wire and the hollow tubing. The mineral oil creates a "magnifying effect" of the painted wire as viewed from the exterior of the hollow tubing. The tubing is sealed with a first ball member which is affixed in liquid-tight relationship with the first end of the hollow tubing. A second ball member is affixed in liquid-tight relationship with the second end of the hollow tubing. These first and second ball members are acrylic spheres having a diameter greater than the interior diameter of the hollow tubing.

The method of manufacturing the flexible tubular item of the present invention comprises the steps of: (1) cutting a hollow tubing to a desired length such that one end of the hollow tubing is Open; (2) painting a length of flexible Wire with a flexible paint, (3) inserting the painted length of wire into the hollow tubing such that the wire is contained within the hollow tubing; (4) injecting a liquid into the open end of the hollow tubing so as to generally fill the interior of the hollow tubing; and (5) sealing the open end of the hollow tubing so as to contain the liquid therewithin.

This method further includes the step of sealing an opposite end of the hollow tubing prior to the step of injecting the liquid, a mineral oil, into the open end of the hollow tubing. Specifically, the step of sealing is the insertion of an acrylic ball in frictional engagement with an open end of the hollow tubing. The step of painting comprises the specific steps of: (1) dipping the length of flexible wire into a flexible rubberized paint; and (2) drying the flexible rubberized paint onto a sheathing of the flexible wire. This step of painting also includes the application of glitter along a length of the flexible wire prior to the step of drying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view, in side elevation, of the flexible tubular item in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the internal configuration of the flexible tubular item of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the arrangement of components within the flexible tubular item of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is shown in FIG. 1, at 10, the flexible tubular item in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Flexible tubular item 10 includes an outer flexible section of hollow tubing 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16. A flexible wire 18 is positioned within the hollow tubing 12. A flexible paint layer 20 covers the exterior surface of the flexible wire 18. A liquid 21 is contained within the hollow tubing 12. The hollow tubing 12 is sealed at ends 14 and 16.

The outer flexible section of hollow tubing 12 is a flexible transparent vinyl tube which is cut to a desired length. The ends 14 and 16 of tube 12 are cut so as to be smooth and even. Openings are formed at ends 14 and 16 to the interior of the hollow tube 12. As such, the openings at ends 14 and 16 allow for easy access to the interior of the hollow tube 12. A ball member 22 is inserted into the opening at end 14 so as to seal the end 14 and to contain the liquid 21 within the interior of hollow tubing 12. Ball member 22 is an acrylic sphere which has a diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter of hollow tubing 12. Another acrylic ball, having a configuration similar to the ball member 22 is inserted into the opening at end 16 (not shown).

A wire 18 is contained within the interior of hollow tube 12. The wire 18 is placed into the interior prior to sealing the ends 14 and 16 of tube 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wire 18 is a twelve-gauge copper wire having a length less than the length of the hollow tubing 12. As will be described hereinafter, the wire 18 has a conventional sheathing extending therearound. It is important to the functioning of the present invention that wire 18 have a bend resistance which is greater than the bend resistance of the hollow tube 12. This quality insures that the hollow tube, when bent, assumes the configuration that it is bent into. If the wire 18 did not have a bend resistance greater than the tube 12, then the tube 12 would have a tendency to return to its original configuration. The wire 18 enhances the formability of the hollow tube 12.

A flexible paint 20 is applied to the exterior surface of the wire 18. This flexible paint is a water-resistant rubberized paint of a type manufactured by Tulip Productions or by Polymerics, Inc. Normally, the wire 18 is painted by dipping the wire 18 into the plastic paint 20. The paint 20 enhances the appearance of the wire 18 as contained within the interior of tube 12. The combination of the paint 20 with the liquid 21 provides a striking visual appearance to the painted wire 18. In normal use, the end of wire 18 will also be painted so that the copper wire is not seen by the observer of the bendable tubular item 10 of the present invention. A glitter material 24 is sprinkled over the paint 20. The glitter material is light reflective and is multi-colored. The glitter, in combination with liquid 21, also presents a pleasant aesthetic appearance to the observer of the item 10.

The liquid 21 is contained within the interior of hollow tube 12. The liquid 21 is, ideally, a light mineral oil. This mineral oil should fill the tube and be sealed therewithin. The mineral oil is a generally clear solution of nontoxic quality. For example, the mineral oil 21 can be baby oil.

Importantly, the mineral oil 21 provides a number of unexpected qualities to the appearance and function of the bendable tubular item 12 of the present invention. First, the mineral oil 21 provides a "magnifying effect" to the painted wire 18 contained within the tube 12. The appearance to the observer is that the painted wire 18 completely fills the interior of the tube 12. Without the mineral oil 21, the item 10 would simply appear like a painted wire inside a simple vinyl tube. The Magnifying effect greatly enhances the aesthetic appearance of the present invention. Also, the mineral oil 21 is generally inert and does not dissolve the paint 20 or the glitter 24 contained on the wire 18. As such, the item 10 will not deteriorate over time. The mineral oil 21 also provides a medium for any excess glitter 24 to float in. Finally, the mineral oil 21 appears to enhance the reflectance and dispersion of light from the glitter 24.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the bendable tubular item 10 of the present invention. Initially, it can be seen that the flexible tube 12 forms the exterior surface 26 of the item 10. The hollow tube 12 also shows interior diameter 28. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the vinyl hollow tube 12 have an outer diameter of five sixteenths of an inch (5/16") and an inner diameter of three sixteenths (3/16") of an inch. These dimensions, of course, should not be construed as a limitation on the present invention. Various other dimensions are possible and useful within the scope of the present invention. The flexible tube 12 should have a thickness suitable for durability and integrity. It is important that the tube 12 not be so thin as to possibly break and allow the mineral oil 21 to escape from the interior of the tube 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, mineral oil 21 fills the area between the exterior surface 30 of painted wire 18 and the interior diameter 28 of tube 12. The wire 18 is twelve-gauge copper wire. Experimentation has shown that copper wire is the preferred material for wire 18. Other types of wire can function properly but do not exhibit the same durability and other qualities as does copper wire 18. A sheathing 32 extends over the exterior surface of the copper wire 18. Sheathing 32 is a conventional plastic sheathing. It has been found that the sheathing 32 can be incorporated with the present invention or can be omitted. It is possible to apply paint layer 20 onto wire 18 directly or onto the sheathing 32. In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the paint 20 extends around the entire exterior surface of sheathing 32 of wire 18.

Although the painted wire 18 only occupies a small portion of the hollow interior of tube 12, the mineral oil 21 will cause the observer of item 10 to believe that the painted wire 18 fills the entire interior area of tube 12. This is essentially an optical illusion which is created, in part, by the light diffraction qualities of the mineral oil and by the paint and glitter of the wire 18.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the bendable tubular item 10. Initially, it can be seen that the acrylic sphere 22 is inserted into end 14 of hollow tube 12. Painted wire 18 is also suitable for insertion into end 14 of tube 12. In normal assembly procedures, after the painted wire 18 and the acrylic sphere 22 are inserted into end 14, the mineral oil can be injected into end 16 of tube 12. The injection of the mineral oil 21 continues until the interior diameter 28 of tube 12 is filled. After the interior diameter 28 is filled, a second acrylic sphere 36 is inserted into end 16.

Since the acrylic spheres 22 and 36 have a diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter 28 of tube 12, the spheres 22 and 36 will engage the ends 14 and 16 in frictional relationship. Experimentation has shown that, after the spheres 22 and 36 are inserted, they are virtually impossible to remove. The mineral oil 21 has a quality which does not expand greatly upon the application of heat to the tube 12. As such, unlike other oils, the mineral oil 21 will not cause the spheres 22 and 36 to pop out of the ends 14 and 16 of tube 12. The spheres 22 and 36 will be in liquid-tight engagement within the tube 12 so that no leakage of mineral oil will occur.

It is important to realize, in keeping within the scope of the present invention, that the acrylic spheres 22 and 36 are simply one way of sealing the ends 14 and 16 of tube 12. For example, the ends 14 and 16 can be sealed by heat sealing, by metal balls, or by other obstructions. Also, for example, the ends 14 and 16 can simply be squeezed and sealed in a conventional manner. The use of the acrylic spheres 22 and 36 is simply a quick, inexpensive, and attractive method of sealing the tube 12.

With reference to FIG. 3, the method of manufacturing the flexible tubular item 10 employs the first step of cutting the tubing 12 to a desired length so that at least one end of the tube 12 is open. Paint 20 is then applied to the exterior surface of wire 18. In normal practices, paint 20 is applied by dipping the wire 18 into a flexible rubberized paint. Glitter may then be applied by sprinkling dipping, or by other ways, to the painted surface 20 of wire 18. The painted length of wire 18 is then inserted into end 14 of tube 12 such that the wire 18 is contained within tube 12. A mineral oil is then injected into end 14 so as to fill the interior of hollow tubing 12. The acrylic sphere 22 may then be inserted into the end 14 so as to contain the mineral oil therewithin.

The present invention offers an attractive and useful flexible tubular item. This item can be used as a bracelet, necklace, or as other jewelry items. In other embodiments, the present invention can be used as part of a ring-toss game or as simply as a tension-relieving device. The ability to bend and reshape the flexible tubular item of the present invention is an enjoyable experience. The configuration of components of the present invention can be assembled quickly and easily and at relatively little expense. The components are also safe and nontoxic. A variety of other uses can also be made of the flexible tubular item 10 of the present invention.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction or described method can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an outer flexible section of hollow tubing having a first end and a second end;

a flexible wire positioned within said hollow tubing;

a flexible paint layer covering an exterior surface of said flexible wire: and

a liquid contained within said hollow tubing, said hollow tubing sealed at said first end and said second end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said hollow tubing comprising a transparent vinyl tube having a hollow interior extending for a length of said vinyl tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said flexible wire comprising copper wire having a length less than the length of said hollow tubing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, said copper wire having a flexible plastic sheathing extending therearound, said flexible paint covering an exterior of said sheathing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said flexible wire having a greater bend resistance than said hollow tubing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said flexible paint layer being a water resistant paint, said flexible paint layer having glitter extending therearound.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, said liquid comprising mineral oilfilling an area between said flexible wire and said hollow tubing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first ball member affixed in liquid-tight relationship with said first end of said hollow tubing; and

a second ball member affixed in liquid-tight relationship with said second end of said hollow tubing, said flexible wire positioned between said first and second ball members.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, said first and second ball members being acrylic spheres having a diameter greater than the interior diameter of said hollow tubing.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible tubular member having a first end and a second end and a hollow interior diameter;

a flexible wire having a diameter less than the interior diameter of said tubular member, said flexible wire positioned entirely within said tubular member; and

a flexible paint applied to an exterior of said wire, covering substantially said wire said wire having a bend resistance greater than the bend resistance of said tubular member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a mineral oil filling said interior diameter of said tubular member and surrounding said flexible wire, said tubular member having a liquid-tight seal at said first end and said second end.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a glitter applied to said flexible paint within said tubular member.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, said wire being twelve-gauge copper wire having a sheathing surrounding said copper wire, said tubular member being a transparent vinyl tube.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

a first ball member affixed in liquid-tight relationship within said first end of said tubular member; and

a second ball member affixed in liquid-tight relationship with said second end of said tubular member, said flexible wire positioned between said first and second ball members.

15. A method of manufacturing a flexible tubular item comprising:

cutting a hollow tubing to a desired length such that one end of said hollow tubing is open;

painting a length of flexible wire with a flexible paint;

inserting the painted length of wire into said hollow tubing such that said wire is contained within said hollow tubing;

injecting a liquid into the open end of said hollow tubing so as to generally fill the interior of said hollow tubing; and

sealing the open end of said hollow tubing so as to contain said liquid therewithin.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

sealing another end of said hollow tubing prior to the step of injecting.

17. The method of claim 15, said step of sealing comprising:

inserting an acrylic ball in frictional engagement within the open end of said hollow tubing.

18. The method of claim 15, said step of painting comprising:

dipping said length of flexible wire into a flexible rubberized paint; and

drying said flexible rubberized paint onto a sheathing of said flexible wire.

19. The method of claim 18, said step of painting comprising:

applying a glitter material along said length of said flexible wire prior to the step of drying.