Patent Application
20120204457
The novel technology relates generally to the field of apparel and, more particularly, to elastic bracelets.
Recently, plastic or rubber wristwear has become popular with children, teenagers, and adults alike. On one end of the spectrum are rubber bands that when relaxed, take the shape of outlines or silhouettes of characters, animals, vehicles, and objects of interest. These items tend to be brightly colored, and favored by younger wearers. On the other end are plastic bands of specific colors and/or insignia for displaying support for or allegiance to a cause. These bracelets tend to be more somber and serious in tone and are favored by older wearers.
Currently, there are no bracelets that combine the fun aspects of the youthful rubber bands with the signification of support and allegiance promoted by the plastic bracelets. The present noivel technology addresses this void.
The present invention relates to a system and method for promoting and signifying support and allegiance via an elastic wristband that legibly displays an image and/or message only when in a stretched state, such as when worn on a wrist. One object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of elastic jewelry. Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
As illustrated in
The elastic portion 15 is typically formed as a band and is more typically sized to be smaller than a wearer's wrist in its relaxed state 25 and about the same size as a wearer's wrist when in its stretched state 30. Thus, the message portion 20 is uncompressed and legible when the system 10 is stretched to occupy its tensioned state 30 and positioned on a wearer's wrist.
In operation, the system 10 functions as follows. The system 10 supports a method for promoting individual support, affiliation or allegiance. A message 20 is printed on an elastic loop 15, wherein the message 20 is decompressed and fully legible when the elastic loop 15 is stretched 30 and wherein the message 20 is compressed and not fully legible when the elastic loop is unstretched 25. The elastic loop 15 is distributed to a wearer. The elastic loop 15 is sized to be stretched 30 when worn on the wearer's wrist, such that the wearer's affiliation or allegiance to a cause, team, activity, sport, product or the like is readily displayed. The elastic loop 15 may be further stretched 30 by the wearer or others to more prominently display the message (see
In some embodiments, the message portion 20 is composed of text, in other embodiments the message portion 20 is composed of graphics, and in still other embodiments, the message portion 20 is made up of a combination of text and graphic elements. The message portion 20 may be configured to display a first image or message when relaxed and a second, different image or massage when stretched. Likewise, the message portion 20 may take on the appearance of a three dimensional image when stretched and viewed with appropriate viewing aids.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
