Material or article handling – Process
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-02-13
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Process
C206S303000, C206S338000, C206S495000, C206S805000, C242S613300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186737
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rubber bands are frequently accumulated in various locations, either through the internal movement of office correspondence or from other sources such as through the mail. The tendency is to save the rubber bands for use when needed. Typically, the rubber bands are thrown into a box or in a desk drawer. They tend to become attracted to one another so that when the user wants to use a single rubber band, he has to separate it from a mass of other rubber bands that may be of either the same or other sizes. It is inconvenient and time-consuming to separate such rubber bands.
Prior art related to this invention includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,730 issued Jan. 2, 1990, to John Kovac for “Elastic Band Holder”. This holder has pairs of opposed slots around which a rubber band is stretched and stored. Several pairs of slots spaced at different distances accommodate rubber bands of different lengths. The rubber bands are stretched around their particular pair of slots in contact with other rubber bands of the same size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide a rubber band holder which permits several rubber bands to be stored. The rubber bands are stretched around the holder so they are substantially out of contact and disposed over the previously mounted rubber bands.
The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an annular plate-like holder having a series of spaced cogs around a circular periphery forming opposed notches around the entire edge of the holder. The edge of the holder is blunt to prevent damage to the stretched rubber bands. The diameter of the holder is greater than the natural unstretched diameter of the rubber bands so that they must be stretched to be mounted on the holder.
Each rubber band is stretched around the holder, disposed in notches on opposite sides of the holder with the midsection of the rubber band closely adjacent the center of the holder. This permits the individual rubber bands to be substantially out of contact with the other rubber bands as they are being placed on the holder. Further it permits the last rubber band placed on the holder to be the first available for removal. It can be removed without becoming tangled with the other rubber bands.
Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 130672 (1872-08-01), Sutro
patent: D. 266009 (1982-08-01), Carney
patent: 440812 (1890-11-01), Keats
patent: 2328522 (1943-08-01), Yocum
patent: 3858719 (1975-01-01), Isaacs
patent: 3918132 (1975-11-01), McGahee
patent: 4258843 (1981-03-01), Wymer
patent: 4890730 (1990-01-01), Kovac
patent: 5487466 (1996-01-01), Robson
patent: 5909809 (1999-06-01), Franklin
patent: 2 777 553 (1999-10-01), None
patent: 2 017 047 (1979-10-01), None
O'Connor Gerald J.
Olszewski Robert P.
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