Elastic band

Abstract

An elastic band includes an elongate elastic core, a sheath, and an elongate friction member. The elongate elastic core comprising a continuous loop and the sheath has an outer surface and surrounds the elongate elastic core. The elongate friction member is disposed in the sheath, such that at least a portion of the elongate friction member protrudes past the outer surface of the sheath.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . An elastic band, comprising:
 an elongate elastic core comprising a continuous loop;   a sheath disposed at least partially around the elongate elastic core, the sheath having an inner surface facing the elongate elastic core and an outer surface facing outwardly away from the elongate elastic core; and   an elongate friction member formed into the sheath and fabricated from a material having a greater coefficient of friction than the material from which the sheath is fabricated, wherein at least a portion of the elongate friction member is exposed through the outer surface of the sheath.   
   
   
       28 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein the sheath is constructed from a woven fabric. 
   
   
       29 . The elastic band of  claim 28 , wherein the woven fabric is constructed from at least one of cotton, silk, linen and metal material. 
   
   
       30 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein the elongate friction member is woven into the sheath. 
   
   
       31 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein the elongate friction is disposed around the core in a helical manner. 
   
   
       32 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein the elastic core includes a first and a second end that are fixedly connected with at least one of an adhesive material and a metal connecting part. 
   
   
       33 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein the core is constructed from at least one of a rubber, plastic, natural rubber, and silicone material. 
   
   
       34 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein a majority of the elongate friction member protrudes past the outer surface of the sheath. 
   
   
       35 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein a minority of the elongate friction member protrudes past the outer surface of the sheath. 
   
   
       36 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein at least a portion of the elongate friction member is fixedly attached to the elongate elastic core. 
   
   
       37 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein the sheath is made of a woven material, the friction member is made of an elastic material, and the elastic friction member is woven or threaded into the sheath. 
   
   
       38 . The elastic band of  claim 37 , wherein the sheath is woven of a plurality of threads and the friction member is woven or threaded into the woven sheath such that the friction member replaces one or more of the sheath threads and, together with the threads, forms the sheath. 
   
   
       39 . The elastic band of  claim 37 , wherein the sheath is woven of threads having a cross-sectional area and the friction member has a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of the threads of the sheath. 
   
   
       40 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein the friction member is woven into the sheath such that the friction member abuts the core. 
   
   
       41 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein the sheath surrounds the core entirely around its periphery and substantially along its length. 
   
   
       42 . The elastic band of  claim 27 , wherein friction member protrudes outwardly beyond the outer surface of the sheath. 
   
   
       43 . An elastic band, comprising:
 an inner elongate elastic member comprising a continuous loop;   an outer woven member wrapped around the inner elongate elastic member and enclosing at least a substantial portion of its length, the outer woven member having an inner surface facing the elongate elastic member and an outer surface facing outwardly away from the elongate elastic member; and   an elongate protruding member attached to the outer woven member and fabricated from a material having a greater coefficient of friction than the material from which the outer woven member is fabricated, wherein at least a portion of the elongate protruding member is exposed through and protrudes past the outer surface of the outer woven member and wherein at least a portion of the outer woven member and at least a portion of the elongate protruding member are fixedly attached to the inner elongate elastic member.   
   
   
       44 . The elastic band of  claim 43 , wherein the outer woven member is constructed from at least one of cotton, silk, linen and metal material. 
   
   
       45 . The elastic band of  claim 43 , wherein the elongate protruding member is disposed around the inner elongate elastic member in a helical manner. 
   
   
       46 . The elastic band of  claim 43 , wherein the inner elongate elastic member includes a first and a second end that are fixedly connected with at least one of an adhesive material and a metal connecting part. 
   
   
       47 . The elastic band of  claim 43 , wherein a majority of the elongate friction member protrudes past the outer surface of the sheath. 
   
   
       48 . The elastic band of  claim 43 , wherein the inner elongate elastic member has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       49 . The elastic band of  claim 43 , wherein at least a portion of the outer woven member is fixedly attached to the elongate protruding member. 
   
   
       50 . The elastic band of  claim 49 , wherein the outer woven member is fixedly attached to the elongate protruding member at a connection between a first and a second end of the inner elongate elastic member. 
   
   
       51 . The elastic band of  claim 43 , wherein the portion of the outer woven member and the portion of the elongate protruding member are fixedly attached to the inner elongate elastic member at a connection between a first and a second end of the inner elongate elastic member. 
   
   
       52 . An elastic band, comprising:
 an elongate elastic core having a first end fixedly connected to a second end, the core comprising a continuous loop;   a woven sheath wrapped around and enclosing the elongate elastic core, the sheath having an inner surface facing the elongate elastic core and an outer surface facing outwardly away from the elongate elastic core; and   an elongate friction member woven into the sheath and disposed around the core in a helical manner, wherein at least a portion of the elongate friction member protrudes past the outer surface of the sheath, and wherein the elongate friction member is fabricated from a material having a greater coefficient of friction than the material from which the woven sheath is fabricated, wherein the sheath is woven of a plurality of threads and the friction member is woven or threaded into the woven sheath such that the friction member replaces one or more of the sheath threads and, together with the threads, forms the sheath.