Elastic bead and loop fastener

Abstract

An elastic bead and loop fastener comprises a length of flexible material having at least one loop and a plurality of interconnected beads extending from the loop, each of the beads having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the center opening of the loop, each adjacent pair of beads interconnected by a connector section having a diameter no greater than the inner diameter of the center opening and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the loop, wherein one or more beads can be pulled through the center opening to capture the loop between a selected pair of adjacent beads thereby forming a flexible closed fastener having an adjustable circumference.

1 . An elastic bead and loop fastener comprising:
 a length of flexible material having at least one loop and a plurality of interconnected beads extending from said at least one loop, each of said at least one loops having two sides, a width and a center opening, each of the two sides of said loop having a sloped inner surface, said center opening having an inner diameter, each of said beads having an outer diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of said center opening, each adjacent pair of said plurality of beads interconnected by a connector section having a diameter no greater than the inner diameter of said center opening, each of said beads having two tapered shoulders, the opposed shoulders of each pair of adjacent beads spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of said loop, such that one or more beads can be pulled through said at least one loop to dispose one of a selected pair of adjacent beads on each of said two sides of said at least one loop thereby closely capturing said at least one loop between the shoulders of said pair of adjacent beads to form said length of flexible material into a closed band configuration having a selected perimeter.   
     
     
         2 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  wherein:
 the tapered shoulders of each of said adjacent pairs of said plurality of beads form smooth transitions with said connector section. 
 
     
     
         3 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  wherein:
 the sloped inner surface of said at least one loop and the tapered shoulders of each of said plurality of beads mutually slide over each other to facilitate passage of each of said beads through said loop. 
 
     
     
         4 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  wherein:
 said at least one loop comprises a plurality of loops. 
 
     
     
         5 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least one of said plurality of beads is interposed between one or more adjacent pairs of said plurality of loops. 
 
     
     
         6 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  wherein:
 said flexible material has a low coefficient of friction. 
 
     
     
         7 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  wherein:
 said flexible material is silicone. 
 
     
     
         8 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  wherein:
 the sloped inner surfaces of said loops have an elliptical profile. 
 
     
     
         9 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  wherein:
 said connector sections each have a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of said center opening. 
 
     
     
         10 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an elongated tip extending from said plurality of interconnected beads. 
 
     
     
         11 . The elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a finger grip extending from the other end of the loop. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method for closing the elastic bead and loop fastener of  claim 1  comprising:
 forming a fastener into a fastened configuration by inserting each of two opposing tips of a two tip fastener through a loop equidistant from the opposing tip.