Customizable elastic band system

Abstract

A customizable elastic band includes a means for coupling at least one secondary component thereto, the secondary component adapted to individualize the elastic band. In one aspect of the present invention, the elastic band includes a recess adapted to receive and hold the secondary component. In a further aspect of the present invention, the secondary component includes a printed message, a design, or a combination thereof. In a still further aspect of the present invention, the secondary component includes electronic circuitry. In a still further aspect of the present invention, the system including the elastic band and the secondary component are adapted to interact with a point of sale system.

1 . A wearable product, comprising:
 a silicone wristband forming a continuous loop and having at least one recess integrally formed within the wristband with a recess opening on a display surface, the wristband having a first thickness outside an area in which the at least one recess is disposed, and having a second thickness, less than the first thickness, in the area in which the at least one recess is disposed;   the at least one recess having a recess bottom comprising silicone and structurally integrated to be part of the wristband at a recess depth corresponding to a difference between the first and second thicknesses so that the recess opening does not extend entirely through the silicone wristband and the at least one recess further having a recess width;   the at least one recess further having a silicone overhang formed in the display surface being smaller than the recess width; and   a secondary component having only surface ornamentation, including a design and/or message, thereon;   wherein the secondary component is detachably secured within the at least one recess of the wristband by the silicone overhang such that surface ornamentation of the secondary component is visible.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable product of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary component comprises the same material as the silicone wristband. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable product of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone wristband has a color, and the secondary component has a color that is different from the color of the silicone wristband. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable product of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone wristband has a first width outside an area in which the at least one recess is disposed, and has a second width, different from the first width, in the area in which the at least one recess is disposed. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable product of  claim 1 , wherein a first one of at least one recess has a first set of dimensions and a second one of at least one recess has a second set of dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . An article comprising:
 a silicone wristband forming a continuous loop and having at least one recess formed within the wristband with a recess opening on a display surface, the silicone wristband having thickness outside the area in which the at least one recess is disposed;   the at least one recess having a recess bottom comprising silicone and formed to be part of the wristband at a recess depth that is less than the silicone wristband thickness outside the area in which the at least one recess is disposed so that the recess opening does not extend entirely through the silicone wristband and the at least one recess further having a recess width;   the at least one recess further having a silicone overhang formed in the display surface, the width of the silicone overhang being smaller than the recess width;   wherein the silicone wristband is configured so that a secondary component having only surface ornamentation, including a design and/or message, is capable of being inserted into the at least one recess via the recess opening of the at least one recess, is capable of being held within the at least one recess, and is capable of being detachably secured within the at least one recess by the silicone overhang such that surface ornamentation of the second component is visible via the recess opening of the at least one recess.   
     
     
         7 . An article comprising:
 a silicone band forming a continuous loop and having at least one recess formed in the silicone band, the silicone band including a silicone overhang for the at least one recess with the silicone overhang having a width smaller than the width of the at least one recess, the at least one recess having a recess opening and having a recess bottom comprising silicone and formed to be part of the band at a recess depth that is less than thickness of the silicone band outside the area in which the at least one recess is disposed so that the recess opening does not extend entirely through the silicone band and so that a secondary component is capable of being received and held in the at least one recess via the silicone overhang.   
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , and further comprising a secondary component, wherein the secondary component includes only surface ornamentation, including a design and/or message, capable of being displayed if the secondary component is received and held in the at least one recess via the silicone overhang such that, if the secondary component is held in the at least one recess, the surface ornamentation or a portion thereof, is visible. 
     
     
         9 . An article comprising: a wearable product consisting essentially of:
 a silicone wristband, the silicone wristband forming a continuous loop and having at least one recess integrally formed within the wristband with a recess opening on a display surface, the wristband having a first thickness outside an area in which the at least one recess is disposed, and having a second thickness, less than the first thickness, in the area in which the at least one recess is disposed, the at least one recess having a recess bottom comprising silicone and structurally integrated to be part of the wristband at a recess depth corresponding to a difference between the first and second thicknesses so that the recess opening does not extend entirely through the silicone wristband and the at least one recess further having a recess width, the at least one recess further having a silicone overhang formed in the display surface being smaller than the recess width; and   a secondary component having only surface ornamentation, including a design and/or message, thereon, wherein the secondary component is detachably secured within the at least one recess of the wristband by the silicone overhang such that surface ornamentation of the secondary component is visible.