Narrow fabric elastics

Abstract

A narrow fabric elastic includes a continuous loop of fabric with opposite edges that have rolled inwardly upon themselves. The narrow fabric elastic may automatically assume such a rolled configuration. While in the rolled configuration, the narrow fabric elastic may have a height, or thickness, of about one eighth of an inch or less. Methods for manufacturing narrow fabric elastics are also disclosed. Such a method may include applying logos along a length of a tube of fabric, setting cutting locations transversely across the tube at locations between adjacent logos, and then cutting the tube along the cutting locations to define the narrow fabric elastics from the tube.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hair elastic, comprising:
 a continuous loop comprising a circular knit fabric with a first edge, a first portion, a middle, a second portion, and a second edge, the continuous loop having:
 a rolled configuration in its natural state in which the first portion is repeated rolled inwardly over an interior surface of the continuous loop from the first edge to define a first roll and the second portion is repeatedly rolled inwardly over the interior surface of the continuous loop from the second edge to define a second roll, with the first roll and the second roll being located adjacent to each other, a knit of the circular knit fabric causing the first portion and the second portion to roll, the continuous loop having a height of one eighth of an inch or less in the rolled configuration; 
 an unrolled configuration in which the continuous loop has a height of three-fourths of an inch or less; and 
 a diameter, while in a circular shape, of about 3 inches or less. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hair elastic of  claim 1 , wherein the circular knit fabric has a thickness of about one twenty-fifth of an inch or less. 
     
     
         3 . The hair elastic of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the continuous loop in the unrolled configuration is about five-eighths of an inch or less. 
     
     
         4 . The hair elastic of  claim 3 , wherein a diameter of the continuous loop, while in the circular shape, is about 2 inches or less. 
     
     
         5 . The hair elastic of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the continuous loop in the unrolled configuration is about five-eighths of an inch or less. 
     
     
         6 . The hair elastic of  claim 5 , wherein the height of the continuous loop in the rolled configuration is about one-eighth of an inch or less. 
     
     
         7 . The hair elastic of  claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the continuous loop, while in the circular shape, is about 1 inch or less. 
     
     
         8 . The hair elastic of  claim 7 , wherein the diameter of the continuous loop, while in the circular shape, is about three-fourths of an inch or less. 
     
     
         9 . The hair elastic of  claim 1 , wherein the circular knit fabric includes nylon yarn and spandex yarn. 
     
     
         10 . The hair elastic of  claim 9 , wherein the circular knit fabric comprises about 40% to about 80% of the nylon yarn and about 20% to about 60% of the spandex yarn. 
     
     
         11 . The hair elastic of  claim 1 , wherein the circular knit fabric includes polyester yarn and spandex yarn. 
     
     
         12 . The hair elastic of  claim 11 , wherein the circular knit fabric comprises about 50% of the polyester yarn and about 50% of the spandex yarn. 
     
     
         13 . A method for manufacturing hair bands, comprising:
 knitting a tube;   applying a plurality of logos to the tube at locations where individual hair bands are to be separated from the tube;   determining locations of the plurality of logos along a length of the tube with machine vision;   determining locations where individual hair bands will be separated from the tube based on the locations of the plurality of logos; and   separating the individual hair bands from the tube at the locations.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein knitting the tube comprises knitting the tube from nylon yarn and spandex yarn. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein knitting the tube comprises circular knitting the tube from the nylon yarn and the spandex yarn. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein applying the plurality of logos includes:
 positioning a strip carrying the plurality of logos along the length of the tube, with the plurality of logos being positioned against an outer surface of the tube;   adhering the plurality of logos to the outer surface of the tube;   heat pressing the plurality of logos to the outer surface of the tube; and   removing the strip from the plurality of logos and the outer surface of the tube.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein separating the individual hair bands from the tube comprises cutting the tube at locations that center each logo of the plurality of logos between a top edge and a bottom edge of each individual hair band of the individual hair bands. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, upon separating the individual hair bands from the tube, each newly formed edge automatically rolls inwardly into the tube or into an individual hair band of the individual hair bands. 
     
     
         19 . An elastic, comprising:
 a continuous loop comprising a circular knit fabric with a first edge, a first portion, a middle, a second portion, and a second edge, the continuous loop having:
 a rolled configuration in its natural state in which the first portion is repeated rolled inwardly over an interior surface of the continuous loop from the first edge to define a first roll and the second portion is repeatedly rolled inwardly over the interior surface of the continuous loop from the second edge to define a second roll, with the first roll and the second roll being located adjacent to each other, a knit of the circular knit fabric causing the first portion and the second portion to roll, the continuous loop having a height of one eighth of an inch or less in the rolled configuration; 
 an unrolled configuration in which the continuous loop has a height of three-eighths of an inch or less; and 
 a diameter, while in a circular shape, of about one inch or less, 
 the circular knit fabric comprising polyester yarn and spandex yarn. 
   
     
     
         20 . The elastic of  claim 19 , wherein the circular knit fabric comprises about 50% of the polyester yarn and about 50% of the spandex yarn. 
     
     
         21 . The elastic of  claim 19 , wherein the continuous loop is stretchable such that the diameter can increase by at least 200%. 
     
     
         22 . An elastic, comprising:
 a continuous loop comprising a circular knit fabric with a first edge, a first portion, a middle, a second portion, and a second edge, the continuous loop having:
 a rolled configuration in its natural state in which the first portion is repeated rolled inwardly over an interior surface of the continuous loop from the first edge to define a first roll and the second portion is repeatedly rolled inwardly over the interior surface of the continuous loop from the second edge to define a second roll, with the first roll and the second roll being located adjacent to each other, a knit of the circular knit fabric causing the first portion and the second portion to roll, the continuous loop having a height of one fourth of an inch or less in the rolled configuration; 
 an unrolled configuration in which the continuous loop has a height of three-fourths of an inch or less; and 
 a diameter, while in a circular shape, of about an inch and a half to about three inches, 
 the circular knit fabric comprising nylon yarn and spandex yarn. 
   
     
     
         23 . The elastic of  claim 22 , wherein the circular knit fabric includes at least 20% of the spandex yarn and up to 80% of the nylon yarn. 
     
     
         24 . The elastic of  claim 23 , wherein the continuous loop is stretchable such that the diameter can increase by at least 200%.