Elastic band

Rubber bands of different colors

A rubber band (also rubber ring , household rubber , colloquially also shooting rubber or rubber flap ) is a short piece of rubber in the shape of a ring. Such tapes are typically used to hold multiple objects together. Stephen Perry was granted a patent on March 17, 1845 in England for the invention of the rubber band .

Manufacturing

The manufacturing process starts with shaping the rubber into a long tube, then cutting the length of the tube into thin rings. While other rubber products can be made from synthetic rubber, rubber bands are mainly made from natural rubber because it has a higher elasticity.

A modern rubber band differs from its Stephen Perry time predecessor in that the rubber is now vulcanized . Vulcanization makes the rubber more durable and elastic, making the rubber band even more practical.

Rubber bands last longer when stored in a cool place.

You can also make rubber bands yourself by cutting used inner tubes of bicycle tires into rings or strips. Rubber bands obtained in this way are extremely elastic and practically do not age. They last for several years or even decades without any problems.

measurement

Measurement of a rubber band

A rubber band is given a standard number based on its dimensions. It has three dimensions: length, width and thickness (see picture). The length of the rubber band is half of its circumference. The thickness is the difference between the inner and outer radius. The width depends on the intervals at which the blanket cylinder was cut during manufacture.

Applications

There are many different uses for rubber bands; many for entertainment, but also serious ones.

Geoboard

Rubber bands can be used as projectiles. To do this, wrap one end around your thumb or another finger and stretch it with the other hand. If it is released, the tape flies away. There are even rubber band guns that serve the same purpose.

Different sized rubber bands

Rubber bands can serve as a drive for other projectiles, i.e. as a primitive form of a twin , e.g. B. for paper sticks, so tightly rolled pieces of paper that have been bent to an angle. A fly swatter gun also uses a rubber band.

A rubber band can act as a rubber motor to drive a propeller.

Occasionally, rubber bands are used to hold hard drives in the computer case. This avoids rigid contact between the hard drive and the housing, which reduces the level of noise by reducing vibration.

In orthodontics , rubber bands are used to realign teeth. They serve as a connection between the ligament apparatus (coll. Braces) and the tooth.

A makeshift eraser can be made by wrapping a rubber band tightly around the end of a pen.

Elastic bands can be knotted together to form a rope for elastic twists . If you wrap many rubber bands around each other, you get a bouncing rubber band ball.

Wide elastic bands are as exercise band used.

Rubber bands can be used as a makeshift drive belt in mechanical entertainment electronics z. B. video recorder can be used.

Rubber bands can serve as fancy handcuffs in the punk scene.

In Australia , rubber bands are used to hold bills together for easier counting and transport.

Thick rubber strips having a specific tab for subsequent drawing are for air-tight sealing of jars while preserving of fruits or vegetables used, hence the name Einmachgummi.

Elastic bands are also a magician's resource that can be used in numerous magic tricks . Different-shaped rubber bands are also used here, e.g. B. in heart or star shape.

When it comes to letter delivery , rubber bands have largely replaced the waistband clasp used to tie bundles of letters.

As loom bands, neon-colored elastic bands braided together using a special weaving frame and a crochet hook are used and liked by young people and celebrities all over the world.

Web links

Commons : rubber bands - collection of images, videos and audio files

swell

↑ The rubber bottle - regionally also called the "rubber band" or the "rubber ring" - has existed in its current form since March 17, 1845, when the inventor Stephen Perry invented it as a "rubber band" and had it patented (British Patent 13880 / 1845). https://diezukunft.de/dr-when/buch/das-zeitalter-der-gummiflitsche

↑ Specification of the Patent granted to Stephen Perry, of Woodland's-place, St. John's-wood, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and Thomas Barnabas Daft, of Birmingham, Manufacturer, for Improvements in Springs to be applied to Girths, Belts , and Bandages, and Improvements in the Manufacture of Elastic Bands. - Sealed March 17, 1845. Today in Science History, accessed December 3, 2016 .

↑ How rubber bands are made

↑ A warning has already been given about the dangers of improper use: Loom ribbon: This is how dangerous the new summer trend is ( memento of the original from August 20, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / web.de
↑ Youtube video about the production of elastic bands with "looms"

[1] The rubber bottle - regionally also called the "rubber band" or the "rubber ring" - has existed in its current form since March 17, 1845, when the inventor Stephen Perry invented it as a "rubber band" and had it patented (British Patent 13880 / 1845). https://diezukunft.de/dr-when/buch/das-zeitalter-der-gummiflitsche

[Pat-Gummiband-2] Specification of the Patent granted to Stephen Perry, of Woodland's-place, St. John's-wood, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and Thomas Barnabas Daft, of Birmingham, Manufacturer, for Improvements in Springs to be applied to Girths, Belts , and Bandages, and Improvements in the Manufacture of Elastic Bands. - Sealed March 17, 1845. Today in Science History, accessed December 3, 2016 .

[3] How rubber bands are made