Rubber band 512470 224445175 2008-07-08T21:37:41Z GlassCobra 4244026 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Sessenem Kram|Sessenem Kram]] ([[User talk:Sessenem Kram|talk]]) to last version by Excirial {{otheruses4|the common household item|other meanings|Rubber band (disambiguation)}} [[image:Elastic money.jpg|thumb|Five rubber bands]] A '''rubber band''' (in some regions known as a '''binder''', '''elastic band''', '''lackey band''', "laggy band" or '''gumband''') is a short length of [[rubber]] and [[latex]] formed in the shape of a loop. Such bands are typically used to hold multiple objects together. The rubber band was patented in [[Australia]] on [[March 17]], [[1845]] by [[Stephen Perry]]. ==Manufacturing== The manufacturing process involves extruding the rubber into a long [[Cylinder (geometry)|tube]] to provide its general shape, putting the tubes on mandrels and curing the rubber with heat, and then slicing it along the width of the tube into little bands.<ref>[http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Rubber-Band.html How rubber bands are made]. This reference states that the rubber is vulcanized before it is extruded.</ref><ref>[http://www.lee-rubber.com/howmade.htm Lee Rubber Products, How rubber bands are made.] This reference states that the rubber is vulcanized after it is extruded.</ref> While other rubber products may use [[synthetic rubber]], rubber bands are still primarily manufactured using [[natural rubber]] because of its superior elasticity. == Rubber Band Sizes == ===Measuring=== [[Image:RubberBand.jpg|thumb|250px|Measuring a rubber band]] A rubber band has three basic [[dimension]]s: [[Length]], [[width]], and [[thickness]]. (See picture.) A rubber band's length is half its [[circumference]]. Its thickness is the distance from the inner circle to the outer circle. Lay a rubber band down so that it makes a [[square (geometry)|square]]. The band's width is the height of that band. If one imagines a rubber band in manufacture, that is, a long tube of rubber on a mandrel, before it is sliced into rubber bands, the band's width is how far apart the slices are cut. ===Rubber Band Size Numbers=== A rubber band is given a [quasi-]standard number based on its dimensions. Generally, rubber bands are numbered from small to large, width first. Thus, rubber bands numbered 8-19 are all 1/16 [[inch]]es wide, with length going from 7/8 inches to 3 1/2 inches. Rubber band numbers 30-34 are for width of 1/8 inches, going again from shorter to longer. For even longer bands, the numbering starts over for numbers above 100, again starting at width 1/16 inches. The origin of these size numbers is not clear and there appears to be some conflict in the "standard" numbers. For example, one distributor<ref>[http://www.bigwigbands.com/rb_sizes.html BigWig Enterprises, BigWig Size Chart]</ref> has a size 117 being 1/16 inch wide and a size 127 being 1/8 inch wide. However, an OfficeMax size 117<ref>OfficeMax, #OM97352, UPC 011491-973520</ref> is 1/8 inch wide. A manufacturer<ref>[http://www.lee-rubber.com/sizes.htm Lee Rubber Products, How do rubber bands measure up?]</ref> has a size 117A (1/16 inch wide) and a 117B (1/8 inch wide). Another distributor<ref>[http://www.dykemarubberband.com/products.php Dykema Rubber Band]</ref> calls them 7AA (1/16 inch wide) and 7A (1/8 inch wide) (but labels them as specialty bands). {| class="wikitable" |colspan="4"|'''Rubber Band Sizes''' |- | '''Size''' | '''Length''' (in) | '''Width''' (in) | '''Thickness''' (in) |- | 10 | 1.25 | 1/16 | 1/32 |- | 12 | 1.75 | 1/16 | 1/32 |- | 14 | 2 | 1/16 | 1/32 |- | 31 | 2.5 | 1/8 | 1/32 |- | 32 | 3 | 1/8 | 1/32 |- | 33 | 3.5 | 1/8 | 1/32 |- | 61 | 2 | 1/4 | 1/32 |- | 62 | 2.5 | 1/4 | 1/32 |- | 63 | 3 | 1/4 | 1/32 |- | 64 | 3.5 | 1/4 | 1/32 |- | 117 | 7 | 1/16 | 1/32 |- |} ==References== {{Reflist}} Rubber bands and heat - http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/HOMEEXPTS/rubberband.html ==External links== {{commonscat|Elastic}} * [http://www.therubberband.info/ The Unofficial Rubber Band Website] * http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Rubber-Band.html [[Category:Stationery]] [[Category:Fasteners]] [[Category:English inventions]] [[Category:Rubber]] [[de:Gummiband]] [[id:Karet gelang]] [[he:גומייה]] [[nl:Elastiekje]] [[ja:輪ゴム]] [[pt:Elástico]] [[sv:Gummisnodd]] [[zh:橡皮筋]]