Rubber band
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2008-07-08T21:37:41Z
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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]]
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