Autoloom

A device for forming an item from closed loop elastic bands, the device comprising:

• a guide having at least two posts spaced apart from each other, the at least two posts configured to hold at least one closed loop elastic band therebetween;
• a slider having at least two arms movable relative to the at least two posts, each of the at least two arms including an end include a finger portion having a hook and a push surface, the hook configured to pick a lowermost elastic band supported across the at least two posts and the push surface is configured to push an elastic band off of a corresponding one of the at least two posts, wherein the guide further includes a cam surface and each of the at least two arms includes a lobe surface that engages the cam surface of the guide to define relative movement of each of the at least two arms to a corresponding one of the at least two posts in response to movement of the slider relative to the guide and a spring portion that generates an inward bias on the at least two arms that holds the lobe surface against the cam surface of the guide;
• and
• a cover attached to the guide to define a space and the slider is disposed within the space and moveable relative to the guide and the cover, wherein the defined relative movement includes movement of the at least two arms in a manner that removes a closed loop elastic band placed across the at least two post.

A method of forming a Brunnian link using a closed loop elastic band, the method comprising:

• placing at least two closed loop elastic bands across at least two posts;
• moving one arm of at least two arms relative to each of the at least two posts to generate outward movement of each arm relative to the at least two posts;
• picking one of the at least two closed loop elastic bands off the at least two posts with the at least two arms with the outward movement of each arm;
• extending each of the at least two arms upward and outward over an outwardly extending flange on each of the at least two posts such that the one closed loop elastic band picked by off the at least two posts slides over the outwardly extending flange;
• retracting the at least two arms downwardly back past the outwardly extending flange to release the picked one closed loop elastic band from the at least two arms and links to the other of the at least two closed loop elastic bands remaining on the at least two posts;
• and
• repeating the above steps with at least one additional closed loop elastic band to create additional links.

A kit for forming an item from closed loop elastic bands, the kit comprising:

• a plurality of closed loop elastic bands;
• and
• a device comprising:
• a guide including two posts spaced apart from each other, each of the two posts include an outwardly extending flange configured to hold at least one closed loop elastic band therebetween;
• a cover attached to the guide and defining a space between the guide and the cover;
• and
• a slider movably supported within the space between the guide and the cover, the slider comprising two arms corresponding with the two posts, wherein movement of the slider moves the two arms relative to a corresponding one of the two posts, each of the two arms further comprise a finger portion having a hook and a push surface, the hook is configured to pick a lowermost elastic band supported below at least one other elastic band supported across the two posts and the push surface is configured to push an elastic band over the outwardly extending flange.