Medical Alarm Bracelet

Abstract

A medical alarm bracelet adapted to be worn by persons with chronic medical conditions which might affect medical treatment to be administered to them under emergency conditions, when they might be unconscious or otherwise unable to advise emergency personnel of their chronic condition, the bracelet consisting of a wrist band of ductile material adapted to be formed to the wrist and worn thereon and having specific medical information imprinted thereon, and a slide mounted for sliding movement along the wrist band, normally concealing the medical information on the wrist band but being movable to expose it, the exterior surface of the slide bearing a notice that medical information is concealed thereby. The slide is formed of resilient material and is so related to the wrist band that its resilience frictionally resists its movement along the wrist band.

Description

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in medical alarm devices, of the type adapted to warn doctors or other emergency medical personnel finding a person unconscious or unable to speak of any important chronic medical problems or conditions to which that person may be subject, in order that proper treatment may be administered, or improper treatment be avoided. For example, the instances, under emergency conditions, in which diabetic coma has been mistakenly diagnosed as intoxication are all too frequent, sometimes with tragic results.

Various types of warning devices to avoid such occurrences have been proposed and rather widely used, the most common being simply a flat disc or medallion on which the desired medical information is imprinted, and which is worn on a chain around the neck. However, such necklace-type devices are objectionable to many persons, particularly to women, whose necks and throats are often exposed by their clothing, and who do not wish to place notice of their physical infirmities on public display. Also, when necklace-type devices are concealed by clothing, they sometimes escape the immediate notice of attending medical personnel. A bracelet worn on the wrist would be far more noticeable and immediately accessible to attending personnel, but would also conflict with the dislike of most persons for displaying public notice of their physical infirmities.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a medical alarm device consisting of a wrist bracelet, but including means whereby the actual medical data is concealed, while at the same time giving notice that such data is in fact concealed, and providing access to it. To this end, the device may consist of a wrist band having the medical information imprinted thereon, and a slide carried by the wrist band for movement between a position in which it overlies and conceals the medical data, and a position in which said data is exposed.

Another object is the provision of a device of the character described having novel frictional means releasably securing the slide in its data-concealing position, such that the beauty and attractive appearance of the bracelet is not impaired.

A further object is the provision of a device of the character described in which the wrist band may be easily shaped to conform to the wrist of any individual wearer, without adversely affecting either the movement of the slide thereon, or the operation of the frictional securing means.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, efficiency and dependability of operation, and the provision of a device which may be artistically designed to provide a highly attractive jewelry item, so as to overcome aesthetic objections to its use.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an outside elevational view of a medical alarm bracelet embodying the present invention, with the slide set to conceal the medical data on the wrist band,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the slide moved to a position exposing the medical data,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III--III of FIG. 1, with the slide shown in its data-exposing position in dotted lines, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV--IV of FIG. 3.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to the wrist band of the bracelet. Said wrist band constitutes a flat strap of uniform width of a resilient, yet somewhat ductile metal or other material, shaped generally to conform to the contour of the wearer's wrist, as shown in FIG. 3. It's extreme ends are spaced apart, and flared out as indicated at 4 to facilitate its application to the wrist. The band material is sufficiently resilient to permit the slight spreading of the band which occurs as it is slipped onto the wrist, but is also sufficiently ductile or malleable that it may be manually bent or formed to the size and configuration of the wrist of any individual user. Brass, silver, or low carbon steel alloys are suitable materials. Substantially at the midpoint of the exterior surface of the wrist band, any desired specific medical data 16 may be imprinted, such as the "I Am Diabetic" shown in FIG. 2.

Carried by wrist band 2 for sliding movement therealong is a slide indicated generally by the numeral 5. Said slide is formed of a resilient sheet material such as spring steel, and is elongated in a direction parallel to band 2 and includes a central medallion portion 6, which may be circular as shown or of any other desired shape. Said medallion normally overlies and conceals data 16 imprinted on the wrist band, and in turn has data 14 imprinted on the exterior surface thereof indicating that it does in fact conceal medical data therebeneath, such as the "Medikalarm See Inside" appearing in FIG. 1. If this type of notice is deemed objectionable from an aesthetic point of view, other more decorative but nevertheless easily recognized and commonly known indicia may be used, such as the usual medical caduceus. Slide 5 is also provided with extensions 8 projecting outwardly from the respectively opposite sides of medallion portion 6 thereof, and directly overlying band 2. Each extension 8 is provided with lateral tabs 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) which are bent around the opposite edges of band 2 to lie against the inner surface thereof, whereby to secure the slide in assembly with the wrist band. The medallion 6 and extensions 8 of the slide are normally flat and planar, so that they are flexed and maintained in resilient tension by the engagement of tabs 10 with the band. Band 2 has two outwardly projecting, rounded nibs 12 formed thereon by dimpling thereof. Said nibs are so spaced at opposite sides of band indicia 16 that when slide 5 is disposed in its central, data-concealing position of FIG. 1, one of said nibs is disposed against the inner surface of each of the extensions 8 of the slide. This causes the extension 8 to be bowed or arched transversely outwardly by resilient deformation thereof, as best shown in FIG. 4.

In the use of the device, it will be apparent that the mere presence of the bracelet, which is readily discernible under virtually all conditions, will by virtue of indicia 14, which is visible at all times, advise attending medical personnel that the wearer is affected by some physical condition that should be duly considered before administering medical treatment to him, even though the wearer might be unconscious or otherwise unable to tell them of the fact himself. Then by moving slide 5 along wrist band 2 to expose indicia 16, the attending medical personnel may determine what that condition is, and proceed accordingly.

The fact that slide 5 is resiliently bowed in a longitudinal direction, by the engagement of tabs 10 with the band, provides a frictional engagement between the slide and the band, so that the slide will tend to remain fixed at any position on the band to which it has been manually moved. The transverse bowing of slide extensions 8 by nibs 12 provides a still more secure positioning of the slide in its position concealing indicia 16, as shown in FIG. 1. The transverse bowing of the slide is extremely important in view of the fact that wrist band 2 is sufficiently ductile to be formed to the size and contour of the wrists of individual wearers. Under these circumstances, it will be seen that when the band is adjusted to fit a large wrist, the portion thereof occupied by slide 5 may be straight, or nearly straight, so that little or no longitudinal flexing of the slide will occur to secure the slide in position. Under these conditions, the transverse flexing of slide extensions 8 caused by nibs 12 will supply the frictional holding power.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention .

Claims

What I claim as new and desire to protect by letters Patent is:

1. A medical alarm bracelet comprising:

a. a wrist band adapted to be worn about the wrist, having an externally convex curvature, and having indicia indicating medical conditions of the wearer imprinted thereon, and

b. a slide mounted on said wrist band for movement therealong between a first position concealing said indicia, and a second position exposing said band indicia to view, said slide having indicia imprinted on the exterior surface thereof indicating, when said slide is in said first position, that it conceals said band indicia, said slide being formed of resilient sheet material, and having both longitudinal edges thereof, at each end portion thereof, slidably secured to the respectively opposite longitudinal edges of said wrist band, said wrist band carrying externally projecting nibs which underlie the respective end portions of said slide when said slide is in said first position, whereby to bow said slide end portions outwardly from said wrist band in a transverse direction, said slide also being maintained resiliently flexed in a longitudinal direction in its mid-portion by its end connections to said wrist band, the resilience of said slide thereby applying a frictional load to said end connections.

2. A medical alarm bracelet as recited in claim 1 wherein said wrist band comprises a strap of generally C-shape with its ends spaced apart, said strap being formed of a material sufficiently ductile to permit manual adjustment thereof to the size and contour of the wrist of any individual wearer.