U.S. patent number RE30,786 [Application Number 05/957,148] was granted by the patent office on 1981-11-03 for disposable identification band blank.
Invention is credited to Gerald L. Wiebe.
United States Patent |
RE30,786 |
Wiebe |
November 3, 1981 |
Disposable identification band blank
Abstract
A disposable identification band blank comprising a laminated,
elongated flexible body which terminates in overlappable
extremities. The laminated body includes a segment of
pressure-sensitive record material sandwiched between a flexible
base strip and a transparent cover strip which overlies the record
material and is adhesively bonded both to the record material and
to the base strip.
Inventors: |
Wiebe; Gerald L. (Villa Park,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
27041091 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/957,148 |
Filed: |
November 2, 1978 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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464750 |
Apr 29, 1974 |
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Reissue of: |
646365 |
Jan 2, 1976 |
04078324 |
Mar 14, 1978 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
40/665 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
3/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
3/00 (20060101); G09F 003/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/21,21C,2.2,2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Gene
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 464,750, filed
4/29/74 .Iadd.now abandoned.Iaddend..
Claims
I claim:
1. A disposable identification band blank adapted for inscription
and subsequent application to a patient's limb which is a
laminated, elongated, flexible body terminating in overlappable
extremities and comprising a base strip of flexible non-irritating
material; a first adhesive coating on one side of the base strip; a
segment of pressure-sensitive record material means displaying a
distinctive color when subjected to localized pressure superposed
on and adhesively bonded to a central portion of the base strip; a
flexible, transparent cover strip coextensive with said base strip
and adhesively secured to said base strip; a second adhesive
coating on at least a central portion of the cover strip surface
which faces said segment of pressure-sensitive record material
means and adhesively bonding the central portion of the cover strip
to said segment of a pressure-sensitive record material means and
to said base strip; and adhesive attachment means on at least one
of said band extremities for adhesively bonding overlapping
portions of the band extremities; said adhesive attachment means
comprising a third adhesive coating on an overlapping face of one
of said extremities and at least one release sheet segment having
dual release surfaces at the other of said extremities and being
removably disposed between said base strip and said cover strip;
said third adhesive coating being situated on an overlapping face
of the base strip at said extremities and covered with a release
sheet substantially coextensive therewith; and said release sheet
covering said third adhesive coating being more rigid than the
extremity bearing said third adhesive coating.
2. The disposable identification band blank in accordance with
claim 1 wherein a strip of release paper is held in place over said
third adhesive coating.
3. The disposable identification band blank in accordance with
claim 2 wherein said strip of release paper is divided into a
plurality of release paper segments and wherein each of said
release paper segments is provided with a pull tab.
4. The disposable identification band blank in accordance with
claim 1 wherein the pressure-sensitive record material means
contains discrete rupturable particles which produce a distinctive
color when subjected to localized pressure.
5. The disposable identification band blank in accordance with
claim 1 wherein the pressure-sensitive record material means
comprises an opaque, pressure-clarifiable coating.
6. The disposable identification band blank in accordance with
claim 1 wherein said segment of a pressure-sensitive record
material means is carbonless paper.
7. The disposable identification band blank in accordance with
claim 1 wherein said first adhesive coating and said second
adhesive coating are in adhesive contact with each other about the
periphery of said segment of pressure-sensitive record material
means.
8. The disposable identification band blank in accordance with
claim 7 wherein said adhesive attachment means comprises a third
adhesive coating on an overlapping face of one of said extremities
and at least one release sheet segment having dual release surfaces
at the other of said extremities and removably disposed between
said base strip and said cover strip.
9. The disposable identification band blank in accordance with
claim 8 wherein said third adhesive coating is covered with a
release sheet.
10. A plurality of disposable identification band blanks, each in
accordance with claim 1, serially detachably connected in a
sheet-like assembly having a severable line of weakening between
adjacent identification band blanks.
11. A disposable identification band blank adapted for inscription
and subsequent application to a patient's limb which is a
laminated, elongated, flexible body terminating in overlappable
extremities and comprising a base strip of flexible non-irritating
material; a first adhesive coating on one side of the base strip; a
segment of pressure-sensitive record material means displaying a
distinctive color when subjected to localized pressure superposed
on and adhesively bonded to a central portion of the base strip; a
flexible, transparent cover strip coextensive with said base strip
and adhesively secured to said base strip; a second adhesive
coating on at least a central portion of the cover strip surface
which faces said segment of pressure-sensitive record material
means and adhesively bonding the central portion of the cover strip
to said segment of a pressure-sensitive record material means and
to said base strip; and adhesive attachment means on at least one
of said band extremities for adhesively bonding overlapping
portions of the band extremities; said pressure-sensitive record
material means being an integral sheet assembly comprising a
transparent facing sheet, an opaque, pressure-clarifiable coating
on the underside of said facing sheet, a contrasting
pigment-containing adhesive layer over said opaque coating, and a
foundation sheet over said adhesive layer; said facing sheet being
adhesively bonded to said cover strip; and said foundation sheet
being adhesively bonded to said base strip.
12. A plurality of disposable identification band blanks, each in
accordance with claim 11, serially detachably connected in a
sheet-like assembly having a severable line of weakening between
adjacent identification band blanks.
13. A disposable identification band blank adapted for inscription
and subsequent application to a patient's limb which is a
laminated, elongated, flexible body terminating in overlappable
extremities and comprising a base strip of flexible non-irritating
material; a first adhesive coating on one side of the base strip; a
segment of pressure-sensitive record material means displaying a
distinctive color when subjected to localized pressure superposed
on and adhesively bonded to a central portion of the base strip; a
flexible, transparent cover strip coextensive with said base strip
and adhesively secured to .[.sad.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.base strip;
a second adhesive coating on at least a central portion of the
cover strip surface which faces said segment of pressure-sensitive
record material means and adhesively bonding the central portion of
the cover strip to said segment of a pressure-sensitive record
material means and to said base strip; and adhesive attachment
means on at least one of said band extremities for adhesively
bonding overlapping portions of the band extremities; said segment
of pressure-sensitive record material means being provided with
perforations within the perimetric limits of the segment; and said
cover strip being adhesively bonded to said base strip through said
perforations.
14. A disposable identification band blank adapted for inscription
and subsequent application to a patient's limb which is a
laminated, elongated, flexible body terminating in overlappable
extremities and comprising a base strip of flexible non-irritating
material; a first adhesive coating on one side of the base strip; a
segment of pressure-sensitive record material means displaying a
distinctive color when subjected to localized pressure-superposed
on and adhesively bonded to a central portion of the base strip; a
flexible, transparent cover strip coextensive with said base strip
and adhesively secured to said base strip; a second adhesive
coating on at least a central portion of the cover strip surface
which faces said segment of pressure-sensitive record material
means and adhesively bonding the central portion of the cover strip
to said segment of a pressure-sensitive record material means and
to said base strip; and adhesive attachment means on at least one
of said band extremities for adhesively bonding overlapping
portions of the band extremities; said segment of a
pressure-sensitive record material means being provided with
feathered edges. .Iadd. 15. A plurality of individual patient
identification bands removably associated with one another in
side-by-side relationship across the width of a sheet-like assembly
having a length dimension and a width dimension, each band
comprising a base sheet of flexible non-irritating material,
adhesive means on one side of said base sheet, pressure sensitive
record material means secured to said base sheet by said adhesive
means to form a laminate having a length dimension greater than its
width dimension; and attachment means at least one side margin of
said laminate for securing the band about the limb of a patient.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The assembly set forth in claim 15 wherein said
individual patient identification bands are releasably
interconnected to one another. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. The assembly set
forth in claim 15 wherein each band includes a transparent cover
sheet secured over said record material means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18.
The assembly set forth in claim 15 wherein each record material
means is a pressure clarifiable layer. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. The
assembly set forth in claim 18 wherein the adhesive means is a
colored adhesive coating visible through said pressure clarifiable
layer in areas to which pressure has been applied. .Iaddend..Iadd.
20. The assembly set forth in claim 15 wherein the base sheet is
colored and is visible through said pressure clarifiable layer in
areas to which pressure has been applied. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. The
assembly set forth in claim 15 wherein said attachment means is an
adhesive coating extending along at least one side margin of the
laminate. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 22. The assembly set forth in claim 21
wherein adhesive is provided at both side margins of the laminate
whereby an adhesive-to-adhesive closure can be effected.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A plurality of releasably interconnected
disposable identification bands adapted for inscription and
subsequent application to a patient's limb comprising: a base sheet
of flexible non-irritating material; adhesive means on one side of
said base sheet; pressure sensitive record material means secured
to said base sheet by said adhesive means to form a laminate having
a length dimension and a width dimension; adhesive attachment means
extending along at least one side margin of said laminate; and
means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced lines of
weakening extending across the width of said laminate and dividing
said laminate into a plurality of identification bands having a
length dimension greater than their width dimension.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 24. The structure defined in claim 23 wherein each
band includes a transparent cover sheet secured over said record
material means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. A plurality of releasably
interconnected disposable identification bands adapted for
inscription and subsequent application to a patient's limb
comprising: a base sheet of flexible non-irritating material;
adhesive means on one side of said base sheet; an intermediate
sheet secured to said base sheet by said adhesive means; a flexible
cover sheet superposed over said intermediate sheet and secured at
least to said intermediate sheet to form a laminate having a length
dimension and a width dimension; said intermediate sheet including
pressure clarifiable means for displaying indicia through said
cover sheet when pressure is applied to said intermediate sheet
through said cover sheet; adhesive attachment means extending along
at least one side margin of said laminate; and means defining a
plurality of longitudinally spaced lines of weakening extending
across the width of said laminate and dividing said laminate into a
plurality of identification bands having a length dimension greater
than its width dimension. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. A disposable
identification band adapted for inscription and subsequent
application to a patient's limb which is a laminated, elongated,
flexible body terminating in overlappable extremities and
comprising a base strip of flexible non-irritating material; a
first adhesive means on one side of the base strip;
pressure-sensitive record material means displaying a distinctive
color when subjected to localized pressure superposed on and
adhesively bonded to the base strip; a flexible cover strip
coextensive with said base strip and secured to said
pressure-sensitive record material means; adhesive attachment means
on at least one of said band extremities for adhesively bonding
overlapping portions of the band extremities; and at least one
release member covering said adhesive attachment means and
detachably secured thereto for exposing said adhesive attachment
means when said band is to be secured about the limb of a patient.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 27. The structure set forth in claim 26 including
means removably associating a plurality of identification bands
with one another in side-by-side relationship to form a sheet-like
assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28. The structure set forth in claim 26
wherein said plurality of identification bands are releasably
interconnected to one another. .Iaddend..Iadd. 29. A disposable
identification band adapted for inscription and subsequent
application to a patient's limb which is a laminated, flexible body
having a length dimension greater than its width dimension and
terminating in overlappable extremities, said blank comprising a
first layer in the form of a base strip of flexible non-irritating
material; a second layer in the form of a strip superposed on and
bonded to the base strip; a third layer in the form of a flexible
cover strip coextensive with said base strip and secured to said
second layer; said second layer including pressure clarifiable
means for displaying indicia through said cover strip which
pressure is applied to said second strip through said cover strip;
and adhesive attachment means on at least one of said band
extremities for adhesively bonding overlapping portions of the band
extremities. .Iaddend..Iadd. 30. A disposable identification band
adapted for inscription and subsequent application to a patient's
limb which is a laminated, elongated, flexible body terminating in
overlappable extremities and comprising a base strip of flexible
non-irritating material; pressure-sensitive record material means
displaying a distinctive color when subjected to localized pressure
superposed on and bonded to the base strip; a flexible cover strip
coextensive with said base strip and secured to said
pressure-sensitive record material means, said cover strip being
transparent at least in areas in alignment with the areas of said
pressure-sentitive record material means which are subject to
localized pressure; and adhesive attachment means on at least one
of said band extremities for adhesively bonding overlapping
portions of the band extremities. .Iaddend..Iadd. 31. A disposable
patient identification band adapted for inscription and subsequent
application to a patient's limb comprising: a thin, elongated flat
main body portion having overlappable ends; pressure sensitive
record material means associated with said main body portion and
adapted to display indicia in localized areas in response to
pressure applied thereto; pressure sensitive adhesive means
associated with at least one end of said main body portion for
providing adhesive-to-adhesive engagement when said ends are
positioned in overlapping engagement; and release means removably
associated with said adhesive means for protecting said adhesive
means prior to securement of said identification band about the
limb of a wearer. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The structure set forth in
claim 31 wherein an area of pressure sensitive adhesive is provided
at each end of said main body portion. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to identification bands for identifying
patients of hospitals or similar institutions. More particularly,
this invention relates to disposable identification bands which
cannot be removed without rendering the band unfit for further use
and which cannot be altered after an identification marking or
inscription is entered on the band.
The use of bands for identification of hospital patients is well
known in the art. Such bands are usually secured about a limb of
the patient and must not only be relatively strong to resist
breakage but must also resist unauthorized tampering with
identification markings on the band. Furthermore, in some instances
attempts may be made to remove the band without destruction for
subsequent unauthorized use, thus it is essential that the
identification band be so constructed as to prevent the removal
thereof without attendant irreparable damage to the band.
Some prior art identification bands include a metal clip or snap
which is uncomfortable to the wearer. Some such bands also require
the use of a tool such as pliers for securing about the patient's
limb which use is inconvenient to the hospital personnel. Other
prior art identification bands provide a pocket in which a
previously prepared card bearing the necessary identifying
information is inserted and the pocket subsequently sealed. The
latter type of identification band is cumbersome to use in that it
requires a substantial amount of time for entering the identifying
information and for the subsequent assembly manipulations.
Moreover, when the patient showers or takes a bath, water may seep
into an improperly sealed pocket and may obliterate the identifying
information.
Additionally, prior art identification bands could not be
manufactured on high-speed automatic equipment to provide high
volume production at a relatively low cost because of the
relatively complex construction of such bands.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
identification band blank of improved and simplified construction,
and which cannot be removed or altered without attendant
destruction of the band once information is entered thereon and the
band has been secured about a patient's limb.
Another object of this invention is to provide an identification
band blank on which the desired information can be readily and
conveniently entered and which is resistant to moisture
penetration.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
identification band blank having a construction which enables the
band to be easily manufactured by automatic machines.
Additional objects of this invention will readily present
themselves upon reference to the ensuing specification, the
accompanying drawing, and the claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disposable identification band blank is adapted to
inscription and subsequent application to a patient's limb and
comprises a laminated, elongated, flexible body terminating in
overlappable extremities which can be adhesively bonded to each
other. The blank is made up of a base strip of flexible,
non-irritating material covered on one side with a first adhesive
coating. A segment of a pressure-sensitive record material means
which displays a distinctive color when subjected to localized
pressure is superposed on the base strip and is adhesively bonded
to a central portion of the base strip by the aforesaid adhesive
coating. A flexible, transparent cover strip is substantially
coextensive with the base strip and is provided with a second
adhesive coating on a central portion of the cover strip surface
which faces the record material means and is substantially
coextensive thereto. The cover strip is adhesively secured to the
base strip by the first and second adhesive coatings and to the
record material means by the second adhesive coating. Further
adhesive attachment means is provided on at least one of the band
extremities for adhesive attachment of overlapping portions thereof
to each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing,
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of disposable
identification band blanks embodying the present invention arranged
in a sheet-like assembly and formed into a roll;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the sheet-like
assembly shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a disposable identification band blank
embodying this invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded elevational view of the blank shown in FIG.
3;
FIGS. 5 and 6 show a sectional elevation taken along line 5--5 in
FIG. 3 and enlarged to show interior detail;
FIG. 7 is an exploded elevational view showing another embodiment
of this invention; and
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, disposable identification band blanks such as
blanks 10, 11, 12, and 13 are arranged in a side-by-side
relationship to form sheet-like assembly 14 which is formed into
roll 15. When an identification band blank of this type is about to
be used, sheet-like assembly 14 can be conveniently placed into a
typewriter and the desired information entered onto the blank as
will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the individual identification band
blanks are serially but detachably connected into sheet-like
assembly 14 and severable perforations or lines of weakening, such
as lines 16, 17 and 18 between blanks 10 and 11, are provided to
facilitate detachment. Cover strips 19 and 20 for blanks 10 and 11,
respectively, are flexible and transparent, and pressure-sensitive
record material segments 21 .[.and 22.]. are clearly visible
therethrough. In FIG. 3, blank 10 is shown severed from a
sheet-like assembly 14 and with a patient's name and other
information entered thereon. In order to provide a relatively
larger area for entering the desired information, the central
portion of band 10, containing record material segment 21, can be
made somewhat wider than the adjacent terminal portions of band 10,
if desired.
The pressure-sensitive record material means, a segment of which is
incorporated into each identification band blank of this invention,
can be a material containing discrete rupturable particles ranging
in size from about 0.1 microns to about 4000 microns and which
produce a distinctive color when subjected to localized pressure
such as can be generated, for example, by a typewriter key, a
writing stylus, or a similar instrument. The record material means
can be a paper sheet having microencapsulated ink particles coated
on the surface thereof and an additional reactant mixed in with the
paper fibers of the sheet so that pressure applied by means of a
typewriter key or the like ruptures the microcapsules, thus
releasing the ink particles which combine with the additional
reactant to form a visible marking. Alternatively, a
pressure-sensitive sheet of paper can contain rupturable
microcapsule material containing discrete particles of two or more
reactants which are chemically reactive to produce a distinctive
color in the paper at regions where localized pressure rupturing
the microcapsule material has been applied. Pressure-sensitive
paper of the foregoing type is commercially available and is
generally referred to as carbonless paper. Such paper is also
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,505,475, 2,550,470, 2,550,471,
2,550,472, and 2,550,473.
The adhesive coatings which contact the pressure-sensitive record
material means having rupturable color-producing particles, that
is, the first and second adhesive coatings on the base strip and
the cover strip, respectively, are made from adhesive materials
which do not substantially migrate into the record material means
and interfere with its function. For the purposes of this invention
suitable such materials are acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesives
such as the adhesive commercially available under the designation
MP-316 from Morgan Adhesives Co., or the like.
Also suitable are natural or synthetic rubber based adhesives
compounded with liquid or solid resin tackifying agents. The
elastomer base can be reclaimed natural rubber, styrene-butadiene
rubber, styrene-isoprene rubber, butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber,
and the like. Typical tackifiers are the polyterpene resins, rosin
esters and rosin derivatives, oil-soluble phenolic resins,
coumarone-indene resins, polyolefins such as isobutylene and the
like, polyvinyl isobutyl ethers. Illustrative pressure-sensitive
adhesive of the foregoing type is a composition containing
styrene-isoprene block copolymers tackified with a polyolefin and
containing an extender oil, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,478.
Another suitable rubber-based adhesive is commercially available
from Morgan Adhesives Co. under the designation MP-605.
Another type of pressure-sensitive record material means can be an
opaque, pressure-clarifiable coating adhesively attached as an
underlayer of the cover strip and also adhesively attached to the
base strip of a color contrasting with the opaque coating by means
of a substantially-transparent pressure-sensistive adhesive.
Writing pressure bearing against the cover strip transparentizes
the opaque, pressure-clarifiable coating and causes localized
adhesion of the base strip to the cover strip, thereby displaying
the contrasting color of the base strip in the transparentized
regions and thus providing a display of the entered information.
Alternatively, the pressure-sensitive adhesive on the base strip
can have a color which is contrasting with that of the opaque,
pressure-clarifiable coating in which event the color of the base
strip is unimportant.
Suitable opaque, pressure-clarifiable coatings are known in the
art. Illustrative of such coatings are those described in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,753,841 to Wheeler which comprise solutions of dioctyl
phthalate, cellulose acetate butyrate and polyethylene glycol
dissolved in a mixture of methanol and acetone, and deposited on a
film of polyethylene, polyethylene tetraphthalate, polyvinyl
chloride, cellophane, or the like, which then serves as the cover
strip. Other suitable coatings are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
2,939,802 to Werle which comprise a film forming resin dissolved in
an organic solvent compatible with water, so that the deposited
coating is rendered opaque upon drying because of water vapor
condensation thereon.
In addition, the pressure-sensitive record material means can be an
integral sheet assembly having its own transparent facing sheet, an
opaque pressure-clarifiable coating therebelow, a contrasting
pigment-bearing pressure-sensitive adhesive layer coextensively
covering the opaque coating, and a foundation sheet covering the
adhesive layer. The entire sheet assembly is then sandwiched
between the cover strip and the base strip of the identification
band blank and adhesively secured thereto using a suitable adhesive
material.
Construction details for a preferred identification band blank are
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Base strip 22, made of a flexible,
non-irritating material such as polyvinyl chloride sheet,
cellophane, polyethylene sheet, cloth or the like material and
having a thickness of about 0.001 to about 0.004 inches is provided
with first adhesive coating 23 on one side of strip 22. Base strip
22 can be opaque or transparent, as desired.
Pressure-sensitive record material segment 24 is superposed on a
central region of base strip 22 and is adhesively bonded thereto by
adhesive coating 23. If desired, the size of segment 24 relative to
base strip 22 can be selected so that an exposed adhesive area
surrounds segment 24 after attachment thereof to base strip 22.
Flexible, transparent cover strip 25, usually thinner than base
strip 22 but substantially coextensive therewith, overlies record
material segment 24 and is adhesively secured to base strip 22 by
means of adhesive coating 23 and second adhesive coating 26 which
is provided on bottom surface 27 of cover strip 25, i.e., on the
surface facing record material segment 24. To accomplish this,
preferably second adhesive coating 26 is spread over the central
portion of surface 27 so as to cover an area slightly larger than
the area of record material segment 24. The resulting band of
adhesive-on-adhesive contact between first and second adhesive
coatings 23 and 26, respectively, preferably contiguous to the
periphery of segment 24, provides a very strong bond between base
strip 22 and cover strip 25 and effectively immobilizes segment 24.
A peripheral adhesive-on-adhesive band also prevents water
penetration to record material segment 24. Additionally, by
appropriately matching the bonding strength of adhesive coatings 23
and 26 to the tensile strength of cover strip 25, the produced bond
therebetween can be such that cover strip 25 will tear before
separation occurs between coatings 23 and 26 in the event
unauthorized tampering with the identification band, attempting to
gain access to record material segment 24, takes place. Suitable
materials for the transparent cover strip are polyvinyl chloride
film, cellophane, polyethylene film, polyethylene terephthalate
film, polypropylene film, cellulose acetate-butyrate film,
polyvinyl acetate film, and the like. Generally, the film thickness
should not exceed about 0.004 inches.
To further discourage unauthorized tampering with record material
segment 24, ends or lateral edges thereof can be feathered, i.e.,
provided with a plurality of spaced slits such as groupings of
slits 28 and 29 (FIG. 3) or segment 24 can be provided with
perforations such as holes 30 and/or slots 31 within the body
thereof (FIGS. 3 and 6) so that an adhesive-to-adhesive bond is
established between coatings 23 and 26 in a region or regions
within the perimetric limits of segment 24.
Third adhesive coating 32 is provided on that portion of base strip
22 which constitutes an overlapping face of one of the band
extremities when the identification band is applied about a
patient's limb. For this purpose adhesive coating 32 can be applied
on the underside of one end of base strip 22 as shown in FIGS. 4
and 5 and covered with a plurality of contiguous release sheets 33,
34 and 35, each provided with respective grip tabs 36, 37 and 38 to
facilitate removal when the band is about to be applied to a
patient. Alternatively, the adhesive coating for attaching the
identification band can be applied on the complementary top face of
cover strip 25 and provided with corresponding release sheet
overlays. Also, in lieu of an adhesive coating on at least one band
extremity, the extremity can be provided with a nontacky layer of
microencapsulated adhesive material which is released upon
application of pressure rupturing the microcapsules.
In use, sheet-like assembly 14 is placed in a typewriter and the
necessary information entered onto the pressure-sensitive record
material secured within the identification band blank. Thereafter,
the prepared identification band is severed from assembly 14 and
placed about the wrist or ankle of the patient. As the band is
applied, one or more of the release sheet segments is removed,
depending on the extent of overlap of the band extremities, and the
band is secured in place by simply pressing together the
overlapping band extremities with the exposed adhesive coating
therebetween.
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and
8. Identification band blank 40 comprises base strip 42 of opaque
polyvinyl chloride sheet which is provided with adhesive layer 43
on one side thereof. Flexible, transparent cover strip 45 is
likewise provided with adhesive layer 46 so that adhesive layers 43
and 46 are substantially coextensive and face each other.
Sandwiched therebetween is pressure-sensitive record material
segment 44 which is held in place between base strip 42 and cover
strip 45 both by adhesive layer 43 and adhesive layer 46. In
addition, one or more release sheet segments having dual release
surfaces such as segments 41a and 41b, coextensive in width with
base strip 42 and cover strip 45 are sandwiched therebetween at one
extremity of band 40 and are adhesively but removably held in place
by adhesive layers 43 and 46.
Additional adhesive layer 47 is provided on the underside of base
strip 42 at the other extremity of band 40 and is covered by
release sheet 48. Preferably the adhesive area provided by adhesive
layer 47 is at least as large as the area covered by the outermost
of release sheet segments 41a and 41b. By selecting a release sheet
material which is more rigid than the base strip, release sheet 48
can be substantially coextensive with adhesive layer 47 and a tap
on release sheet 48 can be dispensed with because release sheet 48
will readily separate from base strip 42 and present a grippable
portion thereof as base strip 42 is partially folded back on
itself.
After the desired information has been entered on record material
segment 44, the resulting identification band is prepared for use
as shown in FIG. 8. The end portion of cover strip 45 overlying
release sheet segments 41a and 41b is peeled back and release sheet
segment 41a is stripped off, thereby exposing a portion of adhesive
layer 43. Depending on the circumference of the intended patient's
wrist or ankle, release sheet segment 41b may additionally have to
be removed in order to provide the necessary snug fit. Release
sheet 48 is also removed, and exposed adhesive layer 47 is
superposed over the exposed portion of adhesive layer 43. Both
adhesive layers are then brought in intimate contact to cause
adhesive-on-adhesive taction and the attendant bonding of band
extremities. Thereafter, the peeled-back end portion of cover strip
45 is adhesively attached over the underlying extremity of base
strip 42 to complete the affixation of the identification band to
the patient.
The foregoing specification and the accompanying drawing are
intended as illustrative and are not to be taken as limiting. Still
other variations and modifications of this invention are possible
without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
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