Hospital identification bands

• US 4,612,718 A
• Filed: 01/18/1985
• Issued: 09/23/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GF Health Products, Inc. (Armor Holdco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graham-Field, Inc.
• Inventors: Garb, Charles E., Golub, Samuel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Cary E.
• Application Number:
  US06/692,920
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 40/21 C, 40/21 R, 24/16 PB, 24/30 R, 272/119, 224/164, 224/218, 224/219, 2/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 40/633
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person

Abstract

An identification band for identifying patients of hospitals and similar institutions is disclosed. The identification band includes a longitudinally elongated base layer formed of a tear-resistant, water-proof, ink-receptive material. The base layer includes an eyelet section, an information section and a tongue section. A slot is formed in the eyelet section. In a first embodiment, the width of the tongue section is less than that of the slot to enable the tongue section to be passed through the slot. An adhesive layer is formed on one surface of the tongue section over a sufficient layer of the tongue section such that when the tongue section is passed through the slot can be folded back on itself and two portions of the adhesive layer located on opposite sides of the slot can be placed in contact with each other. In a second embodiment, the slot has at least one arcuate edge and its width is less than the width of the tongue section such that the tongue section must be bent into an arcuate shape in order to pass it through the slot. A plurality of pairs of slits are formed on opposite edges of the tongue section such that each slit defines an anchoring flap. The distance, as measured in the width direction of the tongue section between the inner ends of the slits, is less than or equal to the width of the slot such that successive anchoring flaps engage the base layer surrounding the slot as they are passed through the slot. In this embodiment, an adhesive layer is formed on one surface of the base layer adjacent the slot so that after the tongue section is passed through the slot, it may be placed in contact with the adhesive layer.

Claims

1. An identification band, comprising:

a longitudinally elongated base layer formed of a tear-resistant, waterproof, ink-receptive material, said base layer including an eyelet section, an information section and a tongue section, said tongue section extending 30 to 50% of the entire length of said band as measured in the longitudinal direction of said band and being narrower than said eyelet and information sections throughout its entire length, said information section being sufficiently large to permit appropriate identifying material to be imprinted thereon;

a slot formed in said eyelet section, the width of said slot being greater than the width of said tongue section such that said tongue section can be passed through said slot, said slot extending generally transverse to said longitudinal direction of said band; and

an adhesive layer formed on one surface of said tongue section and over substantially the entire longitudinal length of said tongue section so that when said tongue section is passed through said slot it can be folded back upon itself and two portions of said adhesive layer located on opposite sides of said slot can be placed in contact with each other.

2. The identification band of claim 1, wherein said base layer is formed of a tear-resistant material which is coated with a resiny surface which is ink-receptive.

3. The identification band of claim 1, wherein one or more guide lines are formed on said information section.

4. The identification band of claim 3, further including at least one heading associated with said guide lines.

5. The identification band of claim 4, further including an extra support layer located on said base layer in the area of said eyelet section and surrounding said slot.

6. The identification band of claim 1, further inlcuding a removable protective layer located on top of said adhesive layer.

7. An identification band, comprising:

a longitudinally elongated base layer formed of a tear-resistant, waterproof, ink-receptive material, said ink-receptive material being of the type which will easily crease when folded, said base layer including an eyelet section, an information section and a tongue section, said information section being sufficiently large to permit appropriate identifying material to be imprinted thereon;

a slot formed in said eyelet section, said slot having at least one arcuate edge, the width of said slot being less than the width of said tongue section such that said tongue section must be bent into an arcuate shape in order to pass it through said slot;

a plurality of pairs of slits formed on opposite widthwise edges of said tongue section such that each slit defines an anchoring flap, the distance as measured in the width direction of said tongue section between the inner ends of each pair of slits being less than or equal to the width of said slot, the relative stiffness of said eyelet section in the area of said slot and said tongue section in the area of said slits being such that said tongue section is bent into a U-shape as it is pulled through said slot and comes back to a flat shape after being pulled backward a short distance through said slot, the stiffness of said tongue section being sufficiently low that said tongue section can be easily withdrawn form said slot after said tongue section has been inserted into said slot and a pair of said slits has engaged said eyelet section, and

an adhesive layer formed on said base layer, said adhesive permitting said tongue section to be adhered to said eyelet section after said tongue section is passed through said slot, said adhesive layer being formed of an adhesive material which is sufficiently strong to make it substantially impossible to pull said tongue section from said eyelet section after said tongue section has been adhered to said eyelet section by said adhesive, said slits serving to temporarily hold said tongue section in a desired position after said tongue section has been passed through said slot a sufficient degree to adjust the diameter of said band to a desired length at which time said tongue section can be permanently held in said position by adhering said tongue section to said adhesive layer.

8. The identification band of claim 7, wherein one or more guidelines are formed on said information section.

9. The identification band of claim 8, further including at least one heading associated with said guidelines.

10. The identification band of claim 9, wherein said slits are formed at an angle oblique to the longitudinal direction of said identification band.

11. The identification band of claim 10, further including a removable protective layer located on said adhesive layer.

12. The identification band of claim 11, wherein said tongue section extends 30-50% of the entire length of said band as measured in the longitudinal direction of said band.

13. The identification band of claim 12, wherein said slot has two edges, said arcuate edge and a straight edge which extends perpendicular to said longitudinal direction of said identification band.