Wrist band

• US 4,783,917 A
• Filed: 02/20/1987
• Issued: 11/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hollister Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Robert E., Johnson, Thomas A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lynch, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/016,853
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 40/21 R, 40/21 C, 40/2 R, 434/410, 428/29, 428/915, 428/916
• US Class Current: 40/633
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person

Abstract

A bracelet assembly for carrying identification information. The bracelet assembly has an elongated flexible band with fastening means for fastening the band in a closed loop fashion around a patient'"'"'s limb. There is a transparent portion on the flexible band through which the user can read the identification information. A permanently deformable layer is interposed between the transparent portion and a base layer. The base layer and permanently deformable layer are of contrasting colors. The permanently deformable layer is deformed by lines of force applied by mechanical pressure means such as a typewriter or credit card imprinter which deforms the deformable layer along the lines of force which correspond to the identification information. This renders the base layer visible through both the transparent portion and the permanently deformable layer along the lines of pressure.

Claims

1. A bracelet assembly for receiving thereon and for carrying identification information comprising:

an elongated flexible band with fastening means for locking the band in a closed loop fashion around a wearer'"'"'s limb;

a transparent portion in the flexible band;

a protective cover layer removably affixed to the flexible band over the transparent portion;

a permanently deformable layer bonded directly to the transparent portion in the flexible band on the side thereof opposite the protective cover;

a colored base layer bonded to the permanently deformable layer so as to seal the permanently deformable layer between the base layer and the flexible band;

the permanently deformable layer being of contrasting color to the base layer and masking the base layer from view through the transparent portion;

the permanently deformable layer being permanently deformed by the application thereto of lines of pressure to render the base layer visible through the permanently deformable layer;

the desired identification information being received on and carried by the bracelet assembly by applying lines of pressure to one of the base layer and the protective cover and transmitting the same therefrom to the permanently deformable layer;

the identification information being visibly displayed through the transparent portion when the protective cover layer is removed.

2. The bracelet of claim 1 wherein the permanently deformable layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

3. The bracelet assembly of claim 2 wherein the flexible band is made of nylon and a low density polyethylene.

4. The bracelet assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastening means comprises holes in the band, with two holes being in alignemnt when the band is in a closed loop fashion, and a locking fastener that passes through the two aligned holes.

5. The bracelet assembly of claim 4 wherein the locking fastener comprises a receiving socket and a tapered plug, the plug entering the receiving socket in a locking manner whereby it cannot be removed after insertion into the socket.

6. The bracelet assembly of claim 5 wherein the socket and plug are connected by a flexible tether.

7. The bracelet assembly of claim 1 wherein the lines of pressure are applied to the permanently deformable layer by means of a card having rigid raised characters therein which are pressed against the colored base layer of the bracelet assembly.

8. The bracelet assembly of claim 1 wherein the lines of pressure are applied to the protective cover layer and trasmitted to deform the permanently deformable layer.