Abstract:
A disposable plastic snap and strap device is configured to be secured to a patient or object for monitoring the patient or object. The strap includes a disposable through-pin assembly that secures the strap in a closed and locked position to the patient or object. The through pin assembly includes a lock assembly that prevents the strap from being unlocked until a portion of the through pin assembly is cut.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENT 
     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/200,709, filed on Dec. 2, 2008. The disclosure of the Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure related to a patient tagging and monitoring system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a disposable and reusable strap for monitoring and tagging patients and other individuals. 
     Many products, such as hospital patient tagging, baby tagging, and high-end retail product tagging, and more, require a sturdy strap which cannot be casually removed. The straps often include an alarm feature that sends out an alarm when the strap is removed. Whether or not the strap has an added alarm feature, the straps can be expensive. Moreover, it can be environmentally and financially desirable to have a strap that can be used several times rather than a single-use strap that must be discarded after use. 
     One problem with existing monitoring straps is that a typical strap only works one way—it can be closed, but not opened. In order to remove the strap, the strap must be cut. This renders the strap ruined and unusable after a single use. This “one-use” type of strap is wasteful and undesirable. In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved monitoring strap. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is an improved disposable plastic snap and strap device. The strap includes a disposable through-pin that secures the strap in a closed and locked position to the patient or object. When the strap is placed on the patient or object, the through-pin on the snap extends through the strap as usual and the snap is closed. If an alarm is incorporated in the strap, the through-pin also closes a switch on the strap and closes a circuit that maintains the alarm in an off state. On one side of the disposable snap is a plastic link to a lower half of the strap. This holds the strap portions together and prevents twisting of the two sections. In addition, there is a locating slot on the strap that holds it in place. When is it time to remove the snap, this is possible by simply cutting the plastic link between the top and bottom snap and twisting the top snap, such as twisting the snap 90 degrees. This causes the snap to release and there is a key hole lock allowing easy release once turned. There is no way to easily remove the disposable snap without a scissors or similar tool and it is secure on the patient or object. 
     In one aspect, there is disclosed a security strap system, comprising: a elongated strap having a central region, a first tab extending outward from the central region, and a second tab extending outward from the central region opposite the first tab; a through pin assembly, comprising a first region having a keyhole, a second region having a post, and an arm connecting the first region to the second region; wherein the elongated strap is positionable in a looped configuration by fixing the first tab to the second tab and wherein the post of the through pin assembly maintains the strap in the looped configuration by extending through the first tab, second tab, and keyhole, and wherein the post can be removed from the keyhole when the post is in a first orientation and wherein the arm, when un-cut, prevents the post from being moved to the first orientation. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show top and bottom views of a strap that can be secured around the wrist or other body portion of a patient. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show perspective views of a through-pin assembly of the strap. 
         FIGS. 3A through 3C  show a method of assembly of the strap. 
         FIGS. 4A through 4C  show a method of detaching the strap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the present subject matter is further described, it is to be understood that this subject matter described herein is not limited to particular embodiments described, as such may of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. Unless defined otherwise, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one skilled in the art to which this subject matter belongs. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  show top and bottom views of a strap  105  that can be secured around the wrist or other body portion of a patient. The strap  105  can also be secured to an object that is to be monitored or tagged, such as an item to be sold. Although described herein in the context of being used to monitor a patient, it should be appreciated that the strap can be used to monitor or tag other individuals (such as babies) or objects. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the strap  105  is elongated and includes a central region  110  and two elongated tabs  115  and  120  that extend outwardly from the central region  110 . In embodiment, the tabs are sufficiently long such that the strap can be wrapped around the wrist of a person or can be wrapped around something on the patient or object to secure the strap to the patient or object. The tab  115  has one or more holes  118 . The tab  120  also has one or more holes  119  that are configured to receive a through-pin (described below) for securing the strap  105  in a closed state or looped state by securing one of the tabs  115  to the other tab  120 . In this manner, the strap forms a closed loop around a portion of the patient or object, such as around the patient&#39;s wrist. The size and the shape of the strap can be varied. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show perspective views of the through-pin assembly  205 . The assembly  205  includes a first region  210  and a second region  215  that are interconnected by a flexible arm  220 . A post  225  extends outwardly from the first region  210 . A keyhole  230  extends through the second region  215 . The keyhole  230  is sized and shaped to receive the post  225  therethrough provided the post is positioned in a predetermined orientation. For example, the post  225  may be required to be positioned at a particular angle or orientation relative to the keyhole  230  in order to be inserted therethrough or to be removed therefrom once the post  225  has been inserted through the keyhole  230 . In an embodiment, the post  225  must be at a first orientation to be inserted through the keyhole  230 . Once the post  225  is inserted through the keyhole  230 , the post must be rotated (such as rotated 90 degrees) in order to be removed from the keyhole. 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate an exemplary method of securing the strap. In use, the strap  105  is placed in a looped configuration such that a hole  118  ( FIG. 1A ) on the tab  115  is aligned with a hole  119  ( FIG. 1A ) on the tab  120 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . If desired, the tab  119  can be folded over itself as shown in  FIG. 3A . Next, the through-pin assembly  205  is used to secure and lock the tabs  115  and  120  to one another. With reference to  FIG. 3B , through pin assembly  205  is used to secure the tabs  115  and  120  to one another to secure the strap in a looped state. 
     The post  225  is inserted through the aligned holes  118  and  119  such that the post  225  extends through the holes. Next, the second region  215  is folded over the tabs  115  and  120  such and oriented relative to the post  225  so that the post  225  can be inserted through the keyhole  230 . The post  225  is inserted through the hole  230  such that the post  225  locks within the hole  230 . In this manner, the through-pin assembly  205  locks the strap  105  in the looped state, as shown in  FIG. 3C . When the through-pin assembly  205  is assembled as such, the flexible arm  220  prevents the post  225  from being oriented to a position that would permit the post  225  from being dis-inserted or otherwise removed from the keyhole  230 . That is, the arm  220  maintains the post  225  and keyhole  230  in an orientation such that the post  225  cannot be removed from the keyhole  230 . In an embodiment, the arm  220  prevents the first region  210  and attached post  225  from being rotated 90 degrees and removed from the keyhole  230 . 
     In an embodiment, the strap and/or the through pin assembly include electronic alarm circuitry. When the post  225  is inserted through the keyhole  230 , a switch is closed on the strap, which closes a circuit that maintains the alarm in an off state. The alarm is triggered to an on state if the arm  220  is cut. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  show how the strap  105  can be opened and removed from the patient. With reference to  FIG. 4A , the flexible arm  220  is cut such as by using a pair of scissors. With the arm  220  cut, the first region  215  is free to be rotated to an orientation that permits the post  225  to be removed from the keyhole  230 . When the arm  220  is in place (i.e., un-cut), the arm  220  fixes the first region  215  and post  225  in an orientation that prevents the post from being removed from the keyhole. Thus, once the arm  220  is cut, the post  225  and keyhole  230  may be re-oriented or repositioned to an orientation that permits the post  225  to be removed from the keyhole  230 . For example, once the arm  220  is cut, the first region  210  and/or second region  215  can be rotated 90 degrees to the orientation that permits the post  225  to be removed from the keyhole  230 , as represented by the arrows  426  shown in  FIG. 4B . The through-pin assembly  205  can then be removed from the strap  105 , as shown in  FIG. 4C . 
     As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order which is logically possible. 
     While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention that is claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. 
     Although embodiments of various methods and devices are described herein in detail with reference to certain versions, it should be appreciated that other versions, embodiments, methods of use, and combinations thereof are also possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.