Abstract:
A printer processible business form includes a separable wristband formed with a multi-layer, reinforced central panel or imaging area with a pair of straps extending to the sides thereof. The multi-ply wristband may be formed with a single die cut solely in the top ply of a two ply business form which is folded over after having been separated to thereby fashion the multi-ply print or image area. Alternatively, the multi-ply wristband may be formed with a first die cut in the top ply as before, but with a second die cut in a bottom or backer ply to form a backing or reinforcing panel which is adhered to the wristband and when separated thereby forms a multi-ply print area. In another alternative embodiment, the backer panel may be added to the first embodiment so that the panel or image area has three or even four layers of material to provide maximum reinforcement.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0001]    Printer processible business forms with various configurations of wristbands die cut therein are well known in the art. The assignee of the present invention owns more than a few patents disclosing and claiming such wristband business forms including most particularly U.S. Pat. No. 7,779,569, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which discloses and claims a self-laminating wristband die cut into a two ply business form in various embodiments. Two such embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22  in which an underlying laminate ply is die cut to form a part of the wristband which when separated from the form may be folded over to laminate a print area  302  die cut into a top or face ply. More particularly, the laminate ply has die cuts  330  which form a lamination portion  336  and die cuts  350  which form straps  352  extending to the sides of the lamination portion  336  or panels. A fold line  338  may be provided to separate the two panels and facilitate their being folded over to laminate the print area  302 . 
         [0002]    These business forms are particularly valuable and useful in the health care field in that a single page containing multiple wristbands and self-adhering labels may be processed at the same time upon admittance, or in-processing, of a patient and then used as needed during the patient&#39;s stay. More recently, a unique identifier such as a bar code is imprinted on these bands and labels to ensure consistent and reliable identification of the patient and his associated articles, charts, meds, specimens such as blood samples, etc., and to verify his identity when he is further processed such as by the routine, periodic taking of his temperature, blood pressure, etc. With the self-laminating feature provided in many of the assignee&#39;s previously patented and commercially successful designs, the patient&#39;s identification data is over-laminated to provide upgraded protection against errors which might be caused by degradation of the wristband and its printed information. 
         [0003]    While the self-laminating wristbands sold in the hundreds of millions by the assignee have been very successful, competitors continue to offer cheaper design wristbands and due to the ever increasing focus on cost savings in the health care field, these competitive designs have met with some success. The assignee&#39;s self-laminating wristbands typically are comprised of a top face ply of plain paper stock and a somewhat more expensive thin film laminate ply pattern adhered thereto. As such, they are not competitively priced simply due to their cost of materials, presuming the buyer doesn&#39;t understand or desire the extra benefit of the laminating feature. The simpler, cheaper designs are typically single layer wristbands which don&#39;t use the more expensive thin film laminate, and which can be cheaply made from materials which some would consider inadequate to guard against their failure through tearing, smearing of the printed information, etc. It has also been found that a single layer wristband has a tendency to curl into a circle or torque and not lie flat against the patient&#39;s wrist, thereby making locating and then reading the identifying information such as a bar code difficult. While some more durable materials have been used, such as woven fabric, single layer or single ply wristbands still exhibit reduced resiliency and strength. 
         [0004]    In its continuing efforts to improve its wristband offerings, the inventors herein have succeeded in designing and developing a business form with a wristband formed by a die cut in a single ply of material but which has a reinforced image area along with single ply straps. By having a reinforced image or print area, relatively inexpensive materials may be used and yet the area which receives perhaps the most handling, the image area, is made extra strong so as to provide better performance than other prior art single ply wristband designs. At the same time, single ply straps are provided which make the wristband more pliable and thus comfortable to a wearer. Still another advantage is that by being reinforced, and hence thicker than the straps, the image area has a tendency to lie flat against the wrist thereby making it easier to locate and read such as with a bar code reader especially as a flatter surface makes reading errors less likely. 
         [0005]    The present invention may be provided in any of a number of different preferred embodiments to suit the particular application or user desire. One embodiment comprises a two ply page with a die cut forming a fold over wristband in the top ply only. A bottom ply is preferably provided and is adhered with a pattern adhesive layer to the top ply. The wristband is configured with a pair of panels and a pair of straps extending from the sides of one or both of the panels. The page business form is passed through a printer to apply the desired patient identifying or other information to one of the panels, as is customary, and then the wristband is separated along with adhesive at the appropriate places from the page and then the panels are folded onto themselves so as to complete the wristband. Thus, a wristband is created with essentially a reinforced two ply image area with a pair of single ply straps extending to its sides. The panels are of course folded over so as to not obscure the printed information, in a manner that could be described as “under-laminating” the printed panel. This is to be contrasted with the over-laminating folding of the laminate panels as used in self-laminating wristbands such as those described in the &#39;569 patent mentioned above. These laminate panels are virtually transparent so that they do not obscure the printed patient information. To “laminate” the print area in the present invention would obscure the printed information, so it is a departure from the teaching of these prior “self-laminating” patents. 
         [0006]    Alternative preferred embodiments include situating the straps so that they extend to the sides of just one of the panels so that the straps are aligned, or perhaps more preferably to opposing sides of the two different panels so that as the panels are folded over the straps become aligned, and the adhesive is applied to the proper sides of either or both of the strap ends. Yet another alternative is that a backing panel may be die cut into the second ply and adhered to a wristband design having either a single or multiple panel construction so that upon separation the backing panel is there automatically to reinforce the single panel by making it a multi-ply construction. And in yet another alternative, the backing panel feature could be die cut in the backing sheet behind either of the earlier described embodiments having two panels so that when folded over the reinforced image area comprises three plies of material instead of the two provided in the other embodiments. Various wristband designs can be adapted for this construction including a single strap wristband with cinch slot closure and a full length panel wristband having offset adhesive coated tabs. 
         [0007]    As the invention comprises a single ply wristband but with a reinforced multi-ply image area, less expensive and perhaps less sturdy materials may be used, depending on the application, and yet provide adequate performance but at a reduced price. Some of these materials could be, for example: simple ordinary paper face stock, thermal imaging paper, Cellophane, styrene, vinyl, acrylic film, acetate, etc. Alternatively, softer materials may be used as well to provide increased comfort such as woven fabrics, synthetic papers, non-woven fabrics, polyethylene films, co-extrusion films, thin foam, etc. The second ply of backing could also be a less expensive material as it is used only to provide the die cut backing panel or otherwise just to cover the adhesive prior to usage. Some examples include: siliconized polyboard, paper or plastic release carriers, etc. 
         [0008]    While the principal advantages and features of the present invention have been briefly explained, a more thorough understanding of the invention may be attained by referring to the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments that follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the wristband/label combination business form with a wristband die cut in the top ply of the upper portion thereof, with the wristband comprising a fold over design to under-laminate the image area after being separated; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the wristband business form in a sheetlet, or envelope sized page, with the same design wristband die cut therein as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the wristband business form in a thermal imaging version, with the same design wristband die cut in a face ply panel adhered to a backing ply panel such that multiple backing ply panels may be provided in a continuous fan fold, roll or the like; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the wristband business form in a thermal imaging version, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , with self-adhering additional labels die cut therein; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the wristband business form with multiple wristbands die cut into the face ply having different lengths, a couple of hang tags, and a tear off card, 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the wristband/label combination business form with an alternate embodiment of the wristband die cut in the top ply of the upper portion thereof, with the wristband comprising a single ply design with a reinforcing panel die cut into the backing ply, 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the wristband/label combination business form with an alternate embodiment of the wristband die cut in the top ply of the upper portion thereof, with the wristband comprising the same design as shown in  FIG. 1  except with the additional reinforcing panel die cut into the backing ply, 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the wristband/label combination business form with an alternate embodiment of the wristband die cut in the top ply of the upper portion thereof, with the wristband comprising both straps extending to the sides of one image area panel, a fold over reinforcing panel, and a reinforcing panel die cut into the backing ply, 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the wristband/label combination business form with another alternate embodiment of the wristband die cut in the top ply of the upper portion thereof, with the wristband comprising a pair of panels with a single strap and cinch attachment, and 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the wristband/label combination business form with another alternate embodiment of the wristband die cut in the top ply of the upper portion thereof, with the wristband comprising an imaging area extending virtually the full length of the wristband and adhesive tabs on opposing ends of different halves of the imaging area. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The several embodiments of the present invention are depicted in the drawing figures and generally are a departure from the self-laminating wristband designs/inventions disclosed and claimed in the many US patents owned by the assignee hereof. Examples of these self-laminating wristband designs/inventions may be found in several of the more pertinent issued US patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,779,569 and 7,784,210, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. As explained above, these two patents disclose and claim good and commercially valuable inventions which essentially comprise a two ply form with the top ply comprising a face stock or paper layer, or thermal paper in the &#39;210 patent, with an underlying transparent laminate film for folding over and laminating the patient data imprinted on the top ply. While these wristband designs/inventions are very popular, some applications (and customers such as hospitals for example) demand a less expensive wristband. As the cost of materials constitutes the principal factor in determining the cost of wristbands, the inventors herein have developed the subject invention which provides many of the advantages of the wristband designs found in these two patents but which may be constructed with different and less expensive materials. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the business form invention  10  can take the format of the first embodiment comprising a page having an upper portion  12  and a lower portion  14 . The page may be an A4, standard letter, standard legal, oversize, envelope, or other standardized size as known in the art. In addition to the top ply  16  shown in the drawing figures, it would be well understood to those of skill in the art, and as depicted in the two patents mentioned above and incorporated herein by reference, there is a bottom ply  17  which may be a single sheet or multiple sheets should different materials be used for the upper portion  12  and lower portion  14 . When different materials are used for the lower portion  14 , which has a plurality of die cuts  13  defining a matrix  15  of self-adhering labels  19 , a less expensive material is preferably used for the bottom ply  17 . The upper portion  12  of the first embodiment  10  has a die cut  18  defining a fold over wristband  20  solely in the top ply  16 . It is configured to mimic the overall shape of the wristband shown in FIG. 22 of the &#39;569 patent. However, an important distinction is that the wristband shown in FIG. 22 is comprised of portions of both the top and bottom plies while the wristband  20  shown in  FIG. 1  is die cut solely in the top ply  16 . More particularly, the wristband  20  is comprised of a top half  22  and a bottom half  24  separated by a line of perforation, or fold line,  26  at the joinder of two panels  28  either one of which can be printed and thus form an image area. As shown in  FIG. 1 , preferably the top panel  28  and labels  19  are printed with patient data, by first processing the business form  10  through a printer such as a laser printer or thermal printer. Preferably a pattern layer of adhesive joins the top ply  16  and bottom ply  17  including a layer of adhesive applied to each end  30  of the straps  32  extending to the side of each panel  28 , but not along their length, so that strap ends  30  may be adhered to each other as the wristband is attached to a user&#39;s wrist. When separated, the wristband is folded along the fold line  26  and the panels  28  also have a layer of adhesive so that the panels  28  are adhered to each other, thereby reinforcing them. The panels  28  are folded so that the patient data is not obscured, for obvious reasons. Also, an extender  36  is die cut into the top ply  16  to extend the length of the wristband  20  for patient&#39;s having particularly large wrists. 
         [0021]    In this first embodiment  10 , the top half  22  and bottom half  24  of wristband  20  are substantially the same in overall shape and size, and with the straps  32  extending from opposite sides of different panels  28 . With this arrangement, after the wristband  20  is folded over to reinforce the panels  28 , the strap ends  30  are situated so that they are opposing to thereby bring both adhesive coated surfaces together when joining them to thereby provide the adhesive strength of two layers of adhesive. 
         [0022]    Examples of material that can be preferably used for the top ply  16  are: woven fabrics, synthetic papers, non-woven fabrics, polyethylene films, polypropylene films, co-extrusion films, thin foam, etc. Examples of material that can preferably be used for the bottom ply  17  are: siliconized polyboard, paper or plastic release carriers, etc. 
         [0023]    In a second embodiment  50  as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the same wristband design  20  plus a wristband extender  36  is formed by a plurality of die cuts  52  into the top ply  54  of an envelope or “sheetlet” sized page  56 . This embodiment  50  is particularly useful in those applications where labels are not needed such as for a replacement wristband damaged or lost during use. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment  60  as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the same wristband design  20  plus a wristband extender  36  and a label  62  is formed by a plurality of die cuts  64  into a top ply  66  which has a margin  68  around its periphery such that the top or face ply  66  essentially forms a “patch” adhered to an underlying carrier or bottom ply  70 . In this embodiment  60 , the top ply  66  is preferably made of a material that is receptive to a thermal printing process, and additional carriers  70  are preferably connected into a fan fold or roll for installation into a typical thermal printer. A variation of the embodiment  60  is shown also as a thermal print version  70  in  FIG. 4 . This thermal print version  70  also has the same wristband design  20  plus a wristband extender  36  but also includes four self-adhering labels  72  and four special precautions labels  74  formed by a plurality of die cuts  76  into the top ply  78 . The top ply  78  similarly has a margin  80  around its periphery such that it forms a patch adhered to the underlying carrier  82  which is typically replicated into a continuous fan fold or roll. 
         [0025]    In yet another embodiment  90  as depicted in  FIG. 5 , again the same wristband design  20  plus a pair of wristband extenders  36 , a couple of fold over, multi-ply hang tags  92  and a tear off card  94  are defined by a plurality of die cuts  96  into a top ply  98 , except that the die cut  96  forming the tear off card extends all the way through both the top ply  98  and bottom ply  100  so that it may be separated intact from both plies  98 ,  100 . This embodiment is preferably referred to as the “mother/father/baby” version as it includes two adult size wristbands and two infant size wristbands as would be suited for a couple experiencing a child birth at a hospital. 
         [0026]    In still another embodiment  110  as depicted in  FIG. 6 , a different wristband  112  is shown. Wristband  112  is formed from a first die cut  114  in the top ply  116  and a second die cut  118  in the bottom or backing ply  120 . The first die cut  114  defines an outline of the wristband which includes a single width rectangular panel  122  on which the patient&#39;s data is printed, and a pair of straps  124  extending to the sides thereof. The strap ends  126  may be provided each with a layer of adhesive, or just one end with a layer of adhesive, for securing the wristband to a user. The second die cut  118  defines a reinforcing or backing panel  128  which is adhered to the panel  122  with a layer of adhesive so that when the wristband is removed from the form  110 , the backing panel  126  separates along its die cut  118  to thereby provide a wristband with a multi-ply reinforced image or print area. It should be understood that this wristband design  112  can be provided in any other of the other embodiments described herein. This business form  110  also includes a matrix  130  of self-adhering labels  132  as defined by another die cut  134  in the top ply  116 . 
         [0027]    Yet another embodiment  140  as depicted in  FIG. 7  discloses another different wristband  152 . Wristband  152  is formed from a first die cut  154  in the top ply  156 , similarly to the first wristband  20 , but also includes a reinforcing or backing panel  158  formed by a second die cut  160  formed in the bottom ply  162  adhered to the panel portion  164  of wristband  152 . In essence, this wristband design is a combination of the first embodiment wristband  20  with the backing panel  126  from the wristband embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . Thus, wristband  152  has three layers of material instead of the two layers of material reinforcing the wristband print areas of the other embodiments. Although backing panel  158  is depicted as being formed behind the top panel portion  164 , it could also be formed behind the bottom panel portion  166  of wristband  152 . When separated and folded over, the backing panel is thereby sandwiched between wristband panels  164  and  166 , and adhered to each of them with adhesive provided behind each of the panels  164 ,  166 . As with the wristband embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the wristband design depicted in this  FIG. 7  may be provided in the other embodiments as well. To complete this business form  150 , a matrix  164  of self-adhering labels  166  are defined by a die cut  168  in the top ply  156 . 
         [0028]    A business form  169  which is a variation of the embodiment  140  is shown in  FIG. 8 , and includes a somewhat different wristband design  170 . Wristband  170  is defined by a die cut  172  in top ply  174  and includes a top panel  176  having a pair of straps  178  extending to each of its sides, with a second panel  180  being joined to the first panel  176  with a perforated or fold line  182  therebetween. A backing panel  184  is defined by another die cut  186  in the bottom ply  188  and adhered to the top panel  176  so that as the wristband  170  is separated from the form  169  the backing panel  184  remains adhered thereto, thereby reinforcing top panel  176 . Additionally, after separation, the wristband  170  is folded about fold line  182  to adhere and sandwich the backing panel  184  between the two wristband panels  176 ,  180 . As with the wristband embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 &amp; 7 , the wristband design depicted in this  FIG. 8  may be provided in the other embodiments as well. To complete this business form  169 , a matrix  190  of self-adhering labels  192  are defined by a die cut  194  in the top ply  174 . 
         [0029]    Yet another wristband/label business form  200  is shown in  FIG. 9 , and includes a different wristband design  202  formed by a die cut  204  in the top ply  206  of upper portion  207 . Wristband  202  includes a top, substantially rectangular panel  208  with a strap  210  extending from a side thereof, a bottom, substantially rectangular panel  212  with a perforated fold line  214  therebetween, with two pairs of cinch slots  216 ,  218  at opposite ends of the panels  208 ,  212 . Although two pairs of cinch slots  216 ,  218  are shown, either pair could be provided and preferably pair  218  would be most commonly used. A wristband extender  36  is also formed by a die cut  220  in top ply  206 . Preferably, the bottom panel  212  forms the image area so that when the wristband  202  is separated from the form  200  and folded over to adhere the panels  208 ,  212 , the adhesive applied to the underneath of the strap end  222  is conveniently situated to facilitate the wristband&#39;s attachment by bringing the strap end  222  up through cinch slots  218  (which are then overlapped and adhered into a single slot) and then bending it back over the top of the strap  210  to adhere it thereto. Should it be desired to use the other pair of cinch slots  216  in order to create a hang tag wristband, then preferably the top panel  208  forms the image area to receive the patient data so that the strap end  222  adhesive is situated for adhering to the strap  210 . As with other embodiments, this business form  200  includes a matrix  224  of self-adhering labels  226  defined by die cuts  228  in the top ply  206 . This business form  200  could also include a backing panel to reinforce either or both of panels  208 ,  212 , as shown and described in the other embodiments, above. 
         [0030]    A final embodiment of the business form  250  is depicted in  FIG. 10  and includes a wristband  252  formed by a die cut  254  in the top ply  256  of the bottom portion  258  of the form  250 . Wristband  252  includes a pair of virtually full length panels  260  separated by a perforation or fold line  262  with a pair of adhesive coated tabs  264  extending from the opposite sides of the panels  260  so that when separated and folded over, the adhesive coated tabs  264  are situated to adhere to each other or to the back of a panel  260  to thereby attach the wristband  252  to a patient. In this embodiment  250 , either panel may be imprinted with patient data as the wristband may be folded and then turned in either direction to face the printed data to the outside when wrapped around the wrist. As with other embodiments, this business form  250  includes a matrix  266  of self-adhering labels  268  defined by die cuts  270  in the top ply  256 , but with this embodiment in the upper portion  272  of the form  250 . This business form  250  could also include a backing panel to reinforce either or both of panels  260 , as shown and described in the other embodiments, above. 
         [0031]    While the principal advantages and features of the invention have been shown in the drawings and described above, there are various changes that would be apparent to those of skill in the art and it is intended that these be included as part of the invention which should be limited solely by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. For example, a number of embodiments are depicted with or without a matrix of self-adhering labels and/or with one or more wristbands. It would be understood by one of skill in the art that wristbands and labels could be mixed and matched to suit any particular application or user need.