Wrist band

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.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an identification system and more particularly to 
a bracket identification system in which the readable patient information 
is permanently contained within the bracelet. Identification bracelets of 
this type are used primarily for identifying patients in hospitals, 
rehabilitation centers and rest homes. 
In today's hospitals each patient is customarily given an identification 
bracelet containing his or her name and other relevant information. The 
patient is also given a plastic card, similar to a credit or charge card, 
having the same information embossed in the card. The card is unique to 
that patient and can be processed through standardly available credit card 
imprinters. Thus, information from the patient's individual card can be 
transferred to individual charge slips for services or supplies given to 
that patient. Applicant has incorporated this card system into an 
identification bracelet system in which the patient's information is 
transferred from his or her embossed card to an identification bracelet. 
In addition to having the patient identification information on the 
bracelet, the bracelet itself must not be easily removed. This is 
especially important for security reasons and to minimize the possibility 
of one patient receiving medication intended for another patient. Thus, 
the band should only be removed in an authorized manner which will 
substantially destroy the band and prohibit its reuse. 
In the past most identification bracelets were made of a plastic type 
material which was looped around the patient's limb and fastened. The 
identification information is written, typewritten or imprinted on a paper 
or similar receiving medium which is affixed to the bracelet or the 
plastic bond material itself before the bracelet is placed on the patient. 
A major problem with this type of bracelet is that the identification 
information is generally printed with ink which can be rubbed, smudged and 
possibly washed off. Hydrotherapy, showering or washing one's hands tended 
to remove the patient information from the bracelet. These type of 
bracelets are generally inadequate for hospital use in which the patient 
identification must be legibly and permanently affixed to the patient's 
wrist until such time as it is intended to be removed. 
One example of a bracelet identification system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,751,835 entitled Identification System. This system included a label 
system in which a series of labels are retained in a bracelet and can be 
individually removed for use by hospital staff. This system does not have 
the patient information imbedded within the bracelet and the labels can be 
damaged by moisture. Another example of a bracelet is illustrated in U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,226,036. This device has the identification information on a 
tag that is attached to the bracelet by a tether. A shortcoming of this 
bracelet is that it is expensive to manufacture and it is bulkier and 
thicker than can be comfortably worn by a patient. 
Examples of recording materials are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,670,971 
entitled Flexible Record Protective Recording Media and 2,648,924 entitled 
Label Structure. The '971 disclosure relates to a flexible recording media 
which utilizes a carbon transfer to create the image. The label shown in 
the '924 patent does not suggest its use in a bracelet assembly. 
Furthermore, it uses a waxy material sealed within the label structure. 
When the wax is moved, a readable image is created. A shortcoming is if 
the seal should rupture, the wax would escape and the image ruined. Also, 
the wax could be moved subsequent to the creation of the image, which 
would result in the loss or destruction of the information on the label. 
A solution to the above problem is to have an identification bracelet in 
which the information is permanently embedded in the bracelet in such a 
manner that it is impervious to the surrounding elements. As stated above, 
a major problem with the prior art devices is that the identification is 
either written on the outside of the bracelet, is not permanent, or it is 
contained on a piece of paper which is embedded in a pocket or pouch on 
the bracelet. The use of pockets is generally unacceptable as they are not 
water-tight and, therefore, are not impervious to the introduction of 
water or bodily fluids which can destroy the paper and printed 
information. 
Applicant's invention provides for the readable patient information being 
permanently contained within the band rather than on an exterior surface 
of the band. Thus, the information is completely protected from exposure 
to bodily fluids or other external chemicals which may denigrate the 
readability of the patient information. Furthermore, in the preferred 
embodiment, the readability of the patient information is of superior 
quality as it is generally printed with a credit card imprinter, a 
typewriter or other similar printing device. This is an important feature 
in that critical information relevant to each patient will not be 
inadvertently misinterpreted or misread. 
Applicant's invention is an identification band made of flexible plastic 
that is looped around a patient's limb and the fastened by means of a 
locking fastener. There is a transparent portion through which the patient 
identifying information is viewed. Beneath each transparent portion is a 
layer of permanently deformable polytetraflourethylene. Beneath this layer 
is a base layer of contrasting colored material. When concentrated 
pressure is applied from an embossed plastic card, which is inserted 
within an imprinter, the imprinting force pushes the contrasting base 
material through the polytetraflourethylene layer which creates a readable 
image through the transparent portion of the identification bracelet. The 
concentrated pressure can also be applied from the top of the band on the 
protective cover which deforms the polytetraflourethylene material and 
exposes the contrasting base material along the lines of force created by 
the concentrated pressure. 
Polytetraflourethylene is a permanently deformable type material which once 
altered through concentrated pressure applied agaist a rigid surface 
retains the deformation. The band with the patient information embossed 
thereon is affixed to the patient's limb with a non-removable fastener. 
The band is highly flexible as it is manufactured from a lamination of 
nylon and low density polyethylene. The readable information is impervious 
to moisture and body fluids as the information is completely sealed within 
the band. 
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bracelet 
assembly which carries identification information on an elongated flexible 
band with the identification information embedded within the band. Related 
to this object is the object of providing a bracelet assembly which has 
the identification information impervious to body fluids, moisture, dirt, 
and abrasion. 
Another object is to provide a bracelet assembly which has the 
identification information transmitted from a plastic card and associated 
plastic card imprinter onto the bracelet assembly. 
Another object is to provide a bracelet assembly which has a 
polytetraflourethylene layer of material which is permanently deformed by 
the application of mechanical pressure to render a visible image through 
the bracelet. 
Another object is to provide a bracelet assembly which can be locked around 
a patient's limb and not easily removed without destroying the bracelet 
assembly. Related thereto is the object of providing a bracelet assembly 
that will not easily allow the modification of information on the bracelet 
while the bracelet is being worn. 
Yet another object is to provide a bracelet assembly which can have 
identification information written on the front surface of a bracelet 
assembly which deforms the deformable layer leaving a readable image 
within the bracelet assembly. Related to this object is the object of 
having identification information embedded into the deformable layer by 
means of a typewriter without the need of the inked image remaining on the 
identification bracelet. 
Yet another object is to provide a bracelet assembly in which 
identification information is embedded in a bracelet without the need of 
inks or chemicals to form the readable information. 
These and other objects will become apparent upon reading the brief 
description of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred 
embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning first to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a bracelet assembly 10 of the 
present invention. An elongated flexible band 12 extends the length of the 
assembly 10. There is a transparent portion 14 through which one can read 
identification information 16 relating to a particular patient. Generally 
the identification information is information unique to one particular 
person and may include a patient's room number, hospital name, doctor's 
name, account number, etc. This information is given to the patient on an 
embossed plastic card similar to a credit card. The bracelet assembly 10 
is looped around a patient's wrist and is fastened by means of a fastener 
assembly 18 which will be more fully described later. 
As seen in FIG. 2, the elongated flexible band 12 has a strap 20 at one end 
with the transparent portion 14 being at the other end. At the outer end 
of the transparent portion (the end opposite the strap 20) is a fastening 
tap 22. There are a plurality of holes 24 in the strap 20 and a fastening 
hole 26 in the fastening tab 22. When the strap 20 is snugly wrapped 
around the patient's wrist or limb, one of the holes 24 comes into 
alignment with the fastening hole 26. The fastener assembly 18 is placed 
through the aligned holes to securely lock the bracelet assembly 10 around 
the patient's limb. The fastener assembly 18 is comprised of a male plug 
assembly 28 which is placed into a female socket assembly 30 in a locking 
relationship. The male plug assembly is designed with a barbed end 31 that 
is lockingly received by the female socket assembly. The male and female 
ends are connected together by means of a tether 32. The tether 32 assists 
in keeping the male and female pieces together in pairs for user 
convenience. 
FIG. 3 most clearly illustrates the several layers of the bracelet assembly 
10. The transparent portion 14 is covered by a protective cover layer 34 
which is affixed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive 36. The protective layer 
34 is designed so that it can be written upon and subsequently removed. It 
can be made of paper or other inexpensive material as it is intended to be 
discarded. Beneath the transparent portion 14 is a deformable colored 
layer 38 made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) commonly sold under the 
name Teflon. PTFE is a non-memory material which when deformed by pressure 
retains a deformed configuration corresponding to the lines of force that 
caused the deformation. The means is to deform the layer 38 can be a 
writing stylist such as a pen or pencil, a typewriter, or a plastic credit 
card imprinter. It is only necessary that the means to apply the writing 
pressure to the layer 38 supplies a concentrated pressure that will deform 
the layer 38. It is not necessary to use inks or chemicals to create a 
readable image. 
Beneath the deformable colored layer 38 is a color contrasting base layer 
40. This contrasting flexible base material may be polyethylene or similar 
material and of a color that contrasts with the color of layer 38. The 
colored layer 38 and color contrasting base layer 40 are affixed to each 
other and to the transparent portion 14 by means of adhesive layers 42. 
The adhesive may be a cold glue, heat activated adhesive, or other type of 
adhesive that will securely bond the layers to the adjacent layers in 
their appropriate position. 
In the preferred embodiment, the bracelet assembly 10 is placed with the 
individual patient's plastic credit card into a credit card imprinter. The 
card imprinter is activated and the concentrated pressure from the plastic 
card forces the raised information on the embossed credit card into the 
contrasting base layer 40 and through the contrasting deformable colored 
layer 38. The PTFE deforms, exposing the base layer 40, resulting in a 
highly visible and readable image corresponding to the raiseed information 
on the credit card through the transparent portion 14 of the elongated 
flexible band 12. The protective layer 34 is peeled away from the 
transparent portion 14 as any inking indicia of the identifying 
information is not necessary to create the reader usable image. The 
patient identifying information can be viewed directly through the 
transparent portion 14. 
Concentrated pressure can also be applied from the top of the band onto the 
protective cover layer 34 by means of a writing stylist such as a 
ballpoint pen or pencil. Similarly, a typewriter can be used. In both of 
these instances, the protective cover layer 34 is removed so that the 
readable patient identifying information can be read through the 
transparent portion 14. The pressure applied by the writing stylist or 
typewriter must be sufficient to deform the colored layer 38 so that the 
color contrasting base layer 40 can be viewed. The deformable color layer 
38 only deforms in areas of concentrated pressure which correspond to the 
letters or other indicia which form the particular identifiying 
information for that patient. 
The deformable colored layer 38 retains the deformed configuration after 
the concentrated pressure applying means are removed. The elongated 
flexible band 12 is highly flexible and may be clear or colored for 
special coding. The flexible band 12 may be fabricated of single or 
multiple laminated materials such as nylon, low density polyethylene, or 
the like. The materials chosen should be relatively soft against a 
person's skin, yet strong enough so that they will not easily be broken. 
The protective cover layer 34 is generally manufactured from paper of 
other similar materials as they will receive unusable inked information 
which is subsequently removed from the band and discarded. 
All of the materials should be manufactured from a water and chemical 
resistant material suitable for hospital use. The bracelet thus can be 
easily wiped clean without in any way denigrating the patient 
identification information that is completely contained within the 
transparent portion 14. It can readily be appreciated that since the 
patient identification information is within the bracelet assembly 10 and 
is not written on the surface of the bracelet 10, the information is 
impervious to oil, water, body fluids, external dirt, and other 
contaminants that a person may come in contact with in a hospital 
environment. Furthermore, the image created by the credit card imprinter 
is sharp and clear. This is important in that if a patient is not able to 
communicate with those attending to him, his name and relevant information 
can readily be obtained from his wrist band. This minimizes the 
possibility of errors when hand written information is written on a 
bracelet which may subsequently be smudged or dissolved as a result of 
external fluids. 
It can also be appreciated that the information can only be applied when 
sufficient lines of pressure are applied to the deformable layer 38. 
Generally this requires a credit card imprinter or writing on a hard 
surface. While the bracelet is being worn, it is extermely difficult to 
apply sufficient forces to the layer 38 to cause deformation. This is 
advantageous as it increases the security of the information on the 
bracelet. 
Thus, there has been provided a wrist band assembly that fully satisfies 
the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. It is evident that many 
alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those 
skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such 
variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended 
claims.