Business form with self laminating wristband with reduced image area

A business form comprising a face ply and a lamination ply includes a matrix of self adhering labels positioned in a label area and a self laminating wristband positioned in a wristband area, all of which are defined by die cuts therein for removal upon use. The wristband is comprised of a left edge justified, reduced length imaging area releasably adhered to a laminating portion comprising a pair of laminating panels one of which is smaller sized to merely laminate the imaging area and with self adhering tabs at opposite ends of the panels. A wristband extender is die cut into the lamination ply within the profile of the wristband. A second embodiment includes a pair of separated imaging areas in the same space as the single imaging area along with special precautions labels die cut into the lamination ply for application to the second smaller imaging area. The wristband may be provided separately in an envelope sized sheetlet or in a page size form with multiple wristbands but no labels.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Self laminating wristbands of various inventive designs have been made and sold, and achieved immense commercial success, by the assignee of the present invention. Many of these have been patented by the assignee including those covered by one or more of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,000,160, 6,748,687, 7,047,682, 7,017,293, 7,654,024, 7,763,344, 7,779,569, and others of record assigned to the assignee hereof, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In its continuing efforts to develop improved wristbands to meet the varying needs of its customers and users, the inventors herein have succeeded in designing and inventing a new self laminating wristband which incorporates many of the same advantages of previous designs but which also provides significant new advantages and features.

Perhaps the first of the assignee's patented wristbands includes a full length image or imaging area adhered to one of a pair of aligned, full length, symmetrical and mirror image lamination panels, each of said lamination panels including a shorter, narrower tab for securing the wristband around a patient's wrist. Upon separation of the wristband from a carrier sheet, the lamination panels are folded over and adhered to each other to laminate the image area. Then the wristband is wrapped around the patient's wrist and secured with one or both of the tabs.

Another of the assignee's many previously patented wristbands that has met with tremendous commercial success incorporates a reduced length image area adhered to one of a pair of laminating clamshells. One of the laminating clamshell halves has a strap and a cinch slot is die cut into both the clamshell halves opposite the strap so that after separation from the carrier the wristband and lamination of the image area, it may be secured by wrapping the strap around the patient's wrist and then threading it through the slot, adhering the end of the strap back onto itself to complete the process. One of the advantages of this design is that by using a shorter lamination clamshell with a strap extending from just one of the clamshell halves in place of the full length lamination panels, space becomes available for a wristband extender to be die cut into the space otherwise occupied by the full length lamination panels of the above described earlier design.

While this newer design form and wristband has many advantages which make it attractive for adoption in new installations, adapting it for use in installations using the assignee's (and others) previous designs requires re-programming, reformatting, and possibly other printer changes to ensure that the printed information reliably lands on the differently sized and located image area. This retrofit thus requires some effort and expense and also raises the possibility of transition issues. For these reasons, among others, once an installation is set up and running, there is a reluctance to change despite the advantages of newer design wristbands and forms, one of which is the extender provided by the newer clamshell design. And, unfortunately, there has been an experienced shift in the population towards increasing body weight and even obesity in not just the US but around the world. Thus, the availability of a wristband extender is increasingly important to be able to properly secure the wristband to a patient's wrist.

In use, it has been found that in many existing installations using assignee's earlier wristband design, with the full length image area and short end tabs, printed information is generally formatted to be left margin justified (or could readily be left margin justified) and ordinarily does not utilize nearly the full length of the image area, leaving a goodly portion of the image area blank and unused. Thus, while this wristband maximizes the amount of image area available for printing, in practice a good deal of it is unused, and typically in many cases it's the right side that's predominantly left blank. Yet another issue found in practical application of this wristband is that it is symmetrical after being laminated so that a health care professional could choose to wrap either end over the top of the wristband to secure it around the wrist. Unfortunately, if the wrong end is wrapped over the top of the other end, there is a chance that it would cover over and obscure the printed information. This is possible because the wristband is symmetrical so that memory must be relied upon to choose which end to wrap first. While not a serious issue, and especially for more experienced health care professionals, this can result in some wastage and required re-printing of the wristband.

The inventors herein have succeeded in inventing a wristband form that combines many of the advantages of both designs which can be conveniently used as a “no-transition-issue” retrofit for existing installations and which also frees space in the wristband area of the form for a wristband extender. This newest inventive design incorporates a reduced length image area with one reduced length lamination panel along with self adhering tabs to attach the wristband, with the image area (and a lamination panel) being “edge justified” to the left margin so that most left justified printer installations need not be modified. In other words, the image area and one of the lamination panels are truncated at their right side to be shorter than the other lamination panel, but otherwise aligned with the mating lamination panel for lamination of the image area. Many installations print two blocks of information: one block with patient/Doctor id information in standard text and a second block with a printed bar code. Typically, these two blocks may be separated to enhance reading accuracy. While margins at the left edge and between these two blocks may extend the overall length occupied from the left edge, the relative spacing of this information is usually readily adjusted with simple software entries so that both blocks may be conveniently re-located to fit within a nominal four inch long image area. Thus, it is anticipated by the inventors that most previous installations may readily be transitioned to this new wristband.

As the lamination panels are of different length, the wristband is asymmetrical with a single ply lamination strap/tab extending to only one side. Furthermore, by applying the adhesive to the bottom of the tab adjacent the image area and to the top of the tab at the opposite strap end, these tabs are naturally usable when the strap end of the wristband is brought underneath the image area, so that the adhesive coated tab surfaces face each other or some other part of the wristband, thereby ensuring that the wristband is wrapped properly around the wrist to not cover or obscure the printed information. Stated another way, it is natural to not wrap the strap end over the top of the printed area in this design while it was not intuitively obvious which end wrapped under the other in the earlier design as both ends looked the same. This asymmetrical design thus helps to eliminate any possible confusion about how to apply the wristband to the patient's wrist.

By making one lamination panel shorter than the other, space adjacent to the shorter lamination panel is freed for another die cut in the lamination ply to define a wristband extender. Actually, preferably, the die cut defining the wristband extender is within the “profile” of the wristband in that in it fits within the height and width of the overall dimensions of the wristband, thus not extending either of the height or width of the wristband area of the form. This ensures that no “real estate” is lost which might encroach on the label area to reduce the number of labels in the single sheet business form.

The image area of this invention is preferably releasably adhered to its lamination panel so that another label may be conveniently substituted for it before it's laminated, thereby making the wristband more versatile. Furthermore, when the wristband is separated from the form and laminated, the wristband forms an ovoid which helps the laminated image area stay centered atop the patient's wrist. This is facilitated by making the image area shorter than the circumference of the typical adult patient wrist.

This inventive wristband design may also be provided in a separated image area format, thereby providing two (or more) separate image areas. Along with this feature, a number of “special precautions” labels may be provided, die cut into the lamination ply and possibly colored, which increases the flexibility of the wristband for use on patients subject to those special situations.

While the principal advantages and features of this invention have been briefly summarized above, a fuller understanding may be attained by referring to the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The business form100of the present invention is depicted in the plan view ofFIG. 1as being preferably a “page” which can measure any standard or non-standard size, shown nominally in an 8½ inch by 11 inch size format for purposes of illustration only. However, the business form of the present invention may be provided in other sizes such as A4, 11×17 inches, etc. Also, the wristband area114may be separately provided in sheetlet format105such as by separating the wristband area along the line of perforation120or as depicted inFIG. 7, or a page sized business form107may be provided with multiple wristbands and without labels or a label area as depicted inFIG. 8. The wristbands116and wristband extenders126may be of either embodiment, as depicted inFIG. 2and as explained below in greater detail.

The business form100of the present invention is preferably a two ply form with an upper face ply102adhered with a pattern adhesive to a lower laminate ply104. The face ply depicted inFIG. 1comprises an upper label area106having a matrix108of self adhering labels110defined by a plurality of die cuts112as is known in the art and a lower wristband area114including a self laminating wristband116defined by a plurality of die cuts118in both plies102,104, said upper label area106being separated from the lower wristband area114by a line of perforation120. Each label110may be individually removed from the form100and, once printed with identifying information, separated and applied to charts, etc. to identify their association with a patient. The wristband116includes an imaging area122defined by a die cut118in the face ply102which is releasably adhered to an underlying laminating portion124(seeFIGS. 3,4) defined by a die cut in the laminate ply104. Also depicted is a wristband extender126defined by a die cut128in the laminate ply104.

In the first embodiment depicted inFIGS. 1,3,4,5,7, and8the wristband116includes a laminating portion124comprised of a pair of different length laminating panels127,128, with panel127being sized to merely overlap and laminate the imaging area122after separation of the wristband116. By “merely laminate” is meant that the panel127is sufficient to approximate the dimensions of the imaging area122, and preferably although not absolutely necessarily slightly larger in each dimension so as to form a window frame pattern completely surrounding and encapsulating the imaging area122when laminated. An integrally formed, adhesive coated tab130extends from opposing ends of the two laminating panels127,128which are used to apply the wristband116to a patient's wrist or other appropriate extremity. The extended length of laminating panel128effectively forms a strap129which bridges the laminated imaging area122to the associated tab130. Preferably, a fold line132separates the two laminating panels127,128to aid in folding the shorter top panel127over to laminate the imaging area122after separation of the wristband116from the wristband area114. Ignoring the tabs130, the panels126,128are substantially aligned at their left ends so that the imaging area122is properly laminated when the panels are folded along the fold line132. As its preferred embodiment, the imaging area122may be approximately 4¾ inches long, laminating panel127may be approximately 5 inches long, and laminating panel128approximately 7⅞ inches long, ignoring the tab130length. These are approximate dimensions and one of ordinary skill might adjust these and yet remain within the scope of the invention, keeping in mind the overall inventive concept of having a reduced size imaging area/laminating panel to achieve an asymmetrical wristband shape. Protective patches of face ply134covering the tabs130and wristband extender126may be die cut in the face ply102to be removed with the wristband116and wristband extender126as they are separated from the business foam100and peeled off to expose the underlying adhesive coating when they are applied to a patient.

The imaging area122is “edge justified” to the longer laminating panel128, meaning that the imaging area122is proximate the left edge of the laminating panel128to which it is releasably adhered, with only a narrow portion of laminating panel128overlapping its end so that upon lamination a seal is created between the two laminating panels127,128to completely encapsulate the imaging area122. “Edge justified” is satisfied should the imaging area122be merely proximate the edge of the laminating panel128. For example, the imaging area122could also line up with the left edge or be spaced back somewhat further away from the left edge of the laminating panel128, it only be required that a significant gap of laminating panel128not be exposed at its left edge which would materially reduce the amount of imaging area available to receive printed information. For example, one could choose to place a self adhering tab adjacent the laminating panel to which the imaging area is adhered. If that were done, the imaging area would still be considered as “edge justified” as the tab would be considered a non-laminating part of the laminating panel. Similarly, one could choose to “edge justify” the imaging area to the right side of a laminating panel. This arrangement would also be considered as “edge justified” but to the right side, while the version depicted and described herein could be considered as left edge justified. It is noted that the left edge justified imaging area/laminating panel arrangement depicted and described herein is best suited for linear directional printing of information on the imaging area. Furthermore, as described in the preferred embodiment, the tab130adjacent the laminating panel127is oriented so that upon separation of the wristband116from the form100, and folding panel127over panel128to laminate the imaging area122, the glued side of tab130faces away from the printed surface of the imaging area122. This orientation helps prevent inadvertent and incorrect wrapping of the strap.

The shorter laminating panel127provides the “real estate” in the lamination ply102and within the profile of the wristband116for die cut125to define the wristband extender126so that the full matrix108of labels110may be provided on the page size business form100. In other words, with this inventive design, the wristband extender126is provided without increasing the width or height of the wristband area114, thereby keeping it within the boundaries of a “standard” page size. This facilitates it being capable of use with existing installations with printing set up to print the earlier wristband design, but which now provides the added advantage of a wristband extender.

FIG. 5depicts the layer of silicone136applied to the wristband area114of the business form100, with a full layer applied to just beyond the periphery of the lamination portion124to facilitate its separation from the laminate ply104, and a partial layer (approximately 30% @ 75 LPI) separating the imaging area122from its associated laminating panel128to thereby releasably adhere it. Thus, the imaging area122readily separates with the laminating portion124but may then be later peeled off to allow for substitution of another label or the like. The layer of silicone applied to the label matrix108is known to those of skill in the art as appropriate for self adhering labels, and is not depicted to provide clarity for the silicone layers depicted in the wristband area114.

FIGS. 2 & 6depict a second embodiment including a pair of separated imaging areas138,140with the left imaging area138providing space for printing the usual patient/Doctor information and the right imaging area140providing space for one or more special precautions labels142to be adhered. These special precautions labels142are defined by die cuts144in the laminate ply104and may be separated therefrom and applied to the imaging area138after separation of the wristband116from the business form102and before lamination so that they become virtually permanently affixed and resistant to tampering. These special precautions labels140may be color coded to help attract the attention of health care professionals as they treat the patient. Also, another set of die cuts146may be applied to the tabs130to make them tamper evident should a patient remove his/her wristband and reapply it without authority, such as when patients might seek to swap wristbands.

Various changes and modifications to the invention as illustrated by the preferred embodiments disclosed and claimed herein may be made by those of skill in the art and yet be within the teaching of the invention, which should be limited solely by the scope of the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.