Abstract:
A wristband device which is adapted to at least partially surround a person&#39;s wrist is described which includes a clamshell joinder and a tail portion. The clamshell portion comprises a pair of similarly sized panels and may be folded over onto itself to capture a length of a wristband to complete the encircling of a wrist. It may be provided on a page sized sheet, and die cut into a laminate ply of a two ply business form, along with a plurality of self adhering labels, in any of a number of configurations, to suit any particular application, as desired by a user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 11/253,041 filed Oct. 18, 2005 (currently pending), which is a divisional of Ser. No. 10/283,777 filed Oct. 30, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,293), which is a continuation-in-part to Ser. No. 10/256,758 filed Sep. 27, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,682). 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many situations where it would be convenient to have available a way to separately identify a person, such as a health care patient, with his/her possessions or other related items with which the person needs to be associated. As this is written, the recent events of the tragedy of Sep. 11, 2001 have provided a glaring example of one such situation. In that situation, it became evident that there was no convenient way to associate people desperately in need of health care with their belongings. Even more horrifying was the need to identify body parts, tag them, and assemble some kind of data base that could be used to sort through the confusion and chaos created on that terrible day. Under those circumstances, and many other similar emergency circumstances, the health care workers and the emergency workers are under tremendous time pressure, with protective clothing such as gloves being used to avoid personal danger to themselves, to sort through what is presented to them in the way of victims needing medical attention, their possessions including valuables, and a need to communicate with their family. The environment is usually hostile, with what may be fire, flying debris, collapsing buildings, un-breathable air, etc. which makes it quite different from a usual hospital or other controlled environment and makes handling any “standard” form imminently more difficult. 
     Another aspect to the situation that must be considered is that it is not uncommon for different care takers to handle a single victim. Generally, when a victim is first attended, he is categorized for the nature and extent of his injuries. Then, in those situations where there is a mis-match between the number of victims and the number of medical personnel, the most severely injured are attended to first and the remainder are treated as time becomes available. This is routine, and an attempt to minimize loss of life in what can be a desperate situation. Thus, it is commonly required to “triage” the victims, and then identify them in some way that makes it immediately apparent to medical workers just what their medical situation is. This sounds easy, but in the chaos of these situations, even with medical personnel who are well trained, there can be lost time in this process and if a good strategy is not used for this classifying, victims can be mis-identified or their status not readily ascertainable after classification, so that the precious time of these “angels of mercy” can be needlessly wasted as they move from one victim to another. 
     This type of emergency situation creates needs that are unique, beyond the needs of a form intended for use in a clean environment available in an emergency room. As mentioned, medical personnel are usually wearing gloves and in a hurry. Thus, any form that would be used must be adapted to be easily handled with clumsy fingers. There is no time for instruction, so the form must be virtually intuitive for use. There are commonly fluids present, unfortunately most often blood and other body fluids, so the form must be protected. There needs to be a simple, fast, fool-proof way to apply the form to the victim, and his possessions, with a reliable way to link them together. There is a further need to be able to quickly collect the identifying information from the form as it is attached to a victim so he may be processed quickly and the information accurately collected. The identifying information commonly needs to be thought out in advance, and might even be pre-coded to mesh with the triage operation so that merely knowing the identifying information conveys some information about victim medical status. And, there is desirably some flexibility available in use of the form to accommodate different victim conditions. 
     Still another need exemplified by this tragedy is that of providing information to families and other loved ones. After the 9/11 event, it was well publicized that family members and others resorted to walking the streets, following any rumor, visiting geographically separated emergency medical care sites, asking for information if not finding their loved one. This itself caused much anxiety and pain amongst the survivors. While not as critical as getting information about survivors to their families, this inability to assemble information created other problems including the inability to gauge the magnitude of the tragedy. A complete list of the survivors was impossible to assemble for days, even though information was individually available by then. There just was not a convenient way to assemble this information in a common data base. Some attempts were made to use the internet, but inaccuracies abounded and the information posted there was soon being ignored, at least part due to the lack of confidence in that information. 
     To solve these and other needs in the prior art, the inventor herein has previously developed a business form as disclosed and claimed in the parent in several embodiments and a method incorporating the use of that form that have particular application to these kind of medical emergency situations. Briefly, a first embodiment of the form comprises a carrier sheet of paper stock, with a wristband/label assembly die cut thereinto for separation from the carrier sheet. The paper stock is preferably pre-printed with identifying indicia, color coded and covered top and bottom with a layer of protective coating which may preferably be a poly plastic. The wristband/label assembly may be dry adhered to a bottom layer of a carrier film so that it may be readily separated from the carrier without retaining any adhesive. The wristband portion of the assembly may have a tab on one end and a long strap portion which, to be assembled, is wrapped around an object such as a victim&#39;s wrist, looped back through a “cinch” comprising a slot in the tab and then adhered to itself by an adhesive portion at the end of the strap portion. The tab preferably has a plurality of individually separable labels die cut thereinto, with each of the labels and the wristband having an identifying indicia which may preferably be a bar code. 
     In use, the wristband/label assembly of the parent is separated from the carrier, carrying the tab filled with labels, and the strap portion. The cinch slot is die cut and formed as the assembly is separated with its filler piece adhered to remain behind with the bottom film carrier sheet. The strap portion has its end covered with a laminated bottom patch so that as it separates it carries with it a peel away covering over its end having the adhesive. After being separated from the carrier, the wristband/label assembly has a protective layer over both its top and bottom for resisting fluid contamination and the tab has a label section which may be perforated for separation from the wristband. Each of the labels are individually separable and carry the identifying indicia. The wristband may preferably be color coded, and the forms may be made in sets with multiple ones of each of a number of different colors. Alternately, color coded, perforated tabs may be provided at the end of the tab portion, such that the medical technician need only separate one or more tabs, leaving as the outside tab the correct one to visually indicate the condition of the victim. A blank tab is preferably provided at the very edge of the tab portion so that no one would mistakenly interpret the failure to separate a tab as a conscious attempt at indicating medical condition. The wristband may be readily applied by wrapping the strap portion about the person&#39;s appendage, slipping it through the “cinch” comprising the slot to tighten it about the appendage, pulling it tight, and then folding the strap portion back onto itself for attachment with the adhesive after removing the peel away covering. 
     In a second embodiment as shown and described in the parent, the wristband/label assembly is pre-printed and formed in its final configuration, with a tab/label portion and a strap portion made from preferably four layers. A top, clear film layer overlies and protects a face stock layer upon which the pre-printed information including bar codes and color “condition” codes applied thereto. A layer of adhesive then joins the face stock to a base film material, again to protect the face stock in use. In either embodiment, more than one slot, or “cinch” point, may be provided to allow for a snug fit to different sized body parts. Also, more or fewer bar coded labels, of smaller or larger size, may be selected for use to suit a designer&#39;s preferences or user&#39;s needs. 
     In the method of the parent invention, once a form has been applied to a victim, and the victim thus associated with an identifying indicia, and his possessions properly tagged, software pre-loaded into a computer may then receive as much information about the victim as is available. Items of information might include his associated color code (which would preferably be indicative of his medical condition), his name and other demographic information, his statistics such as height, weight, race, etc., more detailed information as to the nature of his injuries or condition, the location where this victim is processed, and other appropriate information. The computer may then go on-line, or be on-line, and the data set up-linked to a web site. A plurality of treatment centers could each be simultaneously processing victims, and transmitting data to the web site for ready access and display to anyone interested in learning about a victim&#39;s condition. As a victim&#39;s condition changes, updated information could be provided to the web site, although it is considered by the inventor that the method of the parent is most effective in providing early information as fast as possible to the most people. Updated information could be available more directly as a victim&#39;s family locates and goes to where treatment is being given. Security in the web site and data links would prevent any mischief from occurring which might compromise the integrity of the data such that families could rely on the information posted. 
     As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, there is unfortunately need for the parent invention given the heightened risk of terrorism that the world now faces, and along with that arises an increased need to facilitate not only the quick processing of victims but also the task of collecting and disseminating information about these victims. The parent invention addresses these needs, which in actuality are long felt needs exacerbated by our changing times. Accordingly, the foregoing provides a brief description of some of the advantages and features of the parent invention. A fuller understanding may be attained by referring to the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment of the parent which follow. 
     The inventor has taken several of the features of the parent invention and used it to build onto his prior work in the wristband art as exemplified by the following patents issued to the inventor herein, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,438,881; 6,067,739; 6,000,160; and others still pending. In his new invention, he has incorporated the “cinch” of the parent into a self laminating wristband form in a unique and non-obvious way to provide many advantages and features not hereto available. Although the present invention is exemplified in several embodiments as explained in greater detail below, each of which has its own unique advantages and features, the present wristband invention represents a departure from the construction found in the inventors prior patents. Some of the differences include the use of a single, preferably narrow, strap portion extending generally from one side of the face stock region, with the cinch comprising a slot located on either side of the face stock and either adjacent the top or bottom portion of the laminating portion that overlies the face stock. With this construction, it is thought that several advantages are obtained over the wristband construction of his prior inventions. First, in this invention the inventor uses less face stock resulting in a smaller area of the form needing to be over-laminated. In other words, in the inventor&#39;s prior wristbands, virtually the entire length of the wristband comprised face stock, all of which was over-laminated. In the present invention, preferably only a “patch” of face stock is used which does reduce the amount of space for printing but which at the same time reduces the size of the over-lamination “patch” needed. This smaller over-lamination “patch” is much easier for a nurse or other medical professional to fold over and complete the assembly, and thus apply the wristband to the patient. A related advantage is that by eliminating the face stock from the “strap portion” that surrounds the patient&#39;s wrist, this strap portion may be narrower and formed from a single layer of the lamination (with no adhesive applied). This more comfortable to the patient for several reasons. The strap is narrower, thereby being less likely to bind or press into the patient&#39;s skin as he moves his wrist in doing daily living activities. The strap is also thinner as it is formed from only a single layer and may thus be more flexible. In this construction, a thinner laminate may be used than in prior designs which increases the patient&#39;s comfort. Patient comfort is an important consideration as patient&#39;s in hospitals are generally uncomfortable to begin with, being out of their ordinary environment, and those in need of hospital care are generally infirm, older or younger such as prenatal, and their skin may be more sensitive than normal. So, this is an important design criteria. 
     Still another advantage comes through incorporation of the cinch in this design. The cinch preferably comprises a slot which may be located in one of several places in the wristband, but it offers several unique advantages. First, if need be, the cinch may be used to more easily apply the wristband to a patient as it gives the nurse a ready attachment fixture with which he/she is quite familiar, it being much like an ordinary belt worn by almost everyone, male and female. For those patients who may be uncooperative or thrashing about or otherwise resistive, applying the wristband amounts to getting the strap through the slot and after that is achieved the rest needed to be done is relatively simple. For those patients who need to be tightly banded, the cinch provides a ready means to tighten down the strap and keep it tight while the cinch and strap are adhered in place. This allows for a simpler built in adjustment in strap length than with the prior designs. The cinch may be located in one of several places in the band, and each location offers its own unique advantages. If located intermediate the face stock and the strap, the face stock is converted into a “hang tag” which hangs freely from the patient&#39;s wristband after it is applied. This aids the nurse in finding and reading the information printed on the face stock, and also makes it easier for her to read imprinted indicia on the face stock with a hand held bar code reader, for example, as the surface is flat. Also, with this arrangement, a smaller strap is readily provided for smaller wrists such as with new-born babies. If located outboard from the face stock, the face stock hugs the patient&#39;s wrist much more like a conventional wristband, and an extra area of fold over laminate may be used to adhere the strap in place, making for a more secure attachment. Either arrangement would be desirable depending on the particular application, and is left to the user&#39;s choice. 
     As alluded to above, the strap portion is adhered in one of several ways, depending on the embodiment chosen. If the cinch is intermediate the face stock and strap, the end of the strap has a patch of adhesive which is used to adhere it back onto itself after being threaded through the slot. With the cinch outboard of the face stock, an “extension” of laminate is used which may carry adhesive along with a fold line through the slot so that after the strap is threaded through the slot the extension may be folded about the fold line and “clamp” the strap in place with adhesive. This provides a second means for adhering the strap in place. 
     The face stock layer has a printable region or ply defined therein with a die cut while the lamination layer has three elements die cut in to it. The lamination layer has a strap portion, a laminating portion, and a cinch portion all die cut therein, with adhesive being applied to preferably the extreme end of the strap portion for securing the strap to itself after the wristband has been applied, adhesive applied to the lamination portion to substantially, and preferably entirely, surround and enclose the face stock printable region, and adhesive applied to a cinch portion (if located outboard of the face stock) for adhering to the strap portion after it is passed through the cinch. Adhesive may preferably be omitted from the portion of lamination that overlies the face stock to improve it&#39;s readability, both visually and for bar coding. In variations to this embodiment, the cinch, which is preferably a slot aligned generally perpendicular to the face stock, may be located in one of several places, either outboard of the face stock region or intermediate the face stock and the strap portion. When positioned outboard of the face stock, the cinch may also be located in one of two places either in an extension of the lamination adjacent a top portion or the bottom portion of the lamination portion. When positioned intermediate the face stock and strap portion, the cinch may be formed from a pair of slots located in both the top and bottom portion of the lamination portion. In this arrangement, adhesive is applied to join the top and bottom lamination portions, but it does not aid in holding the strap in position unless the nurse takes the time and is able to obtain the cooperation of the patient to thread the strap through only one of the slots before folding the lamination halves together to enclose the face stock. However, this is thought to be a less desirable attachment arrangement than first enclosing the face stock and then threading the strap through the slot. 
     As an added feature, the inventor has developed an extender which is also formed in the same two plies of material, with the extender comprising a length of laminate having a fold over or “clamshell” portion with adhesive at one end, and a patch of adhesive at its opposite end. The extender is sized preferably to be of the same width as the strap portion and is applied to the strap portion by use of the clamshell which clamps onto the strap portion and along its length, with the extender patch of adhesive serving the function of joining the strap. With the extender, the wristband may be used with larger patient&#39;s, conveniently, without being limited to the overall length of the form or carrier in which the wristband is formed. 
     In variations of these embodiments, the novel wristband of the present invention may be formed in a sheet with a plurality of self adhering, peel off labels, all of which may be printed with identifying indicia or information relating to the patient. Several wristbands of different size, or the same size, may also be formed on a single sheet, with or without labels. The extender may also be provided in any one or more of the variations, which are only limited by the perceived needs of users, and design choice. 
     While the principal advantages and features of the present invention have been explained above, a fuller understanding of the invention in all of its various embodiments may be attained by referring to the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a top view of the first embodiment of the business form of the parent invention prior to the wristband/label assembly being separated from the carrier; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the wristband/label assembly after separation from the carrier of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the wristband/label assembly applied to a victim&#39;s appendage; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of the computer system used to implement the method of collecting and displaying over the internet the victim data; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the second embodiment of the business form of the parent invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an expanded view of the second embodiment, detailing the four layers comprising the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the first embodiment of the self laminating wristband with an inset depicting an alternate location for the cinch, and an extender formed in an approximately envelope size sheetlet; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the first embodiment of the self laminating wristband and extender formed in a page sized sheet with a plurality of self adhering labels; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of a page sized sheet having a plurality of self laminating wristbands of varying lengths, and depicting an alternate construction for the wristband, coupled with a pair of ID cards; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a page sized sheet having a pair of wristbands and a plurality of self adhering labels; and 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of a page sized sheet having a pair of wristbands of alternate construction and a plurality of self adhering labels. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the first embodiment of the business form  20  of the parent invention generally includes a wristband/label assembly  22  die cut into a carrier  24  making an overall size of preferably approximately three and a half inches by seventeen inches, (3½″×17″). Generally, the business form  20  is assembled with a three web construction, with a poly laminated paper center web  26  sandwiched between a pair  28 ,  30  of thin film poly, transparent webs, and this is then dry adhered to a carrier web  31 . The poly coated paper web  26  is dry adhered to the carrier web  31  so that it may be separated therefrom along its die cut to remove the wristband/label assembly  22  from the carrier  24 . At an end of the form  20 , an adhesive  32  is applied to the single end  34  of the wristband portion  36  of the wristband/label assembly  22 . A separate patch  40 , preferably made of paper with a release coating, covers the adhesive  32 , with the webs die cut so that a portion of the patch  40  covering the adhesive  32  separates with the single wristband end  34  as it is separated from the carrier  24 . A “cinch” comprising a slot  42  is formed when the wristband/label assembly  22  is separated from the carrier  24  as a filler  44  remains adhered to the bottom web  30 . 
     The wristband/label assembly  22  of the first embodiment of the parent includes a wristband portion  36  and a tab portion  46 . The tab portion  46  preferably includes a label portion  56  having a plurality of individual labels  48 , each of which along with the body of the tab portion  46  are identified with an identifying indicia  50 , preferably a bar code. While five labels  48  are shown, it is apparent to those of skill in the art that a greater or lesser number of labels could be provided in keeping with the scope of the invention. A release layer  51  preferably underlies the labels  48  and facilitates their removal from the tab portion  46  with a layer of adhesive being carried with each label for adhering the label to any other medium, such as a chart, a tag attached to a bag of belongings such as clothes, a medicine container, etc. Preferably, the wristband portion  36  also is color coded, such as with a coloring  52  along strap portion  54  of the wristband. While any convenient color scheme as known in the art may be utilized, one such convenient scheme is to use black for deceased, red for alive and needing immediate attention for survival, yellow for alive and needing attention for recovery, and green for alive and needing attention for non-life threatening injury. Other color schemes would be apparent to those of ordinary skill, and those color schemes are within the scope of the present invention. The tab portion  46  is separated from the label portion  56  by a die cut, thereby allowing for separation of the labels from the wristband portion, should that be desired, but being retained unless intentionally detached. Each of the labels  48  is defined by a die cut, and has a layer of adhesive and an underlying release layer for easy separation of each label  48  individually from the tab portion  46 . Surrounding border members  58  may be peeled away from around the labels  48  to make it easier for them to be removed, such as when medical personnel have gloved hands or in the presence of fluids. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the wristband/label assembly may be readily applied to a victim, such as around his wrist, by separating it from the carrier, looping the strap portion around the wrist and through the cinch or slot, pulling the strap portion tight as desired, removing the covering over the adhesive applied at the single end of the strap portion, and then affixing the single end to the strap portion to complete the circle or wristband. In this manner, a victim has been color coded as to medical condition, identified with an identifying indicia such as a bar code, and a set of labels have been made immediately available to mark any other items desired to be associated with the victim such as his possessions, his medical charts, medicines being administered, or any other item as desired. 
     The second embodiment of parent is shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , and is very similar to the first embodiment except that it is not supplied as part of a sheet type construction from which it must be separated prior to use, is pre-printed, has a different arrangement for indicating medical condition, etc. As shown therein, the second embodiment is completely formed and ready for use without first being separated from a carrier, as with the first embodiment. However, it also has a strap portion  72  and a tab portion  74 . While the strap portion may also be color coded, it is preferred that a plurality of separable tabs  76  be provided, along with a dummy tab  80 , for separation from the tab portion  74  so that an observer of the applied form may be assured that a conscious effort has been made to indicate medical condition. Otherwise, the dummy tab  80  is present indicating that this feature has not be used, at least as of yet. In addition to color coding, a bar code is also preferably indicated on the individual tabs  76  with each tab  76  having a matching bar code so that the victim&#39;s condition may be also scanned into the computer or data base at the same time as the patient&#39;s ID bar code. Further information may also be provided on the tabs  76 , such as definitional information to instruct a medical technician as to the specific meaning to the various categories to help ensure consistency in marking victims despite the use of multiple and even untrained personnel. This information helps to make the present form almost self teaching as one never knows the quality or training of personnel who will be available when a medical emergency occurs. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the back of the tab portion  74  may also have additional instructing information, or a place for recordal of vital signs or other medical information such as allergies to medicine or the like. Of further note, as shown in this second embodiment is not one but two cinches  78 , comprising slots. This allows the strap portion  72  to be sized more closely to varying dimensions and thus used with a wider variety of appendages. Other similar features are also included such as the bar code labels  81 , shown arranged in two columns between the cinch slots  78 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts the four layers used to form the second embodiment, as preferred. The top layer is a web  80  of a clear protective film extending across the entirety of the form, and perforated as noted to allow for the tearing off of tabs  76 ,  80 , and with holes  82  forming the cinch  78 . The second layer is comprised of a face stock  84 , preferably pre-printed with information as desired with the majority of information contained in the form. The next layer is an adhesive layer  86 , preferably a patterned layer and release coating as known in the art as shown, which allows for the removal of tabs  86  with a layer of self adhesive for applying the bar code on ancillary items, as explained in greater detail below. The bottom layer is a web  88  of a base film material which acts to protect the bottom of the face stock web  80 . As is noted in the Figures, a patch  89  similar to patch  40  of the first embodiment is shown and which is used to attach the end of strap portion  72  and complete the wristband about the victim&#39;s appendage. More particularly, two sections of silicone  90  are shown in a side view inset in  FIG. 8 , with those sections of silicone lining up with the patch  89  and the bar code labels  81  so that upon separation they carry with them the layer of adhesive making them self adhering. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , as the victims are processed, the parent invention also contemplates that this information may be input to a computer  100 , the bar code being read in with a bar code swiper  102  or the like for preferably both of patient ID and medical condition, and then this information may be transmitted over the internet to a server  104  for collating and display at a web site. Multiple computers  102  could be readily connected to the same server  104 , as is known in the art, and handle the input from a number of medical facilities at the same time. This permits this information to be made available almost immediately as victims are processed, through the web and at remote locations, eliminating the anxiety of family members who physically search for their relatives or loved ones. 
     While the principal advantages and features of the parent invention have been illustrated through an explanation of its preferred embodiment, there are other aspects and variations of the parent invention as would be apparent to those of skill in the art. For example, rather than bar coding, other identifying indicia could be used on the form. The form could be used in other applications other than in emergency situations in the field. Rather than color coding, other coding or indicators could be used to sort victims, or they could be sorted into other categories according to differing medical categories, or coding could be dropped from the form, as desired. Other construction could be used for the form, including especially the wristband portion, such as self laminating construction and the wristband would still be protected from damage during its single use. Other means could be used to attach the wristband rather than looping a single end around and through a slot. Another form of a cinch could be used, or a different arrangement of the cinch. Still other variations would be apparent to those of skill in the art, and the parent invention is intended to be limited solely by the scope of the claims appended hereto, and their legal equivalents. 
     The present invention  100  is shown in  FIG. 9  and is depicted therein as formed in a two layer, sheetlet sized construction of about 3 inches by 11 inches. The top layer  102  is preferably a face stock, such as bond or the like as would readily accept a printed image from a laser printer or other computer controlled printer, and a bottom laminate layer  104  which underlies the face stock layer  102  and is joined by a patterned adhesive layer including portions which are release coated, as will become apparent upon further reading. The invention  100  generally comprises a self laminating wristband  106  having a printable region  108  of face stock defined by a die cut  110  therein, and an integrally formed strap portion  112 , laminating portion  114 , and cinch  116  similarly formed by a die cut  118  in the laminate layer  104 . A patch of face stock  120  is also die cut into the face stock layer  102 , and covers a patch of adhesive with which the strap portion is adhered as the wristband  106  is applied to a patient, as will be explained. The length of strap portion  112  is covered by a release coating so that after it is removed from the sheetlet  100  it does not carry any adhesive with it. The laminating portion  114  has a layer of adhesive between a top portion thereof  122  and the face stock region  108  to adhere it thereto. However, a bottom portion  124  of the laminating portion  114  has a window  126  of area where no adhesive is applied so that as the laminating portion is folded over there is no layer of adhesive covering the printable region  108 . A fold or perf line  128  if formed between the laminating portion halves  122 ,  124  as an aid in forming the wristband  106  after it is separated from the sheetlet  100 . The cinch  116  generally comprises a slot  130  formed in an extension  131  and aligned generally perpendicularly to the face stock region  108  and strap portion  112  for easy insertion of the strap portion  112  therethrough. There is also provided a fold or perf line  132  along the central axis of the slot  130  through the width of the extension  131 , and adhesive covers the extension  131  so that the extension  131  may be folded over onto the strap portion  112  after it has been threaded through the slot  130  to its desired length. The extension  131  and cinch  116  are shown to be adjacent the bottom half  124  of laminating portion  114 , which results in the adhesive layer of the extension  131  facing towards the patient&#39;s wrist as the wristband is applied. Alternatively, the extension  131  and cinch  116  may be formed adjacent the top half  122  of the laminating portion  114  as shown in the inset of  FIG. 9  and with this construction the extension adhesive faces away from the patient as the wristband is applied. With this alternative arrangement, the wristband may lie flatter against the patient, as the other arrangement creates a small tab which may or may not lie flat depending on how tight the wristband is drawn. However, this is not considered significant. 
     In use, this wristband embodiment is first separated from the carrier sheetlet by pushing down on the end of the strap and/or the die cut face stock area  108 , and peeling it away, thereby separating a matrix comprising the wristband assembly. The laminating portion  114  is then folded together to enclose the printed face stock region. The wristband is next applied to the patient&#39;s wrist by wrapping the strap about the wrist, inserting it through the cinch, folding over the extension to adhere it to the strap, and then exposing the adhesive on the end of the strap and adhering it back onto itself to secure the excess strap. The caregiver can chose the tightness of the wristband by threading more or less of the strap through the slot in the cinch before adhering the strap to the extension. 
     Also shown on the sheetlet  100  is an extender  140  generally comprising a clamshell joinder portion  142  at one end of a length of laminate layer  104  and a patch of face stock  144  covering a patch of adhesive at the other end. The extender  140  may be used to extend the effective length of strap portion  112  and is applied by adhering the clamshell portion  142  anywhere along the length of strap portion  112  and using the patch of adhesive on the extender  140  to join the strap portion  112  to itself as just described. The length of extender  140  is adhesive free, as the strap portion  112 , so that no adhesive is exposed to the patient&#39;s skin. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the wristband  106  and extender  140  may be included as part of a page sized sheet along with a plurality of self adhered labels  146 . As with previous inventions shown in the inventor&#39;s prior patents, it has been found to be desirable to print identifying information relating to a patient not only on a wristband but also on labels which may then be separately peeled off as needed to label items dedicated for use by the patient or to identify other medical items such as blood samples, tissue samples, etc. Thus there has found to be a need for the present invention configured as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , a page sized form may also be provided with a mix of wristbands  106  as well as a different embodiment of wristband  160 , which is preferably somewhat smaller in length than wristband  106 , and which has a slightly different arrangement for the cinch. As shown therein, there are two wristbands  160 , each of which has a printable face stock region  162  die cut from the face stock layer as with wristband  106 . And, a strap portion  164 , laminating portion  166  and cinch portion  168  are also die cut into the laminate layer, as with wristband  106 . However, cinch portion  168  comprises a pair of slots  170  die cut adjacent both of the top half  172  and bottom half  174  of laminating portion  166 , so that as the two halves  172 ,  174  are folded over to laminate faces stock region  162 , the slots  170  are aligned to overlie each other and create a single opening intermediate the face stock region  162  and strap portion  164 . With the cinch located in this position, several differences are noticeable. First, the wristband  160  may conveniently circumscribe a smaller circumference so that it may readily fit onto a smaller wrist, such as a baby&#39;s, as it takes the face stock region  162  and laminating portion  166  out of the loop forming the wristband. Instead, the face stock region  162  and laminating portion  166  form into a “hang tag” which essentially hangs from the strap portion  164  after the wristband  160  is applied to a patient. Note that the strap portion  164  extends from the bottom half  174  in this embodiment instead of from the top half  172  as in the first embodiment, thereby allowing the strap portion  164  to wrap around and through the cinch portion  168  and then back onto itself without passing over or obscuring the face stock region  162 . Although this wristband  160  construction is shown as being adapted for smaller wrists, it may also be used with a longer strap portion  164 , or with an extender  140 , and may be viewed as a matter of design choice. Also shown on the sheet are a pair of ID cards  176 , that are themselves self laminating, with a slot  178  for convenient attachment directly to either of the wristbands  106 ,  160 , or separately to a clip or for being carried in a user&#39;s wallet. This assemblage of wristbands and ID cards has been found to be especially useful for pediatric situations with a wristband for each parent, an ID card for each parent, and two smaller wristbands for one or two babies or children. 
       FIG. 12  depicts a sheet sized form containing two wristbands  106  along with a plurality of self adhering labels  146  which is a slightly different configuration than that shown in  FIG. 10 , but with the same inventive wristbands being used.  FIG. 13  depicts a sheet sized form similar to that shown in  FIG. 12  except that an alternative wristband  160  is used. While the inventor has found that these particular groupings of products have met with acceptance and commercial success for particular applications, other combinations of wristbands, of different construction, with or without labels or ID cards, may be found desirable as a matter of design choice. 
     The invention has been disclosed herein in several embodiments with several alternatives to the construction of the wristband of the present invention, as well as other inventive features and accessories including an extender. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various alternatives not specifically mentioned are well within the scope of the invention. Some of these alternatives include the choice of specific materials for each layer of face stock or laminate, the particular adhesive used, and other details of construction for the page sized sheet in which the wristband is formed. The particular length or shape of the strap may be varied to adapt to the particular application, the location of the patch of adhesive at the end of the strap may be changed, the point at which it extends from the laminating portion, and other arrangement details may also be considered as part of the invention. While it is considered as desirable by the inventor to not laminate the strap portion, there is no reason why it need not be laminated. The preferred embodiments disclosed herein are intended to be exemplary and not limiting as to the subject matter of the invention. Other similar, or different, changes will be contemplated and those changes are to be considered as part of this invention which should be limited only by the scope of the claims as appended hereto, and their legal equivalents.