HK1117017B - Patient identification products, wristbands, anklebands, identification cards and labels - Google Patents

Description

Patient identification product, wristband, ankle strap, identification card and label

Technical Field

The present invention relates to patient identification products, including wristbands, anklebands, identification cards and labels.

Background

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are deeply aware of problems associated with improper patient identification and tracking. These problems involve careful and correct identification of the sample taken from the patient for analysis, and careful patient dosing for administration. For infants, these issues also relate to properly matching parents to the correct infant.

Typically, identification bands for the wrist and/or ankle are applied to the patient as part of the hospitalization procedure. Typical identification bands are printed with the name of the patient and other relevant data, and sometimes with a machine-readable bar code. The bar code and at least some other data on the identification bracelet may also be printed on a label that is used periodically during the patient's stay in the healthcare facility. For example, the labels may be used in a file that constitutes a chart relating to patient care. A label may be used with the specimen collection tube and the results of the diagnostic test performed on the collected specimen will be transmitted physically or electronically based on the data printed on the label. Typically, doses of medication are prepared by medical or pharmaceutical personnel and may be placed in containers having a label with a bar code. The healthcare worker may carry a bar code reader and, to ensure consistency, the drug container and patient identification band will be scanned prior to administration. The patient's identification band will also be examined, either by eye or by machine, prior to any medical procedure.

The information printed on the patient identification band and the information printed on the label associated with the patient identification band are typically stored on a computer memory. The patient's identification band and the label associated with the identification band are printed with a printer associated with the computer. The printer may be an ink jet printer, a laser printer or the like. Thus, the identification band should be made in a manner that ensures efficient processing by the printer.

Identification bands and other identification materials used in healthcare facilities can be exposed to liquids and can withstand physical contact. The printed information must remain readable despite periodic wetting and contact. Thus, some identification bands are laminated structures in which a transparent plastic overlay is secured to a substrate having printed indicia. Laminated identification bands can require complex, time-consuming operations by health care workers.

Some patients remain in the health care facility for a long period of time, and many of these patients have sensitive skin. For example, premature infants may spend weeks or months in a healthcare facility while they are monitored, fed, and treated. A significant portion of this stay may be in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Usually these small infants are not distinguishable from each other with their eyes and they are not self-identifying. Additionally, infants in neonatal intensive care units may have specific feeding and dosing requirements of the treatment regimen, depending on their own individual debilitating conditions. Therefore, correct identification is necessary. However, due to the thickness and stiffness of the material, conventional identification bands are quite stiff and may easily irritate the skin of a small baby. Skin irritation or abrasion may require treatment and may complicate the prolonged stay of the premature infant in the neonatal intensive care unit. Similar problems may occur with elderly patients who may need to stay in a healthcare facility for an extended period of time.

Health care facilities are also concerned with safety in and around obstetrical units and neonatal intensive care units. Thus, many hospitals require parents to wear a bowl strap that corresponds to the identification strap worn by the infant. These parent wristbands control the number and identity of people the infant will see and address the safety issues of the healthcare facility. The parent's wristband is desirably printed automatically with information stored in the computer, and most preferably at the same time as the infant's identification band. As RFID technology has evolved and become mainstream, its application in identification bands has enabled tracking of patient position and movement within the institution, as well as dynamic collection and storage of other relevant information, increasing security.

Based on the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an identification band that can be comfortably worn by a patient for an extended period of time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an identification band that is well suited for infants, particularly premature infants, as well as elderly patients.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an identification band that can withstand exposure to moisture and contact without affecting the ability to read, optically scan, or the like information present thereon by RF.

Yet another object is to provide an identification assembly for printing several identification tools simultaneously, including at least one of a wrist strap or an ankle strap.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an identification band that can be easily applied and used by health care workers.

Summary of The Invention

The present invention relates to an identification band (identification band) adapted to carry and display indicia and to be worn on the wrist or ankle of an infant or other person. The identification band is made of a thin, flexible layer of woven fabric material and is preferably made of a material that will permanently and clearly display indicia imparted thereon by a commercially available printer such as a laser printer, ink jet printer, thermal printer or the like. The woven material is preferably a woven synthetic fiber, such as polyester or nylon. In addition, the woven fabric may be impregnated with a compatible synthetic material that will substantially fill the interstices between the woven fibers of the fabric, thereby forming a substantially continuous and smooth surface for receiving and displaying printed indicia. The synthetic material impregnated into the woven fabric may be polyester, styrene, acrylic or other compatible organic type material. The identification band according to the invention is preferably sufficiently thin and flexible to avoid irritation of sensitive skin. For example, sheet materials having a thickness of about 3.0-6.0 mils are preferred, and most preferably, the material has a thickness of about 4.0 mils.

The identification band according to the invention is particularly suitable for infants, children, but especially for premature infants who will stay in the health care facility for days, weeks or months. The narrow width band is particularly well suited for the small wrist or ankle of an infant. However, the narrow band may not be of sufficient size to receive all of the required identification information. As a result, the identification band includes a narrow strip (strap) and an identification panel (identification panel). The strap is wide enough to provide the required strength and prevent puncturing into the wrist or ankle of the patient. In addition, the strip is preferably wide enough to prevent tangling during normal use. A strip of about 1cm is sufficient for these purposes. The identification panel is wide enough and long enough to accommodate identification indicia that may be needed. For example, an identification panel having a width of about 2-3cm and a length of about 5cm is large enough to convey the desired indicia with the appropriate size and definition. Preferably, the identification panel is integral with one longitudinal end of the strip and preferably does not contain sharp corners. The identification panel includes an upper surface having identification indicia printed thereon, and an opposing rear surface. The back surface does not require printing of identifying indicia.

The identification band may further comprise a flap integral with the identification panel along a line of attachment, said line of attachment preferably being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the band. The flap is preferably the same size and shape as the identification panel and has opposing top and back surfaces. The upper surface of the flap may be printed with the same or additional identifying indicia as the upper surface of the identification panel.

A pressure sensitive adhesive layer is applied to the back surface of the flap and/or the back surface of the identification panel. In this configuration, the strap may be looped such that a portion of the strap is placed in face-to-face engagement with the rear surface of the identification panel. The flap is then folded such that the back surface of the flap overlaps the back surface of the identification panel and a portion of the strap is sandwiched between the identification panel and the back surface of the flap. Adhesive applied to the rear surface of the flap and/or the identification panel will hold the strap securely in its looped condition, forming a continuous identification band. Although the strap is suitably narrow for the infant, the identification panel is large enough to carry the required identification indicia. In addition, the identification indicia on the flap will ensure that the identification data is easily read even if the identification band is slightly entangled when worn. RFID HF or UHF inlays (such as the UHF of texas instruments Tag it or Avery Dennison) may also be embedded during manufacture, either between laminate layers or separate from the tape to which the inlaid label will be affixed prior to folding, thereby ensuring that the inlay is safely, securely and permanently located between folds or over folds. In addition, the compressible nature of the woven fabric provides a protective cushion around the RFID to help it resist damage and can be made waterproof to further protect the identification band or RFID inlay.

An important aspect of the present invention is the ability to effectively and reliably print the identification band in a laser printer, thermal, ink jet printer, or other commercially available printing device. Printers operate best when the printed sheet is relatively thin and has uniform thickness and coplanarity across the length and width of the sheet. Sheets that are too thick may not feed well on many machines, while sheets that do not have coplanarity throughout may jam in the paper feed mechanism of the printer.

Preferably, the identification band of the present invention is part of a laminate assembly comprising a face sheet and a backing sheet. The panels are made of the above-mentioned woven fiber sheets such as polyester or nylon. The panel has an upper surface on which indicia are printed and a rear surface on which indicia are not desired. The backing sheet may be made of a paper material having opposing upper and rear surfaces. The upper surface of the back sheet is at least temporarily protected in face-to-face engagement with the rear surface of the face sheet.

At least one row of die cuts (die cuts) is provided to the face sheet to define a preferred shape of the identification band. The die cuts are dimensioned to retain the identification band as part of the entire panel as the laminate assembly is processed through a printer.

A large portion of the rear surface of the panel may have a thin layer of pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto. Preferably, however, no adhesive is applied to the portion of the rear surface of the panel that will define the strip of the identification band. The upper surface of the backing sheet preferably has a thin release coating applied to a portion of the backing sheet that will coincide with the identification panel and flap of the identification band. However, the release coating is preferably placed at a distance inward from the periphery of the backing plate. The backing sheet further includes an array of low tack adhesive, release (peel) layers or dry release coatings on portions of the top surface of the backing sheet that will coincide with the bands of identification bands. The low tack adhesive will releasably secure the strip of identification tape to the backing sheet as the laminate assembly is processed through a printer. However, the tape may be easily separated from the low tack adhesive, release layer, or dry release coating, and the low tack adhesive or the like will not be transferred to the tape.

The laminate assembly may include a card bearing indicia that may be placed into or affixed to a mounting frame on a crib, incubator, bassinet, bed or the like using a removable pressure sensitive adhesive to identify the patient and/or his/her treatment area. Those portions of the back surface of the face sheet corresponding to the identification card may have a pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto, and the opposing back sheet upper surface preferably has no release coating applied thereto and no low tack release or dry release coating. Thus, to increase structural support and integrity, the identification card defined by the face sheet will be substantially permanently secured to the corresponding portion of the back sheet. Embodiments having an identification card preferably contain die cuts that extend through the face sheet and back sheet along the periphery of the identification card.

The laminate assembly may further define at least one adhesive-backed label that may be applied to a bottle of milk or a formulation. The label is defined by an array of die cuts on the face sheet. Patient identification indicia may be printed on the upper surface of the face sheet in the area bounded by the array of die cuts defining the label. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to those portions of the back surface of the panel corresponding to the label. The release coating is preferably applied to the upper surface of the backing sheet opposite the label. With this construction, the label can be removed from the remainder of the face sheet along the die cut and peeled away from the backing sheet. The label can then be secured to a substrate such as a bottle.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a laminated sheet assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the face plate shown in fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet assembly showing the identification band in the process of being removed.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the identification band prior to being formed into a loop.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the identification band of FIG. 4 in the planar orientation

Fig. 6 is a top view of the identification band after being formed into a loop but prior to being placed in its final state.

Fig. 7 is a top view of the identification band in one possible final state.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the identification band of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an identification band placed in another possible orientation on a patient.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the identification band of FIG. 9 in its fully assembled condition.

Fig. 11 is a top view of a laminated sheet assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the sheet assembly showing an alternative identification band during removal.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of a further alternative identification band in the planar orientation.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

A plate assembly according to the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in fig. 1. The panel assembly 10 includes a face panel 12 and a back panel 14. The panels 12 are substantially rectangular and are preferably made of a woven material, such as polyester, which has been impregnated with a compatible filler, such as polyester or nylon. The filler is applied sufficiently to form a relatively smooth continuous surface that will accept and retain the printed indicia. The face sheet 12 preferably defines a thickness of about 5 mils.

A plurality of identification bands 20 are defined on the face sheet 12 by a corresponding plurality of die cut arrays 22. The die cut array 22 may be die cut, laser cut, or otherwise made to extend through the face sheet 12 at a plurality of spaced apart locations on the face sheet. The particular size of the die cut array may vary depending on the characteristics of the woven material forming the face sheet 12. However, the die cut array 22 should be prepared to allow the identification band 20 to be separated from the face sheet 12 without requiring excessive manipulation or force and without tearing the identification band 20 or adjacent areas of the face sheet 12. In a preferred embodiment, each die cut is a continuous die cut around the entire periphery of all of the tapes, cards or labels. The length of each die cut and the length of the space between die cuts (tie) will vary depending on the characteristics of the material forming the panel 12.

Each identification band 20 includes a strap 24, an identification panel 26, and a flap 28. The strip 24 has a width of about 1.0cm and a length of about 18-24 cm. The identification panel 26 is generally an ellipse or rectangle with rounded corners that define a radius of about 0.75-1.50 cm. The rounded corners are unlikely to irritate the skin and the risk of tearing is minimized when the identification band 20 is separated from the remainder of the panel 12. The identification panel 26 is large enough to display the desired information. The preferred identification band has a length of about 5.0cm and a width of about 2.0-3.0 cm. The strap 24 extends substantially symmetrically from the narrow end of the identification panel 26. The flap 28 is integrally connected to the identification panel 26 along a fold line 30, the fold line 30 being aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strap 24. The fold line 30 is shorter than the identification panel 26 and the flap 28 and terminates at a well-defined concave point to facilitate accurate folding.

The face sheet 12 of the illustrated embodiment further includes an identification card 32 formed from a die cut array 34. The identification card 32 is generally rectangular but includes a projection extending from one of its long sides.

The panel 12 includes an upper surface 36 as shown in fig. 1 and an opposite rear surface 38 as shown in fig. 2. The upper surface 36 of the panel 12 is printed with patient-specific indicia at locations corresponding to the identification panel 26, flap 28 and identification card 32.

The back surface 38 of the face sheet 12 is provided with a thin layer of adhesive 39 that is applied to substantially all of the area of the back surface 38 except for areas of the back surface 38 that are located within portions of the die cut array 22 that define the bands 24 of the identification band 20. The pressure sensitive adhesive 39 has a composition that will remain stable and non-flowing when subjected to temperatures as high as 300F to 400F to facilitate printing of the sheet assembly 10 in a laser printer or other high temperature printing device. The adhesive 39 should also not readily degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light. In this regard, exposure to ultraviolet light should not yellow or lose the tackiness of the adhesive during normal use of the components of the panel assembly 10. One such adhesive is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,216, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A preferred adhesive is P32 hot melt adhesive, available from Avery Dennison Corporation. The pressure sensitive adhesive 39 will typically have a thickness in the range of about 0.25 to 2.0 mils.

The back plate 14 is substantially rectangular and conforms to the size and shape of the face plate 12. The backing sheet 14 may be any flexible paper or film. Preferably, however, the backing sheet 14 is a sheet of paper having a thickness selected so that the sheet assembly 10 can be efficiently processed by a conventional sheet-fed printer, such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer. Currently available printers can process paper having a thickness of 15 mils or less. A backing sheet of 2 to 6 mils thickness will provide sufficient support to the sheet assembly 10 while still allowing for efficient processing by conventional printing apparatus. The backing sheet 14 has an upper surface 40 as shown in fig. 1 and 3 and an opposing rear surface (not shown). A release coating 42 is applied to an area of the upper surface 40 of the backing sheet 14 that will coincide with the identification panel 26 and the flap 28 (register). The release coating is preferably a conventional silicone composition, but other release compositions such as fluorinated or amine based release compositions may be used. The release coating 42 may be very thin, for example, in the range of about 0.1 to 0.5 mils. Additionally, a low tack adhesive, a separation or cleaning release layer 44, is applied to an area of the upper surface 40 of the backing sheet 14 that will coincide with the strip 24 of the identification band 20. The low tack adhesive 44 may extend continuously in an opposing relationship to the tape 24. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the low tack adhesive 44 is applied at spaced apart locations along the length of the tape 24. The size of each discrete area of low tack adhesive 44 on the upper surface 40 of the backing sheet 14 is greater than the size of the spaces between the portions of low tack adhesive 44. Such spacing is selected to ensure that the tape 24 will be retained on the backing sheet 14 as the assembly 10 is processed through the printer. However, the extent and nature of the low tack adhesive release or clean release area 44 should not result in the tape 24 being difficult to separate from the backing sheet 14. In addition, the spacing between the low tack adhesive release or clean release areas 44 should not cause significant surface discontinuities on the laminate 10 to the extent that coplanarity of the laminate 10 may be compromised. The area of the upper surface 40 of the backing sheet 14 spaced from the identification band 20 is free of the release coating 42 and free of the low tack adhesive to separate or clean the release layer 44.

The backing sheet 14 further includes a row of die cuts 46 that will substantially coincide with the die cuts 34, the die cuts 34 defining the identification cards 32. Thus, the die cuts 46 on the backing sheet 14 define an identification card support layer that conforms to the size and shape of the identification card 32.

The rear surface 38 of the face sheet 12 may be coincident with and secured to the upper surface 40 of the back sheet 14 to form the sheet assembly 10. The sheet assembly 10 may then be processed through a printer, such as a laser printer, thermal or ink jet printer, to print patient-specific indicia on at least the identification panel 26 and the identification card 32 of each identification band 20. Patient-specific indicia may also be printed on those portions of the upper surface 36 of the panel 12 that define the flap 28.

The identification band 20 is used as follows: the laminate assembly 10 is bent about the identification band 20 such that the strip 24 or identification panel 26 is separated from the surrounding area of the face sheet 12 outside of the die cut array 22. Thus, the face sheet 12 will be separated along the die cut array 22. Because the release coating 42 is applied to the portion of the upper surface 40 of the backing sheet 14 that coincides with the identification panel 26 and the flap 28, the identification panel 26 and the flap 28 can be easily peeled from the backing sheet 14. The health care worker then continues to pull on the identification panel 26, separating the strap 24 from the remainder of the face sheet 12 and peeling the strap 24 from the backing sheet 14, as shown in fig. 3. The die cut array 22 causes the strips 24 to separate completely without requiring excessive force or tearing. In addition, the portion of the lower surface 38 of the face sheet 12 corresponding to the strip 24 is free of adhesive thereon, and the low tack adhesive region 44 does not significantly impede the intentional peeling of the strip 24 from the backing sheet 14.

The fully separated identification band 20 may be wrapped around the wrist or ankle of the patient and placed in face-to-face engagement with a portion of the rear surface 38 defining the identification panel 26 along a portion of the upper surface 36 of the strap 24. The adhesive on the back surface 38 of the identification panel 26 will maintain the adjacent area of the strap 24 in face-to-face engagement with the identification panel 26. This positioning is done in order to ensure that the identification band 20 does not inadvertently slip off the wrist or ankle while avoiding a tight fit. The assembly is completed by rotating the flap 28 around the connection line 30 and folding the flap 28 under the identification panel 26. The connecting line 30 is shorter than the longitudinal dimension of the identically shaped identification panel 26 and flap 28. The flap 28 is then secured in face-to-face registration with the back surface 38 of the identification panel 26. Thus, the strap 24 is securely sandwiched between the identification panel 26 and the flap 28. Any excess portion of the strap 24 that may extend beyond the identification panel 26 may be trimmed.

The identification band shown in fig. 6-8 is generally similar to a wristwatch or watch band. However, the identification band 20 may be mounted to the patient such that the identification panel 26 and flap 28 define a flag as shown in fig. 9 and 10. In this regard, the rear surface 38 adjacent the free end of the strap 24 is placed on the rear surface of the identification panel 26. The flap 28 is then rotated about the attachment line 30 and into secure face-to-face registration with the rear surface 38 of the identification panel 26. Thus, the strap 24 is securely sandwiched between the identification panel 26 and the flap 28. However, the identification panel 26 and flap 28 extend laterally from the wrist or ankle of the patient in a manner more like a banner. The flag arrangement of the identification panel 26 and flap 28 is easier to implement and in many cases easier to read.

The identification band 20 is soft and flexible so as not to cause irritation to the skin of a patient, such as a premature infant that may need to be monitored, fed, and treated in a health care facility for an extended period of time. However, the soft, flexible woven identification band 20 exhibits excellent strength and is unlikely to tear under the applied forces during normal use. The strap 24 is wide enough to be deployed in face-to-face engagement with the patient's skin without twisting. The identification panel 26 is large enough to carry all of the required indicia. In addition, the synthetic woven material of the identification band 20 will retain the printed indicia applied thereto despite exposure to liquid and/or contact.

The plate assembly 10 shown in fig. 1-3 is but one of many optional plate configurations. An alternative plate assembly is generally identified by the numeral 50 in fig. 9. The panel assembly 50 includes a face panel 52 and a back panel 54. The panel assembly 50 includes a plurality of identification bands 60 that are substantially identical to the identification bands 20 illustrated and described with respect to fig. 1-8. Thus, each identification band 60 is defined by the die cut array 62, forming a strap 64, an identification panel 66, and a flap 68. The portion of the rear surface of the panel 52 that is aligned with the strip 64 is free of coating thereon. However, the remainder of the rear surface of the face sheet 52 is coated with the pressure sensitive adhesive described above. The portion of the upper surface of the backing sheet 54 that coincides with the identification panel 66 and the strip 68 has a release coating applied thereto. The portion of the backing sheet 54 aligned with the strip 64 has a low tack adhesive applied thereto.

The board assembly 50 differs from the board assembly 10 by including a plurality of individual identification cards 70, 72, and 74. In this embodiment, the identification card 70 is shaped to be insertable into a slot-like receptacle on an incubator for premature infants. The identification cards 72 and 74 are sized and shaped for insertion into pockets formed in the folder covers and folder spines, respectively. The folder may then be used to retain records for a particular patient. As with the first embodiment, those portions of the backing sheet 54 that coincide with the identification cards 70, 72, and 74 do not have a release coating and low tack adhesive applied thereto. Thus, the face sheet 52 and the back sheet 54 are permanently adhered to each other by the identification cards 70, 72, and 74. In addition, a substantially coincident array of die cuts extends through the face sheet 52 and the backing sheet 54 along the periphery of each of the identification cards 70, 72, and 74. Thus, each identification card 70, 72, and 74 may be separated from the plate assembly 50 with the back plate 54 secured to the face plate to provide sufficient support for the identification cards 70, 72, and 74.

The sheet assembly 50 also differs from the sheet assembly 10 in that a plurality of labels 78 are provided. The label 78 is printed with identifying indicia to identify, for example, the patient and the date. Each label 78 is defined by a continuous die cut array 80, the die cut array 80 having dimensions comparable to the die cut array 22 of the first embodiment. Thus, each label 78 may be separated from the remainder of the panel 52. A portion of the rear surface of the face sheet 52 corresponding to each label 78 has a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive thereon. The portion of the upper surface of the backing sheet 54 coinciding with each label 78 has a release coating applied thereto that is substantially the same as the release coating coinciding with the identification panel 66 and flap 68. Thus, the label may be separated from the remainder of the sheet assembly 10 and applied to a substrate such as a milk bottle or a formulation bottle.

An alternative plate assembly is illustrated in fig. 12 and is generally identified by the numeral 110. The plate assembly 110 is substantially identical to the plate assembly 10 illustrated and described above. Specifically, the panel assembly 110 includes identification bands 120, each of which includes a strap 124, an identification panel 126, and a flap 128. In addition, an RFID inlay 130 is affixed to the flap 128. Alternatively, the RFID inlay 130 may be secured to the identification panel 126. With either of these options, when the identification band is installed on the patient, the identification band will contain an RFID inlay 130 secured between the identification panel 126 and the platform 28. Fig. 12 also shows an RFID tag 132. As shown in fig. 13, an RFID label 132 may be applied between the identification panel 26 and the flap 28. Alternatively, the RFID tag 132 may be applied to the exterior of the identification panel 26 or the flap 28 such that the electronic portions (electronic aspects) of the RFID tag 132 are located beneath the portion of the RFID tag 132 defined by the panel 12. In all of these embodiments, the RFID inlay 130 or the electronic portion of the RFID tag 132 is securely, and permanently contained within the identification band 20 or 120. These optional designs allow for reliable tracking and monitoring of the patient as the patient moves through the healthcare facility. In addition, the compressible nature of the woven fabric forming the identification band 20, 120 provides a protective cushion around the RFID inlay 130 or label 132. In addition, the fabric of the identification band 20, 120 contributes to the waterproofness of the RFID inlay 130 or label 132.

Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the laminate assembly may contain only one identification band or more than the three identification bands described herein. In addition, the identification cards set forth are not required in all embodiments. Optionally, the label may or may not be included in the laminate assembly. A label may be provided for application to a document, vial or other structure. For these cases, a release coating may be applied to the upper surface of the backing sheet at a location coincident with the label. The label may be defined by a die cut array and may contain an adhesive coating applied to the back surface of the face sheet. Thus, the labels can be peeled from the backing sheet and separated from each other and from the remainder of the face sheet for application to an appropriate carrier. The embodiments described and illustrated above are intended primarily for use with infants. The present invention is particularly well suited for use by the elderly and other adults. In these cases, the identification band may be longer and wider. Still further, the identification panel and flap may be prepared separately from the strap and may effectively function as a fabric clasp for joining opposing portions of the strap in face-to-face relationship with one another. This is particularly well suited for identification band embodiments that are assembled in the form of a banner.

Claims (23)

1. A laminate assembly having a back sheet having opposing upper and rear surfaces and a face sheet having opposing upper and rear surfaces, the face sheet and back sheet being arranged such that the rear surface of the face sheet opposes the upper surface of the back sheet, the face sheet being made of woven fabric and formed with at least one row of die cuts defining an elongate strip, an identification sheet at one end of the strip and a flap connected to the identification sheet, the back surface of the face sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to at least portions corresponding to the identification sheet and the flap, the back surface of the face sheet corresponding to the strip being free of adhesive, the upper surface of the back sheet having a release coating applied to a surface area coinciding with the identification sheet and the flap, the upper surface of the backing sheet has a low tack adhesive applied to at least a portion of the upper surface of the backing sheet coincident with the tape.

2. The laminate assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the face sheet has a face layer adapted to substantially permanently receive printed indicia thereon.

3. The laminate assembly of claim 1 further comprising an array of die cuts formed on the face sheet for defining an identification card, those portions of the back surface of the face sheet corresponding to the identification card having adhesive applied thereto, portions of the backing sheet having an array of die cuts formed thereon so as to substantially coincide with the die cuts defining the identification card.

4. The laminate assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one row of die cuts formed on the face sheet for defining a label, those portions of the back surface of the face sheet corresponding to the label having adhesive applied thereto, those portions of the upper surface of the backing sheet coinciding with the label having a release coating applied thereto.

5. The laminate assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a. the elongate strip having opposing first and second ends spaced apart along a longitudinal direction;

b. the identification panel is connected to the second end of the elongated strap;

c. the identification panel extending longitudinally beyond the second end of the elongate strap;

d. the elongate strip has a first length extending along the longitudinal direction;

e. the identification panel has a second length extending along the longitudinal direction; and

f. the first length is greater than the second length.

6. The laminate assembly of claim 5, wherein:

a. the flap is offset from the identification panel in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction;

b. the elongate strip has a first width extending along the transverse direction;

c. the identification panel has a second width extending along the transverse direction; and

d. the first width is less than the second width.

7. The laminate assembly of claim 1, wherein the identification panel and the flap are about the same size and about the same shape.

8. The laminate assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate strap and the flap each extend integrally from the identification panel.

9. The laminate assembly of claim 1, wherein the identification panel includes a surface, and the laminate further includes indicia printed on the surface of the identification panel.

10. The laminate assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap includes a surface, and the laminate further comprises indicia printed on the surface of the flap.

11. The laminate assembly of claim 1 wherein the woven fabric is selected from polyester or nylon.

12. The laminate assembly of claim 1, wherein the woven fabric has a thickness of between about 3.0 mils and about 6.0 mils.

13. The laminate assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated strip has a width of between about 0.75cm and about 2.25 cm.

14. The laminate assembly of claim 1, wherein the identification panel has a width of between about 2cm and about 3cm and a length of between about 3cm and about 8 cm.

15. The laminate assembly of claim 1, further comprising a signal generating device connected to an item selected from the identification panel or the flap.

16. The laminate assembly of claim 15 wherein the signal producing device is selected from an RFID inlay or an RFID tag.

17. A laminate assembly comprising:

a. a back plate having opposing upper and rear surfaces; and

b. a panel having opposing upper and rear surfaces;

c. wherein:

i. the rear surface of the faceplate is opposite to the upper surface of the back plate;

the panel includes die cuts defining therein:

A. an elongate strip having opposite ends and a plurality of spaced apart,

B. an identification panel connected to one of said opposite ends of said elongate strip, an

C. A flap connected to the identification panel,

D. wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the identification panel and the

The flaps are on the portions of the rear surface of said panel corresponding thereto.

18. The laminate panel of claim 17, wherein the face sheet is made of woven fabric.

19. The laminate panel of claim 17, wherein a portion of the panel back surface corresponding to the elongate strip is adhesive free.

20. The laminate panel of claim 17, further comprising a release coating applied to a portion of the top surface of the backing sheet coincident with the identification panel and the flap.

21. The laminate panel of claim 17 further comprising a low tack adhesive applied to a portion of the upper surface of the backing panel coincident with the elongate strip.

22. The laminate panel of claim 17, further comprising means for generating a signal, the means being connected to an item selected from the identification panel or the flap.

23. The laminate of claim 22 wherein the signal producing device is selected from an RFID inlay or an RFID tag.