Identification bracelet

Abstract

Identification bracelets for use in locations such as hospitals that require that the identification bracelet be easy to apply, resistant to common solvents, difficult to remove, and printable by means of a standard office printer with high resolution print that is resistant to wear and to common solvents. The bracelet is made up of a strip of material that is resistant to common solvents and that has adhesive on a single end of the side of the strip opposite the printed side. The bracelet is made by wrapping the bracelet around the extremity of the person being identified and attaching the end with the adhesive to the printed side. Some versions include tabs on the end with the adhesive. The adhesive extends to the tabs and when the end with the adhesive has been attached to the printed side, the tabs are folded under and attached to the unprinted side. The bracelet may be made from material that is printable by an office laser printer or from material that is printable by an ink jet printer that uses water-soluble inks. In the latter case, the material permits high resolution printing and renders the printing resistant to wear and to common solvents.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An identification bracelet comprising: 
 a strip of material that is resistant to common solvents and to tearing and that has a first surface that may be written or printed upon and a second surface opposite the first; and    an adhesive layer on the second surface of a single end of the strip of material.    
     
     
         2 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the adhesive is a contact adhesive.    
     
     
         3 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the adhesive layer is an adhesive that does not soften when exposed to body temperature.    
     
     
         4 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the identification bracelet is formed by securing the adhesive layer to the first surface.    
     
     
         5 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the end comprises: 
 a tab on a long side of the strip; and    the adhesive layer on the end includes the tab,    whereby the end may be attached to the first surface and the tab may be folded-over and attached to the second surface.    
     
     
         6 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 there is a plurality of the tabs and the adhesive layer on the end includes the tabs.    
     
     
         7 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 6  wherein: 
 the plurality of tabs includes tabs that are opposite each other on long sides of the strip.  
 
     
     
         8 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 writing or printing on the first surface that is done using water soluble inks is waterproof.    
     
     
         9 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 writing or printing on the first surface of the strip is resistant to other common solvents.    
     
     
         10 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a coating on the strip of material renders the writing or printing resistant to water and other common solvents.    
     
     
         11 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the strip of material accepts high resolution printing from an ink jet printer.    
     
     
         12 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the strip of material is an oriented and cross laminated polyethylene film.    
     
     
         13 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the strip of material is Valeron.    
     
     
         14 . A secure identification bracelet comprising: 
 a strip of material with a first surface that may be written or printed upon and a second surface opposite the first, the strip of material being resistant to stretching or tearing once formed into an identification bracelet;    a pair of tabs opposite each other on a single end of a strip of material; and    an adhesive layer on a second surface of a single end of the strip of material the adhesive layer including the pair of tabs.    
     
     
         15 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the strip of material is an oriented and cross laminated polyethylene film.    
     
     
         16 . The secure identification bracelet set forth in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the strip of material is Valeron.    
     
     
         17 . The secure identification bracelet set forth in  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the identification bracelet resistant to stretching or tearing when a force of up to 57 foot pounds is applied to the identification bracelet.    
     
     
         18 . The secure identification bracelet set forth in  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the strip of material has a minimum width of approximately 1 inch.    
     
     
         19 . The secure identification bracelet set forth in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the strip of material has a minimum thickness of approximately 0.0125 inches.    
     
     
         20 . The secure identification bracelet set forth in  claim 14 , wherein: 
 writing or printing on the first surface that is done using water soluble inks is waterproof.    
     
     
         21 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 20 , wherein: 
 writing or printing on the surface of the strip is resistant to other common solvents.    
     
     
         22 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 a coating on the strip of material renders the writing or printing resistant to water and other common solvents.    
     
     
         23 . The identification bracelet set forth in  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the coating further accepts high resolution printing from an ink jet printer.    
     
     
         24 . A business form comprising: 
 a face ply of bracelet material into which one or more strips suitable for forming an identification bracelet have been die cut, the strip including 
 a printable surface; and  
 an other surface with a contact adhesive disposed on a single end of the strip;  
 a liner ply disposed against the face ply, the line ply comprising: 
 an outer surface; and  
 an inner surface with a release coating allowing the face ply and liner ply to be separated.  
 
   
     
     
         25 . The business form set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 each strip further has a label associated therewith in the form, the label also being die cut into the face ply.  
 
     
     
         26 . An identification bracelet comprising: 
 a strip of material comprising a first surface for printing or writing upon and a second surface opposite the first surface, the strip of material being resistant to common solvents and to tearing and permitting high-resolution printing thereupon by an ink-jet printer;    a tab on a long side of the strip; and    an adhesive layer on a single end of the second surface of the strip of material, the adhesive layer being a contact adhesive,    whereby the identification bracelet is formed by securing the adhesive layer to the first surface of the opposite end of the strip of material and folding the tab over and attaching the tab to the second surface.