Identification tag and related identification tag system

Abstract

An identification tag and related tag system are provided for securely mounting the identification tag onto a selected wearer or object, such as mounting onto a wearer's wrist or the like. The identification tag is adapted to receive wearer-related identification and other information in human readable and/or machine readable form, and for slide-fit assembly onto an elongated flexible strap such as a wristband or bracelet for mounting onto the selected wearer or object. In one preferred form, the identification tag includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit adapted for communicating wearer-related information with a remote reader. The tag system, including the identification tag assembled with the flexible strap, is particularly useful with a small wearer or object, such as an infant, to provided a relatively extensive and relatively flat information-bearing surface area.

1 . An identification tag system, comprising: 
 an identification tag including means for receiving information associated with a specific wearer or object; and    an elongated flexible strap and related fastening means for configuring and retaining said strap in a closed loop shape of selected circumferential size wrapped about a portion of the specific wearer or object;    said identification tag being mounted onto the exterior of said strap and having a size and shape to extend beyond the width of said strap.    
     
     
         2 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  wherein said information-receiving means on said identification tag comprises an information-bearing surface area comprising an outboard presented surface of said tag, when said tag is mounted onto said strap, and further including information associated with the specific wearer or object carried on said information-bearing surface area.  
     
     
         3 . The identification tag system of  claim 2  wherein said information is printed on said information-bearing surface area.  
     
     
         4 . The identification tag system of  claim 2  wherein said information is printed on said information-bearing surface area in human readable form.  
     
     
         5 . The identification tag system of  claim 2  wherein said information is printed on said information-bearing surface area in machine readable form.  
     
     
         6 . The identification tag system of  claim 5  wherein said information in machine readable form comprises bar code data.  
     
     
         7 . The identification tag system of  claim 2  wherein said information is printed on said information-bearing surface area in human readable form and machine readable form.  
     
     
         8 . The identification tag system of  claim 2  wherein said information-receiving means on said identification tag further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit carried by said tag.  
     
     
         9 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  wherein said information-receiving means on said identification tag comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit carried by said tag.  
     
     
         10 . The identification tag system of  claim 9  wherein said tag has a multiple ply construction, and further wherein said RFID circuit is embedded within said tag.  
     
     
         11 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  wherein said identification tag comprises a relatively stiff and generally planar structure, and wherein said flexible strap comprises a comparatively soft and compliant structure.  
     
     
         12 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  wherein said identification tag has at least one slot formed therein for slide-fit reception of said strap therethrough.  
     
     
         13 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  wherein said identification tag has a pair of slots formed therein, disposed for slide-fit reception of said strap therethrough.  
     
     
         14 . The identification tag system of  claim 13  wherein said identification tag has a generally rectangular shape defining a long dimension and a short dimension, and further wherein said pair of slots are formed in said tag for slide-fit reception of said strap therethrough to orient said tag with said long dimension thereof aligned generally with a long dimension of said strap.  
     
     
         15 . The identification tag system of  claim 13  wherein said identification tag has a generally rectangular shape defining a long dimension and a short dimension, and further wherein said pair of slots are formed in said tag for slide-fit reception of said strap therethrough to orient said tag with said long dimension thereof extending generally perpendicular to a long dimension of said strap.  
     
     
         16 . The identification tag system of  claim 2  wherein a substantial portion of said information-bearing surface area on said identification tag extends laterally from said strap.  
     
     
         17 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  further including a supply of identification tags detachably interconnected to each other, and at least one processor station for applying said information to one of said identification tags, said resultant information-bearing tag being separable from said supply for mounting onto said strap.  
     
     
         18 . The identification tag system of  claim 17  wherein said supply of detachably interconnected identification tags is provided in roll form.  
     
     
         19 . The identification tag system of  claim 17  wherein said supply of detachably interconnected identification tags is provided in sheet form.  
     
     
         20 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  further including a plurality of said identification tags mounted onto the exterior of said flexible strap, each of said identification tags having a size and shape to extend beyond the width of said strap.  
     
     
         21 . The identification tag system of  claim 20  wherein at least one of said identification tags is color coded.  
     
     
         22 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  further including a related group of identification tags each including means for receiving information related to a specific group of persons or objects, and a plurality of flexible straps, each of said identification tags being detachably interconnected to each other and separable from each other for respective mounting onto said flexible straps.  
     
     
         23 . The identification tag system of  claim 22  wherein group of identification tags includes at least one relatively large tag and at least one comparatively smaller tag.  
     
     
         24 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  wherein said identification tag further includes at least one detachable label including means for receiving information associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         25 . The identification tag system of  claim 24  wherein said at least one detachable label comprises a plurality of detachable labels.  
     
     
         26 . The identification tag system of  claim 24  wherein said label comprises an adhesive-backed label.  
     
     
         27 . The identification tag system of  claim 1  further including a printable form having a first portion and a second portion, said identification tag being formed within said first form portion with said information receiving means comprising an upwardly presented printable region, and said second form portion including a plurality of adhesive-backed labels each including means for receiving information associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         28 . An identification tag for mounting onto an elongated flexible strap associated with fastening means for configuring and retaining the strap in a closed loop of selected circumferential size wrapped about a portion of a specific wearer or object, said identification tag comprising: 
 an identification tag having a relatively stiff and generally planar structure and including means for receiving information associated with a specific wearer or object; and    means for mounting said tag onto the exterior of the strap, said tag having a size and shape to extend beyond the width of the strap.    
     
     
         29 . The identification tag of  claim 28  wherein said information-receiving means on said identification tag comprises an information-bearing surface area comprising an outboard presented surface of said tag, when said tag is mounted onto the strap, and further including information associated with the specific wearer or object carried on said information-bearing surface area.  
     
     
         30 . The identification tag of  claim 29  wherein said information is printed on said information-bearing surface area.  
     
     
         31 . The identification tag of  claim 29  wherein said information is printed on said information-bearing surface area in a selected one or both of human readable form and machine readable form.  
     
     
         32 . The identification tag of  claim 31  wherein said information in machine readable form comprises bar code data.  
     
     
         33 . The identification tag of  claim 28  wherein said information-receiving means on said identification tag comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit carried by said tag.  
     
     
         34 . The identification tag of  claim 33  wherein said tag has a multiple ply construction, and further wherein said RFID circuit is embedded within said tag.  
     
     
         35 . The identification tag of  claim 28  wherein said identification tag has at least one slot formed therein for slide-fit reception of the strap therethrough.  
     
     
         36 . The identification tag of  claim 35  wherein said identification tag has a pair of slots formed therein, disposed for slide-fit reception of the strap therethrough.  
     
     
         37 . The identification tag of  claim 29  wherein a substantial portion of said information-bearing surface area on said identification tag extends laterally from the strap, when said tag is mounted on the strap.  
     
     
         38 . The identification tag of  claim 28  wherein said identification tag further includes at least one detachable label including means for receiving information associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         39 . The identification tag of  claim 38  wherein said at least one detachable label comprises a plurality of detachable labels.  
     
     
         40 . The identification tag of  claim 38  wherein said label comprises an adhesive-backed label.  
     
     
         41 . The identification tag system of  claim 28  further including a printable form having a first portion and a second portion, said identification tag being formed within said first form portion with said information receiving means comprising an upwardly presented printable region, and said second form portion including a plurality of adhesive-backed labels each including means for receiving information associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         42 . An identification tag system, comprising: 
 a supply of identification tags each including means for receiving information associated with a specific wearer or object; and    a supply of elongated flexible straps and related fastening means for configuring and retaining each of said straps in a closed loop shape of selected circumferential size wrapped about a portion of the specific wearer or object;    each of said identification tags being mounted onto the exterior of an associated one of said straps and having a size and shape to extend beyond the width of said associated strap.    
     
     
         43 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein said information-receiving means on each of said identification tags comprises an information-bearing surface area on an outboard presented surface thereof when said tag is mounted onto said associated strap, and further including information associated with the specific wearer or object carried by said information-bearing surface area.  
     
     
         44 . The identification tag system of  claim 43  wherein said information is printed on said information-bearing surface area.  
     
     
         45 . The identification tag system of  claim 44  wherein said information is printed on said information-bearing surface area in a selected one of human readable form, machine readable form, or both.  
     
     
         46 . The identification tag system of  claim 45  wherein said information in machine readable form comprises bar code data.  
     
     
         47 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein said information-receiving means on each of said identification tags comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit.  
     
     
         48 . The identification tag system of  claim 47  wherein each of said identification tags has a multiple ply construction, and further wherein said RFID circuit associated therewith is embedded within said identification tag.  
     
     
         49 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein each of said identification tags comprises a relatively stiff and generally planar structure, and wherein each of said flexible straps comprises a comparatively soft and compliant structure.  
     
     
         50 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein each of said identification tags has at least one slot formed therein for slide-fit reception of said associated strap therethrough.  
     
     
         51 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein each of said identification tags has a pair of slots formed therein, disposed for slide-fit reception of said associated strap therethrough.  
     
     
         52 . The identification tag system of  claim 43  wherein a substantial portion of said information-bearing surface area on each of said identification tags extends laterally from the associated strap, when said tag is mounted on the associated strap.  
     
     
         53 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein said supply of identification tags comprises a plurality of said identification tags detachably interconnected to each other, and further including at least one processor station for applying said information to each of said identification tags, said resultant information-bearing tags each being separable from said plurality of identification tags for mounting onto said associated strap.  
     
     
         54 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein at least one of said identification tags is color coded.  
     
     
         55 . The identification tag system of  claim 53  wherein said plurality of detachably interconnected identification tags is provided in roll form.  
     
     
         56 . The identification tag system of  claim 53  wherein said plurality of detachably interconnected identification tags is provided in sheet form.  
     
     
         57 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein said supply of identification tags comprises a related group of identification tags each including means for receiving information related to a specific group of persons or objects, said related group of said identification tags being detachably interconnected to each other and separable from each other for respective mounting onto said flexible straps.  
     
     
         58 . The identification tag system of  claim 57  wherein said related group of identification tags includes at least one relatively large tag and at least one comparatively smaller tag.  
     
     
         59 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  wherein each of said identification tags further includes at least one detachable label including means for receiving information associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         60 . The identification tag system of  claim 59  wherein said at least one detachable label comprises a plurality of detachable labels.  
     
     
         61 . The identification tag system of  claim 42  further including a printable form having a first portion and a second portion, said identification tag being formed within said first form portion with said information receiving means comprising an upwardly presented printable region, and said second form portion including a plurality of adhesive-backed labels each including means for receiving information associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         62 . An identification tag system, comprising: 
 a printable form including a first portion defining at least one identification tag adapted for mounting onto an elongated flexible strap having related fastening means for configuring and retaining the strap in a closed loop shape of selected circumferential size wrapped about a portion of a specific wearer or object;    said at least one identification tag defining an upwardly presented printable region for receiving printed information associated with the specific wearer or object; and    said printable form further including a second portion defining a plurality of detachable adhesive backed labels each including defining a printable region for receiving printed information associated with the specific wearer or object.    
     
     
         63 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  further including an elongated flexible strap having related fastening means for configuring and retaining the strap in a closed loop shape of selected circumferential size wrapped about a portion of a specific wearer or object;  
     
     
         64 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said first and second form portions are separable.  
     
     
         65 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein each of said labels comprises a peel-off label.  
     
     
         66 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said at least one identification tag defined by said form first portion comprises a plurality of identification tags.  
     
     
         67 . The identification tag system of  claim 66  wherein at least one of said plurality of identification tags is color coded.  
     
     
         68 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said at least one identification tag includes a transparent protective cover film.  
     
     
         69 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said at least one identification tag has a multiple ply construction.  
     
     
         70 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said printed information is printed onto said at least one identification tag and each of said labels in human readable form.  
     
     
         71 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said printed information is printed onto said at least one identification tag and each of said labels in machine readable form.  
     
     
         72 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said wherein said printed information is printed onto said at least one identification tag and each of said labels in human readable form and in machine readable form.  
     
     
         73 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said at least one identification tag has at least one slot formed therein for slide-fit reception of the strap therethrough.  
     
     
         74 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said at least one identification tag comprises a related group of identification tags each including means for receiving information related to a specific group of persons or objects, said related group of said identification tags being detachably interconnected to each other and separable from each other for respective mounting onto said flexible straps.  
     
     
         75 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein: 
 said first form portion comprises a first face ply defining said printable region on a front side thereof, a transparent backing sheet    underlying said first face ply, a transparent adhesive film coating on a front side of said backing sheet, and a release film coating on a rear side of said first face ply while leaving uncoated a rear side segment corresponding with said printable region;    said backing sheet further including a first segment underlying said printable region, and a second segment adjoining said first segment at one side thereof and having a size and shape substantially mirroring said first segment;    said printable region being adhered by said adhesive film to said underlying first segment of said backing sheet;    said first face ply and said backing sheet including pre-formed lines of weakness to permit punch-out separation of said printable region and said first and second segments of said backing sheet as a unit; and    said second segment of said backing sheet being foldable over a front side of said printable region to overlie and protect said printed information thereon.    
     
     
         76 . The identification tag system of  claim 75  wherein said second form portion comprises a second face ply defining said plurality of labels, a second backing sheet underlying said first second face ply, a transparent adhesive film coating on a rear side of said second face ply, and a release film coating on a front side of said second backing sheet.  
     
     
         77 . The identification tag system of  claim 76  wherein said first and second face plies comprise a common sheet.  
     
     
         78 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein: 
 said printable form comprises a face ply extending over said first and second form portions, a backing sheet underlying said face ply and also extending over said first and second form portions, an adhesive film coating on a rear side of said face ply, and a release film coating on a front side of said backing sheet;    said face ply within said first form portion defining said at least one printable first region and further defining an adjoining second region having a size and shape substantially mirroring said first region;    said face ply within said second form portion defining said plurality of labels;    said face ply including pre-formed lines of weakness to permit peel-off separation of said first and second regions as a unit; and    said first and second regions being foldable rearwardly to orient rears sides thereof in face-to-face relation thereby forming said at least one identification tag with a multiple ply construction.    
     
     
         79 . The identification tag system of  claim 78  wherein said face ply comprises a first face ply material within said first form portion, and a second face ply material within said second form portion.  
     
     
         80 . The identification tag system of  claim 78  wherein said adjoining second region comprises a second printable region.  
     
     
         81 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein: 
 said printable form comprises a face ply extending over said first and second form portions, a backing sheet underlying said face ply and also extending over said first and second form portions, an adhesive film coating on a rear side of said face ply, and a release film coating on a front side of said backing sheet to extend over said second form portion while leaving uncoated said front side of said backing sheet over said first form portion;    said face ply within said first form portion defining said at least one printable region, and said face ply within said second form portion defining said plurality of labels; and    said face ply and said backing sheet each including substantially aligned pre-formed lines of weakness to permit punch-out separation of said printable region and an underlying segment of said backing sheet as a unit defining said at least one identification tag.    
     
     
         82 . The identification tag system of  claim 81  wherein said face ply comprises a first face ply material within said first form portion, and a second face ply material within said second form portion.  
     
     
         83 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein: 
 said printable form comprises a first face ply defining said first form portion and further defining said at least one identification tag separable therefrom, said first face ply defining one side edge thereof;    a second face ply extending over said form portion, a backing sheet underlying said second face ply and defining one side edge thereof, an adhesive film coating on a rear side of said second face ply, and a release film coating on a front side of said backing sheet;    said second face ply defining said plurality of labels; and    means for connecting said one side edge of said first face ply with said one side edge of said backing sheet.    
     
     
         84 . The identification tag system of  claim 83  wherein said connecting means comprises an adhesive bead.  
     
     
         85 . The identification tag system of  claim 83  wherein said connecting means comprises a flexible web.  
     
     
         86 . The identification tag system of  claim 62  wherein said at least one identification tag defined by said first form portion further incorporates at least one detachable label including means for receiving information associated with the specific wearer or object.