Printed identification band and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

An identification band includes an elongated member having a front face and a rear face, and having a first opening therein adjacent a first end and a series of openings therein adjacent a second end, the elongated member being formed from a material adapted to accept digital printing ink. A stud is disposed in the first opening, the stud adapted to be passed through one of the series of openings after the band is wrapped around an object. A digital image is printed on at least one of the front face and the rear face of the elongated member, the digital image being composed of digital printing ink.

1 . An identification band comprising:
 an elongated member having a front face and a rear face, and having a first opening therein adjacent a first end and a series of openings therein adjacent a second end, said elongated member being formed from a material adapted to accept digital printing ink;   a stud disposed in the first opening, said stud adapted to be passed through one of the series of openings after the band is wrapped around an object; and   a digital image printed on at least one of the front face and the rear face of said elongated member, said digital image being composed of digital printing ink.   
   
   
       2 . The band of  claim 1  wherein said elongated member has a generally rectangular outer periphery. 
   
   
       3 . The band of  claim 2  wherein corners of the generally rectangular outer periphery of said elongated member are rounded or removed in order to enhance wearer comfort. 
   
   
       4 . The band of  claim 2  further comprising perforations formed within the generally rectangular outer periphery of said elongated member, which perforations define at least one removable portion of the band. 
   
   
       5 . The band of  claim 4  wherein the at least one removable portion comprises a plurality of tabs which have printed thereon an indication of something for which the tabs are redeemable. 
   
   
       6 . The band of  claim 4  wherein the at least one removable portion comprises a removable end of said band, and wherein the removable end of said band and a main portion of said band are both printed with corresponding identifiers. 
   
   
       7 . The band of  claim 6  wherein the identifiers comprise alphanumeric strings of characters. 
   
   
       8 . The band of  claim 1  wherein said elongated member is formed from synthetic paper. 
   
   
       9 . The band of  claim 1  wherein said band is joined to at least one other band, and wherein perforations are formed therebetween. 
   
   
       10 . The band of  claim 1  wherein the first opening and the series of openings comprise weakened portions formed in said elongated member. 
   
   
       11 . The band of  claim 10  wherein the weakened portions comprise X-shaped slits created in said elongated member. 
   
   
       12 . The band of  claim 1  wherein the first opening and the series of openings comprise holes formed in said elongated member. 
   
   
       13 . An identification band comprising:
 an elongated member having a front face and a rear face, and having a first opening therein adjacent a first end and a series of openings therein adjacent a second end, said elongated member being formed from synthetic paper and having a generally rectangular outer periphery;   a stud disposed in the first opening, said stud adapted to be passed through one of the series of openings after the band is wrapped around an object;   a digital image printed on at least one of the front face and the rear face of said elongated member, said digital image being composed of digital printing ink; and   perforations formed within the generally rectangular outer periphery of said elongated member, which perforations define at least one removable portion of the band.   
   
   
       14 . The band of  claim 13  wherein corners of the generally rectangular outer periphery of said elongated member are rounded or removed in order to enhance wearer comfort. 
   
   
       15 . The band of  claim 13  wherein the at least one removable portion comprises a plurality of tabs which have printed thereon an indication of something for which the tabs are redeemable. 
   
   
       16 . The band of  claim 13  wherein the at least one removable portion comprises a removable end of said band, and wherein the removable end of said band and a main portion of said band are both printed with corresponding identifiers. 
   
   
       17 . The band of  claim 16  wherein the identifiers comprise alphanumeric strings of characters. 
   
   
       18 . The band of  claim 13  wherein said band is joined to at least one other band, and wherein perforations are formed therebetween. 
   
   
       19 . The band of  claim 13  wherein the first opening and the series of openings comprise weakened portions formed in said elongated member. 
   
   
       20 . The band of  claim 19  wherein the weakened portions comprise X-shaped slits created in said elongated member. 
   
   
       21 . The band of  claim 13  wherein the first opening and the series of openings comprise holes formed in said elongated member. 
   
   
       22 . A sheet of identification bands, said sheet of identification bands comprising:
 a sheet of material adapted to accept digital printing ink having perforations therein which define a plurality of bands, each of the plurality of bands comprising an elongated member, said sheet of material having a front face and a rear face; and   a digital image printed on at least one of the front face and the rear face of said elongated member such that said digital image spans the plurality of bands, said digital image being composed of digital printing ink.   
   
   
       23 . The sheet of identification bands of  claim 22  wherein said sheet of material is formed from synthetic paper. 
   
   
       24 . The sheet of identification bands of  claim 22  wherein said digital image comprises a continuous design, a portion of which is printed on each of the plurality of bands. 
   
   
       25 . The sheet of identification bands of  claim 22  wherein said digital image comprises a plurality of discrete designs, each of the discrete designs being printed on one of the plurality of bands. 
   
   
       26 . A method for creating identification bands, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a sheet of material adapted to accept digital printing ink;   perforating the sheet of material to create a plurality of individual bands;   creating a first opening in each the bands adjacent a first end and a series of openings in each of the bands adjacent a second end;   printing the sheet of material with a digital image to create background printing, the digital image being composed of digital printing ink; and   inserting a stud into the first opening of each of the bands and shipping the bands to a customer.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the step of perforating the sheet of material to create removable portions of the bands. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said step of perforating the sheet of material to create removable portions of the bands is performed simultaneously with said step of perforating the sheet of material to create individual bands. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said printing step comprises the step of printing a single digital image spanning the plurality of individual bands. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said printing step comprises the step of printing a digital image comprising a discrete design on each of the plurality of individual bands. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said printing step comprises the step of printing on both a front face and a rear face of the sheet of material. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said step of providing a sheet of material comprises the step of providing a sheet of synthetic paper. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the openings are created by creating weakened areas in the sheet of material. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the openings are created prior to said printing step. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the openings are created by forming perforations through the sheet of material. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the openings are created by forming perforations through the sheet of material simultaneously with said step of perforating the sheet of material to create individual bands. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the openings are created by creating holes through the sheet of material. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the openings are created subsequent to said printing step. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the step of, before said inserting step, storing the sheet of material in inventory until an order for bands having the specific background printing printed on the sheet of material is received. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein said storing step comprises the step of storing sheets of material having various designs or themes, such that a customer may choose a design or theme that most closely correlates to an event being planned. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of determining whether any foreground printing is necessary, and if so, printing foreground material on the sheet of material before said inserting step. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the foreground printing comprises at least one of an identification of tabs, identifiers and coupons. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the step of separating the plurality of individual bands before shipping the bands to the customer.