Tear-resistant wristband

Abstract

A wristband is provided. The wristband includes an elongated first body, an elongated second body, and an adhesive coupling system all of which are disposed in layers. The first body, which is the upper layer has an outer surface that is a printing surface. The second body, which is the lower layer is made from a comfortable fibrous sheet material. The adhesive is disposed between the two bodies, thereby coupling the bodies together. A portion at one end of the second body, a tab portion, has a release coating on the inner surface. In this configuration, the tab can be removed and the adhesive underneath can be attached to the other end of the wristband. As the tab is part of the second body, as opposed to a separate release liner, the wristband may be disposed on a roll and passed through a label printer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wristband comprising:
 a first thin, elongated body, a second thin, elongated body, and an adhesive system;   said adhesive system having an adhesive structured to adhere to both said first body and said second body;   said first body having a first, upper surface and a second lower surface, said first body first surface being a printing surface, said adhesive disposed on said first body second surface;   said second body being a breathable fibrous sheet material, said second body having a first, upper surface, a second lower surface, said second body further having a first, elongated portion and a second tab portion;   said first body coupled to said second body elongated portion;   said first body temporarily coupled to said second body tab portion; and   whereby said tab portion acts as a removable liner for a portion of the adhesive on said first body second surface.   
     
     
         2 . The wristband of  claim 1  wherein said first body first surface and said second body second surface being substantially parallel over the length of said first body and said second body. 
     
     
         3 . The wristband of  claim 1  wherein:
 said adhesive system includes a release coating, said release coating disposed on said first surface of said second body tab portion; 
 said second body tab portion being structured to be removed, thereby exposing said adhesive on said first body second surface, said exposed portion of said first body second surface being an adhesive coupling device; and 
 said coupling device structured to be coupled to one of said first body second surface or said second body first surface. 
 
     
     
         4 . The wristband of  claim 3  wherein said adhesive system includes a primer, said primer disposed on said first surface of said second body tab portion. 
     
     
         5 . The wristband of  claim 3  wherein the only coupling device is said adhesive coupling device. 
     
     
         6 . The wristband of  claim 1  wherein said first body includes a destructible score. 
     
     
         7 . A roll of wristbands structured for use in a printing device comprising:
 a hollow, generally cylindrical core;   a plurality of elongated wristbands, disposed in series and temporarily coupled to each other;   each said wristband including a first thin, elongated body, a second thin, elongated body, and an adhesive system;   said adhesive system having an adhesive structured to adhere to both each said first body with an associated second body;   each said first body having a first, upper surface and a second lower surface, said first body first surface being a printing surface, said adhesive disposed on said first body second surface;   each said second body being a fibrous sheet material, said second body having a first, upper surface, a second lower surface, each said second body further having a first, elongated portion and a second tab portion;   each said first body coupled to an associated second body elongated portion;   each said first body temporarily coupled to an associated second body tab portion;   each said first body first surface and associated second body second surface being substantially parallel over the length of each said first body and associated second body;   wherein said plurality of elongated wristbands are wrapped about said core in a reel having a plurality of layers; and   wherein said reel does not include any substantial gaps between said layers.   
     
     
         8 . The roll of wristbands of  claim 7  wherein said first body first surface and said second body second surface being substantially parallel over the length of said first body and said second body. 
     
     
         9 . The roll of wristbands of  claim 8  wherein:
 said adhesive system includes a release coating, said release coating disposed on said first side of said second body tab portion; 
 said second body tab portion being structured to be removed thereby exposing said adhesive on said first body second side, said exposed portion of said first body second side being an adhesive coupling device; and 
 said coupling device structured to be coupled to one of said first body first side or said second body second side. 
 
     
     
         10 . The roll of wristbands of  claim 9  wherein the only coupling device is said adhesive coupling device. 
     
     
         11 . The roll of wristbands of  claim 7  wherein each said first body includes a destructible score. 
     
     
         12 . A sheet of wristbands structured for use in a printing device comprising:
 a plurality of elongated wristbands, disposed in parallel and temporarily coupled to each other;   each said wristband including a first thin, elongated body, a second thin, elongated body, and an adhesive system;   said adhesive system having an adhesive structured to adhere to both each said first body with an associated second body;   each said first body having a first, upper surface and a second lower surface, said first body first surface being a printing surface, said adhesive disposed on said first body second surface;   each said second body being a fibrous sheet material, said second body having a first, upper surface, a second lower surface, each said second body further having a first, elongated portion and a second tab portion;   each said first body coupled to an associated second body elongated portion;   each said first body temporarily coupled to an associated second body tab portion; and   each said first body first surface and associated second body second surface being substantially parallel over the length of each said first body and associated second body.   
     
     
         13 . The sheet of wristbands of  claim 12  wherein said sheet selected from the group comprising an individual sheet or a fan sheet. 
     
     
         14 . A method of making wristbands having an adhesive coupling device, at least two layers, and substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said method including the steps of:
 providing a first body material having an adhesive, said first body material being an elongated web having a first, upper surface and a second lower surface, said first body material first surface being a printing surface, said adhesive disposed on said first body material second side;   providing a second body material, said second body material being an elongated web of fibrous sheet material having a first, upper surface and a second lower surface;   applying a release coating to a plurality of discrete, spaced portions of said first side of said web of a second body material, each said portion of release coating having a first edge and a second edge;   joining said web of said first material to said web of said second material to create a joint web;   cutting said joint web so as to define a plurality of temporarily coupled wristbands;   wrapping said joint web about a core in a reel having a plurality of layers; and   wherein said reel does not include any substantial gaps between said layers.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of providing a second body material includes the step of applying at least one layer of release coating to each said tab portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said step of applying at least one layer of release coating includes the step of applying a primer to each said tab portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of cutting said joint web includes the step of cutting a lateral slit in said web of said second material at a plurality of discrete, spaced locations, each said slit being disposed adjacent the first edge of each portion of release coating. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of cutting said joint web includes the step of perforating said joint web at a plurality of discrete, spaced locations, each said perforation being disposed adjacent the second edge of each portion of release coating, the material in the space between said perforations being a wristband. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of cutting said joint web includes the step of trimming excess material from the lateral edges of said joint web. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of providing a first body material having an adhesive includes the steps of:
 providing a first body material assembly having said adhesive disposed on said first body material second side, said adhesive protected by an elongated web of a release liner; and 
 peeling said release liner from said first body material assembly. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , after said step of joining, said method includes the further step of scoring said joint web to create a distortable pattern on each said wristband. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  including the further step of applying a protective coating to at least one of said web of said first body material or said joint web. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said steps of the steps of providing a first body material, providing a second body material, and cutting the joint web include the steps of:
 providing a first body material having a lateral width greater than a wristband; 
 providing a second body material having a lateral width greater than a wristband; 
 wherein, when said first and second bodies having such a width are joined, a wide web is created; 
 axially cutting the wide web into a plurality of joint webs each having a width of a wristband.