Identification band with detachable machine-readable lables

Abstract

An improved identification band such as a wristband is provided for mounting onto a specific person or object. The improved identification band includes a primary identification zone adapted to receive human-readable and/or machine readable information as by printing and/or programming of a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit. The band further includes multiple detachable adhesive labels forming a portion of the band or alternately forming a tail end extension thereof, wherein each label is adapted to receive human-readable and/or machine readable information as by printing and/or programming of a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit. In use, such as when worn by a patient in a hospital or the like, the detachable labels are individually separable from the identification band on an as-needed basis for adherence to other objects associated with the band wearer, such as a vial containing a patient blood sample or the like.

1 . An identification band, comprising: 
 an elongated flexible strap having a head end and a tail end, and adapted for wrap-around mounting onto a specific wearer or object with said head and tail ends interconnected to form said strap into a closed loop configuration;    a primary identification zone on said strap and adapted to receive information associated with the specific wearer or object; and    a plurality of detachable labels on said strap, each of said labels being adapted to receive information associated with the specific wearer.    
     
     
         2 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said flexible strap comprises a wristband.  
     
     
         3 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said primary identification zone and each of said detachable labels is adapted to receive printed information associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         4 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said primary identification zone and each of said detachable labels is adapted to receive information in human-readable form associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         5 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said primary identification zone and each of said detachable labels is adapted to receive information in machine-readable form associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         6 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said primary identification zone and each of said detachable labels is adapted to receive information in human-readable and/or machine-readable form associated with the specific wearer or object.  
     
     
         7 . The identification band of  claim 1 , wherein said primary identification zone and at least one of said detachable labels includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit.  
     
     
         8 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said identification zone is formed on said strap between said head and tail ends thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said detachable labels are formed on said strap between said head and tail ends thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said strap further includes a tail end extension, and further wherein at least some of said detachable labels are formed on said tail end extension.  
     
     
         11 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said detachable labels comprise adhesive labels.  
     
     
         12 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said detachable labels comprise peel-off adhesive labels.  
     
     
         13 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said strap head end includes at least one fastener port formed therein, and said strap tail end includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced fastener ports formed therein, and further including a fastener member for reception through said head end fastener port and a selected one of said tail end fastener ports for interconnecting said strap head and tail ends.  
     
     
         14 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said strap includes a face ply extending at least a portion of the length thereof, and a base ply underlying and supporting said face ply, said face ply defining said plurality of detachable labels removably adhered onto said base ply.  
     
     
         15 . The identification band of  claim 14  further including an adhesive layer underlying each of said detachable labels.  
     
     
         16 . The identification band of  claim 15  wherein said adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . The identification band of  claim 16  further including a release film overlying said base ply.  
     
     
         18 . The identification band of  claim 1  wherein said primary identification zone is formed end-to-end with said detachable labels.  
     
     
         19 . The identification band of  claim 18  wherein said plurality of detachable labels are formed in end-to-end array.  
     
     
         20 . An identification band, comprising: 
 an elongated flexible strap having a head end and a tail end, and adapted for wrap-around mounting onto a specific wearer or object with said head and tail ends interconnected to form said strap into a closed loop configuration;    a primary identification zone on said strap between said head and tail ends thereof, and adapted to receive human-readable and/or machine-readable information associated with the specific wearer or object; and    a plurality of detachable adhesive labels formed on said strap, each of said labels being adapted to receive at least a portion of said human-readable and/or machine-readable information associated with the specific wearer or object;    wherein said primary identification zone and at least one of said detachable labels includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit.    
     
     
         21 . The identification band of  claim 20  wherein said flexible strap comprises a wristband.  
     
     
         22 . The identification band of  claim 20  wherein said primary identification zone and each of said detachable labels includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit.  
     
     
         23 . The identification band of  claim 20  wherein said detachable labels are formed on said strap between said head and tail ends thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The identification band of  claim 20  wherein said strap further includes a tail end extension, and further wherein at least some of said detachable labels are formed on said tail end extension.  
     
     
         25 . The identification band of  claim 20  wherein said strap includes a face ply extending at least a portion of the length thereof, and a base ply underlying and supporting said face ply, said face ply defining said plurality of detachable labels removably adhered onto said base ply.  
     
     
         26 . The identification band of  claim 25  further including a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive underlying each of said detachable labels, and a release film overlying said base ply.  
     
     
         27 . The identification band of  claim 20  wherein said strap head end includes at least one fastener port formed therein, and said strap tail end includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced fastener ports formed therein, and further including a fastener member for reception through said head end fastener port and a selected one of said tail end fastener ports for interconnecting said strap head and tail ends.  
     
     
         28 . The identification band of  claim 20  wherein said primary identification zone is formed end-to-end with said detachable labels.  
     
     
         29 . The identification band of  claim 20  wherein said plurality of detachable labels are formed in end-to-end array.  
     
     
         30 . An identification band system, comprising: 
 a supply of elongated flexible straps each having a head end, and a tail end and adapted for wrap-around mounting onto a specific wearer or object with said head and tail ends interconnected to form said strap into a closed loop configuration;    each of said straps including a primary identification zone adapted to receive information associated with the specific wearer or object, and a plurality of detachable labels each adapted to receive at least a portion of said information associated with the specific wearer or object,    wherein said primary identification zone and at least one of said detachable labels includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit; and    a print station for applying said information to said primary identification zone and at least said portion of said information to one or more of said detachable labels of a selected one of said straps.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said print station applies said information in human-readable and/or machine readable form.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said primary identification zone and each of said detachable labels of each of said straps includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said identification zone is formed on each of said straps between said head and tail ends thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said detachable labels are formed on each of said straps between said head and tail ends thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30  wherein each of said straps further includes a tail end extension, and further wherein at least some of said detachable labels are formed on said tail end extension.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30  wherein each of said straps includes a face ply extending at least a portion of the length thereof, and a base ply underlying and supporting said face ply, said face ply defining said plurality of detachable labels removably adhered onto said base ply.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  further including a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive underlying each of said detachable labels and a release film overlying said base ply.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 30  wherein each of said straps is formed with said primary identification zone end-to-end relation with said detachable labels, and with said detachable labels in end-to-end array.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said supply of elongated flexible straps comprises a roll supply of said straps extending in end-to-end array and separated by tear-off perforations.