1. Field
The field of the present invention relates to an identification assembly, and in particular, to a clasp device for securing an identification wristband to a person, and to an assembly of a wristband and clasp assembly.
2. Related Art
Wristbands are used in hospitals to identify patients and for similar purposes in other instructional/institutional settings. In general, a wristband is attached to a patient's wrist or other appendage, such as a patient's ankle, with a fastener. Conventional wristbands have two ends and a plurality of holes along the length of the wristband. Typical fasteners are rectangular with a large footprint and have one or two stems or posts that extend through at least two holes of each end of the wristband to attach the two ends of the wristband together. Some conventional fasteners use one stem through two holes of each end of the wristband to attach the wristband to a patient's wrist. However, the single stem often results in twisting of the wristband on the patient's skin, which can often be uncomfortable. Other conventional fasteners use two stems through two holes of each end of the wristband to inhibit twisting or rotation of one end the wristband relative to the other end while the wristband is attached to a patient's wrist. However, two stems often require a larger sized clasp, which can be cumbersome.
An identification assembly for a person includes a clasp device for securing an identification wristband to a person is disclosed.
In one embodiment, an identification assembly for a person includes a wristband having a display portion and a first fastening portion extending from one end of the display portion and a second fastening portion extending from the other end of the display portion. The first fastening portion includes at least one attachment aperture, and the second fastening portion includes a plurality of attachment apertures arranged along its center line. The assembly includes at least one clasp having a folding base with first and second triangular sections connected together via a hinge that enables the base to be folded along a folding axis from an open position to a closed position so that the first and second triangular sections are adjacently positioned. The at least one clasp includes a securement aperture formed in the first triangular section and a post extending from the second triangular section that couples to the securement aperture when the base is folded along the folding axis in the closed position. The post extends from the second triangular section through the at least one attachment aperture of the first fastening portion and at least one attachment aperture of the second fastening portion of the wristband and couples to the securement aperture of the first triangular section so that the clasp is fastened to the wristband and the first and second fastening portions are attached together.
In one aspect, the at least one clasp is securable to any one of the attachment apertures of the first and second fastening portions. The display portion comprises a flat, rectangular section that is adapted to receive a label or direct print or written information. The fastening portions overlap in a manner such that the attachment apertures of the fastening portions are aligned whereby the post extends through the attachment apertures for securing the fastening portions together. A plurality of clasps are fastened to the wristband, and each clasp is positioned adjacent and proximate to each other in an alternating or interleaving relationship. A plurality of clasps are fastened to the plurality of attachment apertures of the second fastening portion in an alternating or interleaving relationship such that at least one clasp is fastened to at least one attachment aperture from a first edge of the wristband and at least one other clasp is fastened to at least one other attachment aperture from a second edge of the wristband that is opposite of the first edge. Each fastening portion of the wristband has a width that is smaller than the width of the display portion. The fastening portions of the wristband extend from a central region of the display portion so that the width of the fastening portions are centered within the width of the display portion.
In one aspect, the hinge of the clasp is formed integrally with the first and second triangular sections. A portion of an interior surface of the second triangular section is recessed to define a shoulder comprising an anti-rotation or anti-twisting feature. The wristband is secured in position between the post and the shoulder so as to inhibit the wristband from rotating or twisting along the shoulder of the clasp. The assembly includes one or more alignment surfaces that extend from the interior surface of the second triangular section. The one or more alignment recesses may be formed in an interior surface of the first triangular section that receives a portion of the second triangular section when the clasp is folded. At least one of the first and second triangular sections comprise an exterior recess formed in an exterior surface thereof for imprinting an alert message that identifies warnings and other relevant information about the person wearing the wristband. The assembly is made of fabric, plastic or resin material. The identification assembly for a person comprises a patient identification assembly for use with patients in a hospital or medical facility and comprises indicia that identify patients and provide information about those patients. The wristband is secured around the person's appendage such as a wrist or an ankle.
In one embodiment, an identification assembly for a person includes a wristband having at least one attachment aperture and at least one clasp having a folding base with first and second triangular sections connected together via a hinge that enables the base to be folded along a folding axis from an open position to a closed position so that the first and second triangular sections are adjacently positioned. The at least one clasp includes a securement aperture formed in the first triangular section and a post extending from the second triangular section that couples to the securement aperture when the base is folded along the folding axis in the closed position. The post extends from the second triangular section through the at least one attachment aperture of the wristband and couples to the securement aperture of the first triangular section so that the clasp is fastened to the wristband.
In one embodiment, a clasp device for use with a wristband having at least two attachment apertures includes a folding base having a first triangular section connected to a second triangular section and a hinge connecting the first and second triangular sections. The hinge defines a folding axis that enables the base to be folded so that the first triangular section is positioned adjacent to the second triangular section in an overlapping relationship. A securement aperture is formed in the first triangular section, and a post extends from the second triangular section to couple with the securement aperture of the first triangular section when the base is folded along the folding axis. The post extends from the second triangular section through the two attachment apertures of the wristband and couples to the securement aperture of the first triangular section so that the clasp is secured to the wristband.
In one embodiment, a clasp for a wristband having an attachment aperture includes a first triangular section having a securement aperture, a second triangular section having a post, and a hinge that attaches the first triangular section to the second triangular section. The hinge defines a folding axis that enables the clasp to be folded so that the first triangular section is positioned adjacent to the second triangular section. The post extends from the second triangular section through the attachment aperture of the wristband and couples to the securement aperture of the first triangular section so that the clasp is secured to the wristband. In one aspect, the clasp is foldable along the folding axis and folds from an open position to a closed position to secure the clasp to the wristband.
In one embodiment, an identification assembly includes a wristband and a plurality of triangular clasps secured to the wristband. One or more clasps extend from each side of the wristband, and the clasps are internested to take advantage of their triangular relationship and/or configuration. The clasps are coded to indicate information about a person.
In one aspect, the clasps are coded by color. The wristband includes a plurality of holes therein and at least one clasp extends through at least two holes thereby fixing the size of the wristband. Each clasp comprises two triangular sections including a hinge joining the two triangular sections and a post and aperture by which the clasp is secured to the wristband and held in a closed position. The clasps are coded by imprinting with words, symbols or color to indicate information about a person.
These and other objects and advantages of the present teachings will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
An embodiment of a wristband 100, as shown in
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In one embodiment, the post 132 comprises a single post that extends from the second triangular section 126 to couple or interlock with the securement aperture 130, which comprises a single aperture formed in the first triangular section 124.
In one aspect, the hinge 128 is formed integrally with the first and second triangular sections 124, 126 to form the folding base 122 of the clasp 120, and the hinge 128 is foldable along the folding axis 140 so that the first and second triangular sections 124, 126 can be positioned adjacent and proximate to each other. The entire clasp can be molded as a single integral plastic piece.
A portion of an interior surface of the second triangular section 126 is recessed to define an abutment ridge or shoulder 150 serving as an anti-rotation or anti-twisting feature. In one aspect, the shoulder 150 forms a straight-edged ridge or shoulder that receives an edge of at least one fastening portion 104, 106 of the wristband 100, and the wristband 100 is secured in position between the post 132 and the shoulder 150 when the clasp 120 is folded so as to inhibit the wristband 100 from rotating, twisting or pivoting along or about the shoulder 150.
As shown in
The clasp 120 includes one or more alignment features 160 that protrude from the interior surface of the second triangular portion 126 adjacent to the hinge 128. The clasp 120 also includes one or more alignment recesses 162 formed in an interior surface of the first triangular section 124 that receives alignment features 160 of the second triangular section 126 when the clasp 120 is folded. In one embodiment, the clasp 120 comprises a fabric, plastic or resin material, and the clasp 120 comprises a solid color, such as, for example, red, purple, green, pink, yellow, orange and blue. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the clasp 120 may have any shade of color or transparency of color without departing from the scope of the clasp 120. In addition, the clasp 120 may have one solid color or multiple colors. Each color can indicate a condition or procedure that applies to the individual patients.
The second triangular section 126 comprises an exterior recess 170 formed in an exterior surface thereof for, as an alternative to relying on color, permanently imprinting or scoring an alert message or verbiage that identifies warnings, such as, for example, an allergy, a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) directive and a fall risk. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exterior recess 170 may be formed in an exterior surface of the first triangular section 124 or both the first and second triangular sections 124, 126 without departing from the scope of the clasp 120. In addition, a removable or temporary label or sticker may be used for the alert message, symbol or verbiage. Moreover, identification information may be handwritten without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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In one embodiment, the elongated region 190 of the post 132 is flexible so that, during coupling of the post 132 to the securement aperture 130, the elongate region 190 of the post 132 moves or slides through the chamfered portion 182 and couples with the tab region 186 of the securement aperture 130 for securing the clip region 192 of the post 132 to the tab region 186 of the securement aperture 130, as shown in
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In one aspect, the plurality of clasps 220, 280 function as identifying elements of the wristband 200 to warn or alert a patient caregiver of alert messages or verbiage that identifies warnings, such as, for example, allergies, various types of directives, such as DNR, and fall risks. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the aperture 208 of the fastening portion 204 can be attached or coupled to any one of the apertures 210 of the fastening portion 206 via the clasp 220, 280 without departing from the scope of the clasp 220, 280 or the wristband 200.
It should be appreciated that wristbands 100, 200 of
These and other embodiments of the present invention may be realized in accordance with the above teachings and it should be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense and the invention measured only in terms of the claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20080110069 A1 | May 2008 | US |