DEVICE FOR IDENTIFICATION OF OBJECTS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement for the identification of objects such as patients, competitors and visitors to trade fairs, animals and baggage, comprising a strip-like tape made from a tear-resistant material, which tape has at least one field for information identifying the object, and means for attaching one end of the tape to an arbitrary point on the tape so as to produce a closed strip loop intended to be placed around a projecting part of the object associated with the information in question.

[0002] Identification arrangements of this kind are previously disclosed in, for example, US A 2,561,894, US A 2,098,164 and PCT WO 86/05303. These publications are concerned more specifically with identification strips for the identification of mothers and newborn infants and marking strips for baggage.

[0003] A common requirement applicable to all identification arrangements of this kind, irrespective of whether they are intended for persons, animals or things, is that the information on the arrangement shall be associated with a very considerable degree of probability with the object in question. This means that it must be as difficult as possible to change the identification arrangement or the information on it, for example by accident, with malicious intent or for personal gain. This has resulted in a comparatively high price for previously disclosed identification arrangements.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to make available an identification arrangement of the kind referred to by way of introduction, which is simple to produce, entails a comparatively low price, and creates great difficulty, to the extent even of making it impossible, to replace the identification arrangement for whatever reason.

[0005] This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the aforementioned means for producing the strip loop consists of a piece of double-sided adhesive tape applied at the aforementioned one end of the tape, which adhesive tape is covered prior to use by a removable protective film and which is of a kind such that, when the closed loop is parted at that point, the adhesive tape separates in a laminar fashion so that rejoining is not possible.

[0006] According to one particular characteristic of the invention, the tape is manufactured from, for example, a glass fibre-reinforced paper of a Previously disclosed kind. A tape of this kind is highly resistant to mechanical influences, water-resistant and kind to the skin, and can easily be marked with information, for example in the form of a bar code, by printing, stamping or writing using a fountain pen or a ball point pen.

[0007] According to a second particular characteristic of the invention, information fields are present on both sides of the tape so as to offer full freedom of choice in respect of the manner of its application to the object. The information field can, of course, extend over the full surface of the tape.

[0008] The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which

Fig. 1 illustrates in schematic form an embodiment of the identification arrangement in accordance with the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate two alternative methods for producing a closed strip loop using the arrangement in accordance with Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 shows in schematic form the strip loop in accordance with Fig. 3 after it has been parted.

[0009] An identification arrangement in accordance with the present invention comprises a strip-like tape 1, preferably made from a paper reinforced with, for example, glass fibre. Such paper is previously disclosed and is used for, amongst other things, external envelopes which are subject to certain requirements in respect of wearing strength and toughness. The use of other tape material may be considered, on condition that the aforementioned requirements are met. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the tape 1 exhibits a stepped narrowed part la and a field 1b for information associated with a particular object. As an alternative, however, the aforementioned field may be positioned at one end of the tape 1 and may be shaped like an address label.

[0010] In order to be able to form a closed strip loop in accordance with Figures 2 or 3 from the tape 1, a piece 2 of double-sided adhesive tape is applied to the narrowed part la of the tape 1. The piece 2 of adhesive tape is covered by a protective film of a previously disclosed kind before the tape 1 is used. After having removed this, the tape can be used to produce a closed loop in accordance with one or other of the alternatives shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereby the alternative in accordance with Fig. 1 is intended primarily for the identification of humans and animals, and the embodiment in accordance with Fig. 2 is intended for baggage, for example. As stated by way of introduction, and as can be appreciated from Fig. 3, the information field lb is preferably on both sides of the tape 1. The information field can, as already stated by way of introduction, cover the whole surface of the tape.

[0011] In accordance with the invention the double-sided adhesive tape 2 is of a kind such that, when the closed loop is parted at that point, the adhesive tape separates in a laminar fashion so that its two adhesion layers 2a, 2b remain in contact with the tape 1. These are illustrated by a pattern of dots in Fig. 4. It is now impossible to produce a closed loop again. The invention thus successfully prevents a loop previously closed for whatever reason from being reclosed once it has been parted.

Claims

1. An arrangement for the identification of objects such as patients, competitors and visitors to trade fairs, animals and baggage, comprising a strip-like tape (1) made from a tear-resistant material, which tape has at least one field (lb) for information identifying the object, and means (2) for attaching one end (la) of the tape to an arbitrary point on the tape (1) so as to produce a closed strip loop intended to be applied around a projecting part of the object associated with the information in question, characterized in that the aforementioned means (2) for producing the strip loop consists of a piece of double-sided adhesive tape applied at the aforementioned one end (1a) of the tape, which adhesive tape is covered prior to use by a removable protective film, and which is of a kind such that, when the closed loop is parted at that point, the adhesive tape separates in a laminar fashion so that rejoining is not possible.

2. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the tape (1) is manufactured from, for example, a glass fibre-reinforced paper of a previously disclosed kind.

3. Arrangement in accordance with one of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized in that the aforementioned field (1b) for information is present on both sides of the tape (1).

Ansprüche

1. Anordnung zum Identifizieren von Objekten wie Patienten, Wettbewerbern und Besuchern von Messen, Tieren und Gepäck, mit einem streifenförmigen Band (1) aus reißfestem Material, wobei das Band wenigstens ein Feld (1b) zur Information aufweist, das das Objekt identifiziert, und Mittel (2) zum Befestigen eines Endes (la) des Bandes an einem willkürlichen Punkt des Bandes (1), um eine geschlossene Streifenschlaufe zu schaffen, die rund um ein hervorstehendes Teil des Objektes herumlegbar ist, verbunden mit der in Rede stehenden Information,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die genannten Mittel (2) zum Herstellen einer Streifenschlaufe aus einem Teil eines doppelseitigen Klebebandes bestehen, aufgebracht an dem genannten einen Ende (1a) des Bandes, daß das Klebeband vor der Anwendung mittels eines entfernbaren Schutzfilmes bedeckt ist und das von einer solchen Art ist, daß sich das Klebeband beim Abziehen von der geschlossenen Schlaufe an dieser Stelle in Laminate zerlegt, so daß ein Zusammenfügen nicht möglich ist.

2. Anordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Band (1) beispielsweise aus glasfaserverstärktem Papier einer zuvor beschriebenen Art hergestellt ist.

3. Anordnung gemäß einem der vorausgegangenen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das genannte Informationsfeld (1b) auf beiden Seiten des Bandes (1) vorliegt.

Revendications

1. Dispositif pour l'identification d'objets, par exemple des patients, des concurrents et des visiteurs à des foires commerciales, des animaux et des bagages, comprenant une bande en forme de courroie (1) en matière résistant à la déchirure, cette bande comportant au moins une zone (1b) pour des informations d'identification de l'objet, et des moyens (2) d'attache d'une extrémité (1a) de la bande à un point arbitraire de la bande (1) de façon à former une boucle fermée destinée à être appliquée autour d'une partie saillante de l'objet associé aux informations considérées, caractérisé en ce que les moyens précités (2) pour la formation de la boucle consistent en un morceau de ruban adhésif double face appliqué à l'extrémité précitée (1a) de la bande, ledit ruban adhésif étant recouvert avant utilisation par un film protecteur enlevable, et étant d'un type tel que, lorsqu'on ouvre la boucle fermée en ce point, le ruban adhésif se sépare laminairement et la refermeture est impossible.

2. Dispositif suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la bande (1) est fabriquée, par exemple, en un papier renforcé par fibres de verre d'un type déjà connu.

3. Dispositif suivant une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la zone précitée (1b) pour porter les informations est prévue des deux côtés de la bande (1).

Drawing