IC tag attachment device

Abstract

This invention provides an IC tag attachment device that can be easily installed in medical settings and other similar environments, and possesses high durability. [Solution] The IC tag attachment device A comprises a band 1, a case 5, and a claw 9. The band 1 has a belt portion 4 with smooth surfaces on both sides and a fitting portion 2 provided at one end of the belt portion 4. The cross-sectional shape of the belt portion 4 is arched in the middle section in the width direction, with the concave and convex sides of the arch being grooves 41 and peaks 42, respectively. The case 5 has a case pocket 6 which is a recess for housing the IC tag X, and a fitting hole 7 and a fastening hole 8 which are through holes that the fitting portion 2 of the band 1 cannot pass through but the belt portion 4 can. The fitting hole 7 has a step 71 that protrudes from the inner wall adjacent to the fastening hole 8, narrowing the exit-side opening. The claw 9 comprises a rectangular plate-shaped claw body 91, a claw plate 93 having corners 94 and 95, and rectangular plate-shaped claw side plates 98 and 99 provided in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the claw body 91.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to an IC tag attachment tool.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, techniques for ensuring the traceability of medical steel small items (surgical instruments such as forceps) have been known. <​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​However, the technology described in Patent Document 1, for example, requires first printing a two-dimensional code using laser processing, and then optically reading each one with a camera, which is time-consuming.

[0008] Furthermore, while the technology described in Patent Document 2, for example, includes a laser welding process for RFID casings, this constitutes a modification under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act and therefore cannot be used in principle.

[0009] Furthermore, methods for fusing or bonding RFID casings have also been disclosed (Patent Documents 3-4), but these methods lack sufficient durability and are prone to detachment.

[0010] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an IC tag attachment device that allows for easy attachment of IC tags to medical steel accessories and the like in medical settings, and that has high durability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention relates to an IC tag attachment device (A) capable of attaching an IC tag to a part of a target device to be bound using a cable tie, and comprises a band (1), a case (5), and a claw (9).

[0012] The band has a belt portion (4) with smooth surfaces on both sides and a fitting portion (2) provided at one end of the belt portion. The cross-sectional shape of the belt portion is such that the middle section in the width direction is arched, and the concave and convex sides of the arch are grooved portions (41) and ridged portions (42), respectively.

[0013] The case has a case pocket (6) which is a recess for storing the IC tag, and a fitting hole (7) and a fastening hole (8) which are through holes that the band's fitting portion cannot pass through but the belt portion can. The fitting hole has a step (71) that protrudes from the inner wall adjacent to the fastening hole, narrowing the exit side opening.

[0014] The claw has a rectangular plate-shaped claw body (91), a claw plate (93) having corners (94, 95) and provided on one side of the claw body via a bent portion (92), and a pair of rectangular plate-shaped claw side plates (98, 99) provided on the other sides adjacent to and facing the said side via bent portions (96, 97) in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the claw body, the other sides opposite the said side being locked into a step, the end edge of the claw side plate abutting against the wall surface (72) of the fitting hole adjacent to the case pocket, and the corners protruding into the inside of the fastening hole.

[0015] With the above configuration, when the band enters the fitting hole from the end of the belt portion, the fitting portion engages with the fitting hole at the entrance side, and the end face (28) of the fitting portion that is on the entry side and the pocket side covers the case pocket, the belt portion surrounds the part of the target device to be fastened, and when it makes a U-turn and enters the fastening hole, the corners of the belt portion bite into the surface of the groove portion. This prevents the belt portion from falling out of the fastening hole.

[0016] Having the above configuration, the IC tag attachment device of the present invention allows for easy attachment of IC tags to medical steel accessories and the like in medical settings, and has high durability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] (a) is a perspective view showing the first embodiment, and (b) is a partially enlarged perspective view of (a). [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing (a) the components and (b) the assembly of IC tag attachment device A. [Figure 3] (a) Plan view showing the band, and (b) Cross-sectional view along line IIIb-b. [Figure 4] These are two perspective views (a) and (b) showing the mating portion. [Figure 5] (a) A perspective view and (b) a side cross-sectional view illustrating the case. [Figure 6] (a) is an oblique view and (b) is a perspective view showing the case pocket and insertion groove. [Figure 7] (a) is an oblique view and (b) is a side cross-sectional view showing the case pocket and IC tag. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view showing a claw. [Figure 9] It is a (a) perspective view and (b) perspective perspective view showing a case and a claw. [Figure 10] (a) It is a plan view showing a case, and (b) it is a perspective view showing a band insertion method. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view showing an assembly. [Figure 12] They are (a) perspective perspective view and (b) side sectional view of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] They are (a) perspective perspective view and (b) partially enlarged perspective perspective view of FIG. 11. [Figure 14] They are (a) perspective view showing a retaining portion and (b) partially enlarged view of (a). [Figure 15] They are (a) plan view, (b) side sectional view, and (c) perspective view showing a fastening method. [Figure 16] They are side sectional views (a), (b), and (c) showing a lock structure. [Figure 17] They are (a) plan view and (b) schematic view showing a lock structure. [Figure 18] (a) It is a perspective view showing a completed body, and (b) it is an example of use of the completed body. [Figure 19] They are (a) perspective view and (b) side perspective view showing a notch. [Figure 20] They are (a) perspective view and (b) plan view showing a second embodiment. [Figure 21] They are (a) perspective view and (b) side perspective view showing a third embodiment. [Figure 22] It is a side perspective view showing a method of attaching a fixture of the third embodiment. [Figure 23] It is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment. [Figure 24] They are two plan views (a) and (b) showing a fourth embodiment. [Figure 25] It is a perspective view showing a completed body of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 26] They are (a) and (b) perspective views showing a fitting portion of a fifth embodiment. [Figure 27]This is a perspective view showing the completed fifth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the IC tag attachment device based on the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. IC tag attachment devices A to E (first to fifth embodiments) are for attaching an IC tag X to the binding portion M of a target device using a cable tie. IC tag attachment devices A to D of the first to fourth embodiments are case pocket type, having a "pocket" which is a storage space for the IC tag X on the case 5, while IC tag attachment device E of the fifth embodiment is a band pocket type, having the pocket on the band 1. Hereinafter, when referring collectively to the above multiple embodiments, it will simply be referred to as "this embodiment". The embodiments shown in this specification assume a scenario in which an IC tag X is attached to the target location (binding portion M) of a ring portion that is not discontinuous in principle for passing fingers through, typical of medical forceps.

[0019] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 shows the IC tag attachment device A of the first embodiment. The IC tag attachment device A is designed to allow an IC tag X to be attached to the part M to be attached to a target device using a cable tie. Using the IC tag attachment device A, as shown in Figure 1(a), the IC tag X can be attached and fixed to any location (the target part M to be attached). As shown in Figure 1(b), the IC tag attachment device A encloses the IC tag X in the case pocket 6 of the case 5 and fastens it to the part M to be attached with the belt portion 4 of the cable tie band 1. The fitting portion 2 of the band 1 fits into the fitting hole 7 of the case 5 at the entrance side. On the other hand, the case 5 is formed so that the fitting portion 2 (which is part of the band 1 and is formed continuously with the belt portion 4 via the connecting portion 3) does not pass through, but the fitting portion 2 is fitted and fixed at the entrance side of the fitting hole 7, and is fixed to the part M to be attached integrally with the band 1. This cable tie method is common to all embodiments.

[0020] Figure 2 shows the configuration of the IC tag attachment device A and the assembly (the mating assembly described later) before the IC tag is attached, formed by combining these components. As shown in Figure 2(a), the IC tag attachment device A includes a band 1, a case 5, and a claw 9 in addition to the IC tag X to be attached. In this embodiment, the band 1 and case 5 are made of resin, and the claw 9 is a metal leaf spring. The basic form of the casing is when the claw 9 is inserted and fixed into the case 5. Hereinafter, this (case 5 + claw 9) will be referred to as the casing 500. In this embodiment, the IC tag X is, for example, an ultra-small item with dimensions of 2.5 mm square and 1 mm thick. The band 1 is, for example, 70 mm in the longitudinal direction and 3 mm in the transverse direction, and the case 5 is, for example, 7 mm square and 5 mm thick. The thickness of the claw 9 is, for example, 0.15 mm.

[0021] When the IC tag X is placed in the case pocket 6 of case 5, and the belt portion 4 of band 1 is passed through the fitting hole 7, which is a gap in case 5, the fitting portion 2 is locked into the fitting hole 7, sealing the case pocket 6 and fitting and fixing to the entrance side of the fitting hole 7, so that the band 1 including the fitting portion 2 becomes integrated with case 5, as shown in Figure 2(b). Subsequently, when the belt portion 4 is turned in a U-turn to surround the part M to be fastened of the target device and passed through the fastening hole 8 in the opposite direction from the fitting hole 7, the claw 9 bites into the groove portion 41, which is the recessed side of the belt portion 4, preventing the belt portion 4 from falling out of the fastening hole 8 in the opposite direction to the direction it is passed, and effectively fixing it in place. This creates the fastened state shown in Figure 1.

[0022] Figures 3 and 4 show the configuration of band 1. Band 1 serves two purposes: as a fastening band, it wraps around the annular portion (fastened portion F) of a small steel object (belt portion 4); and as a cover that covers the opening of the case pocket 6 of the case 5, which is the storage space for the IC tag X, it protects the IC tag X (case pocket cover 26). As shown in Figures 3(a) and 4, band 1 has a belt portion 4, a fitting portion 2, and a connecting portion 3 that connects them. One end of band 1 in the longitudinal direction is a non-removal end 11, and the other end is an entry end 12. The side of the fitting portion 2 is the non-removal end 11. Non-removal portions 43 and 44 are provided at the end of the belt portion 4 on the connecting portion 3 side.

[0023] When the fitting portion 2 is passed through the case 5 as described above, the portion that becomes the lid of the case pocket 6 is designated as the case pocket cover 26, and the portion that is on the central side of the case 5 is designated as the claw cover 21 (Figure 15(a)). A case pocket press-fit projection 27 is provided on the lower edge of the side wall of the case pocket cover 26 that faces the inner wall 62 of the case pocket, and a wall press-fit projection 31 is provided on the connecting portion 3 that connects the fitting portion 2 from the claw cover 21 side to the belt portion 4. The contact surface of the case pocket cover 26 with the locking portion 63 (Figure 5(b), etc.) is provided with an end face 28 including the locking surface, and the claw cover 21 is provided with a claw contact surface 22 (Figure 12(b)), which is an inclined surface that contacts the claw plate 93 of the claw 9 (inclined with respect to the band insertion direction d1 in Figure 10). Hereinafter, the upper surface of the case pocket cover 26 and the upper surface of the claw cover 21 are collectively referred to as the cover surface 20 (= upper surface of fitting portion 2). The case pocket press-fitting projection 27 abuts against the inner wall 62 of the case pocket (Figure 6) from the inside. The wall press-fitting projection 31 abuts against the wall surface 72 (Figure 6) of the fitting hole 7 adjacent to the case pocket 6 from the inside.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3(b), the cross-sectional shape of the belt portion 4 is arched in the middle section in the width direction, with the concave side of the arch forming a groove portion 41 and the convex side forming a peak portion 42. This arched shape of the belt portion 4 provides the anti-reverse-slip effect of the claws 9, which will be described later. In this embodiment, neither the groove portion 41 nor the peak portion 42 of the belt portion 4 are made of finely notched, continuous uneven surfaces like conventional cable ties; both surfaces are smooth. In other words, although this embodiment is a cable tie system, the method is clearly different from conventional cable ties that lock on a continuous uneven surface. As shown in Figure 4, the surface of the fitting portion 2 facing the convex side (peak portion 42) of the belt portion 4 (connecting portion 3 side) forms an end face 28 including the locking surface. Furthermore, the groove portion 41 side of the fitting portion 2, which is opposite the peak portion 42 of the belt portion 4, has a diagonally formed claw contact surface 22.

[0025] Figures 5 and 6 show the configuration of case 5. Case 5 has a case pocket 6 which is a recess for housing the IC tag X, and a fitting hole 7 and a fastening hole 8 which are through holes that the fitting portion 2 of the band 1 cannot pass through but the belt portion 4 can pass through. The fitting hole 7 has a step 71 that protrudes from the inner wall adjacent to the fastening hole 8 so as to narrow the exit side opening.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the case 5, when the claws 9 are inserted and fixed to form the casing 500, serves two purposes: to house the IC tag X (case pocket 6) and to lock the position of the band 1 in combination with the claws 9 (locking portion 63 + claws 9). More specifically, as shown in Figure 5(b), the case 5 has a case pocket 6, a fitting hole 7, and a fastening hole 8. The case pocket 6 includes an opening, the case pocket entrance 61 (Figure 12(b)), and the locking portion 63. The fitting hole 7 and the fastening hole 8 are arranged in parallel and each is a through-hole through which the belt portion 4 can pass. Hereinafter, the right side of the case 5 in the viewing direction of Figure 5(b) (the side with the case pocket 6) will be referred to as the outer surface of the case pocket 56, and the left side (the side with the fastening hole 8) will be referred to as the outer surface of the fastening hole 58.

[0027] Figure 7 shows the IC tag X stored in the case pocket 6. The case pocket 6 is an IC tag storage space formed by the outer shell of the case 5 and the locking portion 63. The locking portion 63 has the function of securing the fitting portion 2 inside the case 5 by abutting against the end face 28 (Figure 4(b)) of the fitting portion 2, which includes the locking surface, when the band 1 is passed through the fitting hole 7 from the end of the belt portion 4. In addition, although the case pocket 6 itself does not have a lid function, when used in combination with the band 1, the end face 28, which includes the locking surface, not only acts as a stopper and positioning material for the fitting portion 2 when the belt portion 4 is passed through the fitting hole 7, but also acts as a lid that covers the case pocket entrance 61 (Figure 12(b)), which is the opening of the case pocket 6 in which the IC tag X is stored, thereby preventing and protecting the IC tag X from falling out.

[0028] For the sake of explanation, the claw 9 will be described here. The claw 9 has a rectangular plate-shaped claw body 91, a claw plate 93 having corners 94 and 95 and provided on one side of the claw body 91 via a bent portion 92, and a pair of rectangular plate-shaped claw side plates 98 and 99 provided on the other sides adjacent to and facing the said side via bent portions 96 and 97 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the claw body 91. The other sides opposite the said side are locked into a step, the ends of the claw side plates 98 and 99 abut against the wall surface 72 of the fitting hole 7 adjacent to the case pocket 6, and the corners 94 and 95 protrude into the inside of the fastening hole 8.

[0029] As shown in Figure 8, the claw 9 is a component made by bending a single piece of metal plate, and it serves to lock the band 1. The claw body 91 and the claw plate 93 are continuously formed with the bent portion 92 in between. The claw plate 93 has two corners 94 and 95. The claw 9 is an elastic body that has a restoring force with the angle K of the bent portion 92 (Figure 12(b)) as its original position. As shown in Figure 9(a), when the end of the claw body 91 of the claw 9 is inserted along the insertion direction d9 toward the step 71 of the fitting hole 7 of the case 5, the end is locked onto the step 71, and the ends of the claw side plates 98 and 99 come into contact with the wall surface (Figure 6(b)). Once the claw 9 is fixed inside the fitting hole 7 in this way, the two corners 94 and 95 protrude inward from the fastening hole 8, as shown in Figure 9(b). In this way, the two corners 94 and 95 deliberately protrude at an angle to obstruct the path of the belt portion 4 as it passes through the fastening hole 8, thereby enabling fastening with the belt portion 4, which has smooth surfaces on both sides. In this embodiment, the material of the claws 9 is stainless steel, and the plate thickness is, for example, 0.15 mm.

[0030] Refer to Figure 6 again. As shown in Figure 6, the fitting hole 7 is a space formed by the locking portion 63 and the claw receiving portion 74, and is the space through which the belt portion 4 of the band 1 passes. The upper surface of the claw receiving portion 74 has a claw plate receiving surface 75, which is an inclined surface on the entrance side of the fitting hole 7 such that the claw plate 93 of the claw 9 abuts against it along the angle K of the bending portion 92. The casing 500 is completed by inserting and fixing the claw 9.

[0031] Next, we will explain the case in which the IC tag X is housed in the casing 500 having the above configuration and the band 1 is passed through it. Figures 10 to 14 show the relationship between the casing 500 and the band 1. As shown in Figure 10(a), when viewing the casing 500 from the side of the fitting hole 7, the fastening hole 8 and the fitting hole 7, which are two spaces through which the belt portion 4 passes, are arranged from left to right, and the claw plate 93 (with corners 94 and 95 at both ends) of the claw 9 overlaps the fastening hole 8. Also, the right side of Figure 10(a) is the outer surface 56 of the case pocket, and the left side is the outer surface 58 of the fastening hole. With the casing 500 containing the IC tag X in the case pocket 6, as shown in Figure 10(b), the case pocket cover 26 of the fitting part 2 is positioned on the same side as the outer surface 56 of the case pocket of the case 5, and the belt part 4 is passed through the fitting hole 7 from the side of the entry end 12. This causes the fitting part 2 to fit into the entrance side of the fitting hole 7, resulting in the final state shown in Figure 11 (same as the assembly in Figure 2(b)).

[0032] At this time, as shown in Figure 12, the case pocket cover 26 of the fitting portion 2 of the casing 500 covers the case pocket 6 of the case 5, acting as a lid. In addition, the case pocket press-fit projection 27, which is a projection band provided at the end of the case pocket cover 26, presses against the inner wall 62 of the case pocket 6, sealing the inside of the case pocket 6 and isolating the internal space from the outside. This prevents foreign objects, liquids, and other contaminants from entering the case pocket 6 from the outside during surgery, thereby preventing contamination or malfunction of the IC tag X stored inside the case pocket 6. On the other hand, the wall press-fit projection 31 on the connecting portion 3 that connects to the claw cover 21 of the fitting portion 2 also presses against the inner wall surface (wall surface 72) on the locking portion 63 side of the fitting hole 7, similar to the case pocket press-fit projection 27 described above, sealing and blocking the fitting hole 7 and preventing foreign objects from entering the inside of the case pocket 6 through the gap between the fitting hole 7 and the connecting portion 3 and belt portion 4.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, of the fitting portion 2, the case pocket cover 26 presses the locking portion 63 of the case 5 with its end face 28 (Figure 4) which includes the locking surface, and at the same time, the claw cover 21 presses the claw plate 93 along the insertion direction of the belt portion 4 (=band insertion direction d1) with its claw contact surface 22, which is inclined at the same angle as the angle (angle K) between the claw body 91 and the claw plate 93 of the claw 9. Here, the claw 9 is originally fixed by the step 71 of the fitting hole 7 on the side of the claw body 91 opposite to the claw plate 93, and by the end faces of the two claw side plates 98 and 99 contacting each other in a direction perpendicular to the band insertion direction d1, and is further pressed down by the claw contact surface 22, which is the inclined surface of the fitting portion 2. Furthermore, the more the belt portion 4 is pulled towards the exit side of the fitting hole 7 by holding the entry end 12 side with one's hand, the more strongly the claws 9 are pressed down. As a result, the arrangement of the claws 9 is stabilized, and the leaf spring properties can be exhibited more stably within the casing 500.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14(a), in the fitted state of Figure 11 (=Figure 2(b)), the ends of the two retaining portions 43 and 44 of the belt portion 4 on the retaining end 11 side are located around the point where they pass through the exit side of the fitting hole 7 of the casing 500 on the entry end 12 side. Now, let's refer to Figure 3(a) again. On the line connecting the ends of the two retaining portions 43 and 44 on the retaining end 11 side, the length along the short direction of the belt portion 4 (hereinafter referred to as the belt portion short direction) is defined as the retaining width T4344, and the length in the belt portion short direction is defined as the belt width T4.

[0035] At this time, as shown in Figure 14(b), the length of the longitudinal direction (=short direction of the belt portion) of the exit of the fitting hole 7 is approximately the same as the belt width T4. Therefore, normally, even if the belt portion 4 is to be passed through, the retaining portions 43 and 44 cannot be passed through. However, guided by the inclined surface on the entry end 12 side of the retaining portions 43 and 44, the resin belt portion 4 is slightly compressed (due to its material properties) and can pass through. However, once it has passed through, the compressed state is released and it returns to its original dimensions. As a result, the retaining end 11 side ends of the retaining portions 43 and 44 protrude on both sides of the short direction of the belt portion of the connecting portion 3, and even if they try to return to their original direction, they get caught on the exit of the fitting hole 7 and cannot be returned. This ensures that the fitting portion 2 is securely integrated with the casing 500, preventing the IC tag X from falling out or becoming contaminated.

[0036] Next, we will explain how to fasten and secure the band 1 and casing 500 to the target fastening part M from the fitted state shown in Figure 11.Hereafter, the band 1 and casing 500 in the "fitted state" shown in Figure 11 (=Figure 2(b)) will simply be referred to as the "fitted body," and the body fastened by passing the belt portion 4 through the fastening hole 8 will be referred to as the "fastened body."Figures 15(a) and 15(b) show the method of fastening by passing the belt portion 4 through the fastening hole 8 from below the casing 500.As shown in Figures 15(a) and 15(b), when the casing 500 with the belt portion 4 passed through the fitting hole 7 and fastening hole 8 is viewed from above, i.e., from the cover surface 20 side, the fitting hole 7 is not visible because the fitting portion 2 is fitted, and only the space of the fastening hole 8 is visible.

[0037] Now, let's refer to Figure 2(b) again. The entry end 12 of the belt portion 4 protruding downward from the fitting shown in Figure 2(b) is inverted upward, and as shown in Figure 15(b), it is inserted into the fastening hole 8 from below to above (band insertion direction d1) of the casing 500. Then, the claw plate 93 protruding into the fastening hole 8 comes into contact with the groove portion 41 of the belt portion 4, and the two corners 94 and 95 bite into the surface of the groove portion 41. Once the corners 94 and 95 are bitten into the groove portion 41, even if you try to pull the belt portion 4 back in the direction it came from, the belt portion 4 itself has elastic force and receives resistance that tries to return it to the bitten position, while the claws 9, thanks to the action of the claw contact surface 22, remain stably held and fixed in place. As a result, it becomes difficult to pull the belt portion 4 out in the opposite direction of travel. In contrast, since the bending direction of the claw plate 93 is inclined at an angle that aligns with the direction of travel of the belt portion 4 (band insertion direction d1), the belt portion 4 can be pushed further in the direction of travel.

[0038] Hereafter, this reverse-prevention mechanism will be referred to as the "locking structure." Figures 16 and 17 show the locking structure. Figure 16 shows the transition state from the fitting body to the binding body in sequence. Next, the significance of the three-dimensional shape of the belt portion 4 in the locking structure will be explained. Since the cross-sectional shape of the annular portion that becomes the binding portion M of the steel small parts varies, it is necessary that it fits when wrapped around any cross-sectional shape. In addition, it is necessary to prevent contaminants from getting between the surface of the annular portion and the belt portion 4.

[0039] Therefore, as shown in Figure 3(b), the belt portion 4 has a groove portion 41 on the lower side and a ridge portion 42 on the upper side. Furthermore, by using an elastomer such as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) as the material for the band 1, the groove portion 41 collapses when wrapped around the annular portion, increasing the adhesion with the surface of the annular portion. The inventors' experiments have also proven that this adhesion effectively prevents the intrusion of contaminants. Specifically, when the belt portion 4 was subjected to cleaning and sterilization after being simulated to be contaminated, the verification results showed that the back side (groove portion 41) of the belt portion 4 was not contaminated.

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 17(a), a schematic representation of the details of the belt portion 4 in the state shown in Figure 15(c) is shown in Figure 17(b). When the belt portion 4 is pressed against the two corners 94 and 95 of the claw plate 93, a force acts to return the belt portion 41 to its original arch shape, and a force acts to bite into the corners 94 and 95 more firmly. In addition, both sides of the belt portion 4 in the width direction are pressed against the inside of the fastening hole 8 by the claw plate 93, so the belt portion 4 is also pressed against these two walls, and a force acts to bite into the corners 94 and 95 even more firmly. As a result of the above, the locking mechanism works.

[0041] Since the IC tag attachment device A is attached to small steel instruments used by doctors and other medical personnel during surgery, it is necessary to ensure that it does not cause discomfort when touched by the hands or skin. For this reason, the thickness of the belt portion 4 of band 1 has been reduced, and an R-shape has been adopted to avoid angular shapes. This arched shape gives the belt portion 4 a rounded shape and keeps the height of both sides low, thereby reducing discomfort when touched. Conventional cable ties such as so-called Insulok (registered trademark) have jagged (uneven) surfaces to create a catch by the claw mechanism, which increases the thickness of the belt portion. In contrast, in this embodiment, in order to improve adhesion and reduce the thickness of the belt portion 4 by eliminating the jagged part, a new fastening method is adopted using an elastic polymer belt member and a metal spring claw member.

[0042] With the entry end 12 leading, the belt portion 4 is pushed further in and tightened until there is no gap with the binding portion M, resulting in a binding body as shown in Figure 15(c). Finally, the excess belt portion 4 protruding from the casing 500 is cut off on the entry end 12 side, completing the attachment of the IC tag X and resulting in the finished product shown in Figure 18(a). Figure 18(b) shows an example of reading the signal by bringing an IC tag reader close to the finished product.

[0043] Next, the structural features of the finished product will be described. Figure 19(a) shows the external appearance of the finished product. As shown in Figure 19(b), the gap between the binding portion M and the case 5 and belt portion 4 is an area that may be soiled during surgery, etc. In order to make this area as small and narrow as possible, in this embodiment the shape of the inside of the case 5 is designed so that the movement of the belt portion 4 follows the annular portion of the binding portion M as closely as possible, and the length of the double arrow in the figure is shortened. Also, as shown in Figure 19(a), soiled material that gets into the area where the belt portion 4 and the inside of the case 5 come into contact may be difficult to clean even with cleaning treatment. For this reason, in this embodiment a notch 73 is provided below the outer surface 56 of the case pocket to make this part easier to clean.

[0044] (Second Embodiment) Figures 20(a) and 20(b) show the IC tag attachment device B, which is a second embodiment. The IC tag attachment device B has a structure (a pair of internal protrusions 64) added to the case pocket 6 to prevent the IC tag X from falling out once it has been inserted into the case pocket 6. As shown in Figure 20(a), the pair of internal protrusions 64 are provided on the internal surface 65 of the case pocket on the external surface 56 side of the case pocket, so as to protrude in a direction that pushes the space in which the IC tag X is stored. In Figure 20(b), the original shape of the internal protrusions 64 of the case pocket is shown by a dotted line, and the shape of the internal protrusions 64 of the case pocket when the IC tag X is stored is shown by a solid line. With this pocket protrusion system, when the IC tag X is stored in the case pocket 6, the IC tag X is pressed against the internal protrusions 64 of the case pocket, making it possible to prevent it from easily falling out even before the fitting part 2 of the band 1 is fitted into the fitting hole 7.

[0045] (Third embodiment) Figures 21-22 show the IC tag holder C, which is the third embodiment. The IC tag holder C has a structure (a fastener 51, which is another fixing tab) that prevents the IC tag X inserted into the case pocket 6 from falling out, using a different method than the IC tag holder B of the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 21(b), the locking portion 63 of the IC tag holder C is provided with a recess that is shaped to allow the fastener 51 to be fitted into it. In addition, before attachment, the fastener 51 constitutes part of the fastener attachment 52 as shown in Figure 22. This fastener attachment 52 is inserted from the upper side (the side of the cover surface 20) of the case 5 of the IC tag holder C toward the case pocket 6. After the fastener 51 portion is fitted into the recess described above, it can be twisted and unscrewed as shown in Figure 22 to reach the state shown in Figure 21(a). This fixed tab method prevents the band 1 from falling off even before the fitting portion 2 of the band 1 is fitted into the fitting hole 7, similar to the second embodiment (the pocket protrusion method of the IC tag attachment device B).

[0046] (Fourth Embodiment) Figures 23-25 ​​show the IC tag attachment device D, which is the fourth embodiment. The IC tag attachment device D has a structure that ensures ease of cleaning when removing contaminants accumulated in the gap between the fastening hole 8 and the belt portion 4 after it has been completed. As shown in Figure 23, when the casing 500 is viewed from the cover surface 20 side in the bundled state, a fastening hole projection 81 is provided on the inner side of the fastening hole on the outer side surface 58 of the fastening hole, which protrudes in a platform shape so as to extend toward the claw 9 side in order to enlarge the gaps on both sides of the fastening hole 8 and the claw 9. As a result, the gaps on both sides of the claw 9 are increased. In this state, even after passing the belt portion 4 through the fastening hole 8 and bundling it to complete the assembly, as shown in Figure 24, the gaps on the upper sides of both sides of the belt portion 4 that interfere with the claw 9 (in the viewing direction of Figure 24) are kept larger compared to when there is no fastening hole projection 81. As a result, the risk that contaminants cannot be properly cleaned and removed due to small gaps on the upper sides of both sides of the belt portion 4 that interfere with the claw 9 is eliminated.

[0047] (Fifth embodiment) Figures 26-27 show the fifth embodiment, IC tag attachment device E. Compared to the case pocket type IC tag attachment devices A-D (first to fourth embodiments), IC tag attachment device E differs in that the pocket for storing the IC tag is provided on the band 1 instead of the case 5 (band pocket type). In IC tag attachment device E, as the pocket is provided on the band 1, the case 5 has a band pocket receiving space 66 instead of a case pocket 6. The differences between the band pocket type IC tag attachment device E and the case pocket type will be explained below.

[0048] The fitting portion 2 of the band 1 of the IC tag attachment device E has a band pocket 23 and an inner wall press-fit projection 24. This inner wall press-fit projection 24 is provided on the entrance side of the fitting portion 2 and, when the fitting portion 2 is fitted into the fitting hole 7, it abuts against the inner wall 67 of the band pocket receiving space from the inside, thereby isolating the band pocket receiving space 66 in which the band pocket 23 containing the IC tag X is housed from the outside and protecting the IC tag X. The inner wall press-fit projection 24 is a component equivalent to the case pocket press-fit projection 27 of the case pocket type. The ends of the claw side plates 98 and 99 of the claw 9 abut against the wall surface 72 of the fitting hole 7 which is continuous with the space (band pocket receiving space 66) in which the band pocket 23 of the fitting portion 2 is fitted.

[0049] With the above configuration, the user can place the IC tag X in the band pocket 23 of the IC tag attachment device E, pass the belt portion 4 of the band 1 through the fitting hole 7, and fit the fitting portion 2 into the case 5. In the same way as the case pocket type, the claw plate 93 is fixed in place by the claw contact surface 22, and the IC tag X can be attached and secured to the desired attachment portion M.

[0050] (Other embodiments) (1) In the case, a projection (lateral displacement prevention projection) may be provided on the contact surface side with the part to be bound, making it easier for the completed body bound to the part to be bound to fall over, thereby preventing lateral displacement from the initially bound position. In this way, the body can be more effectively bound and fixed to the target part to be bound M even when subjected to lateral displacement.

[0051] (2) The material of the band is not limited to elastomers, and various materials can be used depending on the purpose. For example, polyamide resin (nylon), polyphenylsulfone resin, etc. may be used.

[0052] (3) In the IC tag holder B of the second embodiment, a pair of protrusions 64 inside the case pocket are provided on the inner surface 65 of the case pocket on the outer surface 56 side of the case pocket as a structure to prevent the IC tag X from falling out. However, the structure to prevent the tag from falling out is not limited to this method. For example, the protrusions inside the case pocket may be one or three or more, not just one pair (two), and may be provided on sides other than the inner surface 65 of the case pocket on the outer surface 56 side of the case pocket, or may be provided across multiple sides. Furthermore, it is not limited to the protrusion method. For example, a cushioning material or a surface material with poor slipperiness may be provided so as to make surface contact with the surface of the IC tag.

[0053] The present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1...band, 2...fitting section, 28...end face 4... Belt section, 41... Groove section, 42... Peak section 5...case, 6...case pockets 7... Fitting hole, 71... Step, 72... Wall surface, 8... Fastening hole 9... Claw, 91... Claw body, 92... Bending part, 93... Claw plate 94, 95... Corner sections, 96, 97... Bent sections, 98, 99... Claw side plates A-E...IC tag attachment device (1st to 5th embodiment)

Claims

1. IC tag attachment devices (A to D) capable of attaching IC tags to the part of the target device to be bound using cable ties, A band (1) having a belt portion (4) with smooth surfaces on both sides and a fitting portion (2) provided at one end of the belt portion, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the belt portion is such that the middle portion in the width direction is arch-shaped, and the concave and convex sides of the arch shape are groove portion (41) and ridge portion (42), respectively. The case (5) has a case pocket (6) which is a recess for storing an IC tag, and a fitting hole (7) and a fastening hole (8) which are through holes that the fitting portion of the band cannot pass through but the belt portion can pass through, and the fitting hole has a step (71) that protrudes from the inner wall adjacent to the fastening hole so as to narrow the exit side opening, The device comprises a rectangular plate-shaped claw body (91), a claw plate (93) having corners (94, 95) and provided on one side of the claw body via a bent portion (92), and a pair of rectangular plate-shaped claw side plates (98, 99) provided on opposite sides adjacent to the one side via bent portions (96, 97) in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the claw body, the other sides opposite to the one side being engaged with the step, the end edge of the claw side plate abutting against the wall surface (72) of the fitting hole adjacent to the case pocket, and the corners protruding into the fastening hole, and a claw (9). An IC tag attachment device in which, when the band enters the fitting hole from the end side of the belt portion, the fitting portion engages with the fitting hole on the entrance side, the end face (28) of the fitting portion that is on the entry side and the case pocket side covers the case pocket, the belt portion surrounds the part of the target device to be fastened, and when it makes a U-turn and enters the fastening hole, the corner portion bites into the surface of the groove portion of the belt portion.

2. The fitting portion has a case pocket press-fitting projection (28) that, when fitted into the fitting hole, abuts against the inner wall (62) of the case pocket adjacent to the case pocket entrance (61) from the inside. The IC tag mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion (3) between the fitting portion and the belt portion has a wall surface press-fit projection (31) that abuts against the wall surface from the inside.

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