Wristband Carrier With Offset Snap Closure And Relieved Edge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art wristbands lack a laminated protective layer for wearer information, leading to early label failure and errors in medical applications due to harsh environments, resulting in increased costs when multiple wristbands are used.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost wristband design featuring a carrier with a self-laminating ID label and offset snap closure, where the label is securely mounted within the panel, providing protection and automatic positioning, along with a relieved edge for comfort and reduced material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple vinyl wristband with paper label is used, then the initial wristband cost is reduced, but the label fails early due to harsh medical environments
Solution Approach 1:
The wristband combines a vinyl carrier with a self-laminating label that integrates a protective laminate layer. This composite structure protects the printed wearer information from harsh medical environments while maintaining cost-effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between low cost and label durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-laminating label uses a flexible laminate film that conformally covers and protects the printed information on the wristband. This thin film protective layer prevents early label failure in harsh medical environments while keeping the overall wristband cost low.
2Reliability
If a self-laminating ID label is added to protect wearer information, then label durability is improved, but the wristband cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The self-laminating label applies its own protective laminate layer without requiring separate lamination equipment or additional processing steps. This self-service characteristic reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while providing durable protection for wearer information.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective laminate function is merged with the ID label itself rather than being a separate component. This integration eliminates the need for additional lamination steps and reduces overall wristband cost while maintaining label durability in harsh medical environments.
3Ease of manufacture
If material is reduced to lower cost, then wristband cost is reduced, but label positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The snap closure is deliberately positioned off-center relative to the panel, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric design provides automatic positioning that ensures accurate label placement while using minimal material, resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The off-center snap closure acts as an intermediary positioning element that automatically aligns the label during assembly. This mediator ensures precise label positioning without requiring additional positioning features or material, maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A wristband is assembled from a flexible preferably vinyl carrier and a preferably laminated ID label, the carrier having a panel portion and a strap portion with a snap closure located in a toe extension at the end of the carrier adjacent the panel. The strap has a series of holes, one of which is captured within the snap closure to attach the wristband to the wearer's limb. The laminated ID label has a pair of opposing slots, one of which slips over the strap to abut the panel and the other of which is captured by the snap closure to attach the label to the carrier. The panel portion has a relieved edge formed along its opposing sides which increases the comfort of the wristband as it is worn.