JP7710792B2 - RFID labelled wristband - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wristband with an RFID label.

In hospitals and other medical facilities, patients are required to wear a wristband on which an ID number that identifies the patient is recorded in order to prevent mistakes such as misidentifying a patient. Additionally, in order to manage visitors to events and attractions, visitors are required to wear a wristband on which an ID number that identifies the visitor is recorded.

One method for recording an ID on a wristband is to attach an RFID label with the ID recorded on it to the wristband. There is also a method for converting the ID into a barcode and recording it on the wristband by printing it, but unlike barcoded IDs, IDs recorded on RFID labels can be read without contact, making it possible to read the ID more efficiently than barcodes (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

JP 2015-230503 A JP 2015-230502 A JP 2007-148066 A

However, RFID communicates via radio waves, and if moisture is present in the vicinity of the RFID, the radio waves are affected by the moisture. As a result, there is a risk that the ID cannot be properly obtained from the received radio waves. For this reason, when attaching an RFID label to a wristband, it is necessary to ensure that it is not affected by the human body, which contains a lot of moisture.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a wristband with an RFID label that, when worn on the wrist of a subject, allows the RFID label to be separated from the subject.

The present invention is a wristband with an RFID label, which includes a band body that extends in one direction in a strip-like shape and has a fastener hole section with multiple fastener holes lined up along the longitudinal direction and an extension section that extends from the fastener hole section to one end side in the longitudinal direction, a locking member that fixes one end of the band body and one selected fastener hole of the multiple fastener holes to keep the band body in a rolled state, and an RFID label affixed to the extension section.

The RFID-labeled wristband of the present invention allows the RFID label to be separated from the subject when it is worn on the subject's wrist.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an RFID-labeled wristband with an RFID label affixed thereto. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure for rolling and fixing the RFID-labeled wristband shown in FIG. 1 into a ring shape. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an RFID-labeled wristband is attached to the wrist of a human body, which is an example of a subject. 1 , showing a modified wristband in which a joining portion is formed on the back surface of the end portion of the band body opposite the fastening portion. FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a modified wristband with the band body rolled up. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an RFID-labeled wristband with an RFID label affixed thereto. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wristband with the RFID label shown in FIG. 6 with the band body rolled up.

The following describes an embodiment of an RFID-labeled wristband according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of an RFID-labeled wristband 100 to which an RFID label 10 is affixed, Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of rolling up and fixing the RFID-labeled wristband 100 shown in Fig. 1 into a ring shape, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the RFID-labeled wristband 100 worn on the wrist of a human body, which is an example of a subject.

The RFID-labeled wristband 100 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as wristband 100) is one embodiment of the RFID-labeled wristband of the present invention. Wristband 100 comprises a band body 20, a locking member 30 (see FIG. 2), and an RFID label 10.

The band body 20 is formed in a thin sheet shape that extends in one direction like a strip. The band body 20 is formed in a thin sheet shape from, for example, an olefin-based material, PVC (polyvinyl chloride resin), EVA (vinyl acetate copolymer resin), polyurethane resin, etc., and has a high tensile strength at least in the longitudinal direction, so that it cannot be easily cut by hand.

The band body 20 is integrally formed with a fastening portion 21, a display portion 22, a fastening hole portion 23, and an extension portion 24, which are connected in sequence from one end along the longitudinal direction. A locking member 30 is disposed in the fastening portion 21.

The fastening portion 21 has a receiving area 21a and a folded-back area 21c. The receiving area 21a includes the center in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a locking hole 21b is formed in the center of this width direction. The folded-back area 21c is formed adjacent to the receiving area 21a in the width direction, and can be folded back toward the receiving area 21a along the boundary line 21e with the receiving area 21a.

A receiving hole 21d is formed in the folded back region 21c, and when the folded back region 21c is folded back along the boundary line 21e toward the receiving region 21a, the receiving hole 21d overlaps with the locking hole 21b. A ring-shaped locking ring 31 of the locking member 30 is fixed to the edge of the receiving hole 21d.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the locking member 30 is composed of a locking ring 31 and a pin 32. Both the locking ring 31 and the pin 32 are made of high-density PE (polyethylene). The pin 32 has a shaft portion 32b and a head portion 32a whose outer diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 32b. The outer diameter of the shaft portion 32b is smaller than the inner diameter of the locking hole 21b in the receiving area 21a, and is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the locking ring 31. On the other hand, the outer diameter of the head portion 32a is larger than the inner diameter of the locking hole 21b.

The inner diameter of the locking ring 31 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 32b, but due to the elasticity of the materials of the locking ring 31 and the pin 32, the shaft portion 32b can be manually pressed into the locking ring 31.

The display unit 22 is a section that displays information about a patient, such as the patient's identification number (ID), name, and name of the doctor in charge, which is an example of a subject to which the wristband 100 is attached. The information displayed on the display unit 22 is not limited to the above-mentioned identification number, and other information may be displayed instead of the identification number, or other information may be displayed in addition to the above-mentioned identification number.

In the end, if the subject is to be managed using only the information recorded on the RFID label 10, nothing needs to be displayed on the display unit 22. However, since it is common to also display information visibly, it is preferable to display some information.

The fastening hole portion 23 has, for example, six fastening holes 23a arranged at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the band body 20. Each fastening hole 23a is formed to be the same size as the fastening hole 21b. Each fastening hole 23a can overlap with the fastening hole 21b when the wristband 100 is rolled up so as to be wrapped around the subject's wrist.

As shown in FIG. 2, the band body 20 is curved in the longitudinal direction to form a ring shape, the fastening hole portion 23 is overlapped on the outer peripheral surface side of the receiving area 21a, and one of the six fastening holes 23a is selected so that it overlaps with the locking hole 21b. Then, the folded back area 21c is folded back on the receiving area 21a side. As a result, the folded back area 21c is overlapped on the outer peripheral surface side of the fastening hole portion 23, and the locking hole 21b, the fastening hole 23a, and the receiving hole 21d are overlapped in the thickness direction.

Then, from the inside of the band body 20 that has been rolled into a ring shape, the shaft portion 32b of the pin 32 is passed through the locking hole 21b, the stopper hole 23a, and the receiving hole 21d. Since the locking ring 31 is fixed to the receiving hole 21d, the shaft portion 32b is press-fitted into the locking ring 31 and is fixed to the locking ring 31 as shown in FIG. 3. Since the outer diameter of the head portion 32a of the pin 32 is larger than the inner diameter of the locking hole 21b, the head portion 32a does not pass through the locking hole 21b and is held in a position located inside the receiving area 21a.

The receiving area 21a through which the shaft 32b passes, the stopper hole 23, and the folded-back area 21c are fixed in a state where they are sandwiched in the thickness direction by the head 32a and the locking ring 31. By changing the stopper hole 23a that is overlapped with the locking hole 21b, the circumference of the rolled-up portion of the band body 20 can be changed. Therefore, by changing the selection of one stopper hole 23a that is overlapped with the locking hole 21b according to the thickness of the subject's wrist, it is possible to form a rolled-up portion with a circumference that corresponds to the wrists of multiple subjects with different wrist thicknesses.

The extension 24 is a portion that is extended in one direction in the longitudinal direction from the fastening hole 23, and is formed on the end side opposite the fastening part 21 in the longitudinal direction, sandwiching the fastening hole 23 therebetween. The RFID label 10 is affixed to the extension 24.

The RFID label 10 comprises a thin, sheet-like substrate that is rectangular in plan view, a recording section in which information such as the subject's identification number is recorded, an antenna and electrical circuit for communicating with the recording section, and an adhesive layer. The RFID label 10 has the recording section, antenna, and electrical circuit formed on the substrate. The adhesive layer is laminated on the side of the substrate facing the extension 24. The adhesive layer is adhered to the extension 24, thereby attaching the RFID label 10 to the extension 24.

By using an RFID reader installed outside the subject, the information recorded in the recording section of the RFID label 10 can be read by radio waves via an antenna and an electrical circuit even when the subject is away from the wristband 100.

In addition, by using an RFID writer, new information can be recorded in the recording section of the RFID label 10 via radio waves via an antenna and an electrical circuit even when the information is away from the wristband 100.

The wristband 100 of this embodiment configured as described above is wrapped around the wrist of the subject 200 and worn as shown in FIG. 3. At this time, the fastening hole 23a of the fastening hole portion 23 and the fastening portion 21 are fixed by the locking member 25, and the display portion 22 and the portion of the fastening hole portion 23 closer to the display portion 22 than the fixed fastening hole 23a are rolled up to fit the wrist of the subject 200.

In contrast, the portion of the fastening hole portion 23 closer to the extension portion 24 than the fixed fastening hole 23a and the extension portion 24 are separated from the rolled-up portion of the band body 20. In other words, the portion of the fastening hole portion 23 closer to the extension portion 24 than the fixed fastening hole 23a and the extension portion 24 are in a state of extending tangentially from the fastening portion 21. As a result, the extension portion 24 to which the RFID label 10 is affixed is separated from the wrist of the subject 200.

The wristband 100 therefore keeps the RFID label 10 away from the human body, which is rich in moisture, and can prevent or suppress the adverse effects of moisture on communication with the RFID label using an RFID reader or RFID writer.

(Modification)
FIG. 4 is a plan view equivalent to FIG. 1 showing a modified wristband 100 in which a joint 26 is formed on the back surface of the end of band body 20 opposite fastening portion 21, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of modified wristband 100 in which band body 20 is rolled up.

In the wristband 100 of the embodiment described above, the extension 24 to which the RFID label 10 is affixed is supported only at the side of the fastening hole 23 fixed to the fastening part 21, that is, at one end in the longitudinal direction, in a cantilevered manner. Therefore, the extension 24 protrudes significantly outward from the rolled-up part of the band body 20. Moreover, the other end on the extension 24 side is unstable and moves irregularly because it is not fixed.

The rolled-up portion of the band body 20 is wrapped around the wrist of the subject 200 and is therefore close to the wrist, but the extension 24 that protrudes outward is away from the wrist and is therefore more likely to come into contact with objects around the subject 200. As a result, the RFID label 10 is also more likely to come into contact with objects around the subject 200 than the rolled-up portion, and there is a possibility that the RFID label 10 may be damaged by contact.

As shown in FIG. 4, a bonding portion 26 may be formed on the back surface of the end of the band body 20 opposite the fastening portion 21, which is bonded to the portion of the band body 20 located on the inner periphery (the outer periphery of the display portion 22 or the fastening hole portion 23) when the band body 20 is rolled up. This bonding portion 26 may be, for example, an adhesive, and can be bonded to the front surface of the band body 20.

As a result, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, when the wristband 100 is in use with the band body 20 rolled up, the extension 24 protruding outward from the rolled portion is rolled up with a predetermined gap between it and the outer circumferential surface of the rolled portion, and the joint 26 can be joined to the outer circumferential surface of the display portion 22 or the fastening hole portion 23 (the front surface of the band body 20), which is the inner rolled portion.

As a result, the wristband 100 can keep the extension 24 that protrudes outward from the rolled portion of the band body 20 in a rolled state similar to the rolled portion, and can prevent or suppress the RFID label 10 from coming into contact with surrounding objects, etc., compared to embodiments in which the extension 24 is left protruding from the rolled portion.

In addition, the other end of the extension 24 is fixed, so the extension 24 is stable and can be prevented from moving irregularly.

In addition, instead of simply joining the joining portion 26 to the outer peripheral surface of the display portion 22 or the stop hole portion 23, which is the rounded portion on the inner circumference side, the thickness of the joining portion 26 may be increased so that the joining portion 26 has the function of a spacer to ensure a greater distance from the outer peripheral surface of the display portion 22 or the stop hole portion 23, or the joining portion 26 may be formed as a portion in which a joining layer having a joining function and a spacer layer having a spacer function are laminated in the thickness direction. This allows the RFID label 10 to be further away from the human body.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a spacer 27 may be added to the portion through which the shaft 32b of the pin 32 penetrates, between the receiving area 21a and the stop hole 23, to ensure a distance in the thickness direction. This allows the joints 26 and the spacer 27 to further separate both ends of the extension 24 on which the RFID label 10 is provided from the outer peripheral surface of the display 22 or the stop hole 23, and allows the RFID label 10 to be further separated from the human body.

The wristband 100 in the above-described embodiment and modified example has an RFID label 10 affixed to the band body 20, but the RFID-labeled wristband according to the present invention is not limited to one in which the RFID label is affixed to the band body.

In other words, the RFID-labeled wristband of the present invention only needs to have an RFID label placed on the extension of the band body, and the RFID label may be formed integrally with the band body.

(Other examples)
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an RFID-labeled wristband 300 to which an RFID label 10 is attached, and FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the RFID-labeled wristband 300 shown in FIG. 6 with the band body 60 rolled up.

The RFID-labeled wristband 300 shown in FIG. 6 (hereinafter simply referred to as wristband 300) comprises a band body 60, a fastening member (not shown), and an RFID label 10, similar to the wristband 100 of the embodiment.

The band body 60 has the same configuration as the band body 20 in the wristband 100 of the embodiment, and the locking member has the same configuration as the locking member 30 in the wristband 100 of the embodiment. Note that the band body 60 does not have the extension portion 24 in the band body 20.

As shown in FIG. 7, the RFID label 50 includes an RFID label layer 51 that corresponds to the RFID label 10 in the wristband 100 of the embodiment, and a separation layer 52 made of, for example, a urethane material. The separation layer 52 is laminated in the thickness direction on the RFID label layer 51. The separation layer 52 is not limited to being made of a urethane material.

As shown in FIG. 6, the wristband 300 in this example has an RFID label 50 attached to the display section 22 of the band body 60. Here, the RFID label 50 has a separation layer 52 attached to the band body 60.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the wristband 300 of this example is worn on the wrist of the subject 200, a separation layer 52 is disposed between the RFID label layer 51 and the wrist of the subject 200. As a result, the wristband 300 can be configured such that the RFID label layer 51 is separated from the wrist of the subject 200 by the thickness of the separation layer 52.

The wristband 300 therefore keeps the RFID label layer 51 away from the human body, which is rich in moisture, and can prevent or suppress the adverse effects of moisture on communication with the RFID label using an RFID reader or RFID writer.

10 RFID label 20 Band body 21 Fastening part 23 Fastening hole part 23a Fastening hole 24 Extension part 30 Engagement part 100 Wristband with RFID label (wristband)

Claims (3)

A band body having a fastener hole portion that extends in one direction in a band shape and has a plurality of fastener holes formed in a row along the longitudinal direction, and an extension portion that extends from the fastener hole portion to one end side in the longitudinal direction;
a locking member that fixes one end of the band body and one selected one of the plurality of fastening holes to hold the band body in a rolled state;
an RFID label attached to the extension ;
A joint portion is formed at an end portion of the extension portion opposite to the one end portion in the longitudinal direction, the joint portion being joined to a portion of the band body disposed on an inner periphery side when the band body is rolled up,
The wristband with an RFID label, wherein the joint portion is formed as a portion in which a joint layer having a joining function and a spacer layer having a spacer function for ensuring a distance in the thickness direction are laminated in the thickness direction . 2. The wristband with an RFID label as described in claim 1 , further comprising a spacer for ensuring a distance in the thickness direction between the one end and the fastening hole portion through which the locking member passes when the band body is rolled up. A band body having a fastener hole portion that extends in one direction in a band shape and has a plurality of fastener holes formed in a row along the longitudinal direction, and an extension portion that extends from the fastener hole portion to one end side in the longitudinal direction;
a locking member that fixes one end of the band body and one selected one of the plurality of fastening holes to hold the band body in a rolled state;
an RFID label attached to the extension ;
A joint portion is formed at an end portion of the extension portion opposite to the one end portion in the longitudinal direction, the joint portion being joined to a portion of the band body disposed on an inner periphery side when the band body is rolled up,
A wristband with an RFID label , comprising a spacer for ensuring a distance in the thickness direction between the one end and the fastening hole portion through which the locking member passes when the band body is rolled up.