Identification bracelet with sealable window

An identification bracelet, comprising:

• an elongated flexible band formed from a substantially moisture-impervious material, said band having first and second ends, and defining an information-bearing zone on one side thereof;
• an adhesive-backed and substantially transparent cover strip defining a flexible central window segment formed from a substantially moisture impervious material and extending between opposite strip ends, said opposite strip ends being adhered to said band generally at opposite ends of said information-bearing zone to position said central window segment in overlying relation to said information-bearing zone;
• a peel-off release film carried by said central window segment to separate said central window segment from said band and thereby prevent adherence thereof to said information-bearing zone on said band;
• said central window segment including one end separable from one of said strip ends along a line of weakness formed in said cover strip generally at said one end of said central window segment, to permit said window segment to be lifted upwardly relative to said band to expose said information-bearing zone to receive wearer-related information, and to facilitate access to and removal of said release film from said central window segment, said window segment being thereupon movable to a position overlying said information-bearing zone with at least a perimeter of said window segment sealingly adhered to said band for defining a sealed perimeter circumscribing the wearer-related information;
• and
• fastener means for retaining said band in a closed loop configuration.

In an identification bracelet comprising an elongated flexible band having first and second ends, an information-bearing zone defined on one side thereof, and fastener means for retaining the band in a closed loop configuration, a method of protecting wearer-related information on the information-bearing zone, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a transparent cover strip defining a flexible central window segment between opposite strip ends;
• mounting the opposite strip ends of the cover strip to the band generally at opposite ends of said information-bearing zone to position the central window segment in overlying relation to the information-bearing zone;
• lifting the central window segment relative to said band at one of the opposite strip ends to expose the information-bearing zone;
• applying wearer-related information to the exposed information-bearing zone on the band;
• and
• returning the window segment to a position overlying the information-bearing zone and sealingly adhering the window segment to the band along an hermetically sealed perimeter circumscribing the information-bearing zone and the wearer-related information thereon.

A method of producing a succession of elongated identification bracelets, comprising the steps of:

• conveying an elongate web of band-forming material along a production path;
• mounting opposite ends of transparent cover strip-forming material onto the web of band-forming material;
• and
• subdividing the web of band-forming material and the cover strip-forming material into a plurality of elongated flexible identification bracelets each having a transparent cover strip having opposite ends mounted to an elongated flexible band, and with said transparent cover strip further including a central window segment formed between said opposite ends and overlying an information-bearing zone on said band;
• said subdividing step including forming at least one line of weakness between adjoining bracelets.