GB2220918A - Form set including a bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A form set for path. lab. samples, film processing, watch repairs, includes copy and original back sheets (10, 11) connected (13a) at one edge to a label sheet (13) which lies within a bag consisting of two waterproof sheets (12, 14) which are secured together around three edges, sheet (13) being connected (13b) to sheet 12 at the bag mouth, and the bag mouth being sealed by a self-adhesive strip (16) on sheet (13). <IMAGE>

Description

FORM SET INCLUDING A BAG This invention relates to a form set including a bag.

One particular application in which the form set of the invention is of utility is in the transport and processing of pathological laboratory samples.

Currently, such samples are handled by inserting both the sealed sample bottle and separate forms, which have been filled in to identify the sample and the tests required, into a bag on which an identification label of some sort is printed.

With such an arrangement any leakage from the sample bottle could result in obliteration of data written on the form with obvious problematic effects.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a form set including a bag to simplify the handling of samples and improve the security thereof.

A form set in accordance with the invention comprises at least one back sheet constituting a form on which data can be written or otherwise depicted, a pair of waterproof sheets which are secured together along two parallel edges and along a third edge to form a bag and connected to said back sheet along a fourth edge opposite said third edge and sealing means for sealing said bag adjacent said third edge.

Preferably, there are two back sheets, so that one can be retained by a user, suitable transfer material being provided for causing data written on the front one of the back sheets to be transferred to the other.

Preferably also, the front one of said back sheets may include a plurality of peel off pre-printed labels (which may be numbered or bar-coded or both). These labels can be used for recording a form sequence number on a sample bottle or on other documents.

Preferably a further sheet is included which lies between the waterproof sheets to hold the bag in shape. The bag may be attached to the back sheet(s) through the intermediary of this further sheet.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of one example of a form set including a bag in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing part of one sheet of the set; Figure 4 is another fragmentary view showing part of another sheet of the set, and Figure 5 is a fragmentary section showing a modification of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 the set illustrated consists of five plies. A copy back sheet 10 lies at the back of the set and overlying this is an original back sheet 11. The original back sheet 11 is printed as a form with spaces for completion by a user. It is printed on self-adhesive material with a peelable backing so that die cut peel-off labels lla, llb, llc can be removed and attached to a sample bottle or some other document.

These labels are numbered, or bar-coded (or both) to indicate the serial number of the form set. Further peel-off labels may be provided to indicate other standard data, for example data indicating what tests are to be carried out on the sample. Either or both of the backing and the copy back sheet is or are coated or treated in known manner to allow data written on the original back sheet 11 to be transferred to the copy back sheet 10.

Overlying the original back sheet 11 is a waterproof sheet 12, which may be formed of polyethylene coated paper or polyethylene or similar sheet material.

Overlying this sheet is a label sheet 13 and a polyethylene (or similar) front sheet 14 lies in front of the label sheet 13. The two waterproof sheets 12 and 14 are attached together (for example by heat sealing) along two parallel edges and are glued or heat sealed together along a third edge to form a bag which encloses the label sheet 13 on three sides.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2 the sheet 13 is narrower than the sheets 12 and 14 over the greater part of its length as will De explained in more detail hereinafter.

The sheets 10, 11 and 13 are adhesively connected together along the edge of the form set opposite said third edge to form a stub. The sheet 13 is also adhesively connected to the sheet 12 along another line spaced from the line along which it is connected to the sheet 11. The two adhesive lines 13a, 13b on sheet 13 are separated by a line of weakening 13c and on the face of sheet 13 adjacent this line of weakening is a double-sided adhesive tape 16 which, in well known manner is provided with a protective peel-off strip.

This adhesive strip is employed in use to seal the bag formed by the sheets 12 and 14.

Figure 3 shows more detail of the label sheet 13. This sheet is formed during manufacture of the sets on a continuous stationery collating machine with transverse relieved areas through which the sheets 12 and 14 are subsequently heat sealed together.

There are also lines of weakening in the back sheets 10 and 11 to allow these to be removed as required.

A slight modification is shown in Figure 5 in which the sheets 12 and 14 are glued along said third edge to the label sheet 13 instead of directly heat sealed to one another.

Although emphasis has been laid in the foregoing description on the application of the invention in the pathological sample field, it is also applicable in other fields, such as watch repairs, and photographic film processing.

Claims (8)

1. A form set comprising at least one back sheet constituting a form on which data can be written or otherwise depicted, a pair of waterproof sheets which are secured together along two parallel edges and along a third edge to form a bag and connected to said back sheet along a fourth edge opposite said third edge and sealing means for sealing said bag adjacent said fourth edge.

2. A form set as claimed in Claim 1 in which there are two of said back sheets, suitable transfer material being provided for causing data written on the front one of the back sheets to be transferred to the other.

3. A form set as claimed in Claim 2, in which the front one of said back sheets incorporates a plurality of peel-off, self-adhesive labels.

4. A form set as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a further sheet which is disposed between said waterproof sheets.

5. A form set as claimed in Claim 4 in which the waterproof sheets are connected to the back sheet or sheets through the intermediary of said further sheet.

6. A form set as claimed in any preceding claim in which the waterproof sheets are heat-sealed together along said first, second and third edges.

7. A form set as claimed in any preceding claim in which said waterproof sheets are adhesively secured to an intervening sheet.

8. A form set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.