US3517450A

US3517450A - Adhesived recording label

Info

Publication number: US3517450A
Application number: US707580A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael R Greco
Original assignee: Professional Tape Co Inc
Current assignee: Professional Tape Co Inc
Priority date: 1968-02-23
Filing date: 1968-02-23
Publication date: 1970-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1987-06-30

Description

United States Patent O 3,517,450 ADHESIVED RECORDING LABEL Michael R. Greco, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Professional Tape Co., Inc., Riverside, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 707,580 Int. Cl. A44c 3/00 U.S. Cl. -2 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The recording label of this invention has means, such as adhesive, in a narrow band along one edge by which it is removably attachable to a necked bottle or similar vari-contoured container of flowable material with the one edge, which may have volumetric markings, closely conforming to the container contours while also extending in a plane, the remainder of the label being free of the container. This free portion is engageable smoothly on the container surface for clear and legible recording of data on any part of the label front face, and also serves as an attention-arresting flag BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The label, as indicated, is of a type on which entries are recorded when it is secured on a container. It is of general application, but is especially useful in the administration of intravenous solutions and intended particularly for such use. In intravenous injection, it is important that an accurate record be kept as to the solution used and the details of its administration. Various methods have been employed for this purpose, usually requiring the provision of a record sheet on which were to be entered, either originally or from some earlier entry or record, such details as the rate of flow of the solution, the times of starting and stopping the administration, and the times at which and the persons by whom the patient and the procedure Were checked. Such methods not only take up much time, but greatly enhance the possibility of error in making or copying such entries, or of overlooking and omitting them, especially during busy periods in a medical facility.

It has been proposed to employ an adhesive label for detachable securement to the intravenous solution bottle, on which label the desired entries may be made. Volumetric markings may be employed on the label for gauging the quantity of solution discharged (or remaining) at the time of each check, to determine whether the rate of solution flow is that prescribed. After administration of the solution is completed, the label may be removed from the bottle and adhesively secured in the medical record of the patient.

Entries must `be made on such a label while it is secured on the bottle. It is therefore important that the label lie closely on or against the bottle surface, for otherwise entries cannot be made legibly, if they can be made at all. Intravenous bottles and other containers for iiowable material normally are formed with a generally cylindrical body portion having a neck portion tapering to the mouth, thus presenting surfaces curved about a plurality of different axes. They may for convenience be described as vari-contoured. A label of the type involved must extend close to the mouth of the bottle so as to allow determination of the solution Volume even as the bottle approaches emptiness, and thus must extend over both the body and neck portions of the container. The proposed label is secured over its entire area to the bottle, and therefore cannot conform to such vari-contoured container surfaces, becoming distorted and wrinkled particularly adjacent the neck portion. It therefore presents serious practical problems affecting its utility.

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The present invention solves the problems arising in the use of the foregoing label, and provides other advantages thereover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The label of the present invention provides for its attachment to a vari-contoured container, such as an intravenous solution bottle, by adhesive disposed within only a narrow area or band along an edge portion, on the reverse face, with the remaining portion of the label extending free of the container. The narrow contacting portion follows the bottle contours closely, with the adjacent edge substantially straight, that is, in an axial plane ofthe cylindrical body. The front face of the label is graduated in volumetric units along this edge for determining the volume of solution or other material discharged from the bottle or similar container, which may be transparent or otherwise constructed to allow of easily ascertaining the solution level. Any part or area of the free portion of the label may be smoothly supported by the bottle surface to allow entries to be written easily and legibly, without any great change in the position of the container. An additional advantage is provided by the free portion of the label, in that it stands out from the bottle or other container as a sort of warning llag to attract attention and thus minimize the possibility of any of the desired checks on the solution being overlooked.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an entry-recording label attachable to a necked bottle or similar vari-contoured container without substantial distortion to allow legible recording of entries thereon; to provide such a label attachable with a portion free of the container for engagement at any part smoothly on the container surface in recording of entries; and to provide a label attachable with a portion free of the container to act as an attention-attracting element.

Other and further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the front face of the label according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a View of the reverse face of the label of FIG. 1 on a reduced scale, -with an adhesive-covering backing partially removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the label applied to an intravenous solution bottle;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG. 3, on a reduced scale; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3, but taken with the attached edge of the label in centered position.

Referring first to FIGS. l and 2, the recording label of the invention is indicated generally at 10 as comprising an elongated substantially rectangular sheet or strip of paper or other thin, ilexible, but substantially inelastic material. While it is disclosed specically for use in administration of an intravenous solution, it may be employed, or adapted for employment, in connection with other types of owable material. On its front or recording face, the label 10 is marked by printing or otherwise to detine a space 11 `for entry of identifying data or the like. By way of example, the entries in the present instance identify the solution, the patient to Whom administered, and any added medication. Another space 12 is provided for entering the rate at which the solution is to be injected, in drops per minute or other units. Extending acrss the Width of the label is a straight line 13, which may be arrowed at either end or both, to be set at the level of the solution contained in a bottle or other container when starting the intravenous administration. It will be understood that the container is transparent or translucent to allow the level of its contents to be readily determined, or provided with a transparent insert or other viewing means for the purpose. Along one longitudinal edge 14 of the label, below the line 13, is a series of graduations or spaced marks 15, representing volumetric units such as milliliters (commonly noted as cubic centimeters), corresponding in total to the volume of solution at the start of the procedure, 500 cc. in this case. Thus the volume of solution discharged at any time may be determined by noting the mark 15 to which the solution has fallen. A line 16 is provided for entry of the time at which the intravenous injection was begun, and by ascertaining the period elapsed between that time and the time of observing the lowered` level, the average rate of flow or discharge is readily calculated. This may be compared to that noted at 12, and adjusted if it does not correspond to the prescribed rate.

The times at which the intravenous administration procedure is verified or checked may be entered on appropriate lines 17, the number of vfwhich is at least equal to the number of checks to be made during the administration of the bottle contents. Each line 17 is accompanied by a line 18 for receiving the signature or initials of the person making the check.

A line 19 similar to line 16 is provided for entry of the time at which injection of the solution is discontinued. Entries on the lines 16 and 19 may be accompanied by the proper signature or initials. The starting and stopping time lines 16 and 19 preferably are located respectively at or near the top of the label, and at or near the lower end thereof, since this reduces the chances of their being overlooked.

T he reverse face of the label 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is coated with a suitable self-sticking (pressure-sensitive) adhesive indicated at 20, of such character as to allow removable attachment of the label to a bottle or other container of an intravenous solution or other flowable material. The adhesive 20 is covered by a readily removable release sheet or backing which in the illustrated embodiment is divided by a separation 21, for example a cut line, into a narrow marginal strip 22 extending along the edge 14 0f the label, and a portion 23 covering the remainder of the reverse face. The strip 22 corresponds more or less to the marginal portion on the front face of the label occupied by the volumetric marks 15.

While the adhesive is in this instance shown as extending over the entire area of the label, the adhesived area 20 may be less than shown, always, however, including adhesive in the narrow area or band underlying the marginal strip 22. The application of adhesive may be limited to such narrow area or band, in which case only the backing strip 22 is required. All or some of the adhesive employed may be applied in spots or small areas, if desired, again with at least some of the adhesive in the narrow marginal band along the edge 14 underlying the backing strip 22. A backing portion such as 23- is of course provided for any adhesive outside of this band.

In using the label 10, the identifying data is entered in the space 11 and the prescribed ilow or injection rate in space 12. The backing strip 22 is then peeled from the reverse face to eexpose the adhesive in the underlying narrow band, and the label attached to the invertedly suspended intravenous bottle 25, as shown in FIG. 3, by setting the line 13 at the level S of the solution in the inverted bottle and pressing the adhesive against the bottle surface. In thus applying the label, the edge 14 is kept straight, or in other words in an axial plane of the cylindrical body of the bottle, while being conformed to the `bottle contours, as will be understood from FGS. 3 and 5. The portion of the label without direct adhesive attach- -ment to the bottle stands out free of the bottle, more or less tangentially, as best shown in FIG. 4, and hence is more noticeable than if it conformed to the bottle surface. The result is that it serves as a flagging or attention-attracting means or element tending to prevent oversight of the regular checks on the procedure and patient. The botitle 25 is provided with any desired means for supporting it in inverted discharging position, such as the arrangeemnt illustrated, which is well known and hence need not be described.

When the administration of the intravenous solution is begun, the starting time is noted on line 16. This may easily be done by bending the free portion of the label at the area about line 16 back against the bottle surface to lie smoothly thereon, and writing the appropriate entry on the smooth and firm surface thus available. The progress of the procedure is checked at intervals to see that nothing untoward has occurred, to note the patients condition, and to determine whether the solution is flowing at the proper rate. These checks are noted by entering the times thereof on successive lines 17, together with the signature or initials of the attendant on the respective accompanying lines 18. In each instance, the free portion of label 10 is disposed smoothly against the bottle 25 to allow a clear and legible entry to be made without difficulty, even at the part overlying the bottle neck. When the administration of the solution is discontinued, the time is noted on line 19 and the label detached from the bottle. It may be mentioned that the bottle is not completely emptied, in order to avoid the possibility of air entering the patients bloodstream.

The label is then secured in the patients medical record by means of the adhesive 20, either by the adhesive in the narrow band used to attach the label to the bottle, if this be the only adhesive provided or desired to be employed, or by all of the adhesive on the reverse face of the label, the backing portion 23 or any corresponding backing being removed to expose the additional adhesive. It will be evident that securement of the label in the medical record does not require use of adhesive over the entire area of the label, although it is preferable from the standpoint of certainty of retention of the label to employ such a large area of adhesive. Of course, the label might be secured in the record by means other than adhesive.

The label has been described and illustrated as one for recording data in connection with the intravenous administration of a solution from a necked bottle, but as already indicated the invention is not limited to this specic employment of the label. The label may be used generally in connection with ow or discharge of flowable material, liquid or solid, from a suitable container, in order to conform to the container contours Without appreciable distortion and thus allow the label to be used for clear and legible recording of entries. It may also, obviously, be used on vari-contoured containers of other material for recording processing, transportation, time, or other data as to the material or container. The attention-arresting portion of the label extending free of the container of course operates in such other applications also.

It will be understood that the single embodiment of the invention disclosed is only exemplary of the inventive concept.

I claim:

1. A recording label for a vari-contoured container, comprising thin flexible sheet material and having a front face for recording entries, a self-sticking adhesive on the reverse face allowing readily removable attachment of the label to the container, said adhesive being disposed in at least a narrow band of the label along a single edge thereof, said narrow band being closely conformable to container contours, and a removable backing covering said adhesive and comprising a narrow strip corresponding to said narrow band of the label, whereby the label may be attached to the container only by the adhesive in said band for close conformity to the container contours without substantial distortion and with said single edge substantially in an axial plane of the container.

2. A label substantially as dened in claim 1, in which said adhesive is disposed on a portion of said reverse face additional to said narrow band, and said backing includes a portion additional to said narrow strip and has a separation between said additional backing portion and narrow strip allowing removal of the strip while leaving the additional backing portion in place.

3. A label substantially as `defined in claim 2, in which upon attachment of the label to the container all of the label except said narrow band extends free of the container, whereby to allow smooth engagement of any part thereof on the container surface for legible recording of entries and also to constitute an attention-attracting element.

4. A label substantially as dened in claim 2, including means for securing the label to a record holder, said securing means comprising said adhesive.

5. A label substantially as defined in claim 1, in which upon attachment of the label to the container the label, except for said narrow band, extends free of the container to allow smooth engagement of any part thereof on the container surface for legible recording of entries.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,049,646 l/l9l3 Barnesby 40-2 X 2,507,684 5/1950 Smith 73-428 X 2,614,349 10/1952 Barnes 40-2 3,437,243 4/ 1969 Farnsworth 12S-214 X EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.