1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wristbands in general and more specifically to an ultraviolet active wristband using a photochromic compound which has been described in my earlier invention (U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,090). The photochromic compound is any molecule in the spiropyran or spiroxazine group.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wristbands are used in many areas which include: Amusement parks and fun centers, College and university activities, Educational institutions activities, Fairs, Festivals and special events, Campgrounds, Parks and recreation, Night clubs, Bars and Taverns, Concerts, Promoters and Arenas, Resorts, Travel, Hotels and Motels, Sporting events and racetracks, Hospitals and health monitoring areas, Safety and special permit areas (government security areas).
The intended use of wristbands is oriented towards: Admission and gate control, Alcohol control, Group passes, Pay-one-price, Ride and concession tickets, VIP passes, Computerized admission, Backstage passes, Pit passes, Door prizes, Identification, Pre-ticket sales, Rental etc. . . .
The invention of wristbands is very old. Numerous patents have been issued relating to wristbands. Each invention has been designed to a specific use. For example, J. Gauvreau in U.S. Pat. No. 1,151,940, H. W. Weiss in U.S. Pat. No. 1,407,239, C. E. Ziegler in U.S. Pat. No. 1,427,891, and D. L. Schreindl in U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,025 disclose a wristband having an identification tag. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,947, M. B. Falla discloses a prepackaged patient identification kit and method for assuring correlation between a patient, his specimens and his records. The kit contains a wristband for identifying the patient. A similar system is marketed under the tradename IDENT-A-BAND by Hollister Incorporated of Libertyville, Ill. The IDENT-A-BAND system includes a wristband and a sheet of pressure sensitive labels. The sheet of labels includes a wristband label and other labels for specimen identification (c.f., Hollister Incorporated Products Catalogue). Precision Dynamics Corporation of San Fernando, Calif. manufactures numerous kinds of wristbands under the tradenames: VISABAND, SUPERBAND, SECURBAND, WATCHBAND, FUNBANDS, GLITTERBANDS. These wristbands are manufactured in different colors and shapes. Precision Dynamics most popular wristbands are the TYVEC Fiberbands. These feel and look like paper but are actually a strong, non-tearable fiber. In addition to TYVEC Fiberbands, Precision Dynamics Corporation manufactures plastic (e.g. Vinyl) wristbands. All the wristbands may be custom printed with different designs and colors (c.f., Precision Dynamics Corporation 1997 Products Catalogue).
The intent of this invention is not to create an already existing and well spread product but to create a color changing wristband. In other words, contrary to already marketed wristbands manufactured in a static color (red, blue, purple etc. . . . ) or fluorescent colors (glow in the dark), the present invention teaches a wristband capable of changing color from clear to an intense visible color (purple, blue, yellow, red etc. . . . ) upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation (e.g., sunlight or any ultraviolet lamp at check point). The present wristband is also capable of reversing back to its initial color state upon removed from the ultraviolet radiation source. It is therefore understandable that the present wristband may be used numerous times since it is reversible in color.