Clean/biohazard transportation identification tag

{
  "publication_number": "US9870724B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Clean/biohazard transportation identification tag",
  "abstract": "A tag for positioning on containers for carrying item(s). The tag includes a base layer having a second status identifier that comprises a status identification symbol. The tag also includes a front layer having a top portion and a bottom portion and a removable tab connecting the top portion and the bottom portion. The bottom portion and the top portion are secured to the base layer. When the front layer is secured to the base layer, the front layer covers the second status identifier. The removable tab includes a first status identifier that is visible when the tab is retained to the front layer and, when the tab is removed, the second status identifier is visible.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tag for positioning on containers for carrying item(s), the tag comprising: a base layer having a second status identifier that comprises a status identification symbol wherein the base layer has a second length and a second width; and a front layer having a first width and a first length, the front layer having a top portion and a bottom portion and a removable tab connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, the bottom portion and the top portion are secured to the base layer, wherein when the front layer is secured to the base layer, the removable tab covers the second status identifier, wherein the removable tab includes a first status identifier that is visible when the tab is retained to the front layer and wherein when the removable tab is removed the second status identifier is visible wherein the first width of the front layer is less than the second width along substantially all of the second length of the base layer and wherein the second length of the base layer is substantially the same as the first length of the front layer.",
    "2. The tag of claim 1, wherein the base layer has a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the front layer is secured to the front surface of the base layer, and wherein a portion of the front surface of the base layer is visible when the front layer having the first width is secured to the front surface of the base layer having the second width.",
    "3. The tag of claim 2, wherein the portion of the front surface of the base layer that is visible comprises a sequence identifier for removing the removable tab.",
    "4. The tag of claim 1, wherein the removable tab is defined by an upper perforated line, across the first width of the front layer and located at a first connection junction between the removable tab and the top portion of the front layer, and a lower perforated line across the width of the front layer and located at a second connection junction between the removable tab and the bottom portion of the front layer.",
    "5. The tag of claim 4, wherein the removable tab comprises a pull-up flap located on a side of the removable tab between the upper perforated line and the lower perforated line.",
    "6. The tag of claim 5, wherein the pull-up flap is substantially semi-circular or semi-elliptical in shape.",
    "7. The tag of claim 1, wherein both the first status identifier and the second status identifier are related to a cleanliness of the item(s).",
    "8. The tag of claim 7, wherein each of the first status identifier and the second status identifier comprises at least one of a word identifier related to the cleanliness of the items or a color identifier related to the cleanliness of the items, and wherein the status identification symbol is an identifier for a bio-hazardous material.",
    "9. The tag of claim 1, further comprising a backing layer removably secured to the base layer.",
    "10. The tag of claim 1, further comprising a tag-reordering-information portion removably attached to at least one of the base layer or the front layer.",
    "11. A tag for positioning on containers for carrying item(s), the tag comprising: a base layer comprising a front surface and a back surface, the front surface having at least one of a first status identifier or a second status identifier, and the back surface having a first portion that is coated with an adhesive and a second portion that is not coated with the adhesive, such that only the first portion of the back surface is securable to other surfaces wherein the base layer has a second length and a second width; and a front layer having a first length and a first width, the front layer comprising a tab configured to be secured over the base layer, wherein when the tab is secured over the base layer, the tab covers one of the first status identifier or the second status identifier, and wherein the other one of the first status identifier or the second status identifier is visible wherein the tab comprises a pull-up flap located on a side of the tab wherein the flap has a first edge and a second edge and having an arcuate configuration extending from the first edge to the second edge wherein the first width of the front layer is less than the second width along substantially all of the second length of the base layer and wherein the first length of the front layer and the second length of the base layer are substantially the same.",
    "12. The tag of claim 11, wherein the other one of the first status identifier or the second status identifier that is visible is included on the tab, and wherein the tab is removable to expose the covered one of the first status identifier or the second status identifier.",
    "13. The tag of claim 11, wherein both the first status identifier and the second status identifier are included on the base layer, and wherein the tab is movable between a first position in which the tab covers only the first status identifier and a second position in which the tab covers only the second status identifier.",
    "14. A method of forming a tag for positioning on containers for carrying items(s), the method comprising: providing a base layer having a second status identifier that comprises a status identification symbol wherein the base layer has a second length and a second width providing a front layer having a first length and a first width, the front layer having a top portion and a bottom portion and a removable tab connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the removable tab comprises a first status identifier wherein the first width of the front layer is less than the second width along substantially all of the second length of the base layer, and wherein the second length of the base layer is substantially the same as the first length of the front layer; and securing the top portion and the bottom portion of the front layer to the base layer in a position in which the removable tab covers the second status identifier and the first status identifier is visible when the tab is retained to the front layer, and wherein when the tab is removed by gripping an arcuate flap extending from the tab such that the second status identifier is visible.",
    "15. The method of claim 14, further comprising shaping a portion of the removable tab into a pull-up flap.",
    "16. The method of claim 14, further comprising removably securing a backing layer to the base layer.",
    "17. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the first status identifier and the second status identifier comprises at least one of a word identifier related to the cleanliness of the items or a color identifier related to the cleanliness of the items, and wherein the status identification symbol is an identifier for a bio-hazardous material.",
    "18. The method of claim 14, wherein when the top portion and the bottom portion of the front layer are secured to the base layer in the position in which the removable tab covers the second status identifier, a portion of a front surface of the base layer is visible, and wherein the portion of the front surface of the base layer that is visible comprises a sequence identifier for removing the tab.",
    "19. The method of claim 14, wherein the base layer is a permanent base layer that is cleanable."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to a tag that is attached to transportation carts and/or to hand held or other containers to identify, notify, label or inform whether the transportation cart or the hand held container is transporting clean/sterile item(s) or item(s) contaminated with or considered bio-hazardous material. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a multi-layer tag that is utilized within a medical or health care providing facility to identify whether the transportation cart and/or the hand held container is transporting clean/sterile item(s) or item(s) contaminated with or considered bio-hazardous material.\n\nAs used herein, the term item(s) includes, but is not limited to, medical products, instruments and/or equipment.\n\nDue to the configuration of many facilities, item(s) required for a procedure can be transferred within or out of the facility from a clean room or area to an area or room where a medical procedure is to be performed and back to a cleaning/sterile/general processing area. The item(s), whether clean or contaminated by a bio-hazardous material, are typically transported within a transportation cart or container through at least one area accessible to the public.\n\nFor purposes of this application, a bio-hazardous material is blood or other potentially infectious materials pursuant to CFR 1910.1030(a). If the bio-hazardous material comes into contact with health care personnel or the public, the potential exists for the transfer of a microorganism, such as bacteria or a virus, which can cause a short term or long term illness.",
  "cpc": [
    "G09F 3/0288",
    "G09F 2003/0222",
    "G09F 2003/0272"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G09F 3/00",
    "G09F 3/02"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Phillip Van Gorp",
    "Samuel Curnow"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-07-16",
  "publication_date": "2018-01-16",
  "grant_date": "2018-01-16",
  "priority_date": "2014-07-16",
  "application_number": "US-201514801072-A",
  "family_id": "60935059",
  "cited_by_count": 9,
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}