US-20260123719-A1 - TAMPER-RESISTANT WEARABLE BAND

US20260123719A1US 20260123719 A1US20260123719 A1US 20260123719A1US-20260123719-A1

Abstract

Various apparatuses for a tamper-resistant wearable band are disclosed. In some examples, a tamper-resistant wearable band may include a flexible strap and a. tamper-resistant clasp. The clasp may irreversibly anchor the ends of the flexible strap.

Inventors

Jonathan D. Albert
Peter A. Nagy

Assignees

INVISALERT SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20220823

Claims (20)

1 . A tamper-resistant wearable band comprising: a flexible strap including a first end and a second end; and an irreversibly locking clasp including: an outer housing cover having a first open end opposite a second open end and a channel formed therebetween; an inner anchor and a ramp having a first ramp angle, wherein the first end of the flexile strap is secured to the inner anchor and wherein the flexible strap extends from the inner anchor and out of the first open end, further wherein the inner anchor is configured to be retained within the outer housing cover so that the ramp faces the second open end of the outer housing; one or more teeth positioned opposite the ramp and facing away from the second open end; and a locking sled slideably coupled to the outer housing cover at the first open end so that the second end of the flexible strap may pass into the second open end, over and along the ramp, and through the locking sled; wherein the locking sled is configured to be driven into the outer housing cover from the first open end to drive the flexible strap against the one or more teeth so that a path of the flexible strap changes from an initial angle along the ramp to a larger angle to lock the flexible strap relative to the outer housing cover, further wherein the locking sled is locked between the outer housing cover and the inner anchor.
2 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the path of the flexible strap is changed from the initial angle to an S-shape path having a reverse curvature.
3 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the one or more teeth are integrated with the inner anchor.
4 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein a length of the flexible strap extending from the second open end of the outer housing cover does not shorten when the locking sled is driven into the outer housing cover to lock the flexible strap relative to the outer housing cover.
5 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the inner anchor further comprises an anchor bar and the first end of the flexible strap is secured around the anchor bar.
6 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 5 , wherein the first end of the flexible strap is welded to itself around the anchor bar.
7 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 5 , wherein the first end of the flexible strap forms a loop in which the first end of the flexible strap is secured to itself by one of adhesives, sewing, heat welding, ultrasonic welding, or a combination thereof.
8 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the initial angle is 40 degrees or less, and wherein the larger angle is 45 degrees or more.
9 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the locking sled is configured to travel in only one direction with respect to the outer housing cover.
10 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the first open end has a larger width than the second open end.
11 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the locking sled includes flexible pawls configured to engage with teeth formed in the outer housing cover.
12 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the flexible strap is configured to move freely over the ramp until the locking sled is driven into the outer housing cover from the first open end to drive the flexible strap against the one or more teeth.
13 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the ramp comprises a plurality of ramp projections.
14 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the flexible strap comprises a woven polyester, a non-woven polyester, a polyamide, a polyolefin, polyolefin laminated fibers, or a combination thereof.
15 . The tamper-resistant wearable band of claim 1 , wherein the outer housing cover, inner anchor and locking sled each comprise at least one of a polyoxymethylene, a polycarbonate, a polyethylene teraphalate, a polybutylene teraphalate, a polyamide, a polyphenylene ether, or a combination thereof.
16 . A tamper-resistant wearable band comprising: a flexible strap including a first end and a second end; and an irreversibly locking clasp including: an outer housing cover having a first open end opposite a second open end and a channel formed therebetween, an inner anchor including an anchor bar and a ramp having a first ramp angle, wherein the first end of the flexile strap is welded to itself forming a loop around the anchor bar, further wherein the inner anchor is configured to be retained within the outer housing cover so that the ramp faces the second open end of the outer housing; one or more teeth positioned opposite the ramp and facing away from the second open end; and a locking sled slideably coupled to the outer housing cover at the first open end so that the second end of the flexible strap passes over the ramp, through the locking sled and out of the first open end of the outer housing cover; wherein the locking sled is configured to deflect the flexile strap when the locking sled is driven into the outer housing cover so that a path of the flexible strap changes from an initial angle along the ramp to a larger angle to lock the flexible strap relative to the outer housing cover, further wherein the locking sled is locked between the outer housing cover and the inner anchor.
17 . A method of securing a tamper-resistant wearable band around an appendage of a subject, the method comprising: placing a strap of the tamper-resistant wearable band around the subject's appendage, wherein the first end of the strap is secured to an anchor bar within a housing of a clasp of the tamper-resistant wearable band; inserting a second end of the strap into a second opening into the housing of the clasp so that the second end of the strap extends over a ramp within the within the housing at a first angle, through a locking sled that is slidably coupled to the housing, and out of a first opening into the housing of the clasp; and irreversibly securing the strap within the housing of the clasp without changing a length of a portion of the strap extending between the first opening and the second opening by driving the locking sled into the first opening of the housing so that the strap is driven against one or more teeth within the clasp that are positioned opposite the ramp, and so that a path of the strap changes from an initial angle along the ramp to a larger angle, locking the strap relative to the outer housing cover, and locking the locking sled between the outer housing cover and the inner anchor.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein irreversibly securing the strap by driving the locking sled so that the path of the strap changes from the initial angle to a larger angle comprises changing the path of the strap to an S-shape path having a reverse curvature.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein irreversibly securing the strap by driving the locking sled so that the strap is driven against the one or more teeth comprises driving the strap against one or more teeth that are integrated into the outer housing cover.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein irreversibly securing the strap by driving the locking sled so that the path of the strap changes from the initial angle to a larger angle comprises deforming the ramp from the initial angle to a second angle.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/236,181, titled “TAMPER-RESISTANT WEARABLE BAND,” filed on Aug. 23, 2021, and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND Various wearable devices are available for a user or patient to wear. For example, some wearable devices allow monitoring of a user's health, determine their location, or the like. Oftentimes, the wearable devices should not be removed except by an authorized person. For example, the wearable device may include a tracking or monitoring device to be worn by a patient or subject as part of a medical or carceral setting. Currently available apparatuses and systems for attaching devices to patient that are difficult for the subject or patient to remove are uncomfortable and overly complex. Further such device may alter the fit (and therefore comfort) when attached to the patient or subject, which may make the device uncomfortably tight or unacceptably loose. Thus, there exists a need for tamper-resistant wearable devices and in particular for tamper-resistant devices that may be safely and accurately adjusted to fit the patient or subject and secured to the patient or subject without loosening or tightening when locking shut. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems etc.) that may be worn by, or affixed to a person. In particular, the apparatuses described herein may include a strap and an irreversibly locking clasp worn about a user's appendage and/or torso and/or neck, that may be tamper-resistant and difficult to remove. For example, described herein are apparatuses (e.g., systems and devices, including locking straps) and methods of using them for irreversibly securing a tamper-resistant strap to a subject. The methods and apparatuses of this disclosure may each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which may solely be responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein. The tamper-resistant wearable bands described herein may include a flexible strap and an irreversibly locking clasp that may secure the end of the flexible and. One end of the flexible strap may be secured around a bar (e.g., an anchor bar) within the clasp by forming a loop around the bar that is secured back to itself, e.g., by welding, stitching, adhesive, etc. The second end of the flexible strap may be secured within the clasp by passing through a channel within a housing of the clasps and deflecting over a ramp. A locking sled may be advanced into the clasps housing to drive the flexible strap (e.g., the region at or near the second end of the flexible strap) against the ramp. Either or both the path of the strap over the ramp and/or the ramp itself may be changed when engaging the tamper-resistant band to secure the band to the patient/subject. For example, in some cases the ramp (and/or the path) may deform or bend to transition from a first angle (e.g., between 10-45 degrees) to a second angle (between 45-90 degrees, or in some cases >90 degrees) that is larger than the first angle when the locking sled is driven into the housing of the clasp. In some, non-limiting, examples, the ramp may bend or crumple to change the angle, which in turn changes the angle of the flexible within the housing, making it much harder to withdraw. Any of these apparatuses may include one or more teeth, which may be part of the housing, the locking sled, and/or an inner anchor region of the device. For example, the locking sled may include one or more teeth that extend into the housing from the sled and may drive the flexible strap against the ramp, further securing the flexible strap in the housing. The excess portion of the second end of the strap extending out of the housing may be cut off. For example, described herein are tamper-resistant wearable bands that include: a flexible strap including a first end and a second end; and an irreversibly locking clasp including: an outer housing cover having a first open end opposite a second open end and a channel formed therebetween, wherein the first open end has a larger width than the second open end; an inner anchor and a ramp having a first ramp angle, wherein the first end of the flexile strap is secured to the inner anchor, further wherein the inner anchor is configured to be retained within the outer housing cover so that the ramp faces the first open end of the outer housing; and a locking sled slideably coupled to the outer housing cover at the second open end so that the second end of the flexible strap may pass under the locking sled into the channel of the outer housing cover, over the ramp and out of the