Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
A thermometer comprising an elongated thermally conductive sheet having a first longitudinal portion providing an indicator section, the remaining longitudinal portion of said sheet providing a handle section, a thermally responsive substance deposited on said thermally conductive sheet within the indicator section thereof, said substance being amenable to change of state at a predetermined temperature, a shield in overlying but unsecured contact with the indicator section of said thermally conductive sheet, and covering said thermally responsive substance, a transparent film coextensive with said thermally conductive sheet and having longitudinal portions thereof corresponding with the indicator section and handle section of said thermally conductive sheet, said transparent film having an adhesive face, the handle section of said transparent film being adhesively secured to the handle section of said thermally conductive sheet, and indicator means on the indicator section adhesive face of said transparent film, said indicator means when in communication with said thermally responsive substance being operably responsive to a change in state of said substance to evidence initiation of such state change, said shield covering said indicator means and being removably adhesively secured to the indicator section of said transparent film, said shield embodying pull tab means for peelably removing said shield from the indicator section of said transparent film in a direction away from the handle section of said transparent film, said indicator means being positioned on said transparent film indicator section such as to overlyingly registerably communicate with said thermally responsive substance when said shield is removed and the indicator section of said transparent film is pressed against the indicator section of said carrier sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
A thermometer comprising an elongated thermally conductive sheet having a first longitudinal portion providing an indicator section, the remaining longitudinal portion of said sheet providing a handle section, a thermally responsive substance deposited on said thermally conductive sheet within the indicator section thereof, said substance being amenable to change of state at a predetermined temperature, a shield in overlying but unsecured contact with the indicator section of said thermally conductive sheet, and covering said thermally responsive substance, a transparent film coextensive with said thermally conductive sheet and having longitudinal portions thereof corresponding with the indicator section and handle section of said thermally conductive sheet, said transparent film having an adhesive face, the handle section of said transparent film being adhesively secured to the handle section of said thermally conductive sheet, and indicator means on the indicator section adhesive face of said transparent film, said indicator means when in communication with said thermally responsive substance being operably responsive to a change in state of said substance to evidence initiation of such state change, said shield covering said indicator means and being removably adhesively secured to the indicator section of said transparent film, said shield embodying pull tab means for peelably removing said shield from the indicator section of said transparent film in a direction away from the handle section of said transparent film, said indicator means being positioned on said transparent film indicator section such as to overlyingly registerably communicate with said thermally responsive substance when said shield is removed and the indicator section of said transparent film is pressed against the indicator section of said carrier sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The thermometer of claim 1 wherein said thermally conductive sheet is provided with a plurality of shaped cavities in the indicator section thereof, said thermally responsive substance being deposited in each of said cavities, the respective cavities and thermally responsive substance therein being each associated with a predetermined temperature value different than that associated with any other cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The thermometer of claim 1 wherein said shield is comprised of a strip of flexible material folded upon itself in at least one fold along a fold line to provide a first shield portion at least coextensive with the indicator section of said thermally conductive sheet and a second shield portion coextensive with the indicator section of said transparent film, said tab means being embodied in said first shield portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The thermometer of claim 3 wherein the shield is disposed such that said fold line is proximate the juncture of the respective indicator sections and handle sections of said thermally conductive sheet and said transparent film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
The thermometer of claim 4 wherein said shield is provided with a second fold of said strip of flexible material upon itself along a second fold line to provide a third shield portion joined with said first shield portion, said second fold line being remote from the first-mentioned fold line and adjacent the tip end of said thermally conductive sheet indicator section, said third shield portion being readily foldable in one direction to a position wherein it lies sandwiched intermediate said first and second portions and in an opposite direction outwardly of the tip end of said thermally conductive sheet indicator section, said third shield portion providing said pull tab means for digitally initiating peeling of said second shield portion from the indicator section of said transparent film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The thermometer of claim 5 wherein said third shield portion is provided with reinforcing means to prevent severance of said third shield portion from said first shield portion when pulling force is applied thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thermometer of claim 6 wherein said reinforcing means comprise a strip of reinforcing tape adhered to said third shield portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermometer of claim 1 wherein said shield comprises a strip of a foil of a metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The thermometer of claim 8 wherein said strip of foil is coated with a material impermeable to both said thermally responsive substance and the adhesive on said transparent film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The thermometer of claim 1 wherein said indicator means comprises a dyestuff and an absorbent material which absorbs the dyestuff and at least some of said thermally responsive substance when the latter undergoes a change of state to evidence initiation of such change.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The thermometer of claim 10 wherein said thermally responsive substance is a normally solid solution which melts at said predetermined temperature, said dyestuff comprising a printed coating thereof on a surface part of said absorbent material, said dyestuff being solubilized by said substance upon initiation of melting of the same.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The thermometer of claim 1 wherein said thermally conductive sheet is a foil of a metal having opposite face surfaces, the thermally responsive substance being deposited on one of said face surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermometer of claim 12 wherein the other face surface of said thermally conductive sheet is provided with a coating of a polymeric material.