US3681991A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic thermometer
Assignee: American Bank Note Co
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Filing: 1970-07-06
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1990-07-06
Abstract
Abstract An electronic thermometer having a casing, a probe removably mounted in a probe well in the casing, a thermistor mounted in the top of the probe, a resistance bridge with the thermistor connected as one of the bridge resistances so that the bridge output indicates the temperature of the thermistor, a meter responsive to the bridge output for displaying the temperature of the thermistor, and at least one, and preferably two wells in the casing for each holding a plurality of disposable probe covers in each well, the covers in one well preferably being of a different color from the covers in the other well. In one embodiment, a first resistor is mounted in the casing adjacent the probe well for heating the thermistor so that the temperature at that location can be quickly determined and a second resistor is mounted adjacent the probe cover wells for heating the probe covers in these wells. In another embodiment two probes are provided, one for taking human temperature orally and the other for taking human temperatures rectally.
Inventors
- 👤 David H Eberly Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K13/00; G01K13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A thermometer comprising: a casing having a probe receiving well and at least a single well for holding a plurality of disposable probe covers, means removably mounted in said casing having a resistance which varies with its temperature and including a probe adapted to be covered by a disposable probe cover and a thermistor mounted in said probe, means connected to said removably mounted means for producing a signal indicating the temperature of said removably mounted means, means in said casing for heating said removable mounted means while said removably mounted means is in said casing, and means for heating said probe covers in said probe cover well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A thermometer comprising: a casing having a probe receiving well and at least a single well for holding a plurality of disposable probe covers, means removably mounted in said casing having a resistance which varies with its temperature and including a probe adapted to be covered by a disposable probe cover and a thermistor mounted in said probe, means connected to said removably mounted means for producing a signal indicating the temperature of said removably mounted means, means in said casing for heating said removable mounted means while said removably mounted means is in said casing, and means for heating said probe covers in said probe cover well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermometer as in claim 1 wherein said thermistor is mounted in the tip of said probe and wherein said heating means includes a resistor mounted adjacent said tip when said probe is in said well and means for supplying a current to said resistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A thermometer as in claim 2 wherein said signal producing means includes a bridge having a plurality of resistances with said thermistor being connected as one of the resistances of said bridge so that the electrical output of said bridge indicates the temperature of said thermistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thermometer as in claim 1 including meter means connected to said bridge for displaying the temperature indicated by said electrical output of said bridge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A thermometer as in claim 1 wherein said casing includes at least two probe cover wells and wherein one of said wells holds probe covers differing in visual appearance from the probe covers in the other of said probe cover wells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A thermometer as in claim 1 wherein said probe cover heating means includes a resistor for heating said probe cover well and means for supplying current to said resistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A thermometer as in claim 1 wherein removably connected means includes means for supplying an electrical signal to said thermistor and including switch means in said well for disconnecting said supplying means from said thermistor when said probe is in said well and for connecting said supplying means to said thermistor when said probe has been removed from said well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A thermometer as in claim 1 wherein said signal producing means includes a resistance bridge having said thermistor as one of its resistances wherein said thermistor is removable from said bridge and wherein the signal produced by said bridge when said thermistor is removed indicates a given temperature for checking the calibration of said bridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thermometer as in claim 8 wherein said probe is adapted for insertion into a human body cavity and said given temperature is approximately 98.6* F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermometer as in claim 1 wherein said probe is adapted for insertion into a human body cavity and wherein said heating means is adapted to heat said thermistor in said well above roughly 98.6* F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermometer as in claim 1 wherein the interior of said casing is insulated for maintaining said interior at roughly a uniform temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electronic thermometer comprising: a casing having at least a single well for holding a plurality of disposable probe covers, probe means removably mounted in said casing including means having a physical characteristic which varies with its temperature, means connected to said removably mounted means for producing a signal indicating the temperature of said removably mounted means, and means in said casing for heating said probe covers in said well.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electronic thermometer comprising: a casing having at least a single well for holding a plurality of disposable probe covers, probe means removably mounted in said casing including means having a physical characteristic which varies with its temperature, means connected to said removably mounted means for producing a signal indicating the temperature of said removably mounted means, and means in said casing for heating said probe covers in said well.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of determining the temperature at a given location with an electronic thermometer having a casing probe means adapted to be covered with a disposable probe cover and removably mounted in said casing including means having a physical characteristic which varies with its temperature comprising the steps of: heating said temperature varying means to a temperature in excess of the temperature of said location, heating said probe cover, placing said heated probe cover on said probe means, and transferring said probe means with said prObe cover thereon to said location.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of determining the temperature at a given location with an electronic thermometer having a casing probe means adapted to be covered with a disposable probe cover and removably mounted in said casing including means having a physical characteristic which varies with its temperature comprising the steps of: heating said temperature varying means to a temperature in excess of the temperature of said location, heating said probe cover, placing said heated probe cover on said probe means, and transferring said probe means with said prObe cover thereon to said location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electronic thermometer comprising: the casing having at least a single well for holding a plurality of disposable probe covers, probe means including having a physical characteristic which varies with its temperature, means connected to said means for producing a signal indicating the temperature of said probe means, and means in said casing for heating said probe cover in said well.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electronic thermometer comprising: the casing having at least a single well for holding a plurality of disposable probe covers, probe means including having a physical characteristic which varies with its temperature, means connected to said means for producing a signal indicating the temperature of said probe means, and means in said casing for heating said probe cover in said well.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electric thermometer as in claim 14 further including a plurality of disposable probe covers, each having a cylindrically shaped body portion and open end for receiving said probe means, and a metal tip closing the other end.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |