US3738173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature sensing probe and disposable probe cover
Assignee: Ivac Medical Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1971-11-22
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-11-22
Abstract
Abstract Thermometer apparatus including an elongated, temperature sensing probe having a combined finger grip and mounting collar at one end with a concentric shaft resiliently urged forwardly of the leading end of the collar, the end of the shaft remote from the collar having a thermistor heat sensing tip. A disposable cover in the form of a rigid, thermally insulating tube having a heat conducting shield at the tip of the cover is adapted to slide over the probe shaft and engage cover retaining means on the collar, the cover shield engaging the sensing tip and driving the probe shaft rearwardly toward the collar during cover installation prior to temperature measurement. The cover is selectively ejected after temperature measurement by manually driving the probe shaft forwardly of the mounting collar with sufficient force to disengage the cover from the retaining means.
Inventors
- 👤 S Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K13/00; G01K13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A temperature sensing probe and ejectable probe cover, comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; cover retaining means on said collar; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and slidable along the common axis of said collar and said shaft between projected and retracted states, said shaft having a temperature sensing tip; biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and said sensing tip forwardly of the leading end of said mounting collar; and a substantially rigid tubular cover, separate from the structure defining said probe, and ejectable from said probe, said cover having a mounting end and a sensing end, said mounting end being open and in engagement with said cover retaining means, said sensing end of said cover being closed and said temperature sensing tip of said probe shaft being resiliently biased into engagement with said sensing end, whereby said probe shaft is maintained in a retracted state while said cover is mounted on said probe and said probe shaft moves to a projected state upon ejection of said cover from said probe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A temperature sensing probe and ejectable probe cover, comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; cover retaining means on said collar; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and slidable along the common axis of said collar and said shaft between projected and retracted states, said shaft having a temperature sensing tip; biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and said sensing tip forwardly of the leading end of said mounting collar; and a substantially rigid tubular cover, separate from the structure defining said probe, and ejectable from said probe, said cover having a mounting end and a sensing end, said mounting end being open and in engagement with said cover retaining means, said sensing end of said cover being closed and said temperature sensing tip of said probe shaft being resiliently biased into engagement with said sensing end, whereby said probe shaft is maintained in a retracted state while said cover is mounted on said probe and said probe shaft moves to a projected state upon ejection of said cover from said probe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the forces exerted by said biasing means are insufficient to overcome the static friction between said cover retaining means and said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said retaining means includes a resilient, split ring seated in a circumferential groove defined in said mounting collar, said groove being spaced rearwardly of said leading end of said collar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as set forth in claim 2, and further comprising: ejection means for manually advancing said probe shaft forwardly of said mounting collar to eject said cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said probe shaft includes a reduced diameter portion spaced rearwardly of said leading end of said collar and extending beyond the end of said collar remote from said leading end of said collar; and said biasing means is a coil spring surrounding said reduced diameter portion of said probe shaft and extending between said shaft and said collar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said ejection means includes an ejection button; and said reduced diameter portion of said probe shaft includes a trailing end extending beyond the end of said mounting collar remote from said leading end of said collar, said trailing end of said probe shaft terminating in said ejection button.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting end is of a larger diameter than said sensing end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination as set forth in claim 1, including: a shoulder formed in said tube and adapted to engage said leading end of said collar as a limit stop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as set forth in claim 1, whereIn: said sensing end of said cover includes a heat conductive shield having a prescribed heat mass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said shield is substantially conical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
A temperature sensing probe and probe cover, comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; probe cover retaining means on said mounting collar, said cover retaining means including a resilient ring seated within a circumferential groove defined in said mounting collar; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and moveable along the common axis of said collar and said shaft, said probe shaft having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of said shaft remote from the leading end of said collar; biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar; and a cover mounted on said probe in engagement with said cover retaining means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A temperature sensing probe and probe cover, comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; probe cover retaining means on said mounting collar, said cover retaining means including a resilient ring seated within a circumferential groove defined in said mounting collar; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and moveable along the common axis of said collar and said shaft, said probe shaft having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of said shaft remote from the leading end of said collar; biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar; and a cover mounted on said probe in engagement with said cover retaining means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
136 words
A temperature sensing probe and probe cover, comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; an ejection button; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and moveable along the common axis of said collar and said shaft, said probe shaft having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of said shaft remote from the leading end of said collar, said probe shaft having a trailing end remote from said sensing tip and extending beyond the end of said mounting collar remote from said leading end of said collar, said trailing end of said probe shaft terminating in said ejection button; biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar; and a cover for said probe supported on said cover mounting collar.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
A temperature sensing probe and probe cover, comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; an ejection button; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and moveable along the common axis of said collar and said shaft, said probe shaft having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of said shaft remote from the leading end of said collar, said probe shaft having a trailing end remote from said sensing tip and extending beyond the end of said mounting collar remote from said leading end of said collar, said trailing end of said probe shaft terminating in said ejection button; biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar; and a cover for said probe supported on said cover mounting collar.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
A temperature sensing probe and probe cover, comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and moveable along the common axis of said collar and said shaft, said probe shaft having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of said shaft remote from the leading end of said collar, said probe shaft including a reduced diameter portion spaced rearwardly of said leading end of said collar and extending beyond the end of said collar remote from said leading end of said collar; biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar, said biasing means including a coil spring surrounding said reduced diameter portion of said probe shaft and extending between said shaft and said collar; and a cover for said probe supported on said cover mounting collar.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
149 words
A temperature sensing probe and probe cover, comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and moveable along the common axis of said collar and said shaft, said probe shaft having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of said shaft remote from the leading end of said collar, said probe shaft including a reduced diameter portion spaced rearwardly of said leading end of said collar and extending beyond the end of said collar remote from said leading end of said collar; biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar, said biasing means including a coil spring surrounding said reduced diameter portion of said probe shaft and extending between said shaft and said collar; and a cover for said probe supported on said cover mounting collar.
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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) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |