Disposable rigid thermometer probe cover

Claim 2

For use with a temperature sensing probe having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of a probe shaft which is resiliently urged to a projected state and movable to a retracted state, a disposable probe cover distinct from the structure defining the probe per se, and separately mountable on and ejectable from the probe, said probe cover comprising: a rigid, elongate, hollow tube separate from the probe and having a rigid, heat conductive cover tip, said tube and said cover tip being of dissimilar materials, said tube and cover tip being sufficiently inflexible along the longitudinal axis of said cover to enable said cover to drive the probe shaft to its retracted state upon installation of said cover on the probe, without elastic deformation of said cover.

Claim 3

For use with a temperature sensing probe having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of a probe shaft which is resiliently urged to a projected state and movable to a retracted state, a disposable probe cover distinct from the structure defining the probe per se and separately mountable on and ejectable from the probe, said probe cover comprising: a rigid, elongate, hollow, substantially non-heat conductive tube, said tube being separate from said probe and having a mounting end and a sensing end, said mounting end being open; and a rigid, heat conductive shield closing said sensing end of said tube, said tube and said shield being of dissimilar materials, said tube and shield being sufficiently inflexible along the longitudinal axis of said cover to enable said cover to drive the probe shaft to its retracted state upon installation of said cover on the probe, without elastic deformation of said cover.

Claim 4

For use with a temperature sensing probe having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of a probe shaft which is resiliently urged to a projected state and movable to a retracted state, a disposable probe cover distinct from the structure defining the probe per se and separately mountable on and ejectable from the probe, said probe cover comprising: a rigid, elongate, hollow, substantially non-heat conductive tube, said tube being separate from said probe and having a mounting end and a sensing end, said mounting end being open; and a rigid, heat conductive shield closing said sensing end of said tube, said tube and said shield being of dissimilar materials, said tube and shield being sufficiently inflexible along the longitudinal axis of said cover to enable said cover to drive the probe shaft to its retracted state upon installation of said cover on the probe, without elastic deformation of said cover.

Claim 5

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said mounting end is of a larger diameter than said sensing end.

Claim 6

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said heat conductive shield is in the shape of an inverted, blunt cone.

Claim 7

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said heat conductive shield has a prescribed heat mass.

Claim 8

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said mounting end is of a larger diameter than said sensing end and said heat conductive shield has a prescribed mass.

Claim 9

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 2, and further including: a shoulder formed in said tube between said mounting end and said sensing end, said shoulder defining a limit stop for installation of said cover onto said probe.

Claim 10

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said heat conductive shield has a substantially conical shape.

Claim 11

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said tube is of molded plastic; and said heat conductive shield is of metal.

Claim 12

A probe cover for use with a thermometer probe having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of a probe shaft whiCh is resiliently urged forwardly of a mounting collar having retaining means for engaging the probe cover and wherein mounting of the cover moves the sensing tip and the probe shaft rearwardly towards the collar, whereby the sensing tip is continuously urged against the leading end of the cover, said probe cover being distinct from the structure defining the probe and being separately mountable on and ejectable from the probe, said probe cover comprising: a rigid, elongate, hollow tube having a proximal open mounting end with an inside diameter sized to frictionally grip said retaining means, said tube having a distal sensing end with a rigid, heat conductive cover tip having an inner surface adapted to engage said sensing tip, said tube and cover tip being of dissimilar materials, said tube and cover tip being separate from the probe and sufficiently inflexible along the longitudinal axis of said cover to enable said cover to drive the probe shaft rearwardly upon installation of said cover on the probe, without elastic deformation of said cover, the axial length of said cover from the region of said proximal end adapted to grip said retaining means to said inner surface of said cover tip being less than the distance from said sensing tip to said retaining means prior to installation of said cover onto said probe.

Claim 13

A probe cover for use with a thermometer probe having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of a probe shaft whiCh is resiliently urged forwardly of a mounting collar having retaining means for engaging the probe cover and wherein mounting of the cover moves the sensing tip and the probe shaft rearwardly towards the collar, whereby the sensing tip is continuously urged against the leading end of the cover, said probe cover being distinct from the structure defining the probe and being separately mountable on and ejectable from the probe, said probe cover comprising: a rigid, elongate, hollow tube having a proximal open mounting end with an inside diameter sized to frictionally grip said retaining means, said tube having a distal sensing end with a rigid, heat conductive cover tip having an inner surface adapted to engage said sensing tip, said tube and cover tip being of dissimilar materials, said tube and cover tip being separate from the probe and sufficiently inflexible along the longitudinal axis of said cover to enable said cover to drive the probe shaft rearwardly upon installation of said cover on the probe, without elastic deformation of said cover, the axial length of said cover from the region of said proximal end adapted to grip said retaining means to said inner surface of said cover tip being less than the distance from said sensing tip to said retaining means prior to installation of said cover onto said probe.

Claim 14

A probe cover for use with a thermometer probe having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of a probe shaft which is resiliently urged forwardly of a mounting collar having retaining means for engaging the probe cover and wherein mounting of the cover moves the sensing tip and the probe shaft rearwardly towards the collar, whereby the sensing tip is continuously urged against the leading end of the cover, said probe cover being distinct from the structure defining the probe per se and separately mountable on and ejectable from the probe, said probe cover comprising: a rigid, elongate, hollow, substantially non-heat conductive tube separate from said probe and having a proximal open mounting end with an inside diameter sized to frictionally grip said retaining means, said tube having a distal sensing end capped with a rigid, heat conductive tip shield having an inner surface adapted to engage said sensing tip, said tube and said shield being of dissimilar materials, said tube and shield being sufficiently inflexible along the longitudinal axis of said cover to enable said cover to drive the probe shaft rearwardly upon installation of said cover on the probe, without elastic deformation of said cover, the axial length of said cover from the region of said proximal end adapted to grip said retaining means to said inner surface of said tip shield being less than the distance from said sensing tip to said retaining means prior to installation of said cover onto said probe.

Claim 15

A probe cover for use with a thermometer probe having a temperature sensing tip at the leading end of a probe shaft which is resiliently urged forwardly of a mounting collar having retaining means for engaging the probe cover and wherein mounting of the cover moves the sensing tip and the probe shaft rearwardly towards the collar, whereby the sensing tip is continuously urged against the leading end of the cover, said probe cover being distinct from the structure defining the probe per se and separately mountable on and ejectable from the probe, said probe cover comprising: a rigid, elongate, hollow, substantially non-heat conductive tube separate from said probe and having a proximal open mounting end with an inside diameter sized to frictionally grip said retaining means, said tube having a distal sensing end capped with a rigid, heat conductive tip shield having an inner surface adapted to engage said sensing tip, said tube and said shield being of dissimilar materials, said tube and shield being sufficiently inflexible along the longitudinal axis of said cover to enable said cover to drive the probe shaft rearwardly upon installation of said cover on the probe, without elastic deformation of said cover, the axial length of said cover from the region of said proximal end adapted to grip said retaining means to said inner surface of said tip shield being less than the distance from said sensing tip to said retaining means prior to installation of said cover onto said probe.

Claim 16

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said mounting end is of a larger diameter than said sensing end.

Claim 17

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said heat conductive shield is in the shape of an inverted, blunt cone.

Claim 18

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said heat conductive shield has a prescribed heat mass.

Claim 19

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said mounting end is of a larger diameter than said sensing end and said heat conductive shield has a prescribed heat mass.

Claim 20

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said heat conductive shield has a substantially conical shape.

Claim 21

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said tube is of molded plastic; and said heat conductive shield is of metal.

Claim 22

A disposable probe cover as set forth in claim 17, and further including: a shoulder formed in said tube between said mounting end and said sensing end, said shoulder defining a limit stop for installation of said cover onto said probe.