Clinical thermometer probe and disposable cover therefor

Claim 2

A disposable cover for a temperature sensing device, comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped hollow tube that is open at a first end thereof for receiving a temperature sensing device, and a flexible and stretchable membrane securely held normally flat across said tube at a second end and substantially perpendicular to an axis of the tube by clamping the membrane to an outside surface of the tube adjacent its second end with a sleeve, said sleeve being hollow and generally cylindrically shaped with an interior surface cooperating with the outside surface of the cylindrical tube for frictional engagement therebetween when the sleeve is fully engaged over the second end of the tube, said sleeve having a circular opening at one end for positioning adjacent said second end of the tube, said sleeve opening having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the outside of the cylindrical surface of the tube at its second end, whereby said membrane contacts said sleeve opening when the membrane is stretched outward therethrough.

Claim 3

A disposable cover for a temperature probe, comprising, a hollow tube having first and second ends, said first end having a tip surface of substantially the cross-sectional area of the tube and said second end being open to receive a temperature probe, said tube having two contiguous outside cylindrical surface sections adjacent said first end that have the same degree of taper toward the first end but which have an abrupt change in diameter therebEtween, a hollow cylindrically shaped sleeve having an inside surface with said degree of taper and tightly engaging the outside cylindrical surface section furthest removed from the tip, wherein one end of said sleeve extends beyond the tip of said tube and forms an opening having a diameter intermediate of the inside and outside diameter of the tube at its tip, and a flexible membrane held across the tip end of said hollow tube by clamping between the sleeve and the outside surface section of the tube immediately adjacent its tip.

Claim 4

A disposable cover for a temperature probe, comprising, a hollow tube having first and second ends, said first end having a tip surface of substantially the cross-sectional area of the tube and said second end being open to receive a temperature probe, said tube having two contiguous outside cylindrical surface sections adjacent said first end that have the same degree of taper toward the first end but which have an abrupt change in diameter therebEtween, a hollow cylindrically shaped sleeve having an inside surface with said degree of taper and tightly engaging the outside cylindrical surface section furthest removed from the tip, wherein one end of said sleeve extends beyond the tip of said tube and forms an opening having a diameter intermediate of the inside and outside diameter of the tube at its tip, and a flexible membrane held across the tip end of said hollow tube by clamping between the sleeve and the outside surface section of the tube immediately adjacent its tip.

Claim 5

A disposable cover for a temperature probe, comprising, a hollow tube having first and second ends, said first end having a tip surface of substantially the cross-sectional area of the tube and said second end being open to receive a temperature probe, said tube having two contiguous outside cylindrical surface sections adjacent said first end that have the same degree of taper toward the first end but which have an abrupt change in diameter therebetween, said tube additionally including a plurality of projections around its outside surface near the second end, a hollow cylindrically shaped sleeve having an inside surface with said degree of taper and tightly engaging the outside cylindrical surface section furthest removed from the tip, and a flexible membrane held across the tip end of said hollow tube by clamping between the sleeve and the outside surface section of the tube immediately adjacent its tip.

Claim 6

A disposable cover for a temperature probe, comprising, a hollow tube having first and second ends, said first end having a tip surface of substantially the cross-sectional area of the tube and said second end being open to receive a temperature probe, said tube having two contiguous outside cylindrical surface sections adjacent said first end that have the same degree of taper toward the first end but which have an abrupt change in diameter therebetween, said tube additionally including a plurality of projections around its outside surface near the second end, a hollow cylindrically shaped sleeve having an inside surface with said degree of taper and tightly engaging the outside cylindrical surface section furthest removed from the tip, and a flexible membrane held across the tip end of said hollow tube by clamping between the sleeve and the outside surface section of the tube immediately adjacent its tip.

Claim 7

A temperature probe and disposable cover therefor, comprising: a rigid handle having a rod extending therefrom, said rod including an electrical temperature sensing device at its end furthest removed from the handle, a generally cylindrically shaped probe cover that is open at one end and which has a flexible membrane attached to its other end, and mating positive latch means on said one end of the probe cover and on said probe handle for locking the probe cover in a position along said rod that the membrane is stretched tightly over a surface of an electrical temperature sensing device, said positive latch means including: a sleeve as part of said handle surrounding said rod and flaring outwardly in a direction along said rod with a diameter at its opening that is larger than the outside diameter of said one end of the probe cover, detent means in the inside surface of said flared sleeve a short distance from its opening, and projection means extending from the outer surface of said probe cover near its said one end, said projection means being of a complementary shape to said detent means in the probe handle for positive engagement therewith when a probe cover is forced into said conically shaped portion of the handle.

Claim 8

A temperature probe and disposable cover therefor, comprising: a rigid handle having a rod extending therefrom, said rod including an electrical temperature sensing device at its end furthest removed from the handle, a generally cylindrically shaped probe cover that is open at one end and which has a flexible membrane attached to its other end, and mating positive latch means on said one end of the probe cover and on said probe handle for locking the probe cover in a position along said rod that the membrane is stretched tightly over a surface of an electrical temperature sensing device, said positive latch means including: a sleeve as part of said handle surrounding said rod and flaring outwardly in a direction along said rod with a diameter at its opening that is larger than the outside diameter of said one end of the probe cover, detent means in the inside surface of said flared sleeve a short distance from its opening, and projection means extending from the outer surface of said probe cover near its said one end, said projection means being of a complementary shape to said detent means in the probe handle for positive engagement therewith when a probe cover is forced into said conically shaped portion of the handle.

Claim 9

A temperature probe and disposable cover therefor according to claim 4 wherein said temperature sensing device is a thermistor that is contained in a conically shaped housing.

Claim 10

A temperature probe and disposable cover therefor according to claim 4 wherein said detect means includes an annular groove and wherein said projection means includes a plurality of projections.

Claim 11

A temperature probe and a disposable cover therefor according to claim 4, wherein said handle includes means associated therewith for disengaging said positive latching means between the probe cover and the handle by exertion of force longitudinally along the axis of the handle and rod in a direction away from said handle.

Claim 12

A temperature probe and a disposable cover therefor, comprising: a rigid handle having a rod extending therefrom, said rod including an electrical temperature sensing device at its end furthest removed from the handle, a rigid generally cylindrically shaped probe cover that is open at one end and which has a flexible and stretchable membrane attached across its said other end, a detent provided as part of said handle for latching said probe cover over said rod, and a projection extending outward from the probe cover adjacent its said one end and cooperatively shaped with said detent for engagement therein.

Claim 13

A temperature probe and a disposable cover therefor, comprising: a rigid handle having a rod extending therefrom, said rod including an electrical temperature sensing device at its end furthest removed from the handle, a rigid generally cylindrically shaped probe cover that is open at one end and which has a flexible and stretchable membrane attached across its said other end, a detent provided as part of said handle for latching said probe cover over said rod, and a projection extending outward from the probe cover adjacent its said one end and cooperatively shaped with said detent for engagement therein.

Claim 14

A temperature probe, comprising: a rigid generally cylindrical core member having a knob attached to one end, a rod attached to its other end, and a ring extending from the core cylindrical surface intermediate of its ends, a temperature transducer attached to an end of said rod removed from its attachment to said bore member, and a hollow cylindrical member positioned around said core member and slidable therealong, said hollow member having a cylindrical handle extending from one end and a circular flare at its other end positioned to project over said ring, said circular flare having an annular groove on its inside surface, whereby projections of a probe cover are received in said groove and the probe cover is removed by moving the hollow member relative to the core member to urge the probe cover projections out of the sleeve annular groove.

Claim 15

A temperature probe, comprising: a rigid generally cylindrical core member having a knob attached to one end, a rod attached to its other end, and a ring extending from the core cylindrical surface intermediate of its ends, a temperature transducer attached to an end of said rod removed from its attachment to said bore member, and a hollow cylindrical member positioned around said core member and slidable therealong, said hollow member having a cylindrical handle extending from one end and a circular flare at its other end positioned to project over said ring, said circular flare having an annular groove on its inside surface, whereby projections of a probe cover are received in said groove and the probe cover is removed by moving the hollow member relative to the core member to urge the probe cover projections out of the sleeve annular groove.