Patent US3738172A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3738172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature sensing probe and disposable probe cover
Assignee: Ivac Medical Systems Inc
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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
2026-10-23 16:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K13/00; G01K13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A temperature sensing probe adapted for use with an ejectable probe cover, said probe comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and moveable during use relative to said collar between projected and retracted states 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; and biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar, whereby said probe shaft is normally in a projected state prior to installation of a probe cover and said probe shaft is in a retracted state after installation of a probe cover.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A temperature sensing probe adapted for use with an ejectable probe cover, said probe comprising: a cover mounting collar having a leading end; an elongated probe shaft, concentric with said mounting collar and moveable during use relative to said collar between projected and retracted states 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; and biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar, whereby said probe shaft is normally in a projected state prior to installation of a probe cover and said probe shaft is in a retracted state after installation of a probe cover.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said biasing means is a coil spring extending between said mounting collar and said probe shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 1, and further including: probe cover retaining means on said mounting collar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said cover retaining means includes a resilient ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 1, and further including: ejection means for manually advancing said probe shaft forwardly of said mounting collar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting collar and said probe shaft are of molded plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A temperature sensing probe adapted for use with a probe cover, said probe 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; and 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 extending between said mounting collar and said probe shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A temperature sensing probe adapted for use with a probe cover, said probe 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; and 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 extending between said mounting collar and said probe shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said groove is spaced rearwardly of said leading end of said collar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said resilient ring is a split ring adapted to first close and subsequently compress upon installation of a probe cover over said ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said resilient ring is canted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
A temperaturE sensing probe adapted for use with a probe cover, said probe 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; and biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
131 words
A temperaturE sensing probe adapted for use with a probe cover, said probe 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; and biasing means for resiliently urging said probe shaft and sensing tip forwardly of said leading end of said mounting collar.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
144 words
A temperature sensing probe adapted for use with a probe cover, said probe 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; and 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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
A temperature sensing probe adapted for use with a probe cover, said probe 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; and 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.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 12, and further including: ejection means for manually advancing said probe shaft forwardly of said mounting collar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 13, and further including: probe cover retaining means on said mounting collar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 14, 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 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
A temperature sensing probe as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said cover retaining means includes a resilient, split ring seated within a circumferential groove defined in said mounting collar and spaced rearwardly of said leading end of said collar, said ring being adapted to first close and subsequently compress upon installation of a probe cover over said ring.
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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 |