System for handling clinical thermometers

Claim 2

A thermometer-handling system for providing an individualized thermometer and solution vial for retaining the thermometer in an aseptic condition comprising, in combination: an elongate clinical thermometer having a predetermined length and width; a sealed solution vial for receiving and supporting said thermometer, said vial having an open upper end through which said thermometer can be inserted and having a closed lower end adapted to support said thermometer within said vial, the length of said vial being less than the length of said thermometer so that the upper portion of said thermometer extends above said open upper end with the lower portion thereof supported by said bottom wall, said vial further being precharged with a measured volume of microbiocidal solution, with the volume of said solution being selected so that the insertion of said thermometer therein displaces said solution upwardly within said vial to a predetermined level below said open upper end and immerses the major length of said thermometer in said solution; removable closure means engaged with said open upper end of said vial to seal the interior of said vial and the charge of solution contained therein from the atmosphere and thereby retaining said solution in an aseptic condition; and means for releasably attaching said vial to a supporting surface, said attaching means including fastening means for mounting said attaching means on the supporting surface and further including gripping means for frictionally engaging with and releasably gripping the exterior of said vial.

Claim 3

A thermometer-handling sysTem in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said receptacle to a supporting surface comprises a spring clip having spring means adapted to releasably grip the exterior of said receptacle and further having adhesive fastening means engageable with said supporting surface.

Claim 4

A thermometer-handling system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said means for releasably attaching said receptacle to a supporting surface comprises an integral body of flexible non-skid material having an elongate central bore adapted to grip the exterior of said receptacle along a substantial length of said receptacle, the front portion of said body defining a pair of elongate and resilient wings adapted to engage with and grip the exterior of said receptacle with said receptacle positioned within said bore, said wings defining an elongate opening there-between in communication with said bore through which said receptacle can be withdrawn from said bore, and wherein the back portion of said body includes a layer of adhesive material.

Claim 5

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises a cap threadably engageable with said upper end of said receptacle.

Claim 6

A thermometer-handling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises a deformable stopper frictionally engaged with the receptacle at said open upper end and wherein removable sealing means seals the juncture between said stopper and said open upper end of said receptacle.

Claim 7

A thermometer-handling system comprising in combination: A clinical thermometer having a pre-determined length and width; A hollow receptacle receiving and supporting said thermometer, said receptacle having an open upper end through which said thermometer can be inserted and having a closed lower end to support said thermometer within said receptacle, the length of said receptacle being less than the length of said thermometer so that the upper portion of said thermometer extends above said open upper end with the lower portion thereof supported by means of said bottom wall, said receptacle further being pre-charged with a measured volume of microbiocidal solution, with the volume of said solution being selected so that the insertion of said thermometer therein displaces said solution upwardly within said receptacle to a pre-determined level below said open upper end and immerses the major length of said thermometer in said solution; Means for releasably attaching said receptacle to a supporting surface, said attaching means including fastening means for mounting said attaching means on the supporting surface and further including gripping means for frictionally engaging with and releasably gripping the exterior of said receptacle; and Closure means engageable with said open upper end of said receptacle for sealing the interior of said receptacle and the charge of solution contained therein from the atmosphere, said closure means including an elongate hollow portion adopted to receive the upper portion of said thermometer and including a plurality of transverse abutment members formed integrally with said closure means and uniformly spaced within said hollow top portion, and further including flexible finger means extending downwardly from said closure top portion and adapted to deform transversely upon engagement with the upper portion of said thermometer, so said closure firmly grips the top portion of said thermometer, to maintain the thermometer from substantial movement within said receptacle.

Claim 8

A thermometer-handling system comprising in combination: A clinical thermometer having a pre-determined length and width; A hollow receptacle receiving and supporting said thermometer, said receptacle having an open upper end through which said thermometer can be inserted and having a closed lower end to support said thermometer within said receptacle, the length of said receptacle being less than the length of said thermometer so that the upper portion of said thermometer extends above said open upper end with the lower portion thereof supported by means of said bottom wall, said receptacle further being pre-charged with a measured volume of microbiocidal solution, with the volume of said solution being selected so that the insertion of said thermometer therein displaces said solution upwardly within said receptacle to a pre-determined level below said open upper end and immerses the major length of said thermometer in said solution; Means for releasably attaching said receptacle to a supporting surface, said attaching means including fastening means for mounting said attaching means on the supporting surface and further including gripping means for frictionally engaging with and releasably gripping the exterior of said receptacle; and Closure means engageable with said open upper end of said receptacle for sealing the interior of said receptacle and the charge of solution contained therein from the atmosphere, said closure means including an elongate hollow portion adopted to receive the upper portion of said thermometer and including a plurality of transverse abutment members formed integrally with said closure means and uniformly spaced within said hollow top portion, and further including flexible finger means extending downwardly from said closure top portion and adapted to deform transversely upon engagement with the upper portion of said thermometer, so said closure firmly grips the top portion of said thermometer, to maintain the thermometer from substantial movement within said receptacle.

Claim 9

A thermometer-handling system comprising; in combination: A hollow receptacle for receiving and supporting said thermometer, said receptacle having an open upper end through which said thermometer can be inserted and having a closed lower end adapted to support said thermometer within said receptacle, the length of said receptacle being less than the length of said thermometer so that the upper portion of said thermometer extends above said open upper end wiTh the lower portion thereof supported by said bottom wall, said receptacle further being pre-charged with a measured volume of microbiocidal solution, with the volume of said solution being selected so that the insertion of said thermometer therein displaces said solution upwardly within said receptacle to a predetermined level below said open upper end and immerses the major length of said thermometer in said solution; means for releasably attaching said receptacle to a supporting surface, said attaching means including fastening means for mounting said attaching means on the supporting surface and further including gripping means for frictionally engaging with and releasably gripping the exterior of said receptacle; an elongate clinical thermometer having a predetermined length and width and emplaced with said receptacle; closure means engageable with the open upper end of said receptacle for sealing the interior of said receptacle and the charge of solution contained therein from the atmosphere, said closure means including a cap having a lower portion adapted to seal against the open upper end of said receptacle and defining an elongate hollow top portion adapted to receive the upper portion of said thermometer, said cap including deformable means projecting inwardly within said hollow top portion and adapted to firmly grip the upper portion of said thermometer to maintain said thermometer from substantial movement within said receptacle; and an over-cap frictionally engageable with the exterior of said cap and further adapted to extend over the upper portion of said thermometer and frictionally engage with the open upper end of said receptacle when said cap is removed therefrom, so that the over-cap functions as a temporary seal for said receptacle.

Claim 10

A thermometer-handling system comprising; in combination: A hollow receptacle for receiving and supporting said thermometer, said receptacle having an open upper end through which said thermometer can be inserted and having a closed lower end adapted to support said thermometer within said receptacle, the length of said receptacle being less than the length of said thermometer so that the upper portion of said thermometer extends above said open upper end wiTh the lower portion thereof supported by said bottom wall, said receptacle further being pre-charged with a measured volume of microbiocidal solution, with the volume of said solution being selected so that the insertion of said thermometer therein displaces said solution upwardly within said receptacle to a predetermined level below said open upper end and immerses the major length of said thermometer in said solution; means for releasably attaching said receptacle to a supporting surface, said attaching means including fastening means for mounting said attaching means on the supporting surface and further including gripping means for frictionally engaging with and releasably gripping the exterior of said receptacle; an elongate clinical thermometer having a predetermined length and width and emplaced with said receptacle; closure means engageable with the open upper end of said receptacle for sealing the interior of said receptacle and the charge of solution contained therein from the atmosphere, said closure means including a cap having a lower portion adapted to seal against the open upper end of said receptacle and defining an elongate hollow top portion adapted to receive the upper portion of said thermometer, said cap including deformable means projecting inwardly within said hollow top portion and adapted to firmly grip the upper portion of said thermometer to maintain said thermometer from substantial movement within said receptacle; and an over-cap frictionally engageable with the exterior of said cap and further adapted to extend over the upper portion of said thermometer and frictionally engage with the open upper end of said receptacle when said cap is removed therefrom, so that the over-cap functions as a temporary seal for said receptacle.

Claim 11

A thermometer-handling system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said overcap is coded with indicia which readily designates a selected characteristic of the thermometer retained within the associated vial.

Claim 12

A thermometer-handling system for providing an individualized thermometer and solution vial for retaining the thermometer in an aseptic condition comprising, in combination: A sealed solution vial for receiving and supporting a thermometer, said vial having an open upper end through which a thermometer can be inserted and having a closed lower end adapted to support the thermometer; an elongate clinical thermometer having a predetermined length and width and emplaced within said vial; the length of said vial being less than the length of said thermometer so that the upper portion of said thermometer extends above said open upper end with the lower portion thereof supported by said bottom wall, said vial further being precharged with a measured volume of microbiocidal solution, with the volume of said solution being selected so that said thermometer emplaced therein displaces said solution upwardly within said vial to a predetermined level below said open upper end and immerses the major length of said thermometer in said solution; hollow closure means releasably engaged with said open upper end of said vial and said upper portion of said thermometer and thereby sealing the interior of said vial and the charge of solution contained therein from the atmosphere and securing said thermometer from any substantial movement within said vial; and means for releasably attaching said vial to a supporting surface, said attaching means including fastening means for mounting said attaching means on the supporting surface and further including gripping means for frictionally engaging with and releasably gripping the exterior of said vial.

Claim 13

A thermometer-handling system for providing an individualized thermometer and solution vial for retaining the thermometer in an aseptic condition comprising, in combination: A sealed solution vial for receiving and supporting a thermometer, said vial having an open upper end through which a thermometer can be inserted and having a closed lower end adapted to support the thermometer; an elongate clinical thermometer having a predetermined length and width and emplaced within said vial; the length of said vial being less than the length of said thermometer so that the upper portion of said thermometer extends above said open upper end with the lower portion thereof supported by said bottom wall, said vial further being precharged with a measured volume of microbiocidal solution, with the volume of said solution being selected so that said thermometer emplaced therein displaces said solution upwardly within said vial to a predetermined level below said open upper end and immerses the major length of said thermometer in said solution; hollow closure means releasably engaged with said open upper end of said vial and said upper portion of said thermometer and thereby sealing the interior of said vial and the charge of solution contained therein from the atmosphere and securing said thermometer from any substantial movement within said vial; and means for releasably attaching said vial to a supporting surface, said attaching means including fastening means for mounting said attaching means on the supporting surface and further including gripping means for frictionally engaging with and releasably gripping the exterior of said vial.