Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
437 words
A sterile thermometer package comprising in combination with a disposable thermometer of the type which includes at least two elongated superimposed, co-extensive strips joined in adhesive face-to-face contact along corresponding first portions of the length of each strip, the remaining length portions of each of said strips carrying components for detecting and indicating temperature values and which have operative association when said remaining length portions are pressed into face-to-face contact, said remaining length portions normally being intervened by shield means peelably removably secured to the remaining length portion of at least one of said strips for preventing face-toface contact of said remaining length portions, said shield means embodying pull tab means extending longitudinally beyond said superimposed strips for initiating peeling removal of said shield means, an envelope comprising superimposed first and second elongated substantially flat strips of flexible material which is vapor impervious and heat sealable, said thermometer extending longitudinally of and being sandwiched between said strips, said strips being joined together at marginal area portions of each in a continuous heat sealEd connection encircling said thermometer with said in closely inclosely contoured contact with said thermometer, means for anchoring the pull tab means of said thermometer shield means to one end of said envelope, means embodied in said envelope for readily opening the same at the other end thereof to expose an end portion of said thermometer, said thermometer being removable from said envelope through the opening at said other end thereof by means of pulling force applied to said end portion of said thermometer, said shield means peeling from the remaining length portion of the strip to which it is attached upon application of said pulling force, and pressing means embodied with said envelope and fixedly disposed at a location thereon along the course of removal travel of said thermometer from said envelope for applying at said location, a pressing force against said thermometer before it exits fully from said envelope sufficient to press said remaining length portion of the strips thereof into face-toface contact following removal of the shield means from the thermometer, said pressing means comprising a pair of comb elements extending transversely of said envelope with each comb element in contact with and associated with one of said envelope strips, said comb elements being connected to said associated envelope strips and to each other in a fixed relationship to define a pressing aperture of fixed dimension within said envelope through which said thermometer must pass during removal of same from said envelope thereby to press said remaining length portions of the thermometer strips into faceto-face contact following removal of the shield means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
437 words
A sterile thermometer package comprising in combination with a disposable thermometer of the type which includes at least two elongated superimposed, co-extensive strips joined in adhesive face-to-face contact along corresponding first portions of the length of each strip, the remaining length portions of each of said strips carrying components for detecting and indicating temperature values and which have operative association when said remaining length portions are pressed into face-to-face contact, said remaining length portions normally being intervened by shield means peelably removably secured to the remaining length portion of at least one of said strips for preventing face-toface contact of said remaining length portions, said shield means embodying pull tab means extending longitudinally beyond said superimposed strips for initiating peeling removal of said shield means, an envelope comprising superimposed first and second elongated substantially flat strips of flexible material which is vapor impervious and heat sealable, said thermometer extending longitudinally of and being sandwiched between said strips, said strips being joined together at marginal area portions of each in a continuous heat sealEd connection encircling said thermometer with said in closely inclosely contoured contact with said thermometer, means for anchoring the pull tab means of said thermometer shield means to one end of said envelope, means embodied in said envelope for readily opening the same at the other end thereof to expose an end portion of said thermometer, said thermometer being removable from said envelope through the opening at said other end thereof by means of pulling force applied to said end portion of said thermometer, said shield means peeling from the remaining length portion of the strip to which it is attached upon application of said pulling force, and pressing means embodied with said envelope and fixedly disposed at a location thereon along the course of removal travel of said thermometer from said envelope for applying at said location, a pressing force against said thermometer before it exits fully from said envelope sufficient to press said remaining length portion of the strips thereof into face-toface contact following removal of the shield means from the thermometer, said pressing means comprising a pair of comb elements extending transversely of said envelope with each comb element in contact with and associated with one of said envelope strips, said comb elements being connected to said associated envelope strips and to each other in a fixed relationship to define a pressing aperture of fixed dimension within said envelope through which said thermometer must pass during removal of same from said envelope thereby to press said remaining length portions of the thermometer strips into faceto-face contact following removal of the shield means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The thermometer package of claim 1 in which said pair of comb elements are disposed exteriorly of said envelope one each at the opposite outer surfaces of said envelope; said comb elements being connected to each other by a fastener extending through each and through the longitudinal marginal heat seal portions joining together said envelope strips.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The thermometer package of claim 2 in which said fastener is a staple.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The thermometer package of claim 3 in which grooves are provided in the external surfaces of said comb elements for recessed reception of said staple in said comb elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
The thermometer package of claim 2 in which one of said comb elements has a broad substantially flat face lying in contact with its associated envelope strip outer surface, the other of said comb elements having a face provided with a pair of protuberant parallel spaced apart ridges thereon disposed and extending transversely of the envelope in contact with the other face of said envelope, there being a recess in said other comb element face intermediate said pair of ridges, the latter being spaced longitudinally of said envelope with said other comb element being connected with said one comb element such as to have a certain freedom to pivot relative to said one comb element providing that said ridges alternatly can move toward and away from from said one comb element in conformance with the passage of any raised and depressed surfaces on the remaining length portions of the thermometer strips through said pressing aperture and therewith provide uniform application of pressing force to said remaining length portions of the thermometer strips during exit of the thermometer from the envelope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The thermometer package of claim 1 in which said pair of comb elements are disposed interiorly of said envelope, each comb element being connected to the inner surfaces of its associated envelope strip, said comb elements being positioned at opposite sides of said thermometer strips and having juxtaposed surfaces defining said pressing aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
The thermometer package of claim 6 in which one of said comb elements has a broad substantially flat face portion in contact with one of said thermometer strips, the other of said comb elements including a resilient component in contact with the other of said Thermometer strips, said resilient component and said flat face portion defining said pressing aperture, said resilient component being sufficiently flexible to contactingly conform with raised and depressed surfaces in the remaining length portions of said thermometer strips during the passage of the latter through said pressing aperture and therewith provide uniform application of pressing force to said remaining length portions of the thermometer strips during exit of the thermometer from the envelope.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The thermometer package of claim 7 in which said resilient component is an elongated element extending transversely of said envelope in the form of an inverted triangle, the apex of which contacts said other thermometer strip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermometer package of claim 7 in which said resilient component is made of a material having memory properties.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The thermometer package of claim 8 in which said material is a polyurethane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The thermometer package of claim 1 in which said comb elements are disposed in fixed relationship to each other and are comprised of material so as to effect a three-dimensional comb pressure on said remaining length portions of the thermometer strips during removal of the thermometer from the envelope.