Abstract An improved sheathed fever thermometer and method of preparing the same wherein the thermometer structure, fabricated from glass, is encapsulated within a contoured sheath. The sheath is provided with a tapered wall thickness which increases from the bulb end to the tip end, with the tip end having a gripping tab which enables the user to grasp the tab for achieving enhanced motion for shaking down the conventional mercury column. In the method of preparing the sheath, an improved mandrel is provided which permits the formation of a sheath having a wall thickness which tapers from the outer tip end to the bulb end. The application of a small quantity of water to the contacting surface between the mandrel and the sheath enhances the release of the individual mandrel fingers from the sheath structure. A vinyl plastisol has been found to be preferred for the sheath fabrication material.
Inventors
👤 R Ersek
👤 D Wall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-02 07:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K13/00; G01K13/20; G01K13/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
Sheathed fever thermometer means comprising: a. a fever thermometer comprising a glass barrel having a tip end and a bulb end; b. a protective sheath means encapsulating said fever thermometer and comprising a generally tubular plastic sheath with an integral closed base covering said bulb end and an outwardly extending sealed tab ear tip end covering said tip end providing a thermometer shake down capability; and c. said plastic sheath means having a tapered cross-sectional wall thickness increasing from said bulb end to said tip end, said wall thickness of the bulb end ranging from 5 to 8 mils.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
Sheathed fever thermometer means comprising: a. a fever thermometer comprising a glass barrel having a tip end and a bulb end; b. a protective sheath means encapsulating said fever thermometer and comprising a generally tubular plastic sheath with an integral closed base covering said bulb end and an outwardly extending sealed tab ear tip end covering said tip end providing a thermometer shake down capability; and c. said plastic sheath means having a tapered cross-sectional wall thickness increasing from said bulb end to said tip end, said wall thickness of the bulb end ranging from 5 to 8 mils.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The sheathed fever thermometer means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said sealed tab ear forms a gripping ear at the tip end of said sheathed fever thermometer means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The sheathed fever thermometer means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said sheath has a normal inner peripheral dimension which exceeds the outer peripheral dimension of said fever thermometer to form a gap therebetween, said sheath being heat sealed upon itself to form a closed envelope and with an outwardly extending tab disposed adjacent said tip end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sheathed fever thermometer means as defined in claim 3 being particularly characterized in that said sheath means is formed of curved polyvinyl chloride.