Patent US4013882A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4013882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermometer carrying case and illuminating device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-04-25
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1995-04-25
Abstract
Abstract By providing a compact, easily held carrying case having an elongated recess in one surface thereof in which a thermometer is retainingly placed with said elongated recess incorporating a slotted aperture which is illuminated when desired for reading the thermometer, a unique thermometer carrying case and illuminating device therefore is achieved. Easy access to the electrical energy and the light source is provided by a removable surface on another surface of the carrying case. If desired, the portion of the carrying case juxtaposed above the thermometer may incorporate transparent magnifying material in order to assure easier reading of the thermometer. The illumination system can include reflectors for directing light through the slotted aperture. Also a removable holder for the light source and its source of electrical energy can be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Elliott E. Engler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:20
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V33/00; F21V33/0064; F21V33/0068; G; G01; G01K; G01K1/00; G01K1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
An illuminating device for medical thermometers comprising a housing incorporating A. illuminating means contained within said housing; B. access means formed in said housing for providing accessibility to said illuminating means; C. switch means controllably connected to said illuminating means for activating and deactivating said illuminating means; D. an elongated recess formed in a surface of said housing and extending to the edge of said surface, for securely holding and retaining the thermometer when not in use, said recess incorporating a. an elongated slot extending along a portion of said recess, and b. communicating with said illuminating means; E. a cover a. mounted to said housing and overlying said elongated recess, b. at least a portion thereof being transparent, and c. incorporating thermometer securing means cooperating with the recess and moveably from a thermometer entry position to a thermometer holding position, assuring secure retention of a thermometer in the recess, and F. an elongated magnifier mounted to said cover in juxtaposed spaced relationship with said elongated recess extending at least the length of said elongated slot, and operably magnifying a thermometer's indicia whereby a medical thermometer securely positioned and retained within said recess is illuminated through said elongated slot and easily and accurately read through said transparent magnifier and cover portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
An illuminating device for medical thermometers comprising a housing incorporating A. illuminating means contained within said housing; B. access means formed in said housing for providing accessibility to said illuminating means; C. switch means controllably connected to said illuminating means for activating and deactivating said illuminating means; D. an elongated recess formed in a surface of said housing and extending to the edge of said surface, for securely holding and retaining the thermometer when not in use, said recess incorporating a. an elongated slot extending along a portion of said recess, and b. communicating with said illuminating means; E. a cover a. mounted to said housing and overlying said elongated recess, b. at least a portion thereof being transparent, and c. incorporating thermometer securing means cooperating with the recess and moveably from a thermometer entry position to a thermometer holding position, assuring secure retention of a thermometer in the recess, and F. an elongated magnifier mounted to said cover in juxtaposed spaced relationship with said elongated recess extending at least the length of said elongated slot, and operably magnifying a thermometer's indicia whereby a medical thermometer securely positioned and retained within said recess is illuminated through said elongated slot and easily and accurately read through said transparent magnifier and cover portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
Illuminating device defined in claim 1, wherein said illuminating means is further defined as comprising: a. a source of electrical energy, b. a light bulb conductively connected to said source of electrical energy, and c. a first reflecting surface in juxtaposed spaced relationship to said elongated slot for receiving and reflecting the light rays from said light bulb through said elongated slot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The illuminating device defined in claim 2, wherein said illuminating means is further defined as comprising d. a second light ray reflecting surface in juxtaposed spaced relationship with said light bulb and extending transversely from side to side across said housing for receiving and reflecting said light rays toward said first reflecting surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The illuminating device defined in claim 1, further comprising F. a thermometer retaining clasp extending across the width of said recess and positioned to provide firm retention of a thermometer when inserted in said recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The illuminating device defined in claim 4, wherein said retaining clasp is further defined as comprising a thermometer self-orienting portion for nesting cooperation with the typical thermometer shape in order to assure proper positioning of the calibrated area of the thermometer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
An illuminating device for medical thermometers comprising a housing incorporating A. an elongated recess formed in one surface of said housing and incorporating an elongated slot extending along a portion of said recess, B. illuminating means contained within said housing and comprising a. a source of electrical energy, b. a light bulb conductively connected to said source of electrical energy, and c. a first reflecting surface in juxtaposed spaced relationship to said elongated slot for receiving and reflecting the light rays from said light bulb through said elongated slot; C. access means formed in said housing for providing accessibility to said illuminating means; and D. switch means controllably connected to said illuminating means for activating and deactivating said illuminating means; whereby a medical thermometer placed within said recess is illuminated through said elongated slot in response to said controllable switch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
An illuminating device for medical thermometers comprising a housing incorporating A. an elongated recess formed in one surface of said housing and incorporating an elongated slot extending along a portion of said recess, B. illuminating means contained within said housing and comprising a. a source of electrical energy, b. a light bulb conductively connected to said source of electrical energy, and c. a first reflecting surface in juxtaposed spaced relationship to said elongated slot for receiving and reflecting the light rays from said light bulb through said elongated slot; C. access means formed in said housing for providing accessibility to said illuminating means; and D. switch means controllably connected to said illuminating means for activating and deactivating said illuminating means; whereby a medical thermometer placed within said recess is illuminated through said elongated slot in response to said controllable switch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
Illuminating device defined in claim 6, wherein said illuminating means is further defined as comprising d. a second light reflecting surface in juxtaposed spaced relationship with said light bulb and extending transversely from side to side across said housing for receiving and reflecting said light rays toward said first reflecting surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
An illuminating device for medical thermometers comprising A. a housing; B. an elongated recess formed in a surface of the housing for securely holding and storing the thermometer when not in use, said recess incorporating an elongated slot extending along a portion of said recess for communication with an illumination assembly; C. a movable illumination assembly contained within said housing in juxtaposed spaced relationship to said elongated slot for controllable illumination of any portion thereof, and comprising a. a holding member slidably engaged within said housing; b. a source of electrical energy mounted within said holding member, c. a light bulb conductively connected to said source of electrical energy and mounted to said holding member, and d. switch means controllably connected to said source of electrical energy for activating and deactivating the energy source to said light bulb; and D. access means formed in the housing for providing accessibility to said illuminating means, whereby a thermometer securely retained and stored in the recess is directly illuminated and easily read along any portion thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
An illuminating device for medical thermometers comprising A. a housing; B. an elongated recess formed in a surface of the housing for securely holding and storing the thermometer when not in use, said recess incorporating an elongated slot extending along a portion of said recess for communication with an illumination assembly; C. a movable illumination assembly contained within said housing in juxtaposed spaced relationship to said elongated slot for controllable illumination of any portion thereof, and comprising a. a holding member slidably engaged within said housing; b. a source of electrical energy mounted within said holding member, c. a light bulb conductively connected to said source of electrical energy and mounted to said holding member, and d. switch means controllably connected to said source of electrical energy for activating and deactivating the energy source to said light bulb; and D. access means formed in the housing for providing accessibility to said illuminating means, whereby a thermometer securely retained and stored in the recess is directly illuminated and easily read along any portion thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
An illuminating device defined in claim 8, further comprising E. a thermometer retaining clasp extending across the width of said recess and positioned to provide firm retention of a thermometer when inserted in said recess.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
An illuminating device defined in claim 9, wherein the holding member of said illuminating means comprises 1. a base; 2. an upstanding light bulb holding fin terminating at one end with said base and having a central aperture for screwable engagement of said light bulb; 3. a pair of upstanding retaining clasps connected to said base for grippable engagement of said source of electrical energy; and 4. said switch means of said holding member having a spring member connected to said base and having a first open position and a second closed position for controllably connecting said source of electrical energy to said light bulb, and a manually movable button connected to said spring member for moving said spring member between said first and second positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The illuminating device defined in claim 8, wherein said movable illumination assembly is further defined as being completely removable from the housing, thereby allowing complete sterilization of the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |