Cover for temperature sensing probe

Claim 1

A cover for use with a temperature sensing probe having an elongated member, a tip secured to one end of the elongated member, said tip having a forwardly converging annular and relatively thin side wall, said side wall having an outward convex shape, a temperature responsive element secured to the tip, means having a head surrounding the elongated member for holding the cover on the probe, said head having means cooperating with the cover to releasably latch the cover to the probe comprising: a tubular body having a generally cylindrical elastic side wall forming a chamber for accommodating part of the elongated member, and an end member secured to the body for accomodating the tip, said elastic side wall having an open end section having means engageable with the means on the head to releasably hold the cover in assembled relation with the elongated member and tip, said end member having a closed end and a forwardly converging annular relatively thin thermal window section adjacent the closed end, said closed end having a thickness greater than said window section, said window section having a flexible annular wall dimensioned to be deformed into closely fitting surface engagement with the convex shaped side wall of the probe tip when inserted therein whereby heat from the environment around the thermal window section is preferentially transferred through said thin thermal window section to the tip and the temperature responsive element secured thereto, said elastic side wall being operable to bias the flexible annular wall into surface engagement with the convex shaped side wall of the tip, and wherein the dimensioning of said closed end including the said thickness thereof precludes significant heat transfer therethrough as compared to said annular thermal window section.