US2787937A - Magnifying receptacle for clinical thermometers and the like - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1957 J. PRISAMENT 2,787,937

AGNIFYING RECEPTACLE FOR CLINICAL THERMOMEITERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 27, 1953 MAGNIFYING RECEPTACLE FOR CLINICAL THERMOMETERS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to a receptacle or container for clinical thermometers or similar instruments embodying fine graduations and minute indicia which require reading from time to time.

The primary object of the invention is to produce an instrument receptacle which is especially applicable for use as a container to house a clinical thermometer when not in use, and which is adapted to be utilized in effecting reading of graduations and indicia on the instrument by being equipped with a magnifying lens coupled with a cooperating built in source of illumination whereby fine graduations and extremely fine indicia on the instrument positioned in the receptable are rendered readily discernable; the invention being particularly serviceable in facilitating the accurate reading of clinical thermometers in the sick room or in the field, as by doctors and nurses, where surrounding illumination is inadequate or where the employment of ordinary lamps and other extraneous sources of light is either impossible or would be disturbing to a patient or objectionable for any reason such as in military operations where display of light is prohibited.

Another object is to provide a receptacle of the above character which is so constructed as to provide a compartment for the reception of the instrument to be housed therein and which compartment is so arranged that the instrument may be readily placed therein and removed therefrom, and which receptacle is'also formed so as to afford a substantial mounting for a magnifying lens and an incorporated source of light.

Another object is to provide a combined lens and lamp construction in the receptacle whereby the lens will cooperate with the lamp on lighting the latter in illuminating graduations and associated indiciaon an instrument positioned within the receptacle with such graduations and indicia disposed in reading position opposite the lens, and whereby the illumination will be largely confined to the vision of the reader.

Another object is to provide a combined lens and lamp construction in a clinical thermometer receptacle whereby rninnte graduations and indicia on a thermometer contained therein may be rendered so highly visible as to be instantly discernable, thereby enabling flash reading of the instrument and thus obviating prolonged illumination of the lamp.

A further object is to provide a construction in thereceptacle whereby a thermometer contained therein Will be subjected to a disinfecting or germicidal action by exposure to vapors developed from a volatile antiseptic material.

With the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the receptacle with a cover portion thereof partly' removed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the receptacle in longitunited States Patent C dinal section partly in elevation with the cover removed and showing a clinical thermometer as housed therein;

Pig. 3 is an enlarged end view as seen in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view as seen in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of effecting reading of the thermometer; and

Fig. 8 is a detail in longitudinal section illustrating .a modification of magnifying lens and the mode of the mounting same.

Referring to the drawing more specifically A indicates generally an elongated tubular housing which is preferably of ovoidal cross section and one end portion of which is formed interiorly thereof with a pair of parallel longi tudinally extending compartment 8 and 9 separated by a partition 16. The compartment 8 is preferably cylindrical and constitutes a flash light container and has an inner end wall 11 disposed intermediate the ends of the housing A interiorly thereof which wall is formed with an axial aperture 12 through which extends and in which seats the tip portion M of an electric lamp B removably positioned in the compartment 8 and abutting the wall 11.

The outer end of the compartment 8 is normally closed by a removable screw cap C threaded in engagement with the cylindrical wall of the compartment 3 formed in part by the partition 10 and the side wall 15 of the housing A.

A conventional dry cell battery D is disposed in the compartment 8 between the lamp B and the cap C and interposed between the inner end of the battery and the lamp B and seating thereon is an expansile contractable coil spring 16 which normally spaces the center contact terminal a of the battery from the companion contact terminal b of the lamp and also serves as a conductor between the outside terminals of the lamp and battery as is common in flash light construction.

A reciprocal push button 17 is mounted on and extends through the cap C axially thereof with its inner end disposed contiguous the outer end of the battery D and with its outer end extending a short distance from the cap for engagement by the thumb or a finger of an operator while,

holding the receptacle in the hand whereby the battery D may be moved in opposition to the spring 16 to make electrical connection with the lamp B through the con: casts a and b to direct current through the lamp and effect illumination thereof.

The compartment 9 affords a recess in which is mounter the inner end portion of an elongated transparent tube E having a closed inner end 0 which abuts an end wall 18 of the housing A; the other end of the tube B being open and terminating adjacent the inner face of the other end wall 19 of the housing A. The outer end portion of the tube E thus projects across a chamber d within the housing A and extending between the inner wall 11 of the compartment 8 and the end wall 19 of the housing which end wall 19 is formed with an opening e opposite the open end of the tube E.

The tube E forms a container for a clinical thermometer F or similar instrument which is insertable in the open end of the tube through the opening e and is removable from the tube through said opening. A snap hinged lid 20 mounted on the housing end wall 19 normally closes the opening 2 to confine the thermometer F in the tube B when housed in the receptacle.

A pad G of cotton or other soft absorptive material is seated in the tube E against the closed end 0 thereof which pad may be saturated with a suitable volatileantiseptic liquid by which the thermometer disposed in the tube will be subjected to a disinfecting or germicidal action.

The portion of the housing wall extending between the Walls 11 and 19 and overlying the outer end portion of the tube E is formed with an elongated sight opening 21 which is covered by a magnifying lens H arranged in the chamber d with the marginal portion of its outer face seating against the inner portions of the wall 15 bordering the opening 21; the opening 21 being thus disposed to expose the thermometer to view and the lens H being formed and arranged to magnify graduations and indicia on the thermometer when effecting reading thereof as will be later described.

The above recited housing structure is characterized by the embodiment of the article receiving chamber (1! at one end portion thereof provided with a sight opening in its side wall cross which extends a magnifying lens, with an opening e through which the article to be viewed is passed to position it within the chamber d, together with a flash-light receiving compartment 8 disposed in the other end portion of the housing with said chamber and compartment separated by an intermediate wall 11 formed with the aperture 12 through which the tip 14 of the flash-light lamp projects into the chamber d opposite one end of the lens H. By this arrangement rays from the lamp will be directed into the chamber d onto the face of an article disposed in the latter and by forming and arranging the lens H as later described a portion of the rays from the lamp will be directed longitudinally into the lens from an end thereof.

As a means for facilitating mounting of the lens H,

and to afford a substantial support therefor, the housing end wall 19 is formed on its inner face with a transverse rib 22 arranged for engagement with a companion groove 23 formed on the outer end 1 of the lens H which is presented to the wall 19, and the other or inner end g of the lens is formed with a tip it which is snap engageable with a groove 24 formed in the outer face of the end wall 11; the housing A being sufliciently flexible and resilient to permit springing thereof such distance as to enable positioning of the lens H in seated engagement at its ends with the rib 22 and groove 24 and to grip the ends of the lens when so engaged.

Where thus seated the lens H will be securely held in place in close abutting relation to the wall 15 and carried on the end walls 11 and 19 of the housing A. The inner end g of the lens H is bevelled to provide a flat surface which inclines inwardly and downwardly from the tip h and extends diagonally relative to the tip 14 of the lamp B which projects from the wall 11 and abuts the end g of the lens intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof. By this arrangement light rays emitted horizontally from the lamp are directed into and through the lens lengthwise thereof, while at least a portion of the remaining light rays will be directed laterally and downwardly from the sides of the tip 14 into the chamber d through the space encompassing the lamp tip between the inclined inner end g of the lens and the outer face of the wall 11.

The lens H is formed of a light conductive plastic such as Lucite whereby the light rays directed to the end of the lens will effect lumination of the body of the lens throughout thereby augmenting visibility of the portion of the thermometer disposed beneath the lens, whereby with direct and reflected light from the lamp, will produce uniform or at least substantially uniform illumination throughout the chamber a.

The housing A is fitted with a telescopic cover 1 cmbodying a tube 25 open at one end and formed to slidably receive and conform to an end portion of the housing A and having a length to extend over and cover the lens H when the cover is applied. An end wall 26 on the tube 25-closes the outer end of the tube and is designed to overlie the end wall 19 of the housing A.

In the operation of the invention the receptacle is employed as a case or container for a clinical thermometer or similar instrument when not in use; the instrument being housed in the transparent tube E as shown in Fig. 2 with the outer end of the latter then closed by the lid 20 and with the tubular cover I telescoped on the end portion of the housing A carrying the lens H to protect the latter and to hold the lid 20 against accidental opening by the end wall 26 of the cover then overlying the lid contiguous thereto. When occasion arises to use the thermometer the cover I is removed, the lid 20 is opened and the thermometer F is ejected at least in part from the open end of the tube E by tilting the housing A longitudinally with the open end of the tube E lowermost so that the thermometer will slide downwardly within reach of the hand of the operator and by which the thermometer is grasped and its complete removal effected.

After employing the thermometer to determine body temperature or any other temperature in the usual manner, the thermometer is inserted part way into the tube E and positioned in the latter to dispose the graduations and indicia thereon in a position where they may be observed through the lens H as shown in Fig. 7. Under ordinary conditions of extraneous lighting, reading of the graduations and indicia may be readily effected by reason of their magnification by the lens H, but when such lighting is inadequate for clear accurate reading of the thermometer, the flash light lamp B is illuminated by pressing thebutton 17 so as to move the battery D into electrical connection with thelamp B in the usual manner. On lighting of the lamp the magnified graduations and indicia of the thermometer will be rendered highly visible so that quick reading thereof may be effected and after which the button 17 is released whereupon the spring 16 will retract the battery thereby breaking the circuit through the lamp and extinguishing the light. T he thermometer may then be thrust to its housed position within the tube E or it may be removed and replaced as need be.

On disposing the thermometer wholly within the tube E, the lid 20 is closed so as to confine the thermometer in the housing A. The cover I may then be applied to the housing A to cover and protect the lens H and hold the lid 20 against accidental opening.

The telescoping cover I may be applied to the housing A to extend partially over the lens H as shown in Fig. 1 while the thermometer F is only partly inserted in the tube B so as to vary the exposure of the lens and whereby the exposure of the lens may be reduced to there by cut off a. portion of the rays emitted through the lens when the lamp is i llumined, as where a minimum of emitted light is desirable.

in some instances it may be found desirable to form the plastic lens H with an inwardly inclined outer end as indicated at i in Fig. 8 to attord a space between the lens and the end wall 19 of the housing, such space opening to the chamber d whereby certain of the light rays directed from the lamp B longitudinally through the lens and impinged on the inner surface of the latter will be refracted downwardly and rearwardly from such surface (which is reflective) into the chamber (I to thereby augment illumination thereof. When this construction is employed, the lens is formed with an end tip which is engaged in a recess k in the inner face of the end wall 19.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a case for holding a clinical thermometer or similar instrument which is adapted to be utilized in effecting reading of the instrument by magnification of graduations and indicia thereon and where occasion requires, to afford adequate illumination of the instrument to enable accurate reading thereof.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle for a clinical thermometer or similar article, an elongated tubular housing embodying a side wall, end walls and an intermediate transverse wall with an article receiving chamber extending between said transverse wall and one of said end walls and with a flash-light receiving compartment extending between said transverse wall and the other of said end Walls; said side wall being formed with an elongated sight opening extending longitudinally thereof along the length of said chamber; a magnifying lens abutting the inner face of said side wall at opposite sides of said sight opening, the inner face of said lens being spaced from the opposed portion of the housing side wall and forming the upper wall of said chamber when said housing is horizontally disposed; said lens having a beveled end presented to said transverse wall and forming a gap opening to said chamber between the inner marginal portion of said lens and the adjacent face of said transverse wall; said transverse wall being formed with a circular aperture leading from said compartment and opening only to said gap opposite the beveled end of said lens; and a flash-light in said compartment including an electric lamp having a tip extending through said aperture into said gap and presented to the beveled end of said lens whereby a portion of the rays from said lamp will be directed into the beveled end of said lens and another portion will be directed into said chamber upon the face of an article therein presented to said lens.

2. In a receptacle for a clinical thermometer or similar instrument embodying an elongated tubular housing having a side wall and opposed end walls, and an intermediate transverse wall, said side wall being formed with an elongated sight opening leading lengthwise thereof; a magnifying lens extending across said opening interiorly of said housing, an article receiving chamber in said housing enclosed in part by said lens and side wall, one of said end walls being formed with an opening leading to said chamber for the passage of articles to and from said chamber, a flash-light receiving compartment in said housing extending longitudinally thereof from the side of said transverse wall opposite said chamber, an opening in the other of said end walls leading to said compartment, said transverse wall being formed with an aperture opening to said chamber opposite an end of said lens; a flashlight in said compartment including an electric lamp having a tip extending through said aperture and into said chamber; said lens having a beveled end overlying and abutting the tip of said lamp whereby a portion of the rays from said lamp will be directed into the beveled end of said lens and another portion thereof will be directed into said chamber upon the surface of an article therein presented to said lens.

3. In a receptacle for a clinical thermometer or similar article embodying an elongated tubular housing having end walls; a flash-light receiving compartment in said housing extending longitudinally thereof from one of said end walls having a transverse wall at its inner end disposed intermediate the ends of said housing, said transverse wall being formed with an aperture opening to the interior of said housing, a flash-light in said compartment including an electric lamp having a tip extending through said aperture, said housing having a sight opening leading from the outer marginal portion of said apertured wall toward the other end wall of the housing and having an article receiving chamber interiorly thereof opposite and co-extensive with said sight opening; and a magnifying lens in said housing extending across said sight opening forming a side of said chamber, said lens having a beveled end overlying the tip of said lamp whereby a portion of the rays from said lamp will be directed into one end of said lens and another portion thereof will be directed into said article receiving chamber; one of the end walls of said housing being provided with an opening leading to said last named chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,222,948 Hawthorne Apr. 17, 1917 1,367,879 Laird Feb. 8, 1921 1,741,267 Zwicke Dec. 31, 1929 1,819,919 Palmer Aug. 18, 1931 2,127,163 Davis Aug. 16, 1938 2,316,301 Ullman Apr. 13, 1943 2,417,902 Barrows Mar. 25, 1947 2,460,051 Welch Ian. 25, 1949 2,554,854 Chomes May 29, 1951 2,586,581 Tschischeck Feb. 19, 1952 2,586,723 Sakols Feb. '19, 1952 2,677,965 Safiir May 11, 1954

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