GB2168327A

GB2168327A - Thermometer case

Info

Publication number: GB2168327A
Application number: GB08530902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Akira Yokoyama
Original assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Current assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Priority date: 1984-12-15
Filing date: 1985-12-16
Publication date: 1986-06-18
Also published as: DE3537111A1; GB2168327B; JPS61104341U; GB8530902D0

Abstract

A thermometer case 3 has projections 5f, 5g, etc., protruding from the inner walls 5d, 5e, etc., of the case 3 toward a tapered portion 6a, 6b of the thermometer 6 for abutting against the tapered portion. The thermometer 6 is held in the case 3 without any contact of the sensor portion 6e of the thermometer 6 with the inner walls of the case 3, which reduces the likeliness of damage to the sensor portion 6e of the thermometer 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Thermometer case Background of the invention 1. Field of the invention This invention relates to a case for containing a thermometer, and more particularly to a structure for holding the thermometer.

2. Descripiton of the related art As one of the conventional thermometer cases, as shown in Figure 1, a case 1 divided into two sections longitudinally has mainly been used.

This case 1 is of substantially the same size as the thermometer or a little larger than the thermometer for easy insertion and removal of the thermometer.

Many cases of this kind have cushions 2 such as a sponge at the longitudinal ends of the case 1 as shown in the Figure so that the thermometer cannot be moved within the case 1.

In the above-mentioned conventional example, if cushions are not used in the case 1, while carrying, the thermometer and the case would rub against each other, thereby causing the thermometer to be damaged.

However, even if cushions are placed in the case 1, they cannot absorb shocks applied to the case 1 from the outside and especially in an electronic thermometer, fragile parts such as a sensor portion serving as a temperature sensing element of the thermometer sometimes have been broken by shocks caused by dropping and such.

In addition, the cushions will increase the cost of the thermometer case.

Summary of the invention This invention is intended to solve the problems with the conventional example by providing projections protruding toward the inside of the case so as to hold the thermometer against the projections.

According to this invention, there is provided a thermometer case comprising an upper section and a lower section for holding a thermometer having a sensor portion, a body portion and tapered portions for connecting the sensor portion to the body portion; the lower section of the thermometer case including projections protruding from the inner walls of the lower section toward the tapered portions so as to prevent the sensor portion of the thermometer from making contact with the inner walls of the case.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional thermometer case; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a case according to a first embodiment of the invention from the front; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the case of Figure 2 from the side; Figure 4 is a plan view of the case shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the case shown in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a case according to a second embodiment of the invention from the front; Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the case of Figure 6 from the side; Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a case according to a third embodiment of the invention from the front; Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the case of Figure 8 from the side;; Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the invention from the front; Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the case of Figure 10 from the side; and Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a case according to a fifth embodiment of the invention from the front.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments Several embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings; As shown in Figures 2 to 5, a case 3 comprises two longitudinally divided sections, that is, an upper tubular section 4 and a lower tubular section 5 formed by blowing polyvinyl chloride.

The upper section 4 and the lower section 5 are fitted by engaging the upper section 4 with a fitting portion 5a of the lower section 5 whose external dimension corresponds to the internal dimension of the upper section 4, and a click is caused at the time of fastening or unfastening by engaging recesses 4a and 4b formed in the inner walls of the upper section 4 with protruding portions 5b and Sc formed on the outer walls of the fitting portion 5a of the lower section 5.

In the vicinity of the center of each of the inner side walls 5d and 5e of the lower section 5 are provided projections 5f and 5g which are circular in section and protrude toward the inside of the case 3.

These projections 5f and 5g, as shown in the Figure, abut against tapered surfaces 6a and 6b respectively on the sides of the thermometer 6 and serve to prevent the thermometer 6 from moving sideways and to push the thermometer 6 toward the upper section 4 of the case 3.

Also, in the vicinity of the center of each of an inner front wall 5h and an inner back wall 5i of the lower section 5 are provided projections 5j and 5k protruding toward the inside of the case 3.

Like projections 5f and 5g, the projections 5j and 5k abut against tapered surfaces 6c and 6d respectively at the front and back of the thermometer 6 to prevent the forward and backward movement of the thermometer 6 and to push the thermometer 6 toward the upper section 4 of the case 3. According to this embodiment, the thermometer 6 is held against projections 5f, 5g, 5j and 5k of the lower section 5 in the forward and backward directions and sideways directions of the thermometer 6, and is also held in the longitudinal direction of the thermometer 6 by fitting the upper section 4 into the lower section 5, with the upper end of the thermometer 6 depressed by the top end 4c of the upper section 4.

At this time, even if the thermometer 6 is forced into the case 3 by means of the upper section 4, projections 5f, 5g, 5j and 5k of the lower section 5 positively prevent the further advance of the thermometer 6. Thus the thermometer 6 of this embodiment is held by projections 5f, 5g, 5j and 5k of the case 3, and, therefore, it is unnecessary to abut the sensor portion 6c of the thermometer 6 against the case 3 in order to prevent the longitudinal movement of the thermometer 6 within the case 3.

Accordingly, by setting the total length of the case 3 longer than that of the thermometer 6, the thermometer 6 can be held in the case 3 without any contact of the sensor portion 6c of the thermometer 6 with the inner walls of the case 3.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, projections 51, 5m, 5n and So protruding toward the inside of the case 5 are formed so as to abut against and hold the tapered surfaces of the thermometer 6 over a longer range than projections shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Also, referring to Figures 8 and 9, the number of projections protruding toward the inside of the case is increased, that is, in addition to the projections 5f, 59, 5j and 5k shown in Figures 2 and 3, projections 5p, 5q, 5r and 5s are provided so as to hold the thermometer 6 at more points thereof.

Furthermore, referring to Figures 10 and 11, on the inner walls of the fitting portion of the lower section 5 are provided projections 5t, 5u, 5v and 5w engaging with the body portion of the thermometer 6.

Thus the displacement or play of the thermometer 6 within the case can completely be eliminated by increasing the number of projections or changing the shapes of projections.

In addition, referring to Figure 12, on the inner walls of the lower section 5 are provided a set of projections 5x and 5y engaging with recesses 6f and 6g formed in the body portion of the thermometer 6. By this arrangement, even if the upper section 4 is detached from the lower section 5, this case prevents the thermometer 6 from becoming accidently withdrawn from the case, thereby making it possible to insert and remove the thermometer 6 upside down for improved handling.

A blowing operation permits any number of projections to be formed into any shapes.

According to this invention, since the thermometer can be held without any contact of the sensor portion of the thermometer with the case or other things, any shock caused by dropping or carrying will not transmit directly to the sensor portion.

Thus the thermometer is prevented from damage to the sensor portion. In addition, since the sensor portion does not contact the case or other things, the surface of the sensor portion can always be kept in sanitary conditions. Moreover, since any cushion or the like is not required, the cost can be reduced.

Claims

1. Athermometer case comprising: an upper section and a lower section for holding a thermometer having a sensor portion, a body portion and tapered portions for connecting the sensor portion to the body portion; said lower section of the thermometer case including projections protruding from the inner walls of said lower section toward the tapered portions of the thermometer and abutting against said tapered portions so as to prevent the sensor portion of the thermometer from making contact with the inner walls of the case.

2. The thermometer case according to claim 1 wherein said projections comprise at least one set of projections substantially making point-contact with the surfaces of the tapered portions of the thermometer.

3. The thermometer case according to claim 1 wherein said projections comprise at least one set of projections substantially making surface-contact with the surfaces of the tapered portions of the thermometer.

4. The thermometer case according to claim 1 wherein said projections comprise a plural sets of projections substantially making point-contact with the tapered portions of the thermometer.

5. The thermometer case according to claim 1 wherein said lower case further comprises at least one set of projections protruding from the inner walls toward the body portion of the thermometer.

6. The thermometer case according to claim 1 wherein said lower case further comprises at least one set of projections protruding toward the body portion of the thermometer and abutting against said body portion.

7. The thermometer case according to claim 1 wherein said lower case further comprises at least one set of projections protruding recesses formed in the body portion of the thermometer and engaging with said recesses.

8. A thermometer case substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures2,3,4,Sor6,7,or8,9,or10,11 or 12 of the accompanying drawings.