US1777641A - Sterilizing holder for clinical thermometers - Google Patents

Description

Ocl- 7, 1930- A. A; GLDsTElN 1,777,641

STBRILIZING HOLDER FOR CLINIC'AL THBRIOIBTBRS Filed nay 11, 192e Patented ct. 7, 1930 NUNITED STATES PATNTfo-m AARON A. GOLDSTEIN, F BTJ'FIEAIrOj` NEW` YORK y YSTERILIZING Homann Fon oLrNrcAnrHEnluoMErnns Application filed May 11, 1928.- v Serial No. 277,001.

The principal objects .of this inventionv are y to eliminate the highly unsanitary conditions incident to the use of clinicalthermometers in the ordinary use of same with various patients where it is impossible for the physician to obtain access to proper sterilizers between calls, and to provide a very simpleand convenient means for carrying a thermometer which will effectively retain a sterilizing liquid.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the novel construction of a closure for a tubular container which will allow the ready insertion and removal of the vthermoml eter and which will effectively seal the opentaken at right angles to the view in Figure 2 and with the'cap removed.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the closure for the tube.

It has been the practice for many yearsfor j physicians to carry their clinical thermometers in a small case in the vest pocket and,

in the course of their professional calls the thermometer may be used for several patients without being properly sterilized.v Alcohol provides an excellent sterilizer but itv has not been found feasible to use same, as suitable means for closing the receptacle against "leakage when the thermometer is removed have not been available.

The present invention provides a closure which upon the removal of the thermometer, seals the tubular holder so that the alcohol will not escape if the holder is laid down or even` if it is inverted. p rllhe device comprises a tubular holder 1 which may be of a suitable diameter to be carried inv the vest pocket without inconvenience. Itis provided with a closure 2 having a central cylindrical passage 3 which is an easy sliding lit for the thermometer 4.

point ofl intersection Softheftwo bevelled y l The closureV is provided with a cylindrical portion' which is a snugfit for the cylindrical portion 6 of the Itop end of the'tube 1. j The inner end of the portion 5 is bevelled on opposite sides forming awedge-shaped structure, the flat faces k7 of `whichmee't at'the apex. It will'be seen that the bevelled'faces 7 of the portion 5 intersect or cut into thelpassagevlbut. that the side portions extendto a faces. j y j n Alf-shallow ,groove 9 is cut in the closure member across each of thefiatfaces 7 adjacent to the to thereofand'a thin flat plate 10,

preferably of metal and shaped to conform to' the contour of the fiat face?, isiarranged to fit against `each offsaid faces andi is prOfvided with aflanged edge 11at thetop'to lit loosely `in the transverse groove.

A'circumferentialgroove 125 is cut in the 70 cylindrical part 5 ofthe closure just above Vthe grooves 9 and a iinewire 13 is bent to fit into said groove and theV ends thereof are bent downwardly andinwardlyand fit snugly against the plates 10 to hold them in close contact with the bevelled faces 7, said spring ends being firmly secured to the plates.

The closure is formed with a shoulder 14 Y which abuts the top end of the tube 1.

` It will be readily seen that when the ser? thermometer is removed the plates 10v form a pair of valves which effectively seal against the bevelled faces 7 and said valves are arranged'so that their bottom edges close tightj ly together, thus sealing the tube so that a B5 fluid contained in the tube cannot escape.

When the thermometer 4 is inserted in the passage 3 of the closure the valve plates spread outwardly being carried by their flexible springs and allow the thermometer to extend down into the well of the tube and to be immersed in the alcohol or other sterilizingfluid.

The bottom end of the tube is preferably provided with a removable portion 15 to allow for the ready fillin'or of same and a spring 16 and floating plate l? are provided to hold the thermometer from rattling and to protect it from injury and also to eject the thermometer when the cap is removed.

2:vv y1,777,641

The device is extremely simple and the valves constructed as described are very effetive and serviceable.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a tubular holder, a closure having a cylindrical end itting into said holder and provided with a cylindrical longitudinal pasf i sage and having a pair of bevelled meeting faces at the inner end, a pair of flat Valves closing against said Hat faces and meeting at their inner ends andsealigng thejcy-lindrical passage, and spring means for holding said valves to said faces. i

2. In a tubular holder, a closure having a cylindrical end iitting into said holder and provided with a cylindrical longitudinal passage and lat bevelled meeting faces at the inner end, transverse grooves arranged at the upper ends offsaid flatl faces, a pair'of fiat valves adapted to `close together and to fit against said fl'at''fa`c'es`,` and each having a ianged edge atthe top to enter said grooves, and spring mean l 3. Y In tibiilar holder; Ya gclosure, having a i' cylindrical vend vfitting into'said holder and` provided With a cylindrical longitudinal passage and Hatl bevelled ineetingfaces at'the inner end, apair of flat valvesfclosing' against' said flat facesy andmeetfing lat their. inner endsY and sealing the cylindrical passagera circliinfferential groove formed A in saidv closure above said flat facesgand avvi'respring secured to said valves,andrseat/ed'iiilsaidgroove.

AARON A.v GOLD'STEIN.

4ier i returning said valves: f

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