Package of outer unsterile and inner sterile covers for enclosing a substantial portion of an object having an unsterile surface

• US 3,295,675 A
• Filed: 06/03/1963
• Issued: 01/03/1967
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mon-A-Therm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jacob L. Brause, Walter W. Burns
• Inventors: Burns, Walter W., Brause, Jacob L.
• Application Number:
  US04/284,893
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• US Class Current: 206/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/00 Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists

Claims

1. A PACKAGE WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE MOUTH OF A PATIENT FROM CONTAMINATION BY BACTERIA OR VIRUS WHICH MAY BE ON AN OPERATIVE OBJECT SUCH AS A CLINICAL THERMOMETER OR THE LIKE, SAID PACKAGE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION:

(A) AN INNER COVER MEMBER HAVING A CHAMBER OF A SIZE AND SHAPE TO ENCLOSE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF AN OPERATIVE OBJECT SUCH AS A CLINICAL THERMOMETER, OR THE LIKE, AND PROTECT THE MOUTH OF THE PATIENT FROM CONTACT WITH THE OPERATIVE OBJECT, (B) SAID INNER COVER HAVING AN ANGULAR OPENING AND A TUBULAR SEAMLESS SIDE WALL AND A SEAMLESS CLOSED END FOR INSERTION INTO THE MOUTH OF THE PATIENT AND FOR HOLDING THE LOWER END OF THE OPERATIVE OBJECT, WHICH MAY BE CONTAMINATED, OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE PATIENT'"'"''"'"'S MOUTH AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE MOUTH OPENING, (C) SAID COVER BEING OF AN IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL, AND OF A THICKNESS TO PERMIT READY TRANSFER OF THE BODY HEAT FROM THE PATIENT'"'"''"'"'S MOUTH TO THE THERMOMETER BULB, (D) SAID MATERIAL BEING FLEXIBLE TO PERMIT IT TO BE READILY CONFORMED TO AND IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE THERMOMETER OVER A LARGE AREA, (E) AN OUTER ENVELOPING MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING INDICATING MEANS AND FOR ENCLOSING THE INNER COVER MEMBER TO ENCLOSE THE SAME AND TO PROVIDE PROTECTION THEREFORE, THE (F) INNER COVER MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER STERILE ASEPTIC SURFACE FOR SEPARATING THE OPERATIVE OBJECT FROM CONTACTING THE MOUTH OF THE PATIENT, THEREBY GIVING PROTECTION TO THE PATIENT AGAINST BACTERIAL AND VIRUS CONTAMINATION IN THE PATIENT'"'"''"'"'S MOUTH, FROM THE OPERATIVE OBJECT, AND (G) SAID INNER COVER MEMBER WHEN OPEN LYING IN THE OUTER ENVELOPING MEMBER IN A POSITION TO PERMIT THE READY INSERTION OF THE THERMOMETER OR OTHER OPERATIVE OBJECT WITHOUT REMOVING SAID COVER MEMBER FROM THE OUTER ENVELOPING MEMBER, AND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PART OF THE INNER COVER MEMBER WHICH COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE PATIENT'"'"''"'"'S MOUTH TO ANY CONTAMINATING SURFACE.