Fluid-temperature testing assembly

• US 5,282,683 A
• Filed: 12/04/1992
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hallcrest Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Liquid Crystal Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Brett, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US07/985,310
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 374/150, 374/157, 374/162, 374/208, 128/771, 128/736
• US Class Current: 374/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations

Abstract

Method and an apparatus for, in the most preferred embodiment, measuring the temperature of liquid, such as urine, contained in a container using a new thermometer, referred to herein as a thermometer insert, including, at least, a thermal scale member mounted to an elongated backing member. The elongated backing member is resilient and "springs" back to its normally flat condition if bent. The thermal scale member includes an temperature indication region and numeric temperature indicia, and senses and indicates the temperature of the liquid in the container. The thermometer insert is placed into the container either before or after the liquid is deposited into the container. The thermometer insert and the wall of the container cooperate to hold the thermometer insert in engagement with the container wall so that the thermal scale member is capable of being observed through the container wall. After being used, the container, with the thermometer insert therein, can be reused or discarded. Alternatively, the thermometer insert is capable of being removed from the container so that either the thermal scale member or the container can be reused.

Claims

1. A method of measuring temperature within a container, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a container including, at least, a container wall bounding a container cavity and defining an access aperture that allows access to and from the container cavity;

providing a thermometer insert component that is resilient and biased toward a flat configuration;

removably engaging the thermometer insert component to the container wall within the container cavity, wherein said step of removably engaging includes, at least, the steps of,

bending the thermometer insert component,

inserting the thermometer insert component through the access aperture and into the container cavity,

releasing the thermometer insert component, and

allowing the resilient nature of the thermometer insert component to cause the thermometer insert to affix to the container wall within the container cavity; and

observing the thermometer insert component through the container wall.

2. A method of measuring temperature within a container, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a container including, at least, a container wall bounding a container cavity, wherein the container wall defined a container cavity diameter and an access aperture that allows access to and from the container cavity;

providing a thermometer insert component that is resilient and biased toward a flat configuration, and defines a length that is greater than the container cavity diameter;

removably engaging the thermometer insert component to the container wall within the container cavity, wherein said step of removably engaging includes, at least, the steps of,

bending the thermometer insert component,

inserting the thermometer insert component through the access aperture and into the container cavity,

orienting the thermometer insert component in a manner that will facilitate the engaging of the thermometer insert component to the container wall within the container cavity,

releasing the thermometer insert component, and

allowing the resilient nature of the thermometer insert component, in combination with the length of the thermometer insert component and the container cavity diameter, to cause the thermometer insert to affix to the container wall within the container cavity; and

observing the thermometer insert component through the container wall.