Control and display device

• US 6,665,174 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Testo AG
• Original Assignee: Testo AG
• Inventors: Zahn, Patrick, Derr, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/576,309
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/728, 361/730, 361/737, 277/628, 277/634, 174/52.3
• US Class Current: 361/747
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

A portable electrical control and display device is described, having an indicator panel, a keyboard with at least one key pad, and a single housing designed as a single piece and made of a temperature-resistant material, which seals the control and display device in a water-tight manner.

Claims

1. A portable electrical control and display device comprising:

an indicator panel;

a keyboard with at least one key pad;

a housing that is a single, one-piece housing made of a temperature-resistant material sealing the control and display device in a water-tight manner;

wherein the one-piece housing is made of a single, injection molded thermoplastic material;

wherein at least part of the housing includes one of TPU, TPE, and PVC;

wherein a sleeve is provided to accommodate the indicator panel, the keyboard, and a circuit board, and to support the housing;

wherein the housing and the sleeve are similar in shape, and the housing encloses the sleeve in an essentially form-fitting manner;

further including at least one sealing device which closes the housing and the sleeve in a water-tight manner with respect to the outside;

wherein the at least one sealing device is designed so that a first direction of sealing forces determined by the at least one sealing device is essentially perpendicular to a second direction of joining forces determined by one of a direction of insertion of the housing into the sleeve, and a direction of insertion of the sleeve into the housing;

wherein the at least one sealing device has a peripheral groove and a matching peripheral ridge arranged at opposite locations on the sleeve and the housing so that when the housing and the sleeve are joined together, the ridge engages in the groove.

2. A control and display device according to claim 1, further including at least one sealing lip applied to one of the groove and the ridge and stands apart therefrom, the at least one sealing lip being engaged when the housing and the sleeve are joined together.

3. A control and display device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one sealing lip is one of a wedge, rib, nub, and pointed tip shape.

4. A control and display device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sealing device includes one of a plug and ring which can be pushed into one of:

the housing open on at least one side, and a sleeve, said one of a plug and a ring engaging in said one of the housing and the sleeve when pushed in.

5. A control and display device according to claim 4, wherein one of the plug and the ring is cylindrical in shape, tapering in the direction of insertion.

6. A control and display device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one sealing device includes a ring having support devices for maintaining stability of the ring when pushed into one of the housing and sleeve.

7. A control and display device according to claim 6, further including one of plugs and rings having one of pointed tips, nubs, peripheral ribs, and wedges protruding outward.

8. A control and display device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sealing device includes a snap-in device.

9. A control and display device according to claim 8, wherein the housing and the at least one sealing device which seals the housing are cleaning-machine resistant and temperature resistant to a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celcius.

10. A control and display device according to claim 9, wherein the housing is at least partially made of one of one of a transparent material and semi-transparent material.

11. A control and display device according to claim 10, wherein the housing is at least partially made of a colored material and is provided with a transparent protective sight glass connected to the housing via a water-tight connection in the area of the indicator panel.

12. A control and display device according to claim 11, wherein to support the control and display device, the housing includes at least one reinforcing strip made of a same material as the housing, and is connected to the housing forming a single piece.

13. A control and display device according to claim 12, wherein the housing is open on at least one side, the open side, and the open side is closed by a cover.

14. A control and display device according to claim 13, wherein a pivotable cover is pivotingly arranged on one of the housing and the sleeve by a hinge device.

15. A control and display device according to claim 14, wherein the pivotable cover is closed via a locking device.

16. A control and display device according to one claim 15, further including at least one cover made of the same material as the housing.

17. A control and display device according to claim 16, wherein the housing has a reduced wall thickness in an area of the keyboard when compared to a wall thickness outside the keyboard area.

18. A control and display device according to claim 17, wherein the keyboard and the housing are made of the same material and are connected to one another to form one piece.

19. A control and display device according to claim 18, wherein the housing includes recesses for attaching the control and display device to an appropriate bracket.

20. A control and display device according to claim 19, wherein the housing includes at least one opening through which an electric conductor is introduced in the control and display device through a water-tight connection.

21. The control and display device according to claim 19, wherein the housing includes at least one opening through which at least one plug-and-socket connection is inserted into the control and display device.

22. A control and display device according to claim 20, wherein there is a sealing lip in the at least one opening which is in water-tight contact with an inserted plug.

23. A control and display device according to claim 22, wherein the housing is made of a plastic hose.

24. A control and display device according to claim 23, wherein the housing and the cover have open ends on one side with stepped areas which can be fitted into one another with great accuracy.

25. A control and display device according to claim 24, further including at least one additional sealing lip for sealing the stepped areas between the cover and the housing.

26. A control and display device according to claim 24, further including depressions into which at least one of the sealing lips and the additional sealing lips engage.

27. A portable electrical control and display device comprising:

an indicator panel;

a keyboard with at least one key pad;

a housing that is a single, one-piece housing made of a temperature-resistant material sealing the control and display device; and

at least one sealing device which closes the housing in a water-tight manner with respect to outside;

wherein the at least one sealing device includes one of a plug and ring which can be pushed into the housing open on at least one side, said one of the plug and the ring engaging in the housing when pushed in.

28. The portable electrical control and display device according to claim 27, wherein the at least one sealing device has a peripheral groove and a matching peripheral ridge arranged at opposite locations the housing so that when the at least one sealing device is engaged, the ridge engages in the groove.

29. The control and display device according to claim 27, further including at least one sealing lip applied to one of the groove and the ridge and stands apart therefrom, the at least one sealing lip being engaged when the at least one sealing device is engaged with the housing.

30. The control and display device according to claim 29, wherein the at least one sealing lip is one of a wedge, rib, nub, and pointed tip shape.

31. The control and display device according to claim 27, wherein said one of the plug and the ring is cylindrical in shape, tapering in the direction of insertion.

32. The control and display device according to claim 27, wherein said ring has at least one support device for maintaining stability of the ring when pushed into the housing.

33. The A portable electrical control and display device comprising:

an indicator panel;

a keyboard with at least one key pad;

a housing that is a single, one-piece housing made of a temperature-resistant material sealing the control and display device; and

at least one sealing device which closes the housing in a water-tight manner with respect to outside; and

a sleeve that accommodates the indicator panel, the keyboard and a circuit board and supports the housing;

wherein the at least one sealing device has a peripheral groove and a matching peripheral ridge arranged at opposite locations on the sleeve and the housing so that when the housing and the sleeve are joined together, the ridge engages in the groove.

34. The control and display device according to claim 33, further including at least one sealing lip applied to one of the groove and the ridge and stands apart therefrom, the at least one sealing lip being engaged when the housing and the sleeve are joined together.

35. The control and display device according to claim 34, wherein the at least one sealing lip is one of a wedge, rib, nub, and pointed tip shape.

36. A control and display device according to claim 33, wherein the one-piece housing is made of a single, injection molded thermoplastic material.

37. A control and display device according to claim 36, wherein at least part of the housing includes one of TPU, TPE, and PVC.

38. A control and display device according to claim 33, wherein the housing and the sleeve are similar in shape, and the housing encloses the sleeve in an essentially form-fitting manner.

39. A control and display device according to claim 33, wherein the at least one sealing device is designed so that a first direction of sealing forces determined by the at least one sealing device is essentially perpendicular to a second direction of joining forces determined by one of a direction of insertion of the housing into the sleeve, and a direction of insertion of the sleeve into the housing.

40. A portable electrical control and display device comprising:

an indicator panel;

a keyboard with at least one key pad;

a housing that is a single, one-piece housing made of a temperature-resistant material sealing the control and display device; and

at least one sealing device which closes the housing in a water-tight manner with respect to outside; and

a sleeve that accommodates the indicator panel, the keyboard and a circuit board and supports the housing;

wherein the at least one sealing device includes one of a plug and ring which can be pushed into one of;

the housing open on at least one side and said sleeve, said one of the plug and the ring engaging in said one of the housing and the sleeve when pushed in.

41. The control and display device according to claim 40, wherein said one of the plug and the ring is cylindrical in shape, tapering in the direction of insertion.

42. The control and display device according to claim 41, wherein said ring has at least one support device for maintaining stability of the ring when pushed into one of the housing and sleeve.