Apparatus for temperature measurement

A device for measuring the temperature of an open bottle of wine which combines a thermometer and a protective container for storage of the thermometer. The container top is designed to receive the thermometer indicator head and is further adapted to be used with the thermometer to seal the bottle opening when the thermometer is in use. The thermometer's temperature indicator scale is divided into color coded segments, each segment the color of wine that should be served at temperatures within the range corresponding to the segment.

This invention relates generally to thermometers, and in particular, to an 
apparatus for measuring the temperature of bottled liquids, such as wine. 
Various types of thermometers are known in the prior art. One common 
variety includes a hollow temperature sensing stem depending from a 
generally cylindrical hollow indicator head. Inside the stem, there is a 
rotatably mounted, concentric shaft which extends upward into the 
indicator head; and a temperature sensitive motive element is arranged to 
change the rotational orientation of the shaft with changes in 
temperature. A pointer is mounted perpendicularly at the end of the shaft 
that extends into the interior of the indicator head and rotates along 
with the shaft. On the interior of the indicator head, and below the 
pointer, there is provided a circular scale member; and the upper 
indicator surface is made transparent so that a user can look through the 
top of the indicator head and, by the orientation of the pointer, 
determine the temperature that the thermometer is reading. It is also 
known that the various segments of a circular scale can be coded with 
different colors to facilitate reading temperature ranges. 
Further, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,003, issued to J. E. Gorgens 
on Mar. 10, 1964, a small thermometer of the type described can be 
provided with a tubular case that fits over and protects the temperature 
sensing stem; and a clip can be provided on the case so that the entire 
unit may be carried in the pocket of a garment. 
Although thermometers of the type described exist in the prior art, they 
possess a number of disadvantages undesirable in such devices. One such 
disadvantage is that the thermometer cannot be conveniently rested on a 
surface between uses, because it tends to roll along flat surfaces when 
placed on its side. When placed on its head with the stem pointing up, the 
thermometer is also unstable, because the transparent top surface is 
usually slightly convex so that the thermometer may accidentally be 
knocked over. Also, in this position the stem is particularly susceptible 
to damage. If the thermometer is rested on a counter top or other 
relatively high surface, its instability presents the immediate danger 
that it will fall from the counter top to the floor and be damaged or 
broken. The provision of a thermometer stem casing with a pocket clip, as 
disclosed in the Gorgens patent, still does not permit the thermometer to 
be rested on a surface. In addition, although carrying the thermometer in 
a garment pocket may be a satisfactory solution for small thermometers, 
this proves inconvenient and wholly inadequate for thermometers with long 
stems, such as those used to measure the temperature of wine inside a 
bottle. 
In addition to the foregoing, disadvantages are encountered with existing 
devices in measuring the temperature of wine inside a bottle. Typically, 
such measurements would be taken at the dinner table immediately prior to 
serving the wine. Under such circumstances, an opened wine bottle might be 
stored in a wine server with the neck of the bottle somewhat raised above 
the bottom thereof. In the process of inserting the stem of the 
thermometer into the neck of the wine bottle to measure the temperature of 
the wine, some wine is often spilled, leaving an unsightly stain on the 
table cloth and wasting some of the costly fluid. Measuring the 
temperature of effervescent wines, such as champagne, is even more 
troublesome. Such wines are usually served chilled, and if it is desired 
to serve them at the correct temperature, several measurements must be 
taken, because the thermometer must be removed and the bottle re-closed 
after each measurement to prevent excessive loss of the effervescence. 
Thus, each time the temperature of the wine is measured, the bottle must 
be opened, the thermometer stem must be inserted to measure the 
temperature of the wine, and the bottle must be re-closed after the 
temperature measurement. It is not only inconvenient, but time-consuming 
to repeat this temperature-measuring sequence several times for a single 
bottle of wine. 
The average wine drinker encounters an additional problem in measuring the 
temperature of bottled wine. Even if he overcomes the foregoing 
difficulties, he still does not now the correct temperature at which to 
serve his wine, without consulting some reference source. 
Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
temperature-measuring apparatus which eliminates one or more of the 
disadvantages in existing devices. Specifically, it is within the 
contemplation of the present invention to measure the temperature of wine 
inside a bottle without encountering the aforesaid disadvantages. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a container for a 
thermometer of the type described which protects the thermometer against 
damage and permits the thermometer to be stably stored on a surface 
between uses. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a device for measuring 
the temperature of a bottled liquid, which device prevents spillage of the 
liquid during temperature measurement. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a device for 
measuring the temperature of bottled effervescent wines, which device does 
not require repeated measurements and bottle closings to prevent loss of 
effervescence. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which will 
permit a user to bring wine to the correct serving temperature without 
consulting a reference source for the correct temperature. 
It is also an object of this invention to provide a device for measuring 
temperature which is reliable, efficient and convenient in use, yet simple 
and economical in construction. 
In accordance with the illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and 
features of the present invention, a device for measuring the temperature 
of bottled wine is provided, which device combines a thermometer of the 
type described and a protective container for stably storing the 
thermometer on a surface. The container includes a hollow base having a 
bottom adapted to rest on a surface and an open top. In addition, a cover 
is provided which fits over the open top of the base and cooperates with 
the base to define a closed chamber for storing the thermometer stem. The 
cover has a top wall which is formed to receive the bottom of the 
thermometer indicator head and which has a central aperture to permit the 
thermometer stem to extend downward into the thermometer stem storing 
chamber. At the point where the thermometer stem extends downward, a short 
thick sleeve depends from the top wall and surrounds the upper portion of 
the stem. The circular scale inside the indicator head is divided into 
color coded segments, such that each segment on the scale is coded with 
the color of wine that should be served at a temperature in the range 
represented by the segment. This color coding is carried onto the outer 
surface of the container, whereon there are also printed the names of 
particular varieties of wine in each segment. In use, the cover and 
thermometer are lifted from the base as a unit, and the stem is inserted 
into a wine bottle with the sleeve closing off the mouth of the bottle to 
prevent spillage and inhibit loss of effervescence. The correct 
temperature of the wine is reached when the pointer on the thermometer 
points to the segment which matches the color of the wine.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, 
there is shown an apparatus 10 for measuring the temperature of bottled 
wine which embodies objects and features of the present invention. The 
apparatus 10 broadly comprises a thermometer 12 and a generally 
cylindrical container 14 in which the thermometer is stored. The container 
14 has a flat bottom 16, and can therefore be placed on a flat surface 18 
to stably store the thermometer 12 above the surface 18. 
As best seen in FIG. 2, the thermometer 12 broadly comprises a stem 
assembly 20 and a temperature indicator head 22 secured near the top of 
the stem assembly 20. 
The stem assembly 20 includes the hollow stem 24 which is made of a heat 
conductive material, such as steel. Inside stem 24, a slender shaft 26 is 
mounted for axial rotation, and a heat-sensitive motive element 28, such 
as a bi-metallic spring, is coupled between stem 24 and shaft 26 to change 
the rotational orientation of shaft 25 as the temperature of element 28 
changes. Shaft 26 extends upward, out of stem 24 and into the interior of 
indicator head 22. 
The housing 30 forms an enclosure for the internal components of indicator 
head 22. The housing 30, preferably made of sheet metal, includes a lower 
wall 30a, a conical portion 30b, a substantially horizontal seat portion 
30c and a generally vertical wall 30d. The housing 30 also includes an 
aperture 30e disposed in the center of bottom wall 30a, which aperture is 
dimensioned to receive the upper end of stem 24. Housing 30 is secured to 
the top of stem 24 by being sandwiched between the cylindrical fastening 
members 32, 34 which are mounted on and secured near the top of stem 24 on 
either side of bottom wall 30a. On top of fastening member 34, there is 
secured a disc-shaped member 36 which includes a central aperture wherein 
the upper portion of shaft 26 is journaled. A circular scale member 38, 
described more fully hereinafter, is received on the seat 30c formed in 
housing 30, and includes a central aperture therein through which the 
upper end of shaft 26 passes. At the upper end of shaft 26, a pointer 40 
is securely mounted perpendicularly thereto, so that pointer 40 rotates 
with shaft 26. Indicator head 22 is closed by placing a circular, convex, 
transparent member 42 over scale member 38, so that member 42 is supported 
on member 38 at its radially outermost extreme. To secure member 42 in 
place, the upper end of portion 30d of housing 30 is crimped down over 
member 42. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be observed that scale member 38 is marked 
with temperature indicia ranging from 35.degree. to 70.degree. F. in 
5.degree. increments. The segments of member 38 lying between adjacent 
indicia are color coded, so that progressing clockwise from segment 44 to 
segment 48, coding is with progressively darker shades of yellow, and 
progressing clockwise from segment 50 to segment 56, the color coding is 
from a shade of pink to a deep red hue. Segment 58 is not used in the 
illustrative embodiment. The color coding of the segments of member 38 
corresponds to different colors of wine, with segments 44, 46, 48 
corresponding to progressively darker shades of white wine, and segments 
50, 52, 54, 56 progressing from rose to the deepest shades of red wine. 
The container 14 includes a cylindrical base with a flat bottom 16 and an 
open top 62, and has a generally cylindrical cover 64 which is designed to 
fit on and close the top of base 60 and to cooperate therewith to define a 
closed chamber 66 for receiving and housing the stem assembly 20. Both 
base 60 and cover 64 are conveniently made of plastic. As best seen in 
FIG. 1, the color reading from scale member 38 is carried on to the 
external surfaces of base 60 and cover 64. In addition, cover 64 has 
printed in each color coded segment the names of specific varieties of 
wines that should be served at a temperature in that segment. 
As best seen in FIG. 2, cover 64 includes a top wall 68 which is formed to 
receive thermometer 12. Top wall 68 includes a conical bore 68b, a 
recessed portion 68a, and a central bore 68c which is shaped to receive 
mounting member 32. Depending from the center of top wall 68, there is a 
cylndrical knob 70 which includes a bore 70a dimensioned to receive the 
bottom portion of mounting member 32 and which has a central aperture 
dimensioned to receive stem 24. When thermometer 12 is mounted on cover 
64, portion 30c of housng 30 engages the top of top wall 68 and portions 
30a and 30b of housing 30 engage portions 68a and 68b of top wall 68, 
respectively. Mounting member 32 is received with a snug fit in bores 68c 
and 70a of cover 64, and stem 24 extends downward through aperture 70b. 
The snug fit of mounting member 32 in bores 68c and 70a of cover 64 
assures that the thermometer 12 and cover 64 will not separate during 
normal use. At its lower extreme, cover 64 includes a radially recessed 
flange 72 which is received inside base 60 when cover 64 is mounted 
thereon. This flange 72 prevents lateral movement between cover 64 and 
base 60 when the two are assembled. 
In use, the assembly comprising thermometer 12 and cover 64 is removed from 
base 60 as a unit. To measure the temperature of wine 72 in a bottle 74, 
stem 24 is inserted into the mouth of the bottle, and cover 64 is moved 
downward to submerge the lower portion of stem 24 in the wine. In the 
process, knob 70 is inserted into and closes off the mouth of the wine 
bottle (see FIG. 3). With cover 64 in this position, spillage of the wine 
is prevented, and the escape of gases is inhibited, so that effervescent 
wines will not become flat. In addition, the color-coded bands on the 
periphery of cover 64 extend downward in close proximity to the wine 
bottle so that the band corresponding to the color of the wine is readily 
located. Having determined the color band that corresponds to his wine, 
all the user need do is chill the wine or permit it to stand until the 
pointer 40 points to the color band selected. 
The color matching method is a good, general procedure for bringing wine to 
the correct temperature. However, if the user desires more precise 
results, he need merely locate the name of his wine on the periphery of 
cover 64 and bring his wine to the temperature of the corresponding color 
band. 
Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for 
illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art 
that many additions, substitutions and modifications are possible without 
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the 
accompanying claims. For example, it will be appreciated that the outside 
of knob 70 could be covered with a soft material so that it could be 
inserted into bottle necks of various diameters and still effectively 
close off the mouth of the bottle.