Core stopping structure for an electronic clinical thermometer

A core stopping structure for an electronic clinical thermometer comprising a stopper protruded out of an inner wall of a thermometer body, a stopping member provided on a core and configured to block relative movement of the stopper, whereby when the core is pulled out of the thermometer for a predetermined length, the stopper will block the stopping member thereby preventing the core from further moving out of the thermometer body and therefore preventing the conductive wire connected with the core from breaking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a core stopping structure for an electronic clinical thermometer, and in particular to one which can prevent a core from moving further out of an electronic clinical thermometer after the core has been withdrawn out of the electronic clinical thermometer for a predetermined length, thereby preventing the conductive wire from breaking and therefore assuring the normal operation of the thermometer.

(b) Brief Description of the Prior Art

Prior to the invention of the electronic clinical thermometer, the mercury clinical thermometer was widely used for measuring the temperature of human bodies. Based on the theory that mercury expands when encountering heat but contracts when encountering cold, the mercury clinical thermometer was invented. In the process of taking body temperature, when the temperature sensing probe (the heat sensor tube) of the mercury clinical thermometer is in contact with heat, the mercury will expand, pushing a portion of the mercury into a capillary tube thereby allowing the user to view the temperature reading displayed on the exterior of the capillary tube. In recent years, due to the high level of pollution in mercury, the electronic clinical thermometer, utilizing electronic technology, has been developed and has gradually replaced the highly polluted mercury clinical thermometer of old days.

When the battery in an electronic clinical thermometer is used up, the user must pull out the core to replace the battery. Since the conventional core is connected to the conductive wire while the other end of the conductive wire and a temperature sensor are fixedly mounted within a metal tip of the front end of the thermometer, the user is uncertain as to how far to pull out the core, and will often pull off the conductive wire, making the thermometer unable to work properly.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a core stopping structure of an electronic clinical thermometer which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a core stopping structure for an electronic clinical thermometer, which can prevent a core from moving further out of an electronic clinical thermometer after the core has been withdrawn from the electronic clinical thermometer for a predetermined length thereby preventing the conductive wire from breaking. The core stopping structure includes a stopper protruded from an inner wall of the body of the electronic clinical thermometer and a blocking member or recess provided on the predetermined position of the core, so that when the core is pulled out for battery replacement, the stopping flange will block the stopper from further moving out of the thermometer body after the core has been pulled out for a predetermined length thereby preventing the conductive wire from breaking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1,2and3, the core stopping structure according to the present invention is provided in an electronic clinical thermometer1which comprises a thermometer body10, a core20, a sensor30and a conductive wire40.

The thermometer body10is provided on the top with a window11for viewing the temperature reading and a button12close to the window11. Further, the thermometer body10has a metal probe13at a first end and a detachable cap14at a second end. A rubber ring141is mounted on the second end of the thermometer body10so as to prevent permeation by water when the second end of the thermometer body10is engaged with the detachable cap14.

The core20in which are mounted relevant sensing circuit and electronic components has a display21capable of showing temperature signals under the window11. An end of the core20is provided with a battery22.

The temperature sensor30is mounted within the metal probe13.

The conductive wire40has an end connected to the temperature sensor30and another end connected to the core20for calculating correct temperature data.

The bottom side of the thermometer body10has an opening15in which is fitted a stopper16protruding upwardly out of the inner wall of the thermometer body10. The core20has an outer side provided wit a stopping flange23, the outer side being opposite to the inner wall of thermometer body10engaged with the stopper16. The stopping flange23may be integrally formed with the outer side of the core20or may be replaced with a separate member such as a blocking member23awith a pin231aengageable with the outer side of the core20(seeFIG. 8). The outer side of the core20has a guiding groove201(see FIG9) for guiding relative movement of the stopper16so that when the core20is moved along the thermometer body1, the stopper16will be guided against the stopping flange23.

As shown inFIG. 4, when the core20is moved out of the thermometer body10for a predetermined distance in order to replace the battery22, the stopping flange23of the core20is blocked by the stopper16thereby preventing the core20from further sliding out of the thermometer body10and therefore preventing the conductive wire40from breaking. As a consequence, the normal operation of the core20can be assured.

FIG. 5illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the thermometer body10ahas a window11aformed at the peripheral edge with a protuberance111a, and the display21aof the core20ais provided at the peripheral edge with a projection211aaligned with the protuberance11a. Hence, when the core20ais moved out of the thermometer body10a, the projection211aof the core20awill be blocked by the protuberance11aof the thermometer body10athereby preventing the conductive wire30afrom breaking and therefore ensuring the normal operation of the core20a.

FIG. 6illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the bottom side of the thermometer body10bhas an opening in which is fitted a stopper11bprotruding upwardly out of the inner wall of the thermometer body10b.The core20bhas a recess21badapted to receive the stopper11b.The recess21bis provided at the front edge with a groove22bfor guiding the stopper11binto the recess21bthrough the groove22b.When the core22bis moved out of the thermometer body10bfor a predetermined distance, the stopper11bwill be fitted in the recess21bof the core20bthereby preventing the core22bfrom further moving out of the thermometer body10band therefore preventing conductive wire from breaking. Hence, the normal operation of the core20bcan be assured.

FIG. 7illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the bottom side of the thermometer body10chas an opening in which is fitted a stopper11cprotruding upwardly out of the inner wall of the thermometer body10c.The core20chas a bulge21con the outer surface opposite to the stopper11c.The bulge21cmay be an electronic component or a plastic projection21c.When the core22cis moved out of the thermometer body10cfor a predetermined distance, the stopper11cwill be blocked by the bulge21cthereby preventing the core22cfrom further moving out of the thermometer body10cand therefore preventing the conductive wire30cfrom breaking. Hence, the normal operation of the core20ccan be assured.