Abstract:
Substantially similar thermometers present in the same locality are distinguished from each other by the attachment of distinguishing indicia or by supplying non-critical portions of said thermometers in a plurality of colors and/or designs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/267,666, filed Feb. 9, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying different clinical thermometers in a single location. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying and distinguishing between several thermometers in a single location.  
           [0004]    2. Background Art  
           [0005]    It is often desirable to be able to distinguish among a plurality of clinical thermometers in a given location. For example, many families use thermometers to monitor or diagnose a variety of medical conditions, particularly infections. Such infections may often be easily transmitted from one person to another. One source of “transfection” is the use of thermometers by several people without adequate sterilization inbetween. Especially in the home consumer environment, it is difficult to attain the requisite degree of sterilization. In families with several children, a real risk of spreading infection thus exists.  
           [0006]    In the past, it has been virtually impossible to distinguish one thermometer from another unless different types or brands of thermometers are purchased. It would be desirable to enable substantially similar thermometers to be readily distinguishable from each other without requiring modification of components such that manufacturing costs are unduly increased.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Thus, the invention pertains to a method for distinguishing first and second substantially similar thermometers from each other in a location where a plurality of said substantially similar thermometers are located. The method includes one or more of: a) supplying said thermometers with externally observable distinguishable colors; b) supplying said thermometers manufactured to contain a distinguishing indicia attachment means; and/or c) supplying a plurality of distinguishing indicia. Each of the individual indicia are adapted to be mounted onto one of said thermometers.  
           [0008]    The invention further pertains to a kit including a plurality of substantially identical thermometers. A plurality of different distinguishing indicia, individual indicia adapted to be attached to individual thermometers, is contained in the kit.  
           [0009]    The invention still further pertains to a kit including a plurality of distinguishable but substantially similar thermometers. The thermometers are of the same general size and shape. Each individual thermometer may differ from other thermometers in the kit by having a non-critical portion of a different color or design.  
           [0010]    The invention further pertains to a kit comprising a plurality of different distinguishing indicia, configured such that individual distinguishing indicia may be attached to individual thermometers, such that individual thermometers of the same general appearance may be distinguished from each other. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Other advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side view of two thermometers side-by-side;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a view of slip-on identifying indicia mounted on a thermometer of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 illustrates a digital thermometer having an indicia receiving cavity molded into the thermometer case;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate side views of a portion of a thermometer as in FIG. 3, with two different indicia receiving cavities;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4A illustrates a thermometer or thermometer case containing a groove adapted to receive an elastomeric or resilient plastic distinguishing band;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4B illustrates a distinguishing band on the thermometer of FIG. 4A; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 illustrates a thermometer having a shallow recess molded into the case, adapted to receive a distinguishing indicia in the area of the recess.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the subject invention thermometers. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1, two thermometers are generally shown at  10 , 12 . The thermometers  10 , 12  are shown to be non-battery operated. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any type and style of thermometer may incorporate the invention without adding thereto.  
         [0021]    The thermometers  10 , 12  have a readable portion  14 , 16 . The readable portion  14 , 16  includes a transparent cylinder  18 , 20  with thermometric fluid  22 , 24  stored in a reservoir end  26 , 28  thereof. As the temperature rises when the thermometer  10 , 12  is disposed adjacent the person for whom a measurement is desired, the fluid  22 , 24  expands and fills the cylinder  18 , 20  as is well known in the art.  
         [0022]    A scale  30 , 32  extends along the readable portion  14 , 16  allowing the observer of the thermometer  10 , 12  to correlate the expansion of the fluid  22 , 24  with the temperature of the person for whom a measurement had been taken.  
         [0023]    A marked region  34 , 36  extends along the thermometer  10 , 12  outside the scale  30 , 32  thereof. The marked region  34 , 36  identifies the thermometer  10 , 12  as a particular thermometer  10  as opposed to another thermometer  12 . More specifically, in the prior art, there is no indication of one thermometer over another absent a difference in brands. As the tooling and production costs for manufacturing thermometers with noticeably different configurations is expensive, it is generally prohibitive to manufacture more than one configuration unless the changed element constitutes only a small and relatively non-critical portion of the design. The invention utilizes the marked region  34 , 36  to differentiate between individual thermometers  10 , 12  even though they are of the same brand and/or model.  
         [0024]    In the preferred embodiment, the marked region  34  in one thermometer  10  differs from the marked region  36  in the other thermometer  12  through the use of color. In FIG. 1, the colors used in each of the marked regions  34 , 36  are distinguished by the use of different crosshatch patterns. One marked region  34  is one color and the other marked region  36  is another color. This allows, for example, members of the same residence to identify specific thermometers  10 , 12  so that individuals of that residence can limit their use of thermometers to a specific thermometer  10 , 12 . This further hinders the transmission of diseases from one person (or animal) to another.  
         [0025]    In alternative embodiments not shown herein, the marked regions could utilize patterns of colors, names, numbers and the like. The distinguishing features of the marked regions are not limited to the list set forth above and may include any type of distinguishing marks that serve such a purpose.  
         [0026]    Further, the marked region is not limited to the region around the scale  30 , 32 . The marked region may include the highly visible tip portion  38 , 40  found opposite the reservoir end  26 , 28  or any other portion of the thermometer  10 , 12  that does not restrict or hinder the view of the fluid  22 , 24  as it expands through the cylinder  18 , 20 .  
         [0027]    In the situation wherein a digital thermometer (not shown) is used, any portion of the digital thermometer can be used as the marked portion other than the digital readout.  
         [0028]    Thus, for example, the thermometer of FIG. 1 may be designed to receive a slip-on cap, i.e. one made of a resilient metal, plastic, or elastomeric material, these caps not being critical to the positioning or encasing of the thermometric elements of the thermometer. Such a cap is shown in FIG. 2, where the cap  42  is positioned over the topmost portion  40  of the thermometer  16 . The caps  42  may be of different colors or may bear numbers or names. The cap  42  may optionally be surmounted by a distinguishing portion  44 , here, a “smiley face.” Cartoon characters, “teddy bear” shapes, etc. may be used as well.  
         [0029]    In FIG. 3 is illustrated a digital thermometer, including a sensing element  50 , a case  52 , the case being generally constructed of polymeric material, and a digital display  54 . The thermometer generally also contains various control buttons  55 , 56 , e.g. for turning the thermometer on and off, resetting the display, etc. At  58  is a well, cavity, or hole shown in cross-section in FIG. 3A, preferably having a sightly undercut wall  59  adapted to receive a “button”  60  of elastomeric material or resilient plastic. The button may be supplied in different colors or geometric shapes, designs, etc., and because of its small size, may be readily manufactured at low cost. The buttons may be “snapped” into place by the user, and replaced or changed when desired. In FIG. 3B is shown a similar housing where the two halves of the thermometer case  61  and  62  are joined at  63 , 64  and forms a cavity  65 , the front wall  67  of which isolates the working components in the forward portion  66  of the case from the hole-containing portion.  
         [0030]    The case or a portion thereof, i.e., one case half, may be manufactured from different colored polymeric material, as switching from one color plastic to another is a non-critical change which can easily and expensively be made without changing dies, etc. By a non-critical portion or change is meant a part of the thermometer whose color, shape, etc., can be changed without manufacturing new dies or altering manufacturing techniques such that cost is increased. A change which alters the general shape of a major portion of a thermometer case, whether of the thermometric fluid type of digital type, is not a “non-critical” change. Manufacture of a small portion of a case in a plurality of shapes, for example a cap portion, is a non-critical change and a non-critical part. Altering the color of a portion of a thermometer will not be a non-critical change.  
         [0031]    The thermometers may also be configured to receive a band as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, where in FIG. 4A, a recessed channel or groove  70  is molded into the thermometer case  71 , and an elastomeric or resilient polymer band  72 , i.e. of different colors and/or bearing distinguishing logos is slipped over the case and retained in the groove.  
         [0032]    A distinguishing indicia is a separately manufactured part, generally of elastomeric polymer or resilient plastic, which can be attached to the thermometer case in such a manner that the indicia is unlikely to be removed except purposefully.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 illustrates a digital thermometer  73  whose back side contains a recess  75  molded into the case, this recess adapted to receive an identifying indicia  77 , in this case, bearing a name. Indicia of various colors may be used as well. The indicia  77  preferably has a pressure-sensitive adhesive on its back surface to facilitate attachment to the case. The case need not have a recess, and for example, may have a smooth surface to receive the adhesive indicia. A display containing a collection of such adhesive indicias bearing common names and nicknames can advantageously be located proximate to the display location of the thermometers at a retail sales establishment.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 illustrates a digital thermometer  80  having an injection molded, one-piece lower case  81 , a temperature sensing element  82 , a top injection-molded “cap” portion  83 , an LCD display  84 , and a start button  85 . The display  84  and start button  85  are surrounded by a molded insert  86 . The thermometer  80  may be rendered distinguishable from other substantially similar thermometers by varying the color of the insert  86 , the start button  85 , and/or the cap  83 . As each of the aforementioned components is already an essential part of the particular thermometer  80 , and as changing the color of these respective components may be accomplished easily and inexpensively merely by changing the color of the respective thermoplastic molding composition, each of the aforementioned methods of creating substantially similar but readily distinguishable thermometers is a non-critical change in manufacturing.  
         [0035]    In general, it is desirable, when thermometers are of the same color, and distinguishing indicia are used, to manufacture the thermometer case to contain a recess, groove, or protuberance specifically for the purpose of receiving the distinguishing indicia. The invention does not pertain to the attachment of adhesive tape, masonry tape, etc., to a thermometer, but rather pertains to use of manufactured indicia.  
         [0036]    While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.