Improvements in and relating to Clinical Thermometers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1895-4ccepted, 27th July, 1895
[Communicated from abroad by ENRICO PINCHETTI, of Castiglione d'Intelvi,
Province of Como, Italy, resident of Lugano, Switzerland.]
Improvements in and relating to Clinical Thermometers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to clinical thermometers as employed by physicians for
ascertaining the temperature of the bodies of their patients.
It has often been said that the use of clinical thermometers is a cause of infection
and promotes the communication of diseases, as the scale cut on the glass carries
dirt, dust and other germ-bearing matters.
According to my invention I construct a thermometer which obviates the above
objection, and which substantially consists in making the said thermometer in three
parts, two of which are connected with each other, when the thermometer is in use.
The first part consists of an ordinary thermometer the tube of which however is
not provided with a scale or engraving of any kind. The exterior surface of this
tube being perfectly smooth and having no grooves or cuts will not retain any
morbid parts adhering thereto and may therefore be with impunity brought into
contact with the seat of disease by the most scrupulous physician.
The second part consists of a tube, open at one of its ends and provided on its
cylindrical surface with the marks of the usual thermometer scales, such as the
Fahrenheit or Centigrade scale. The graduation of the open tube bears such
relation to the length of the thermometer that when the latter is inserted into the
former so as to abut with its bulb against the bottom of the graduated tube, the
reading of the number visible on the mark of the Fahrenheit or Centigrade scale,
which happens to coincide with the upper level of the mercury, at once gives the
temperature sought for.
The third part of the improved thermometer consists of a metal casing, with
which the graduated tube is permanently surrounded in order to protect it against
breakage. The casing is fitted with openings in order to admit of the reading of
the temperature on the graduated tube, while the said openings may be closed after.
each lecture or when the thermometer is to be carried from one place to another.
In carrying my invention into practice the thermometer is inserted into the
graduated tube the bottom of which fits into a metal cup and is secured thereto by
a suitable cement. The cup ends in a pin fitted with screw threads, on which a
nut is tightly screwed, so that, on turning the said nut, the tube is also caused to
rotate. The casing consists first of a cap, which is removed when the thermometer
is to be used, in order to allow of the latter being rapidly introduced into the
graduated tube after it has been removed from the patient; secondly of a fixed
exterior sheath fitted with two openings the former enabling the operator to read
the scale on the graduated tube, while the latter allows the bulb of the thermometer
to be seen when laying on the bottom of the graduated tube; and thirdly of an
interior socket provided with openings corresponding to those in the-sheath. The
said socket can be caused to turn within the sheath. The pin of the cup enters
oosely a corresponding hole in the bottom of the socket so that the said socket and
the graduated tube may be turned independently to bring the opening in the.

page_text: interior socket in coincidence either with the opening in the exterior sheath when
the temperature is to be read or with the closed part of the sheath when the
apparatus is ready for transport. In one position of the interior socket the nut
may be used to turn the graduated tube in order to bring either the Fahrenheit
or the Centigrade scale opposite to the openings in the sheath and the interior
socket.
In a modification of the device the graduated tube is not rotated within the
socket but is connected thereto and partakes in its movements. The tube ends in
a nipple which is embedded in a layer of cement fitting into a metal box tightly
screwed on the bottom of socket. Each of the sockets is fitted with a couple of
openings opposite to each other. By turning the interior socket, the thermometer
is brought from the position in which both thermometer scales are visible from the
openings on one side and on the other side, to the position in which the openings
are covered by closed portions of sheath.
Besides the advantage formerly alluded to, my apparatus is less expensive in
the case of breakage than the ordinary clinical thermometers, as both the
thermometer and graduated tube, either of which may happen to be broken, are to
be bad at a much lower cost than the clinical thermometer of the usual description,
affording the same degree of exactness.
It is well known that the mercury has a tendency to rise within the thermometer
tube after the thermometer has been in use for some time. The adjustment
necessary to remove the error of graduation ensuing therefrom is also rendered
much easier, as the scale can be displaced by simply displacing the bottom of the
graduated tube by blowing into the same when properly heated.
Dated this 25th day of Anơust 1804
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Clinical Thermometers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to thermometers more especially thermometers of the kind
employed by physicians for ascertaining the temperature of the bodies of their
patients.
It has often been said that the use of thermometers of this kind is a cause of
infection and promotes the communication of diseases, as the scale cut on the glass
carries dirt, dust and other germ-bearing matters.
According to my invention, I construct a thermometer which obviates the above
objection, and which substantially consists in making the said thermometer in
three parts, two of which are connected with each other when the thermometer is
in use.
The first part consists of an ordinary thermometer, the tube of which however is
not provided with a scale or engraving of any kind. The exterior surface of this tube
being perfectly smooth and having no grooves or cuts will not retain any morbid
particles and may therefore be with impunity brought into contact with the seat of
disease by the most scrupulous physician.
The second part consists of a tube, open at one of its ends and provided on its
cylindrical surface with the marks usually provided on thermometers such as the
Fahrenheit or Centigrade scale. The graduation of the open tube bears such

page_text: relation to the length of the thermometer that when the latter is inserted into the
former so as to abut with its bulb against the bottom of the said graduated tube,
the reading of the number visible on the mark of the Fahrenheit or Centigrade
scale, which happens to coincide with the upper level of the mercury, at once gives
the desired temperature.
The third part of the improved thermometer consists of a metal casing, with
which the graduated tube is permanently surrounded in order to protect it against
breakage. The casing is provided with openings in order to admit of the reading
of the temperature on the graduated tube, while the said openings may be closed
after each lecture or when the thermometer is to be carried from one place to
another.
My improved thermometer is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section showing the thermometer proper
arranged within the graduated tube.
Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the graduated
tube enclosed in its casing but without the thermometer.
Figure 3 is a section of Figure 2 in the open position.
Figure 4 is a similar view in the closed position.
Figure 5 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation showing a
somewhat modified form of the apparatus and
Figures 6 and 7 show sections of the same, Figure 6 showing the apparatus in
the open position and Figure 7 the same in its closed position.
In carrying my invention into practice the thermometer A Figure 1 is inserted
C and is
into the graduated tube B, the bottom of which fits into a metal provided
secured thereto by a suitable cement. The cup C terminates in a pin
with screw threads, on which a nut E is tightly screwed, so that, on turning the
said nut E, the tube B is also caused to rotate. The casing consists first of a
cap F, which is removed when the thermometer is to be used, in order to allow of
the latter being rapidly introduced into the graduated tube, after it has been
removed from the patient; secondly of a fixed exterior sheath G fitted with two
openings H and I, the former enabling the operator to read the scale on the
graduated tube, while the latter allows the bulb of the thermometer to be seen
when laying on the bottom of the graduated tube; and thirdly of an interior
socket K provided with openings H¹ and I' corresponding to the openings H
and I. The said socket can be caused to turn within the sheath G. The pin D
enters loosely a corresponding hole in the bottom of the socket K so that the said
socket and the graduated tube B may be turned independently to bring the
opening H in coincidence either with the opening H in the exterior sheath when
the temperature is to be read as in Figure 3, or with the closed part of the sheath G
as in Figure 4 when the apparatus is not in use. In the position of the interior
socket K, shown in Figure 3, the nut E may be used to turn the graduated tube B
in order to bring either the Fahrenheit or the Centigrade scale opposite to the
openings H and H' Figures 5 6 and 7. In the modification of the device shown in
Figures, 6 and 7 the graduated tube B is not rotated within the socket K, but is
connected thereto and partakes in its movement. The tube B ends in a nipple P
which is embedded in a layer M of cement, fitting into a metal box L tightly
screwed on the bottom of socket K. Each of the sockets G and K is fitted with
a couple of openings H and N, H¹ and N' opposite to each other. By turning
socket K, the thermometer is brought from the position shown in Figure 6, in
which both thermometer scales are visible from the openings H H' on one side
and N N¹ on the other side, to the position shown in Figure 7, in which the
openings Hand N¹ are covered by closed portions of sheath G.
Besides the advantages formerly alluded to, my apparatus is less expensive in
the case of breakage than the ordinary clinical thermometers, as both the ther-
mometer and graduated tube, either of which may happen to be broken are to be had
at a much lower cost than the clinical thermometer of the usual description,
affording the same degree of exactness.

page_text: It is well known that the mercury has a tendency to rise within the thermometer
tube after the thermometer has been in use for some time. The adjustment necessary
to remove the error of graduation ensuing therefrom is also rendered much easier,
as the scale can be displaced by simply displacing the bottom of the graduated
tube by blowing into the same when properly heated.
Another error may, sometimes arise from the mercury becoming divided into two
separate columns, with a slight interval between each other.
This cause of error may be avoided, when desired, by providing the open tube
surface with two graduations, both made in accordance with the same thermometer
scale, but proceeding in opposite directions and bearing such relation to each other
that the temperature read on one of them, when the bulb abuts against the bottom
of the tube, will be the same as that read on the other graduation, when the
thermometer is inserted into the tube in the opposite direction and abuts against
the bottom thereof with its thinner end.
In the case of the two readings not being identical, the error is detected.
-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. A thermometer, especially intended for clinical use comprising two parts
readily detachable, one of which consists of an ungraduated tube adapted to be
placed in contact with the patient for taking the temperature, while the other
consists of a tube open at one end aud provided with the scale and means for
rotating the tube and adapted to receive the above mentioned ungraduated tube to
enable the reading of the temperature to be taken, the said thermometer being
enclosed in an outer casing consisting of a fixed exterior sheath provided with
openings, an interior socket or tube also provided with openings and a cap or cover,
the sheath and socket or tube being adapted to be rotated independently of each
other substantially as herein before described.
Second. The modified form of apparatus in which the tube graduated as herein-
before mentioned is fixed to the interior socket or tube and the exterior sheath
adapted to rotate relatively thereto, the said interior socket and exterior sheath
being in this case provided with two sets of openings substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore specified.
DL
شيدي
..
Dated this 27th day of May: 1000.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.