IMPROVEMENTS IN SURFACE THERMOMETERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOSEPH MAYER of the firm of Mayer & Meltzer of 71 Great Portland Street
in the County of Middlesex Surgical Instrument Maker do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SURFACE THERMOMETERS, to be as
follows:-
The object of the improvement is to do away with the interference of all
extraneous temperatures when applying the thermometer to any surface, and for
this purpose, a cup made of Xylonite or Ebonite or other convenient material and
having a phlange of india rubber or other such like substance is made to contain
the coiled bulb of the thermometer, the bar of the thermometer going through &
hole in the side of the cup. The said hole in the side of the cup is fitted with a
small piece of india rubber tubing which grasps the bar of the thermometer, holding
it in position and giving a freedom of movement, thereby allowing the coiled bulb
of the thermometer to adjust itself to the surface when placed in position for use.
The modo of using tho improved surface thermometer is simply by taking hold
of the cup and pressing it lightly upon the surface when the phlange giving way
to the pressure, expels the cold air and the coiled bulb of the thermometer adjusting
itself to the surface (as before explained), is held in position by the almost
imperceptible grip given by the india rubber phlange,-the desired result as to
actual temperature may then be obtained, the cup being self adherent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
JOSEPH MAYER of N° 71 Great Portland Street London W. Surgical Instru-
ment Maker do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN SURFACE THERMOMETERS and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is particularly adapted for Surface Thermometers and consists in
providing the bulb of such a thermometer with a protecting cup of Xylonite,
Ebonite, hard or soft rubber or other convenient material for the purpose of
excluding exteraneous temperatures when applying the thermometer to any surface.
The Thermometer employed is preferably made with a rectangular bend slightly
beyond its bulb, which latter is preferably coiled in a plane lying parallel with the
thermometer bore and at the mouth of the protecting cup.
The edge of the cup is provided with a flange of soft india rubber or similar
material which gives way when the thermometer is placed upon any surface so as
to bring the coiled bulb directly in contact with the surface and at the same time
exclude the external air.
Such a construction also renders the cup self-adherent.
In order that the improvements may be more clearly understood I will proceed
to describo it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which―
Fig: 1. is a vertical sectional view of a surface thermometer having my improved
protecting cup applied.
Fig 2. is a rear elevation and Fig 3. a top view of the same.
1 may represent a clinical thermometer having a rectangular bend at the bottom
as shown at 2. and having its bulb 3. coiled in a plane parallel with the bore of the
thermometer. Surrounding the lower end of the thermometer is a protecting
cup 4. of Xylonite, ebonite, hard or soft rubber, or other suitable material, having a
neck ŏ. of india rubber or other flexible material to adapt it to closely surround the
thermometer tube.
The mouth of the cup 4. is arranged to lie in the same plane with the coiled bulb
of the thermometer and is provided with an external flange 6. of soft rubber or
similar flexible material which yields when the thermometer is placed against any
surface so as to allow the bulb to come directly in contact with such surface. The
said flange expells all cold air from around the bulb so that only the temperature
of the surface being tested can affect the bulb. The flange will on a smooth
surface make so tight a joint as to render the cup self-adherent. If the cup be
made of soft rubber or similar flexible material a strengthening band 7. of any
suitable stiff substance may be inserted around its mouth..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In combination with a thermometer, a protecting cup surrounding the bulb on
all but one side, substantially as set forth.
2. A protecting cup for surrounding the bulb of a thermometer, having a flange
of flexible material around its mouth, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 3. In combination with a thermometer, a protecting cup surrounding the bulb
thereof and having a neck of flexible material surrounding and supporting the
thermometer tube.
4. In combination with an insulating protecting cup for the bulb of a thermo-
meter having a mouth for exposing the bulb; a protecting rim of stiff material
within said mouth.
5. In combination with a bent thermometer tube having a bulb lying in a plane
parallel or nearly so with the bore, a protecting cup surrounding the said bulb,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this Fifth day of March 1885.
Witness,
J. JOSIAH BRECKELS,
Clerk to said Joseph Mayer.
JOSEPH MAYER.