Year: 1885

page_text: I, HENRY ST GEORGE BOSWELL, Saffron Walden, in the County of Essex,
Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved case for fragile instruments such as clinical
thermometers, and it is designed to obviate the risk of breakage of the instrument
or thermometer by any sudden jar, which risk attaches so strongly to the con-
struction of cases heretofore adopted.
My case would be of slightly greater diameter than those now in use, and
preferably, though not necessarily, cylindrical in form. The top of this case is
removable in the usual way, and fixed in position by a pin & bayonet joint or in
any other convenient manner. The bottom of the case may be screwed in, as a
separate piece, to facilitate the introduction of packing of various heights, to suit
the variable lengths of the instrument or thermometer.
I line the case with an internal lining of india-rubber or other suitable material.
Longitudinal ribs, either solid, tubular, or hollow, of elastic material (such as
india-rubber) or flexibly attached, project inwards, radially or otherwise, from the
said lining of my case, so as to exert an elastic pressure upon a cylindrical or other
shaped body of variable size, such as a clinical thermometer, when placed in the
axis of my case. The ribs need not of necessity be attached to an internal lining,
but might be fixed, so as to project directly from the interior of the case itself.
The aforesaid longitudinal ribs may, in one method out of many, be conveniently
bent or curved in one circumferential direction out of the perpendicular to the
lining, from which they project. The edges of these bent or curved flexible ribs
thus surround, but do not reach as far as the axis of the case, and when the
instrument or thermometer is inserted in the case the ribs conveniently fold upon
each other, so as to exert great elastic pressure without tendency to jam. The
spring support, thus afforded by either of the many equivalent ways in which the
said elastic ribs may be constructed or arranged, together with the padding of
the top and bottom of the case by cotton wool or other elastic material, effectually
prevents the transmission of any jar, which the case may receive, to the instrument
or thermometer. The slightly increased diameter of the outer casing necessitated
by my invention is not sufficient to interfere with its portability.

page_text: Thermometers.
1, HENRY ST GEORGE BOSWELL, of Saffron Walden, in the County of Essex,
Surgeon, 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 an improved case for fragilo instruments, such as clinical
thermometers, and it is designed to obviate the risk of breakage of the instrument
or thermometer by any sudden jar, which risk attaches so strongly to the con-
struction of case heretofore adopted.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts
throughout the drawings.
Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of my case containing a thermometer.
Figure 2 shows a perspective exterior view of a case.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7 and 8 show various forms which my lining may
assume.
My case A would be of slightly greater diameter than those now in use and
preferably, though not necessarily, cylindrical in form as shown. The top B of
this case is removable in the usual way, and fixed in position by a pin and
bayonet joint, as shown in figure 2, or in any other convenient manner. The
bottom of the case may be screwed in as a separate piece to facilitate the intro-
duction of packing of various heights to suit the various lengths of the instrument
or thermometer.
•
I line the case with an internal lining C of india rubber or other suitable
material. Longitudinal ribs, either solid, as shown in figures 3, 4 and S, or
tubular, as shown in figures 5 and 5*, or hollow, as shown in figures 7 and 7", or
embossed or corrugated, as shown in figure 6, of elastic material such as india-
rubber, or flexibly attached to the inside of the case itself, project inwards radially
or otherwise from the said lining or inside of my case, so as to exert an elastic
pressure upon a cylindrical or other shaped body of variable size, such as a clinical
thermometer, when placed in the axis of my case.
This said lining is suitably formed in the flat, as shown in the various figures,
and curved for insertion in the case, to which it may be fixed by any suitable
cement. The aforesaid longitudinal ribs may in one method out of many be
conveniently bent or curved in one circumferential direction out of the perpen-
dicular to the lining from which they project, as shown in figures 2 and 4.
The edges of these flexible ribs thus surround, but do not reach as far as the
axis of the case, and when the instrument or thermometer is inserted in the case,
the ribs fold on one another, so as to exert an elastic pressure without tendency to
jam. The spring support-thus afforded by either of the many equivalent ways in
which the said elastic ribs may be constructed or arranged, together with the
padding of the top and bottom of the case by cotton wool or other elastic material,

page_text: effectually prevents the transmission of any jar which the case may receive to the
instrument or thermometer. The slightly increased diameter of the outer casing
necessitated by my invention is not sufficient to interfere with its portability.
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
1st The combination with a case for fragile instruments such as clinical thermo-
meters of a lining consisting of elastic ribs forming an elastic support for the
instrument, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2nd The further combination with such a case of a packing of cotton wool or
other suitable material, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
D-11 L
3000
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.