초록 ▼

The invention describes and claims an apparatus and method of maintaining cleanliness of the thermometer storage case. The apparatus is an improved elongated end-loading storage case for thermometers. The improvement comprises two or more elongated sections of the case. Each section comprises a conn

The invention describes and claims an apparatus and method of maintaining cleanliness of the thermometer storage case. The apparatus is an improved elongated end-loading storage case for thermometers. The improvement comprises two or more elongated sections of the case. Each section comprises a connection edge, an insertion tip, and a distal tip. The elongated sections of the case are detachably connected to each other to form a thermometer storage case that opens up to reveal the inner surface of the case for easy inspection and cleaning. The case comprises a fastener for fixating the case in the assembled case body position. The method of cleaning the thermometer storage case comprises the steps of unfastening and opening the case, inspecting and sanitizing the inside surface of the case, and then reconnecting and fixating the elongated sections to form the thermometer storage case.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. An elongated open-insertion-end end-loading storage case for thermometers, comprising: A. a plurality of elongated sections, each section of the plurality of elongated sections comprising: an outer surface, an inner surface, a connection edge, a thermometer insertion tip of the section,

I claim: 1. An elongated open-insertion-end end-loading storage case for thermometers, comprising: A. a plurality of elongated sections, each section of the plurality of elongated sections comprising: an outer surface, an inner surface, a connection edge, a thermometer insertion tip of the section, and a distal tip of the section; B. wherein said elongated sections are each connected to at least one other adjacent elongated section by at least one hinge; C. wherein the range of motion of each hinge of the at least one hinge is sufficiently wide to allow the elongated sections to come tightly together at connection edges, thereby forming an assembled case body, wherein the range of motion of each hinge of the at least one hinge is also sufficiently wide to allow the elongated sections to come apart far enough to allow for efficient inspection and cleaning of the inner surface by the user; said case body further comprising: I. an insertion end of the case body, ii. a distal end of the case body, iii. a bore, extending longitudinally through the case body and exiting at the insertion end of the case body, the bore being formed by the inner surfaces of the elongated sections; iv. an insertion aperture, located at the insertion end of the case body, said insertion aperture formed by exiting of the bore at the insertion end of the case body; said insertion aperture being of sufficient diameter to allow at least part of the thermometer to fit therethrough; D. wherein, the case further comprises a fastener, the fastener capable of fixating the case in the assembled case body position, and wherein the insertion aperture stays open for accepting a thermometer, when the case is fixated in the assembled case body position, and wherein the inner surfaces of the elongated sections are shaped to generally conform to the thermometer, when the case is fixated in the assembled case body position. 2. The case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongated sections exceeds two elongated sections. 3. The case of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge and the elongated sections is made of polypropylene. 4. The case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of the elongated sections is made of transparent plastic. 5. The case of claim 1, wherein the range of motion of the hinge is at least 180 degrees. 6. The case of claim 1, wherein a plurality of holding members extends perpendicularly into the bore from the inner surfaces of the elongated sections, said holding members intended to provide secure friction fit hold for the inserted thermometer. 7. The case of claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the connection edges are rough, so that some microscopic air passages remain between the elongated sections, even when the elongated sections come tightly together at the connection edges, said air passages intended to inhibit the growth of anaerobic bacteria inside the case. 8. The case of claim 1, wherein the distal tips of the sections form a distal end of the case body when the case body is assembled, and likewise, the thermometer insertion tips of the sections form a thermometer insertion end of the case body when the case body is assembled. 9. The case of claim 8, wherein the hinge is disassembleable, meaning that the hinge can be taken apart into two or more parts, thus allowing for total disconnection of the elongated sections from each other, for inspection and/or cleaning. 10. The case of claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the elongated sections is concave. 11. The case of claim 8, wherein the case body further comprises a distal aperture, located at the distal end of the case body. 12. The case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongated sections is limited to only two elongated sections. 13. The case of claim 12, wherein the outer surface of the case is cylindrical. 14. The case of claim 12, wherein the at least one hinge is made of flexible plastic. 15. The case of claim 14, wherein the at least one hinge is the living hinge, meaning that the hinge itself has no moving parts and bends and/or flexes to allow movement of the elongated sections in relation to each other. 16. A disassembleable elongated open-end end-loading storage case for thermometers, comprising: A. a plurality of elongated sections, wherein each section of the plurality of elongated sections comprises an outer surface, an inner surface, a connection edge, a thermometer insertion tip of the section, and a distal tip of the section; B. wherein said elongated sections are each disconnectably attached along the connection edge to at least one other elongated section, thereby forming an assembled case body; said case body further comprising: I. an insertion end of the case body; ii. a distal end of the case body; iii. a bore, extending longitudinally through the case body and exiting at the insertion end of the case body, the bore being formed by the inner surfaces of the elongated sections; iv. an insertion aperture, located at the insertion end of the case body; said insertion aperture formed by exiting of the bore at the insertion end of the case body; said insertion aperture being of sufficient diameter to allow at least part of the thermometer to fit therethrough, and having a diameter larger than a diameter of an aperture located at the distal end of the case body; C. the case further comprising a fastener, the fastener capable of fixating the case in the assembled case body position. 17. The case of claim 16, wherein the fastener comprises at least one male member, and at least one female member, wherein said at least one male member fixates inside of the at least one female member to fixate the case in the assembled body position. 18. The case of claim 16, wherein the fastener comprises a lug and a groove, wherein the groove is positioned on the different elongated section from the lug, and wherein the lug slides into the groove positioned on the different elongated section, thus connecting the elongated sections together and fixating the case in the assembled case body position. 19. The case of claim 16, wherein the fastener fixates the case in the assembled case body position by utilizing the force of friction. 20. The case of claim 16, wherein the fastener comprises at least one binding ring removably attached over the outer surfaces of the elongated sections, thus holding the elongated sections together, connected along the connection edges, thereby fixating the case in the assembled case body position.