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Publication Number
US-11592335-B2
Publication Date
2023-02-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
The application provides an ear thermometer with a probe cover ejection device. The ear thermometer comprises a holding body and a measuring assembly disposed at one end of the holding body, which comprises a probe, a rotating member, and a socket. The rotating member includes a ring cover with an opening formed in a middle of the ring cover, at least one first abutting portion axially extended from a lateral side of the ring cover, and a lever portion radially extended from the lateral side of the ring cover. The socket includes a circular bottom surface and a closed section and an open section defined on a periphery of the circular bottom surface, a side wall surface vertically provided on the closed section, an accommodating space sandwiched between the side wall surface and the circular bottom surface, and at least one second abutting portion formed on the circular bottom surface. In this way, the dual motions of the radial and axial directions can be used to ensure that the probe cover can be reliably ejected and removed from the probe.
Core Innovation
The invention discloses an infrared ear thermometer with a probe cover ejection device. A measuring assembly disposed at one end of a holding body includes a probe and a rotating member having a ring cover with an opening formed in a middle of the ring cover. A socket includes a circular bottom surface, a closed section, and an open section defined on a periphery of the circular bottom surface, together with an accommodating space sandwiched between a side wall surface and the circular bottom surface.
The rotating member is placed in the accommodating space, and the first abutting portion is pressed against the second abutting portion to be in a relatively slidable state. The lever portion is protruded at a position of the open section of the socket, and the probe passes through the opening with one end of the probe fixed to the circular bottom surface of the socket. When the lever portion is displaced within the open section under force, the first abutting portion moves relative to the second abutting portion so that the rotating member whole and synchronously rotates radially and moves axially.
This simultaneous radial rotation and axial movement causes a probe cover sheltered on the probe to be radially and axially pushed and displaced simultaneously. The disclosed configuration specifies inclined surfaces with valley/peak profiles, planar surfaces, curved surfaces, sequential ascending slope, transversal surface, and descending slope profiles, sawtooth-like grooves on a transversal surface, and multi-point arrangements such as three second abutting portions arranged equidistantly along the circumference of the circular bottom surface.
Additional refinements describe alignment features between socket protrusions and probe grooves and optional spring-based auto restoration with a ring rib, together with protective or structural probe cover features such as bending stripes and ribs.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim describing the core probe cover ejection device mechanism and its synchronized radial and axial motion. Multiple dependent claims refine the inventive features by specifying geometric profiles, multi-point arrangements, alignment features, and optional components or actuation directions.
Synchronously radial rotation and axial movement to eject the probe cover
A rotating member placed in an accommodating space and having first abutting portions pressed against second abutting portions in a relatively slidable state, where displacement of a lever portion within an open section moves the first abutting portion relative to the second abutting portion so that the rotating member whole and synchronously rotates radially and moves axially to make a probe cover sheltered on the probe be radially and axially pushed and displaced simultaneously.
Ring cover opening with probe passage and socket-fixed probe end
A rotating member including a ring cover with an opening formed in a middle of the ring cover, a probe passing through the opening, and one end of the probe fixed to the circular bottom surface of the socket, with the lever portion protruded at a position of the open section.
Abutting surface profile with ascending slope, transversal surface, and descending slope
The second abutting portion includes an ascending slope, a transversal surface, and a descending slope, where the first abutting portion sequentially moves against the ascending slope, the transversal surface, and the descending slope during lever displacement.
Transversal surface with sawtooth-like grooves
A transversal surface includes a plurality of sawtooth-like grooves.
Equidistant three second abutting portions on the circular bottom surface
Three second abutting portions are arranged equidistantly along the circumference of the circular bottom surface.
Aligned protrusions on socket and aligned grooves on probe end
A socket circular bottom surface includes aligned protrusions, and the probe end includes aligned grooves so that the aligned grooves mate with the aligned protrusions when the probe is fixed to the socket.
Across the independent claim and the dependent refinements, the inventive coverage centers on a probe cover ejection device that uses a lever-driven relative sliding between first and second abutting portions to cause a rotating member to synchronously rotate radially and move axially, thereby pushing and displacing the probe cover radially and axially. Dependent features further specify abutting surface profiles, multi-point equidistant abutting portion arrangements, alignment structures between socket and probe, and optional related structural components.
Stated Advantages
Prevents incomplete detachment or breakage by pushing/ejecting the probe cover radially and axially with increased contact/force area.
Documented Applications
Infrared ear thermometer probe cover ejection to separate a probe cover sheltered on the probe.
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