JP2006162334A - Thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe thermometer even when placed on a floor surface or the like with a body facing down, even if the thermometer has high visibility of the display means while positioning to a measurement position reliably To do.
A thermometer comprising a main body (12) housing at least a part of a measuring means for measuring temperature, and a probe part (15) provided with a temperature sensing part (16) at a tip extending in one direction from the main body. A display means 17 for displaying the measured temperature is arranged on the one surface 13 side of the main body, and the temperature sensing portion provided at the tip in the state where the other surface 14 side of the main body is in contact with the user's body. The probe portion 15 extending in one direction is provided so that 16 is positioned under the user's armpit, and a curved outer surface with the one surface 13 projecting outward is provided.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a thermometer that measures a body temperature by inserting a probe under the armpit.

Thermometers that measure body temperature by inserting a probe under the armpit are widely used.
And what is shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is known as a thermometer suitable especially for assistance persons, such as a mother and a nurse, to measure body temperature, such as an infant and a nurse (refer patent document 1).

FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of a conventional thermometer, and FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view thereof.
In these figures, a thermometer 1 includes a thick oval main body 2 containing a measuring mechanism, a display means 7 shown in FIG. 11 formed on one surface of the main body 2, that is, the bottom surface 3 of FIG. 2 has an elongate probe portion 5 which stands obliquely from the other surface and has a temperature sensitive portion 6 at the tip.
In the posture shown in FIG. 10, the thermometer 1 places the main body 2 on the front surface of the body corresponding to the measurement subject's heel, and inserts the probe unit 5 under the measurement subject's heel to measure the body temperature. The main body 2 is positioned by contacting the body, and the temperature sensing unit 6 is configured to be surely arranged at the measurement position of the armpit, and the display means 7 is easily visible. Yes.

Shokai 62-199647

  However, as shown in FIG. 10, when the thermometer 1 is placed on the floor surface, for example, with the one surface of the main body 2 facing down, the probe section 5 having a thin tip (temperature sensing section 6) from the main body 2. Therefore, there is a risk that if you step on it carelessly, the tip may pierce your body depending on the step angle.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. Even if the thermometer has high visibility of the display means while reliably positioning to the measurement position, the floor surface of the main body faces down. The purpose is to provide a safe thermometer even when placed on a surface.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main body accommodating at least a part of a measuring means for temperature measurement, and a probe portion provided with a temperature sensing portion at a tip extending in one direction from the main body. In the thermometer, a display means for displaying the measured temperature is arranged on one surface side of the main body, and provided at the tip in a state where the other surface side of the main body is in contact with the user's body. A thermometer provided with the probe portion extending in one direction so that the temperature sensing portion is positioned under the armpit of the user, and having a curved outer surface with the one surface side protruding outward Achieved.
According to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the probe portion extends from the other surface side of the main body, so that the temperature sensing portion is reliably disposed at the measurement position of the armpit, and one surface of the main body It is a thermometer that is easy to see by having the display means on the side, and is provided with a curved outer surface that protrudes outward on the one surface side including the display means of the main body. For this reason, even when a thermometer is placed on the floor or the like with the one surface side down, the thermometer is greatly inclined, so that the probe extending from the other surface side is almost perpendicular to the floor surface or the like It is possible to greatly reduce the risk of getting stuck in the body if it is stepped on by mistake without standing.
Moreover, since the said other surface side is made into the curved-shaped outer surface, it is excellent in fit property and an assistant etc. are easy to hold | grip.
Moreover, since the outer surface is a curved surface, it is difficult to catch on clothes. For this reason, even when an infant or the like moves during measurement, for example, the position is hardly displaced by clothes, hands and arms, and the body temperature can be measured stably.
Thus, according to the present invention, reliable measurement and visibility can be realized, and a safe thermometer can be provided even when placed on the floor or the like with one side of the main body facing down.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the display means provided on the one surface side has a lens member that is convex outward on the surface thereof.
According to the configuration of the second invention, by forming the outwardly convex configuration with the lens member, not only the safety is ensured, but also the display by the display means is enlarged and the viewing angle is increased. It can be spread out and easily visible.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect or the second aspect, at least a tip portion of the probe portion including the temperature sensing portion is substantially elliptical or oval in cross section, In the state where the other surface is in contact with the body of the person to be measured, the long axis of the cross section is oriented along the height direction of the body.
According to the configuration of the third invention, in the state where the person to be measured is using the thermometer, the cross-sectional shape of the probe part sandwiched under the heel is substantially oval or oval, and the long axis of the cross-section Since it is oriented along the height direction of the body, it is easy to hold and hold it under the armpit, and the body temperature can be measured stably. Moreover, even if the probe unit is placed so as to face upward and is stepped on by mistake, it is stuck in the body compared to the case where the tip of the probe unit is thin and thin because of the ellipse or ellipse. Hard and safe.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the whole thermometer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention from the one side 13 side, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the thermometer 10 of FIG. 1 from the other side 14 side. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the thermometer 10 of FIG.
As shown in these drawings, the thermometer 10 includes a main body 12 that houses a mechanism portion, and a probe portion that extends long in one direction from the other surface side opposite to the one surface 13 provided with the display means 17 of the main body 12. The armpit illumination means 20 to be described later is provided at a predetermined position on the other surface 14 of the main body 12.

  The main body 12 is a hollow case that is a molded product made of a synthetic resin made of ABS resin, AS resin, polypropylene, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, or the like, and is formed of a substantially oval or elliptical flat body in this embodiment. It is long in the X direction in the figure. From the other surface 14 of the main body 12, an elongated probe portion 15 extends in a direction away from the other surface 14 in the longitudinal direction of the main body 12, that is, in a direction crossing the X direction in the drawing. The probe portion 15 has a hollow bowl-like shape, and a temperature-sensing portion 16 is formed at the closed tip. As will be described later, the virtual central axis extends slightly incline, and the diameter is slightly thicker than before. The cross section of the tip is elliptical or oval.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the other surface 14 of the main body 12, the base portion and the connecting region of the probe portion 15 are bent or curved in an R shape to form a shoulder portion 14a. That is, the shoulder portion 14 a is a peripheral region of a portion connected to the probe 15 on the other surface 14 of the main body 12, and is a portion narrowed so as to bend or bend from the other surface 14 of the main body 12.
In this embodiment, the armpit illuminating means 20 is formed integrally with the main body 12 on the other surface 14 of the main body 12 in the vicinity of the location of the shoulder portion 14 a, that is, the proximal end portion of the probe portion 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate 24 is arranged along the X direction so as to divide the internal space S of the main body 12 into the one surface 13 side and the other surface 14 side. The substrate 24 is a wiring substrate and performs necessary electrical wiring.
As shown in the drawing, the probe portion 15 extends substantially along the Y direction below the substrate 24. In this case, the probe portion 15 is arranged with its base portion decentered slightly from the right side of the main body 12 (lower side at the time of measurement described later), and with respect to the longitudinal direction B1 (same as the X direction) of the main body 12. The virtual center axis extends so as to be inclined slightly inward.

A temperature sensor (not shown) is accommodated in the temperature sensing unit 16 at the tip of the probe unit 15. For example, a thermistor can be used as the temperature sensor. Since the thermistor changes the (electrical) resistance value in response to the temperature change, as will be described later, the resistance value change is transmitted to the substrate 24 via the wiring 15a and displayed on the display means 17 as the body temperature.
Further, the internal space S of the main body 12 accommodates a buzzer 42 as a notification means, a battery 28 as a power source, and the like.

In FIG. 3, components for mainly configuring the display means 17 are accommodated in the space above the substrate 24, that is, in the space on the one surface 13 side. The display means 17 is a display that enables temperature display, and can be constituted by a display using EL (electroluminescence) or LED (light emitting diode) in addition to liquid crystal. In this case, liquid crystal is used.
That is, the display unit 17 includes a liquid crystal element (liquid crystal cell) 25, a cover 26 thereof, and a lens member 27 that is disposed outside the cover 26 and has a convex curved outer shape. The lens member 27 is the outermost layer on the display means 17 side and is, for example, a convex lens having a curved surface shape as shown in FIG. 3. The lens member 27 is enlarged to enlarge the liquid crystal element 25 to widen the viewing angle and will be described later. As described above, when the thermometer 10 is placed with the one surface 13 side down, it is difficult to stand on its own.
The liquid crystal element 25 is connected to the substrate 24, and a switch 18 is disposed on the one surface 13 side of the display unit 17 side, which is an end portion of the substrate 24. The switch 20 includes, for example, a key top 29 made of an elastomer and the like, and a contact on the substrate 24 that is opened and closed by the operation of the key top 29, and is configured as a push button switch, for example. Here, the number of the switches 18 is one, but a plurality of switches may be arranged so that they can be selectively operated.

Further, in the internal space S of the main body 12, a light source 22 and an illumination window 21 that guides light to the outside through the light path from the light source 22 and the light path are formed near the base end portion of the probe unit 15. 22 and the illumination window 21 form the armpit illumination means 20. In this embodiment, an LED, which is a semiconductor, is used as the light source 22 so that the necessary luminance can be obtained with less energy.
Further, the light source 22 is fixedly arranged in parallel to the Y direction in FIG. 3, and the illumination window 21 is also parallel to the Y direction. In other words, it is formed so as to guide the optical axis L1 along a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction B1 of the main body 12. The illumination window 21 is open to the other surface 14 of the main body 12 in the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the probe 15.

Therefore, the direction C1 in which the virtual central axis of the probe unit 15 extends intersects the virtual extension direction and the optical axis L1 from the light source 22 at an angle θ. That is, the illumination window 21 protrudes close to the base end portion of the probe 15 on the same side as the inclination direction in which the temperature sensing portion 16 at the tip end where the probe portion 15 is inclined at an angle θ is tilted. There is no opening.
In addition, by arranging a condenser lens integrally with the LED as the light source 22 or in the middle of the illumination window 21 to focus the illumination light, the amount of illumination light irradiated to a limited area is increased, You may make it selectively illuminate selectively the position used as a measurement point.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a temperature buffering region 71 is provided on the outer surface of the main body 12. The temperature buffering region 71 is formed on the other surface 14 of the main body 12 in a region corresponding to the front surface of the body of the person to be measured when body temperature is measured later. The temperature buffering region 71 is formed by integral molding such as two-color molding or insert molding in the above-described region of the main body 12 using, for example, an elastomer. Similarly, an elastomer is also disposed on the surface of the region indicated by reference numeral 72, which not only provides cushioning, anti-slip, and design effects due to contact, but also functions as a guideline for the amount of insertion into the armpit by an assistant. can do.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the thermometer 10 constituted by the components inside the main body 12 and the substrate 24.
In the figure, the control means 30 is, for example, a CPU or a control circuit that replaces it, and is integrated in a semiconductor or the like mounted on the substrate 24, and temperature measurement (body temperature measurement) activated when the switch 18 is turned on. In this case, calculations necessary for control and control of each electrical configuration are performed. A memory 32 is connected to the control means 30. The memory 32 includes ROM, RAM, and other necessary storage devices, and includes a memory that holds software and data necessary for operations such as measurement, or serves as a work area that is written as needed during work. Yes. The timer 33 is a time measuring unit used for work requiring time measurement as will be described later.

The temperature sensor 31 is composed of the thermistor described above, and the change in resistance value output from the thermistor as the temperature sensor 31 is converted into a digital signal by the analog / digital conversion means 34 and input to the control means 30. The The control means 30 calculates the measured temperature based on this input signal.
A display drive circuit 35 is connected to the control means 30, and the display drive circuit 35 drives the liquid crystal element 25 of the display means 17 in order for the control means 30 to display the result of the above calculation. Further, when measuring the temperature, it is necessary to illuminate the armpit of the person to be measured, and an illumination driving circuit 37 for that purpose is connected to the control means 30. The illumination drive circuit 37 drives the light source 22 of the illumination means 20. Further, a buzzer control circuit 41 for driving a buzzer 42 as a notification unit is connected to the control unit 30. Note that the backlight for illuminating the display means 17 may be turned on in conjunction with the display drive circuit 35.
A power supply corresponding to the battery 28 in FIG. 3 is connected to each driving means, but is not shown in FIG. 4 to avoid complexity. Each electrical configuration including the control means 30 may be connected by a predetermined bus line.

The thermometer 10 of the present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, a usage method will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and others.
A person to be measured I such as an infant or a patient wears clothes T and is in a worn state.
When an assistant such as a mother or a nurse operates the switch 18 of the thermometer 10 in FIG. 3 to activate the thermometer 10, the armpit illumination means 20 emits illumination light. While being guided by this illumination, the assistant inserts the probe portion 15 of the thermometer 10 of FIG. 3 under the arm of the person to be measured I so that the other surface 14 comes into contact with the bag while using the temperature buffer region 71 as a guide. The temperature sensing part 16 is arranged at the measurement position under the armpit. At this time, the main body 12 has a flat shape that is long in one direction, and the one surface 13 side has a curved shape. In combination with the anti-slip effect of the temperature buffer region 71, the assistant can reliably hold the thermometer 10. The posture of the thermometer 10 in this case is the same as the orientation and posture shown in FIG.
In the case of the figure, in order to expose the armpit for measuring the person T to be measured, one of the sleeves K is rolled up, the button is removed, and the armpit is turned over so that the armpit is exposed. . Then, the assistant holds the main body 12 with the hand H, aligns the direction of inclination of the probe portion 15 of the thermometer 10 with the upward inclination in FIG. Part) 16 is inserted under the exposed armpit of the person I to be measured.

  Here, when the body temperature is measured in a bedroom or a hospital room where electricity has been turned off due to the patient's physical condition becoming worse in the middle of the night, the measurement is performed by rolling the sleeve K of the clothing T or the like. In the operation of exposing the underarm, etc., it is necessary not to catch the protruding probe portion 15 on the sleeve K of the clothes. On the other hand, the armpit illuminating means 20 irradiates light from the illumination window 21 opened on the surface without protruding from the surface of the main body 12, so that the armpit illuminating means 20 can be easily placed at a correct position and light is emitted by the sleeve K or the like. It is hard to be blocked.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 3, since the probe portion 15 is inclined upward at an angle θ in this state, when the probe portion 15 is inserted under the heel, the probe portion 15 is slightly below the insertion position. It can be easily inserted so as to be deep and not misaligned with respect to the measurement position. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the shoulder portion 14 a of the main body 12 is greatly curved at the proximal end portion of the probe portion 15, and this location is applied to the front position of the body corresponding to the measurement subject I's armpit. Then, since the length of the probe portion 15 is set so as to reach just below the heel from this state, the insertion depth of the probe portion 15 can be easily determined, and the probe portion 15 is along the height direction of the body. The oblong or elliptical diameter of the direction is made into a shape that can fit under the armpit, the anti-slip effect of the temperature buffering region 71, and the one side 13 side of the flat main body is made into a curved shape. For example, even if the person I to be measured moves his / her body, the positional deviation does not easily occur.
And in doing such work, the armpit illuminating means 20 has an optical axis that slightly intersects with respect to the direction in which the probe portion 15 extends, as described in FIG. The probe unit 15 can be inserted to appropriately illuminate the position where the temperature sensing unit 16 should abut. The armpit illumination means 20 is turned off after a predetermined time (here, 5 seconds).
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, when the assistant holds the main body 12 with the hand H and measures the body temperature, the thumb F1 and the middle finger (not shown) are applied to the side surface of the main body 12, and the index finger F2 is placed on the front end of the main body 12. (The upper end position of the main body 12 in FIG. 5) is held, and the body temperature is measured by bringing the temperature sensing unit 16 into contact with the measurement position for a predetermined time. Note that the switch 18 is arranged to be positioned below the index finger F2, so that it is easy to operate.
During the measurement, since the display means 17 is arranged on the one side 13 facing outward, it is easy to visually recognize the transition of the body temperature, the end of the measurement can be recognized by the buzzer 42, and the body temperature is displayed on the display means 17. The At this time, since the lens member 27 has a curved shape that is convex outward, the body temperature display displayed on the liquid crystal element 25 is enlarged, making it easier to see and widening the visible angle. Easy to check results. Thereafter, when the switch 18 is operated or a predetermined time elapses, the display on the display means 17 is turned off and the power is turned off.
In addition to being used in the direction as shown in FIG. 5, measurement may be performed in a state where the measurement subject I is in a sleeping state or in a holding state, and the measurement subject I may use the measurement subject himself / herself. is there.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing an embodiment in which the thermometer 10 is placed on the floor or the like before or after the body temperature measurement as described above, and FIG. A front view and FIG. 7 are schematic side views.
In these drawings, a thermometer is placed on the floor G with the one side 13 facing down. Here, the outer surface of the lens member 27 is exposed on the one surface 13 of the main body 12, and the surface thereof is a curved surface that is convex outward with the curvature of R1.

In particular, in the illustrated case, since the outer surface of the lens member 27 is a part of a spherical surface, the tip of the probe portion 15 is one of the arrows A, B, C, and D as shown in FIGS. Or tilt in the direction between them. For this reason, the narrowed tip portion (temperature sensing portion) 16 of the probe portion 15 does not stand vertically or substantially vertically, and is always inclined.
For this reason, even when the user accidentally steps on the thermometer 10 from above, puts his hand, or sits down, no force is applied along the direction in which the probe portion 15 extends. In such a case, a force is always applied in the direction in which the probe unit 15 is further tilted. For this reason, it is effectively prevented that the distal end portion (temperature sensing portion) 16 of the probe portion 15 is stuck in a body such as a hand, a foot, or a buttocks.

FIG. 8 is a schematic bottom view of the thermometer 10, that is, a view seen from one side 13.
As shown by a dotted line in FIG. 8, the cross-sectional forms of the probe unit 15 and the temperature sensing unit 16 at the tip are the same as the longitudinal direction of the main body 12 and are a long oval or oval in the X direction and have a relatively large diameter. Have.
For this reason, in the state of use shown in FIG. 5, the major axis of the cross section of the probe portion sandwiched under the measurement subject's heel is oriented along the height direction (X direction) of the body so that the probe is sandwiched and held under the heel. It is easy to do and can perform the work of measuring body temperature stably. Moreover, the temperature-sensing part 16 at the tip has a long ellipse or oval shape with a longitudinal direction of about 8 mm and a short side direction of about 5 mm, so that safety is also improved.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the thermometer.
In the figure, the thermometer 10-1 is the same as the thermometer 10 described above except for the lens member 27-1, and therefore, a duplicate description will be omitted.
In the illustrated case, the outer surface of the lens member 27 is a part of a spherical surface, but the curved surface R2 is different and is convex outward with a larger curvature. For this reason, the probe unit 15 is more easily inclined in the direction of C, D, etc. shown in the figure, and is configured such that it cannot stand on its own when the one surface 13 faces downward.
Thus, in this modified example as well as the thermometer 10, the distal end portion (temperature sensing portion) 16 of the probe portion 15 is more reliably prevented from being stuck in the body such as the hand, foot or buttocks.

The present invention is not limited to the description of the above-described embodiment. Each configuration in each of the above-described embodiments may be implemented under a combination of different configurations, if necessary, by omitting a part thereof or replacing other configurations.
The outer surface of the lens member 27 or 27-1 of the thermometer 10 or 10-1 is not limited to a curved surface as a part of a spherical surface, and may be formed as a curved surface curved in one direction. Instead, the surface 13 side itself may have a curved surface shape.
Further, even when the curved surface on the one surface 13 side is small, the weight may be adjusted so that the center of gravity is located on the probe 15 side, or a rib-like convex portion may be provided on the one surface 13 to make it difficult to stand on its own.

The schematic perspective view of the thermometer concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The schematic perspective view of the thermometer concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The schematic sectional drawing of the thermometer of FIG. The block diagram which shows the electrical constitution of the thermometer of this invention embodiment. The figure which shows the use condition of the thermometer of FIG. The schematic front view of the state which put the thermometer of FIG. 1 on the floor surface. The schematic side view of the state which put the thermometer of FIG. 1 on the floor surface etc. The schematic bottom view of the thermometer of FIG. The schematic side view of the state which put the thermometer of the modification on the floor surface etc. The schematic front view which shows an example of the conventional thermometer. The schematic perspective view of the thermometer of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10-1 ... Thermometer, 12 ... Main body, 13 ... One side, 14 ... Other side, 15 ... Probe part, 17 ... Display means, 20 ... Underarm illumination Means, 27... Lens member

Claims (3)

A thermometer comprising a main body containing at least a part of a measuring means for measuring temperature, and a probe part provided with a temperature sensing part at a tip extending in one direction from the main body,
Display means for displaying the measured temperature is arranged on one side of the main body,
In a state where the other surface side of the main body is in contact with the user's body, the probe portion extending in one direction is provided so that the temperature sensing portion provided at the tip is positioned under the user's armpit. And
And the thermometer characterized by including the curved-shaped outer surface where the said one surface side becomes convex outward.   The thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the display means provided on the one surface side has a lens member that is convex outwardly on the surface thereof.   At least the tip of the probe part including the temperature sensing part has a substantially oval or oval cross section, and the cross section is in a state where the other surface side of the main body is in contact with the body of the subject. The thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the major axis of the body is oriented along the height direction of the body.

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