JPH10221176A - Electronic clinical thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize components and reduce cost, by collectively forming an indicating part composed of a transparent resin wherein a flange part is formed on the side surface, and a switch composed of an opaque resin wherein a flange part is formed on the side surface, in a sheathing case composed of an opaque resin harder than a switch part. SOLUTION: This clinical thermometer comprises a probe cap 2, a cap 3 covering an aperture of the other end of a sheathing case 1 and engaging with it, an O-ring 4 interposing between a cap 3 and the case 1, and subcase 5 which includes internal components and is inserted in the case 1. The sheathing case 1 is formed of transparent resin, and the following are collectively formed in an unified body with resin; an indicating window part 6 formed of a transparent resin wherein a flange part 6a is formed on the whole side surface, a switch part 7 formed of an opaque resin wherein a flange part 7a is formed on the whole side surface. As the resin for collectively forming the unified body, a resin which is opaque and rigider than the switch part 7 is used. ABS resin composed of a rigid resin is used for the sheathing case 1. Polyacetal composed of transparent resin is used for an indicating window 6. Urethane based elastomer resin composed of a soft resin is used for the switch part 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waterproof electronic thermometer having an externally operated switch and having a replaceable battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic thermometers have been frequently used in medical institutions such as hospitals. Therefore, infection prevention treatment such as disinfection and cleaning of the outer surface of the thermometer is indispensable from the viewpoint of preventing infection between patients via an electronic thermometer.

Under such circumstances, an electronic thermometer provided with waterproofness has been developed. This waterproof electronic thermometer was disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-124832. The technique disclosed in this publication will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional electronic thermometer. Reference numeral 101 denotes an exterior case, which is a cylindrical member formed of a hard resin opaque or colored and made opaque, and having a small-diameter extending portion at one end. 102 is a probe cap, which is formed of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum,
It is joined to the small-diameter extension. A cap 103 is made of the same hard resin as the outer case 101, and is joined to the other end of the housing by using an adhesive or the like. Reference numeral 104 denotes a display window member, which is a cylindrical member made of a transparent resin, which is integrally formed by two-color molding when forming the exterior case 101. 10
5 is a switch, which is made of soft resin and has caps 103 and 2
It is integrally molded by color molding. As described above, the exterior case 101 and the display window 104, and the cap 103 and the switch 105 are integrally formed to have a waterproof structure.

[0004]

However, in order to achieve a good waterproof structure at the boundary between the exterior case and the display window member, the waterproof electronic thermometer described above uses a cylindrical member or the like larger than the display window. Therefore, a member for displaying a liquid crystal display is unnecessarily large and has many portions overlapping with the exterior case, and it has been difficult to reduce the size and cost of the electronic thermometer. In addition, the waterproof structure of the cap and the switch, like the waterproof structure of the exterior case and the display window member described above, has a wider portion of the switch involved in waterproofing than a portion involved in the switch operation. However, the switch is unnecessarily large, and the portion that overlaps the cap is increased, which also makes it difficult to reduce the size and cost of the electronic thermometer.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reduce the size of electronic thermometer components and reduce the manufacturing cost of the electronic thermometer.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an invention corresponding to claim 1 is an electronic thermometer in which a display window and a switch are formed in an outer case. The display portion made of a transparent resin having a portion formed thereon and the switch portion made of an opaque resin having a flange formed on a side surface are integrally molded into an outer case made of an opaque resin with a harder resin than the switch portion. I made it. In this manner, by providing the flanges on the side surfaces of the display unit and the switch unit that are integrally formed, the display unit and the switch unit can be made the minimum size. Further, the adhesion to the outer case can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic thermometer according to the first aspect of the present invention, a conductive substance is mixed or adhered to the opaque resin of the switch section.
By doing so, it is possible to reduce the number of components for supplying electric power from a battery incorporated in the electronic thermometer to the circuit board.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the electronic thermometer of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of a housing portion of the electronic thermometer of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the internal components of one embodiment of the electronic thermometer of the present invention.

The electronic thermometer shown in the drawing is an outer case 1 having a cylindrical member having both ends open and having a small-diameter extension formed at one end.
A probe cap 2 joined to the distal end of the small-diameter extension portion; a cap 3 that covers and fits the opening at the other end of the outer case 1; and an O-ring interposed between the cap 3 and the outer case 1. 4 and built-in parts of the electronic thermometer,
And a sub case 5 to be inserted into the outer case 1.

The outer case 1 includes a display window 6 formed of a transparent resin and having a flange 6a formed on the entire side surface thereof, and a switch portion 7 formed of an opaque resin and formed with a flange 7a formed on the entire side surface thereof. Is formed of an opaque resin and a resin harder than the switch portion 7.

The probe cap 2 is made of stainless steel, aluminum, alumite, or the like, and has excellent heat conductivity.

The cap 3 is formed of the same resin as the outer case 1 and is provided for replacing a battery incorporated in the sub case 5.

The O-ring 4 is composed of the outer case 1 and the cap 3
It is formed in order to achieve waterproofness between.

The sub-case 5 includes a thermistor 8 using the measured temperature as an electric signal, a circuit board 9 for calculating an electric signal of the thermistor, a liquid crystal display panel 10 for displaying a calculated value of the circuit board, and a circuit board 9. And a liquid crystal display panel 10, a rubber connector 11 for energizing the battery, a battery 12, and a movable switch 13 for transmitting the power of the battery 12 to the circuit board 9 in conjunction with the pressing operation of the switch unit 7.

The assembly of these parts is shown in FIG.
Is inserted into the sub case 5 from the right side, that is, from the side of the opening that is fitted over the cap 3 of the outer case 1, and the probe cap 2 and the outer case 1 are bonded using an adhesive. At this time, the battery 12 of the sub-case 5
The position where is attached protrudes from the outer case 1. In this state, the battery 12 can be easily replaced when the battery runs out. Then, the outer case 1 and the cap 3 are fitted through the O-ring 4 to assemble a waterproof electronic thermometer.

[0016]

【Example】

(Example 1) This example corresponds to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the outer case 1 is made of an ABS resin made of a hard resin, the display window 6 is made of a polyacetal made of a transparent resin, and the switch section 7 is made of a urethane-based elastomer resin made of a soft resin. I have. Then, these three different resins are integrally molded. This integral molding is performed by forming the display window 6 and the switch portion 7 with the above-mentioned resin, setting the display window 6 and the switch portion 7 in a manufacturing apparatus (not shown) of the outer case 1, and forming the outer case 1 with the ABS resin.

At this time, ABS resin and acrylic resin, A
Since the BS resin and the urethane-based elastomer resin have an affinity for each other, a waterproof structure can be formed without forming a gap at a boundary between different resins. Also,
By interposing the O-ring 4 between the outer case 1 and the cap 3 as described above, a waterproof structure is formed between the outer case 1 and the cap 3 to form a waterproof electronic thermometer housing. can do.

The display window 6 and the switch portion 7 are provided with flange portions on the side surfaces of the display window 6 and the switch portion 7 embedded in the outer case 1 so as to increase the adhesion to the outer case 1 and not separate from the outer case 1. 6a and 7a were formed. With this configuration, even if stress is applied to the display window 6 and the switch unit 7 from outside the exterior case 1, the display window 6 and the switch unit 7 do not separate from the exterior case 1. In addition, the provision of the flanges 6a and 7a on the side surfaces of the display window 6 and the switch unit 7 allows the shape of the display window 6 and the switch unit 7 to be as small as necessary, thereby reducing the size of the electronic thermometer. In addition, cost can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, an ABS resin is used as the hard resin of the outer case 1. However, other than this, a polyether such as polyphenylene oxide, a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polyacetal or polymethyl. An opaque or colored opaque resin such as an acrylic resin such as methacrylate, a polystyrene resin other than the ABS resin, a polyolefin such as poly-2-methylpentene or polypropylene, or a polycarbonate can be used.
The transparent resin of the display window 6 is made of polystyrene such as polystyrene, polyolefin such as poly-2-methylpentene or polypropylene, acrylic resin such as polymethyl methacrylate, cellulose ester such as cellulose acetate, or polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate. Can be. The soft resin of the switch unit 7 may be a resin such as an SBS elastomer, a polyester elastomer, a styrene elastomer, and an olefin elastomer.

In the above embodiment, the switch portion 7 is formed of only the soft resin. However, if the switch portion 7 is formed by mixing a conductive material such as carbon with the soft resin,
The operation switch 13 of the subcase 5 can be eliminated,
The number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. Further, even in the switch portion 7 formed only of a soft resin,
If a conductive member is adhered or coated on the surface exposed inside the electronic thermometer, the switch section 7 having the same energizing action as described above can be formed.

In the above embodiment, the outer case 1 as shown in FIG. 2 was used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and does not have the rear end cap as shown in FIG. A back cover type may be used. When the outer case 1 is a back cover type, the configuration of the housing is the display window 6 and the switch unit 7.
Is integrally formed, has an opening 14 on the opposite surface, and has only one end opened to form a small-diameter extension;
A probe cap 2 joined to the tip of the small-diameter extension,
It comprises a lid member 15 for closing the opening 14, and an O-ring 4 interposed between the exterior case 1 and the lid member 15.

The opening 1 formed in the outer case 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a size that allows the sub-case 5 to be inserted into the outer case 1 and is formed at a position where the battery 12 of the sub-case 5 can be viewed and taken out from the opening 14 when the sub-case 5 is set inside. desirable. By doing so, the battery 12 can be easily replaced when the battery runs out.

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the display window and the switch unit are formed to be the minimum size by providing a flange on the side surface of the display window and the switch unit integrally formed with the outer case. As a result, the electronic thermometer can be downsized. In addition, since the adhesion between the display window and the outer case and between the switch unit and the outer case can be improved, the display window and the switch unit are prevented from being separated from the outer case even when stress is applied from outside the outer case. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, since the switch section is made conductive, the number of internal parts of the electronic thermometer can be reduced, so that the electronic thermometer can be reduced in size and cost. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a housing portion according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a built-in component of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a housing portion according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional electronic thermometer.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Exterior case 2 ... Probe cap 3 ... Cap 4 ... O-ring 5 ... Subcase 6 ... Display window 7 ... Switch part 6a, 7a ... Flange part 8 ... Thermistor 9 ... Circuit board 10 ... Liquid crystal display panel 11 ... Rubber connector 12 ... Battery 13 ... Movable switch 14 ... Opening 1
5. Lid member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A battery-replaceable waterproof electronic thermometer having a display window and a switch formed on an outer case, wherein the display unit is formed of a transparent resin having a flange formed on a side surface, and a flange is formed on a side surface. An electronic thermometer, wherein the switch portion made of an opaque resin and the outer case made of an opaque resin harder than the switch portion are integrally formed. 2. The electronic thermometer according to claim 1, wherein a conductive substance is mixed or adhered to the opaque resin of the switch section.