thermometer

Abstract

In an oral thermometer, the temperature-measuring part can be applied to the same area of ​​the body without relying on the user's awareness, or it is made easier to apply it to the same area. [Solution] The oral thermometer 100 comprises a holding portion 120 having a base portion 121 and a flat plate portion 122 that is thinner than the base portion 121, and a temperature sensing portion 130 formed above the flat plate portion 122. The flat plate portion 122 and the temperature sensing portion 130 are inserted into the mouth of the user 300, and the temperature sensing portion 130 is formed eccentrically with respect to the central axis C1 of the base portion 110 and the flat plate portion 122 in the width direction W.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermometer.

Background Art

[0002] There is a so-called oral thermometer that measures the sublingual temperature by placing a temperature detecting part against the root of the tongue under the tongue (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when the user holds the thermometer at the center of the left and right of the lips and inserts the thermometer straight into the mouth with the central axis of the thermometer, the temperature detecting part provided on the central axis of the thermometer hits the frenulum linguae under the tongue, giving the user discomfort or the like. For this reason, the user holds the thermometer again while tilting the central axis of the thermometer with respect to the center of the mouth.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an oral thermometer that can prevent giving discomfort or the like to the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention includes a holding part having a base part and a flat plate part formed above the base part and having a thickness thinner than that of the base part, and a temperature detecting part formed above the flat plate part. The temperature detecting part is formed eccentrically with respect to the central axes of the base part and the flat plate part in the width direction, and is an oral thermometer.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] The oral thermometer according to the present invention can prevent causing discomfort or other unpleasant sensations to the user. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an oral thermometer. [Figure 2] This is a front view of a thermometer, seen from the front. [Figure 3] This is a rear view of the thermometer, seen from the back. [Figure 4] This is a left-side view of a thermometer, seen from the left side. [Figure 5] This is a top view of a thermometer, seen from above. [Figure 6] This is a bottom view of a thermometer, seen from below. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of a cross-section along the center of the user's body, showing the thermometer in use, with the holder and temperature-measuring part inserted into the mouth of a user lying on their back. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing the state of use of a thermometer, viewed from the user's perspective, with the holder and temperature-measuring part inserted into the mouth of a user lying on their back. [Figure 9] This is a front view equivalent to Figure 2, showing a modified configuration in which the base also serves as the pedestal. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] An embodiment of the oral thermometer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an oral thermometer 100. Figure 2 is a front view of the thermometer 100 seen from the front 110A, Figure 3 is a rear view of the thermometer 100 seen from the rear 110B, Figure 4 is a left side view of the thermometer 100 seen from the left side 110D, Figure 5 is a top view of the thermometer 100 seen from above, and Figure 6 is a bottom view of the thermometer 100 seen from below. The thermometer 100 is one embodiment of an oral thermometer according to the present invention.

[0011] <Overall components of a thermometer> The thermometer 100 is an oral thermometer that measures the sublingual temperature of a person by placing the temperature-measuring part 130 on the area at the base of the tongue. Oral thermometers are often used as women's thermometers to measure the basal body temperature of women, but the thermometer 100 of this embodiment is not limited to women's use.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1-6, the thermometer 100 comprises, from bottom to top, a base portion 110, a holding portion 120, and a temperature-measuring portion 130. The base portion 110 has a rectangular prism shape.

[0013] <Base part> The base portion 110 is formed symmetrically with respect to a central axis C1 that extends along the height direction H in the front-to-back direction D and the width direction W. The inside of the base portion 110 is hollow, and a battery that provides power, an electrical circuit, a display member 111, and a power switch 112 are arranged in the hollow. The electrical circuit is powered by the battery and performs the operation to display the body temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit 130 on the display surface of the display member 111.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the front surface 110A of the base portion 110 in the front-to-back direction D has an internally installed display member 111 with its display surface exposed to the outside. When the power is on, the display surface shows the user's body temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit 130, the remaining battery level, etc.

[0015] As shown in Figure 3, a power switch 112 is exposed to the outside on the rear surface 110B of the base portion 110 in the front-to-back direction D. Each time the power switch 112 is pressed, it alternately switches the power on and off. When the power is on, the battery supplies power to the electrical circuit, putting the thermometer 100 into a usable state, and when the power is off, the power supply from the battery to the electrical circuit is cut off, putting the thermometer 100 into a non-usable state.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 5, on the bottom surface 110F of the pedestal portion 110 in the height direction H, a detachable lid 114 is provided for replacing the battery disposed inside. When the lid 114 is attached to the pedestal portion 110, the battery is covered by the lid 114 without being exposed. When the lid 114 is removed from the pedestal portion 110, the battery is exposed and can be replaced with another prepared new battery.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 6, a holding portion 120 is provided on the upper surface 110E of the pedestal portion 110 in the height direction H.

[0018] <Holding portion> The holding portion 120 extends upward from the upper surface 110E in the height direction H. The holding portion 120 is formed with a base portion 121, a curved portion 124, a flat plate portion 122, and a tapered portion 123 in order from the bottom in the height direction H.

[0019] The base portion 121 is formed on the upper surface 110E. The base portion 121 is smaller than the upper surface 110E which is substantially rectangular in plan view shown in FIG. 6 and has a shape with a contour inside the upper surface 110E. The base portion 121 is formed to extend in the width direction W and the front-rear direction D respectively.

[0020] The upper edges 125 of the front surface facing the front in the front-rear direction D shown in FIG. 2 and the rear surface facing the rear in the front-rear direction D shown in FIG. 3 of the base portion 121 are formed to have a contour concave toward the central axis C1.

[0021] The flat plate portion 122 is provided above the base portion 121. The flat plate portion 122 is formed with a dimension in the width direction W substantially the same as that of the base portion 121, and a dimension in the front-rear direction D smaller than that of the base portion 121, and is formed with the same dimension as the diameter of the temperature detection portion 130 described later. That is, the flat plate portion 122 is formed in a flat plate shape with a thickness thinner than that of the base portion 121 and the same wide width as the base portion 121. The thickness direction of the flat plate portion 122 corresponds to the front-rear direction D, and the width direction of the flat plate portion 122 corresponds to the width direction W.

[0022] As shown in Figure 4, the flat plate portion 122 has a front surface facing forward in the front-rear direction D and a rear surface facing backward, both of which are formed as flat surfaces. The front and rear surfaces of the flat plate portion 122 are formed as flat plates that are substantially parallel to each other along the height direction H.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, the curved portion 124 is formed with a gradually decreasing thickness along the front-rear direction D from the base portion 121 to the flat plate portion 122. The curved portion 124 is formed by curving so as to smoothly connect from the upper edge 125 of the base portion 121 to the plane of the flat plate portion 122. The lower part of the curved portion 124, which is connected to the upper edge 125 of the base portion 121, extends inclined with respect to the horizontal direction (front-rear direction D in Figure 4) and the vertical direction (height direction H), respectively, while the upper part, which is connected to the front and rear surfaces of the flat plate portion 122, extends substantially vertically. The thickness decreases sharply as it goes upwards, and the cross-sectional contour has a radius of curvature R1 of 10-14 [mm], preferably about 12 [mm]. Because the lower part of the curved portion 124 is connected to the upper edge 125 of the base portion 121, the central part in the width direction W (see Figures 2 and 3) is concave.

[0024] The curved portion 124 is held between the upper and lower lips 310 (see Figures 7 and 8) of the user 300 when the thermometer 100 is in use. The width W dimension of the curved portion 124 is the same as the width W dimension of the base portion 121 and the width W dimension of the flat portion 122. The width W dimension of the curved portion 124 is, for example, 20-40 [mm], preferably 30 [mm]. The lower limit of the width W dimension of the curved portion 124 is a length such that the thermometer 100 does not rotate around the central axis C1 when the curved portion 124 is held between the upper and lower lips 310 of the user 300, and the upper limit of the width W dimension is a length such that the curved portion 124 and the flat portion 122 can be inserted into the mouth without force.

[0025] The base portion 121, the curved portion 124, and the flat portion 122 are formed symmetrically with respect to the central axis C1 in the front-rear direction D and the width direction W, respectively.

[0026] The tapered portion 123 is formed above the flat portion 122 and is connected to the flat portion 122. In the front-rear direction D shown in Figure 4, the tapered portion 123, like the flat portion 122, has a flat front and rear surface, and the front and rear surfaces are formed as flat plates that are substantially parallel to each other along the height direction H. The tapered portion 123 is formed symmetrically with respect to the central axis C1 in the front-rear direction D.

[0027] The tapered portion 123 is formed such that, in the width direction W shown in Figures 2 and 3, its dimensions gradually narrow as it goes upwards. The dimensions of the tapered portion 123 in the width direction W are continuously smaller than the dimensions of the flat plate portion 122 in the width direction W. As will be described later, the tapered portion 123 is connected to the temperature sensing section 130, which is positioned off-center to one side with respect to the central axis C1 in the width direction W. Therefore, in the width direction W, it is tapered in an asymmetrical shape, off-center to one side with respect to the central axis C1.

[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the center of the user's body 300, showing the thermometer 100 in use, with the holding part 120 and the temperature-measuring part 130 inserted into the mouth of the user 300 who is lying on their back. Figure 8 is a schematic view of the thermometer 100 as seen from the user's line of sight, with the holding part 120 and the temperature-measuring part 130 inserted into the mouth of the user 300 who is lying on their back. Figure 9 is a front view equivalent to Figure 2, showing a modified configuration in which the base also serves as the pedestal.

[0029] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, when the curved portion 124 of the thermometer 100 is held between the upper and lower lips 310 of the user 300, the flat portion 122 and the tapered portion 123 are held by the user 300's teeth 340 or pressed against the tongue 320.

[0030] In this embodiment, the thermometer 100 has a holding portion 120 which includes a base portion 121 and a curved portion 124. However, the thermometer according to the present invention does not require the holding portion to have a base portion and a curved portion. If the thermometer according to the present invention does not have a base portion, for example, as shown in the modified thermometer 100 in Figure 9, the base portion 121 and the pedestal portion 110 may be integrated, with the base portion 121 also serving as the pedestal portion 110. In this modified thermometer 100, a battery, electrical circuit, display member 111, and power switch 112, etc., may be provided inside the base portion 121 which also serves as the pedestal portion 110. In this modified thermometer 100, a curved portion 124 is formed between the base portion 121 and the flat plate portion 122.

[0031] Therefore, in the case of the thermometer according to the present invention, if the holding part does not have a base and a curved part, the flat plate part may be placed directly on the base part. Also, in the case of the thermometer according to the present invention, if the holding part does not have a base, the curved part may be placed directly on the base part. In the case of the thermometer according to the present invention, if the holding part does not have a curved part, the flat plate part may be placed directly on the base part.

[0032] <Temperature screening area> The temperature-measuring unit 130 incorporates a thermocouple or thermistor to measure the body temperature of the user who comes into contact with its outer surface. The body temperature measured by the temperature-measuring unit 130 is processed by an electrical circuit built into the base unit 110 and displayed on the display surface of the display member 111.

[0033] The temperature sensing section 130 is continuous with the tapered section 123 and is located above the tapered section 123. The temperature sensing section 130 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a central axis C2 parallel to the height direction H. The diameter of the cylinder of the temperature sensing section 130 is, for example, 3.5-5.5 [mm], preferably 4.6 [mm]. The length along the height direction H from the upper surface 110E of the base section 110 to the tip of the temperature sensing section 130 is, for example, 45-55 [mm], preferably approximately 51 [mm]. The upper end of the temperature sensing section 130 is formed in a hemispherical shape.

[0034] The central axis C2 of the temperature sensing section 130 coincides with the central axis C1 in the front-to-back direction D shown in Figure 4, and is eccentric by a dimension w1 relative to the central axis C1 on the left side 110D in the width direction W shown in Figures 2 and 3. The dimension w1 (eccentricity) is, for example, 2.5-5 [mm], but preferably 3 [mm]. The temperature sensing section 130 is formed to the left of the central axis C1 in the width direction W, but the specific value of the eccentricity is not limited to the value described above.

[0035] However, as shown in Figure 2, it is preferable that the central axis C2 of the temperature sensing section 130 is formed in the region m between the intermediate line C3 between the extension line L of the left side edge 122a of the base section 121 and the flat plate section 122 in the width direction W and the central axis C1 of the flat plate section 122, and the central axis C1.

[0036] In other words, the eccentricity of the temperature-measuring part 130 only needs to be such that when the user 300 holds the thermometer 100 in the center of the left-right direction of their lips 3310 and inserts the central axis C1 of the thermometer 100 straight into their mouth, the temperature-measuring part 130 does not need to be eccentric to the left side edge 122a of the flat plate part 122.

[0037] Therefore, it is preferable that the central axis C2 of the temperature sensing section 130 is not eccentric to the region between the extension line L of the left side edge 122a of the base 121 and the flat plate section 122 in the width direction W and the intermediate line C3 between the central axis C1 of the flat plate section 122 and the extension line L.

[0038] The temperature sensing section 130 may be formed off-center to the right with respect to the central axis C1 in the width direction W. When it is formed off-center to the right, the eccentricity is preferably the same as the dimension described above when it is eccentric to the left. Furthermore, it is preferable that the central axis C2 of the temperature sensing section 130 is formed in the region between the line midway between the extension of the right side edge of the base section 121 and the flat plate section 122 in the width direction W and the central axis C1 of the flat plate section 122 (intermediate line), and the central axis C1.

[0039] Furthermore, the temperature sensing section 130 is formed such that its central axis C2 is closer to the central axis C1 than to the side edge of the base 121 in the width direction W.

[0040] <effect> As shown in Figure 7, the thermometer 100, configured as described above, is used by inserting the holding part 120 and the temperature-measuring part 130 into the mouth of a user 300 lying on their back. When in use, the thermometer 100 is positioned as shown in Figure 7, upside down compared to the non-use state shown in Figure 1-4, with the base part 110 on the top and the temperature-measuring part 130 on the bottom.

[0041] The thermometer 100 is used with its width W aligned to the left and right sides of the user's mouth. In other words, the thermometer 100 is placed in the user's mouth with its front 110A or rear 110B visible to the user 300.

[0042] The thermometer 100 is held in place by the holding part 120, which is sandwiched between the lips 310 (upper lip 311 and lower lip 312) of the user 300, with the curved part 124 on the front 110A side and the curved part 124 on the rear 110B side respectively conforming to the lips 310. As shown in Figure 8, the contour 315 of the lips 310 in plan view is generally symmetrical with respect to the left-right center of the user 300's body, and exhibits a convex shape that protrudes most forward at the left-right center of the body.

[0043] Figure 8 shows the thermometer 100 with the front 110A facing the user 300's field of vision and the holding part 120 and temperature measuring part 130 placed in the user 300's mouth. However, the thermometer 100 may also be used with the rear 110B facing the user 300's field of vision and the holding part 120 and temperature measuring part 130 placed in the user 300's mouth.

[0044] In contrast, the upper edge 125 of the base 121 of the holding portion 120 is formed in a concave shape that is symmetrical with respect to the central axis C1. Therefore, when the curved portion 124 is placed along the lip 310, the upper edge 125 is easily held along the lip 310 so that the center of the lip 310 in the left-right direction coincides with the central axis C1.

[0045] As a result, even when a user 300 lying on their back holds the thermometer 100 only with their lips 310 without supporting it with their hands, the thermometer 100 is easily maintained in a straight position (a position in which the central axis C1 coincides with the vertical direction in the width direction W).

[0046] When the thermometer 100 is held in a straight position relative to the center of the user's body 300, the temperature-sensing part 130 inserted into the mouth is positioned at a location 330 that is biased to either the left or right side (left in the state shown in Figure 8; the same applies hereafter) relative to the center of the body.

[0047] In the mouth of user 300, a lingual frenulum 321 supporting the tongue 320 is located at the center of the body, as shown in Figure 8. Therefore, when the thermometer 100 is held in a straight position relative to the center of user 300's body, the lingual frenulum 321 is located on the central axis C1 of the thermometer 100.

[0048] In this embodiment, the thermometer 100 has a temperature sensing section 130 that is positioned off-center to either the left or right with respect to the central axis C1. Therefore, when the thermometer 100 is held in a straight position relative to the center of the user's body 300, the temperature sensing section 130 is located on either the left or right side of the lingual frenulum 321. When the thermometer 100 is held in a straight position relative to the center of the user's body, with the front surface 110A visible to the user 300, as shown in Figure 8, for example, the temperature sensing section 130 is in contact with the left lateral portion 330 of the lingual frenulum 321, and the temperature of this portion 330 is measured.

[0049] On the other hand, when the thermometer 100 is held in a position straight relative to the center of the user's body, with, for example, the rear surface 110B in the user's field of vision, the temperature-measuring part 130 will be in contact with the right lateral part of the lingual frenulum 321, and the temperature of this part will be measured.

[0050] Because the upper edge 125 of the base 121 of the thermometer 100 is formed in a concave shape, the left-right center of the lips 310 coincides with the central axis C1, making it easy to hold the thermometer 100 in a straight position relative to the center of the user 300's body.

[0051] Furthermore, since the curved portion 124 of the thermometer 100 abuts against the lips 310 of the user 300, the portion beyond the point of abutment (base portion 121, etc.) is not inserted into the mouth of the user 300, and the length of the holding portion 120 and the temperature-measuring portion 130 that are inserted into the mouth of the user 300 is constant for each user 300.

[0052] The thermometer 100 makes it easy to restrict the area in the mouth where the temperature-sensing part 130 makes contact to a specific area on either the left or right side of the lingual frenulum 321 for each user 300. In other words, because the temperature-sensing part 130 of the thermometer 100 is formed eccentrically with respect to the central axis C1 of the base 121 and the flat plate part 122 in the width direction, when the user 300 holds the thermometer 100 in the center of the left-right direction of the lips 3310 and inserts the thermometer 100 straight into the mouth with the central axis C1 of the thermometer 100 aligned with the center of the left-right direction of the lips 3310, the temperature-sensing part 130 can avoid contact with the user's lingual frenulum 321.

[0053] Therefore, the thermometer 100 does not cause any discomfort to the user 300 due to the temperature-sensing part 130 touching the lingual frenulum 321. In addition, in this embodiment, the center line of the base part 110 of the thermometer 100 also coincides with the central axis C1. Since the base part 110 is larger than the holding part 120 and the temperature-sensing part 130, when the central axis C1 of the base part 110 is aligned with the center in the left-right direction of the lips 3310 and the thermometer 100 is held in the mouth with the lips, it is easy to balance the thermometer 100 and hold it straight.

[0054] Furthermore, since body temperature varies depending on the part of the body being measured, if the measurement site changes each time, it becomes impossible to measure body temperature accurately. For this reason, with thermometers other than the present invention, the user 300 consciously (intentionally) applied the temperature-sensing part to the same area. However, with thermometers that rely on the user 300's awareness, the area where the temperature-sensing part is applied varied and was not consistent.

[0055] However, the thermometer 100 of this embodiment can measure the temperature of each user 300 at a specific location on either the left or right side of the lingual frenulum 321, without relying on the user's awareness, enabling highly accurate temperature measurement and management.

[0056] Furthermore, as described above, the thermometer 100 of this embodiment can measure body temperature whether the user 300 is viewing the thermometer 100 with the front 110A in their field of view or with the rear 110B in their field of view. In both cases, when measuring body temperature with the thermometer 100, the temperature sensing part 130 can be brought into contact with a part of the thermometer 100 that is equidistant from the lingual frenulum 321.

[0057] In this embodiment, the thermometer 100 has a base portion 110 that is formed in the shape of a large rectangular prism, for example, so it can stand upright with the base portion 110 facing downwards and the temperature-measuring portion 130 facing upwards. Moreover, the base portion 110 is not only larger in size than the holding portion 120 and the temperature-measuring portion 130, but is also heavier due to the built-in battery, electrical circuit, display member 111 and power switch 112, so it can stand upright stably.

[0058] In this embodiment, the thermometer 100 has a wide, thin flat plate shape for both the flat plate portion 122 and the tapered portion 123 of the holding portion 120, making it easy for the user 300 to hold it in their mouth with their teeth 340 and tongue 320.

[0059] In this embodiment, the thermometer 100 has a flat plate portion 122 which is formed as a flat surface on both the front and rear sides. However, for example, both sides may be formed with a concave shape in the thickness direction.

[0060] It should be noted that the thermometer 100 of this embodiment is not limited to use by a user 300 lying on their back. When used by a user 300 with their upper body upright, the weight of the base 110 makes it easy for the temperature-measuring part 130 to separate from the area under the tongue 330. However, by pressing down on the flat part 122 or the tapered part 123 with the teeth 340 or tongue 320, the temperature-measuring part 130 can be kept in contact with the area under the tongue 330.

[0061] In contrast, when the thermometer 100 is used by a user 300 lying on their back, the base 110 rests on the user's lips 310, which is preferable because it provides stability. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 100 Thermometers 110 Base 120 Holding part 121 Base 122 Flat plate part 124 Curved section 130 Temperature screening area 300 users 310 Lips

Claims

1. A holding portion having a base and a flat plate portion formed above the base, having a thinner thickness than the base, It comprises a temperature measuring section formed above the flat plate portion, The temperature-measuring section is formed eccentrically with respect to the central axis of the base and the flat plate in the width direction, and is an oral thermometer.

2. The holding portion has a base portion formed below the flat plate portion, which is thicker than the flat plate portion. The oral thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion has a curved portion between the base portion and the flat plate portion, the thickness of which gradually decreases from the base portion to the flat plate portion.

3. The oral thermometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding portion and the temperature measuring portion are formed symmetrically with respect to the center in the front-to-back direction.

4. The oral thermometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flat plate portion is formed in a flat shape, having a thinner thickness in the front-to-back direction compared to the base portion, and being wider in the width direction.

5. The oral thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the curved portion has a cross-sectional contour in which the thickness decreases sharply as it goes upward.

6. The oral thermometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature sensing portion is formed in the region between the midline between the side edge of the base and the central axis in the width direction and the central axis.

7. An oral thermometer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a base portion below the holding portion having a power supply, an electrical circuit, and a display member for displaying the user's body temperature measured by the temperature measuring portion.

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