	US 7,520,671 B2
	Tympanic thermometer probe cover
Loren Lantz, St. Charles, Mo. (US); James Harr, Foristell, Mo. (US); and Mark Davis, St. Paul, Mo. (US)
Assigned to Covidien AG, (Switzerland)
Filed on Dec. 06, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/567,434.
Application 11/567434 is a continuation of application No. 10/538314, granted, now 7,237,949, previously published as PCT/US03/00224, filed on Jan. 06, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0147474 A1, Jun. 28, 2007
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01K 1/18 (2006.01); G01K 1/14 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 374—158 [374/209; 374/208]

2 Claims

1. A plurality of nestable probe covers comprising a first probe cover and a second probe cover, the first probe cover nests within the second probe cover, the first cover separable from the second cover by inserting a heat sensing probe into the first cover under a force by a user attaching the first cover to the heat sensing probe;

the first cover further comprising at least two outer protuberances, each protuberance having a number of dimensions for nesting and attaching to the heat sensing probe; a width j dimension, a height k dimension and a thickness l dimension, the dimensions j, k and l are sized to engage a corresponding inner longitudinal rib of the second probe cover, the longitudinal rib further comprising a thickness e dimension and a length f dimension;

wherein the outer protuberances of the first probe cover engage along the length f dimension of the inner longitudinal ribs of the second probe cover, the first cover is imbedded in the second probe cover a distance along dimension length f as defined by the dimension thickness l, wherein the distance is predetermined for allowing separation of the first cover from the second cover when the heat sensing probe is inserted into and attached to the first cover; and wherein the inner longitudinal rib of the first probe cover at its dimensions e, f secure to the heat sensing probe and further wherein the first probe cover comprises a plurality of inner protuberances, the inner protuberance have a radial curvature projecting a thickness l dimension from an inner circumferential surface, the thickness l interference fits the first probe cover to the heat sensing probe.