U.S. patent application number 13/305509 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-31 for method and apparatus for calibrating thermometers.
Invention is credited to Heather Dans, Shane Dans.
Application Number | 20120132658 13/305509 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46125933 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120132658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dans; Shane ; et
al. |
May 31, 2012 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALIBRATING THERMOMETERS
Abstract
A calibration device allows accurate and consistent creation of
ice baths and aids in the calibration of food safety thermometers.
Such devices include a calibration wrench on a cup lid for holding
and calibrating a thermometer, a stem thermometer access hole on
the cup lid, an insulated cup for holding a substance to be
measured, and a liquid crystal reversible temperature label on the
cup.
Inventors: |
Dans; Shane; (Marshfield,
MA) ; Dans; Heather; (Marshfield, MA) |
Family ID: |
46125933 |
Appl. No.: |
13/305509 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61417610 |
Nov 29, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/592.2 ;
220/212; 220/528 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01K 15/005 20130101;
G01K 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/592.2 ;
220/212; 220/528 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/24 20060101
B65D051/24; B65D 81/38 20060101 B65D081/38; B65D 25/02 20060101
B65D025/02 |
Claims
1. A cup comprising: a cup body; a lid fitting on the cup body, the
lid having one or more calibration wrenches, the calibration
wrenches each including at least one protrusion or recess, the at
least one protrusion or recess adapted to contain a nut of a
thermometer; and an access hole formed through the lid at a
location of each of the one or more calibration wrenches.
2. The cup of claim 1, wherein the one or more calibration wrenches
includes a first angled member disposed opposite a second angled
member, the first and second angled members adapted to retain the
nut of the thermometer.
3. The cup of claim 1, wherein the one or more calibration wrenches
includes a first hexagonal recess.
4. The cup of claim 3, wherein the one or more calibration wrenches
includes a second hexagonal recess, wherein the first hexagonal
recess is formed on a first side of the lid and the second
hexagonal recess is formed on a second side of the lid, coaxial
with the first hexagonal recess.
5. The cup of claim 1, further comprising an inner vessel fitting
inside the cup body.
6. The cup of claim 5, wherein the inner vessel is sealed to the
cup body with a gap formed therebetween.
7. The cup of claim 6, wherein the gap includes an insulating
material.
8. A cup comprising: an exterior cup body; an inner vessel disposed
inside the exterior cup body; a lid adapted to fit about a
perimeter of the exterior cup body; one or more calibration
wrenches disposed in the lid, the calibration wrenches each
including at least one protrusion or recess, the at least one
protrusion or recess adapted to contain a nut of a thermometer; and
an access hole formed through the lid at a central location of each
of the one or more calibration wrenches.
9. The cup of claim 8, wherein the one or more calibration wrenches
includes a first angled member disposed opposite a second angled
member, the first and second angled members adapted to retain the
nut of the thermometer.
10. The cup of claim 8, wherein the one or more calibration
wrenches includes a first hexagonal recess and a second hexagonal
recess, wherein the first hexagonal recess is formed on a first
side of the lid and the second hexagonal recess is formed on a
second side of the lid, coaxial with the first hexagonal recess.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
provisional patent application No. 61/417,610, filed Nov. 29, 2010,
the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to measurement and calibration
equipment and, more particularly, to a device that accurately
measures the temperature of an ice bath and aids in the exact
calibration of individual food safety thermometers.
[0003] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires daily
calibration of food safety thermometers. The ice bath calibration
method is popular in most food outlets because it is relatively
easy to perform. A user may place ice in a bowl and rest pocket
test thermometers in the ice. They then read the temperatures of
each thermometer. However, it is nearly impossible for two people
to create an identical ice bath. Since most food service outlets do
not measure the temperature of the bath first, accurate calibration
is virtually impossible.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus and method
for repeatable creation of a properly constructed ice bath and an
almost immediate and accurate temperature reading.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIGS. 1A and 1B are top views of two embodiments of a
calibration device according to exemplary embodiments of the
present invention;
[0006] FIGS. 1C and 1D are side views of the two embodiments of
FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively;
[0007] FIGS. 1E and 1F are perspective views of the two embodiments
of FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively;
[0008] FIG. 2A is a top view of the calibration device of FIG. 1A
or 1B;
[0009] FIG. 2B is a top cross-sectional view of the calibration
device of FIG. 2A;
[0010] FIG. 2C is a side view of the calibration device of FIG.
2A;
[0011] FIG. 2D is a side cross-sectional view of the calibration
device of FIG. 2A;
[0012] FIG. 2E is a perspective view of the calibration device of
FIG. 2A;
[0013] FIG. 3A is a top view of a lid of the calibration device of
FIG. 1A;
[0014] FIG. 3B is a top view of a lid of the calibration device of
FIG. 1B;
[0015] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 3A;
[0016] FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 3B;
[0017] FIG. 3E is a close-up view of a calibration wrench of the
lid of either FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B;
[0018] FIG. 4A is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a lid
for a calibration device;
[0019] FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the lid of FIG. 4A;
[0020] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of
FIG. 4A;
[0021] FIG. 4D is a side view of the lid of FIG. 4A; and
[0022] FIG. 4E is a close-up view taken about section B of FIG.
4D.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0024] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a
device that allows accurate and consistent creation of ice baths
and aids in the calibration of food safety thermometers. Devices
according to embodiments of the present invention include a
calibration wrench on a cup lid for holding and calibrating a
thermometer, a stem thermometer access hole on the cup lid, an
insulated cup for holding a substance to be measured, and a liquid
crystal reversible temperature label on the cup.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1C and 1E, a calibrating device
30 may have a lid 11 assembled to a cup 17. The lid 11 may have a
calibration wrench 13 on a side thereof. The calibration wrench 13
may be configured to engage a calibration adjuster or nut of a stem
thermometer when the thermometer (not shown) is inserted in an
access hole 16 centrally disposed within the calibration wrench 13.
The calibration wrench 13 may be raised or recessed with respect to
a surface of lid 11. The calibration wrench 13 may properly
position a stem thermometer in calibrating device 30 and may
prevent the stem thermometer from contacting an inner surface of an
interior of cup 17 when assembled thereto. The access hole 16 may
be formed or machine through the lid 11 and may allow a user to
assemble or insert the stem thermometer into calibrating device
30.
[0026] The lid 11 may have a raised lip 15 formed about a perimeter
thereof, which may be configured to allow the lid 11 to engage with
cup 17 and may create an interference fit therewith.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1B, 1D and 1F, a calibrating device 40
may be similar to the calibrating device 30, described above, and
may include a lid 12 assembled to the cup 17. The lid 12 may have
the calibration wrench 13 and a second calibration wrench 14 formed
or machined on a side thereof. The calibration wrenches 13 and 14
may be formed in the same size to allow the calibrating device 40
to receive two thermometers having the same size stem nut. In some
embodiments, the calibration wrenches 13 and 14 may be formed in
different sizes to allow the calibrating device 40 to receive two
thermometers having different sized stem nuts.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2E, the cup 17 may have an inner
vessel 18. The inner vessel 18 may be configured to fit inside the
cup 17. The inner vessel 18 and the cup 17 may have a space or gap
23 therebetween and may be joined with a seal 22. The seal 22 may
be a welded joint or seal that may rigidly join the cup 17 with the
inner vessel 18. The inner vessel 18 may have a liquid crystal
temperature label 19 affixed thereon. The label 19 may be affixed
to the inner surface of the inner vessel 18, and may be visible or
legible by a user from an outside of the cup 17. For example, the
cup 17 and the inner vessel 18 may be made of a clear or
transparent material to permit the user to see the label 19. A
dotted line (see FIG. 2D) may be disposed to provide an ice fill
level indicator.
[0029] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
calibration wrench 13 may be configured to engage a No. 10
hexagonal nut (or, in some embodiments, an 8 mm nut). The
calibration wrench 14 may be configured to engage a No. 12
hexagonal nut (or, in some embodiments, a 10 mm nut). The access
hole 16 may be located about the center of the calibration wrench
13, 14, and may be from about 1 to about 5 mm in diameter,
typically about 3 mm in diameter. The raised lip 15 may be from
about 1 mm to about 5 mm thick, typically about 2 mm, thick. The
cup 17 may be made of a clear polycarbonate plastic and may be from
about 2 mm to about 3 mm thick. The inner vessel 18 may be a clear
polycarbonate plastic and may be from about 0.025 inch to about
0.05 inch thick. The seal 22 may be a sonically welded joint, for
example. The gap 23 may be filled with air, an inert gas, or may be
a vacuum or near-vacuum. The calibration device 30, 40 may have
instructions of use affixed or printed thereon as a label, or as
embossed, raised or etched lettering. The inner vessel 18 may be
configured to hole about 16 to about 20 fluid ounces.
[0030] FIGS. 3C and 3D show cross sectional views of the lids 11
and 12 of FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively, and illustrate an
embodiment where the calibration wrenches 12 and 13 are recessed
into a surface of the lids 11 and 12. FIG. 3E is a detail plan view
of a portion marked as section A-A on FIG. 3A, and illustrates a
portion of the calibration wrench 13. The portion of calibration
wrench 13 illustrated may be generally a chevron shape having an
angle 24 of about 120 degrees and configured to engage a
calibration adjustor of a stem thermometer. It should be noted that
the specific dimensions referred to in FIGS. 3A-3E are exemplary
dimensions. Other dimensions of various components are within the
scope of the present invention.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 4A-4E, a lid 50 according to another
embodiment of the present invention is shown. The lid 50 may have a
first calibration wrench 51 on a first side thereof and a second
calibration wrench 52 on a second side thereof. The calibration
wrenches 51, 52 may have an access hole 53 therewithin, which may
permit insertion of a stem thermometer therethrough. The lid 50 may
have a raised lip 54 located about a perimeter of the first side
thereof, and a raised lip 54 located about a perimeter of the
second side thereof. The raised lips 54 may be configured to allow
the lid 50 to engage with the cup 17, and may create an
interference fit therewith. The access hole 53 and the calibration
wrenches 51, 52 may be configured coaxially or concentrically. The
calibration wrenches 51, 52 may be configured to engage or receive
similar or dissimilar stem thermometers.
[0032] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *