US4664259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Needle container and method for preventing accidental contact with a needle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-08-29
•
Granted: 1987-05-12
•
Expires: 2006-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A package is described for use with hypodermic needles that assures sterility of the needle prior to use and prevents inadvertent access to the needle after use. In a preferred embodiment a needle housing is hingedly attached to a base so that the housing may be moved from a first position covering the sterile needle to a second position exposing the needle for use to a third position covering the used needle. A hook like protrusion projects from the inside wall of the housing and is biased, in a non-engaging relationship, against the needle prior to use of the needle. When the housing is moved from the second to the third housing position the hook like protrusion engages the needle to prevent movement of the housing and further use of the needle.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Landis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/31; A61M5/32; A61M5/3205; A61M5/321; A61M5/3216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A safety needle package comprising: a base secured to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle attached thereto; a housing hingedly attached to said needle hub, said housing assuming a first housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle prior to use of said needle, a second housing position hingedly rotated away from said needle and exposing said needle for use, and a third housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle after use of said needle; removable securing means for removably securing said housing in said first housing position by preventing rotation of said housing about said hinge prior to removal of said removable securing means, said housing being freely rotatable about said hinge and movable from said first housing position to said second housing position after said removable securing means is removed; and housing locking means for securing said housing in said third housing position enclosing said needle after use of said needle so that said housing cannot be moved from said third housing position to said second housing position, thereby preventing said needle from thereafter being re-exposed and re-accessed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A safety needle package comprising: a base secured to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle attached thereto; a housing hingedly attached to said needle hub, said housing assuming a first housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle prior to use of said needle, a second housing position hingedly rotated away from said needle and exposing said needle for use, and a third housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle after use of said needle; removable securing means for removably securing said housing in said first housing position by preventing rotation of said housing about said hinge prior to removal of said removable securing means, said housing being freely rotatable about said hinge and movable from said first housing position to said second housing position after said removable securing means is removed; and housing locking means for securing said housing in said third housing position enclosing said needle after use of said needle so that said housing cannot be moved from said third housing position to said second housing position, thereby preventing said needle from thereafter being re-exposed and re-accessed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The safety needle package according to claim 1 wherein said housing is hingedly attached to said needle hub by a living hinge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The safety needle package according to claim 2 wherein said housing is provided with a longitudinal needle access aperture in the longitudinal side of said housing opposite the longitudinal side of said housing connected to said hinge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The safety needle package according to claim 3 wherein said securing means further comprises a longitudinal cover section disposed over said longitudinal needle access aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The safety needle package according to claim 4 wherein said longitudinal cover extends over and is attached to said base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The safety needle package according to claim 4 wherein said longitudinal cover section is provided with a gripping tab.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety needle package according to claim 4 wherein said securing means further comprises a peripheral cover section between said housing and said base other than at said hinge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The safety needle package according to claim 7 wherein said longitudinal and peripheral cover sections provide a sterile seal between said housing and said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The safety needle package according to claim 1 wherein said housing locking means further comprises a hook-like resilient projection attached to an inner wall of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
223 words
A safety needle package comprising: a base secured to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle attached thereto; a housing hingedly attached to said needle hub, said housing assuming a first housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle prior to use of said needle, a second housing position hingedly rotated away from said needle and exposing said needle for use, and a third housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle after use of said needle; removable securing means for removably securing said housing in said first housing position by preventing rotation of said housing about said hinge prior to removal of said removable securing means, said housing being freely rotatable about said hinge and movable from said first housing position to said second housing position after said removable securing means is removed; and housing locking means consisting of a hook-like resilient projection attached to an inner wall of said housing, said hook-like projection assuming an unlocked position biased against said needle corresponding to said first housing position, an unlocked, unbiased position corresponding to said second housing position, and a locked position corresponding to said third housing position to secure said housing in said third housing position so that said housing cannot be moved from said third housing position to said second housing position, thereby preventing said needle from thereafter being re-exposed and re-accessed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
223 words
A safety needle package comprising: a base secured to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle attached thereto; a housing hingedly attached to said needle hub, said housing assuming a first housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle prior to use of said needle, a second housing position hingedly rotated away from said needle and exposing said needle for use, and a third housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle after use of said needle; removable securing means for removably securing said housing in said first housing position by preventing rotation of said housing about said hinge prior to removal of said removable securing means, said housing being freely rotatable about said hinge and movable from said first housing position to said second housing position after said removable securing means is removed; and housing locking means consisting of a hook-like resilient projection attached to an inner wall of said housing, said hook-like projection assuming an unlocked position biased against said needle corresponding to said first housing position, an unlocked, unbiased position corresponding to said second housing position, and a locked position corresponding to said third housing position to secure said housing in said third housing position so that said housing cannot be moved from said third housing position to said second housing position, thereby preventing said needle from thereafter being re-exposed and re-accessed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The safety needle package according to claim 10 wherein said hook-like projection includes a barb, said barb being disposed across said needle in said locked position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
211 words
A safety needle package comprising: a base secured to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle attached thereto; a housing hingedly attached to said needle hub, said housing assuming a first housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle prior to use of said needle, a second housing position hingedly rotated away from said needle and exposing said needle for use, and a third housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle after use of said needle; removable securing means for removably securing said housing in said first housing position by preventing rotation of said housing about said hinge prior to removal of said removable securing means, said housing being rotatable about said hinge and movable from said first housing position to said second housing position after said removable securing means is removed; and housing locking means consisting of a hook-like resilient projection attached to an inner wall of said housing for securing said housing in said third housing position enclosing said needle after use such that said housing locking means prevents said housing from being moved from said third housing position to said second housing position, thereby preventing said needle from thereafter being re-exposed and re-accessed, said hook-like projection lockingly engaging said needle when said housing is in said third housing position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
211 words
A safety needle package comprising: a base secured to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle attached thereto; a housing hingedly attached to said needle hub, said housing assuming a first housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle prior to use of said needle, a second housing position hingedly rotated away from said needle and exposing said needle for use, and a third housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle after use of said needle; removable securing means for removably securing said housing in said first housing position by preventing rotation of said housing about said hinge prior to removal of said removable securing means, said housing being rotatable about said hinge and movable from said first housing position to said second housing position after said removable securing means is removed; and housing locking means consisting of a hook-like resilient projection attached to an inner wall of said housing for securing said housing in said third housing position enclosing said needle after use such that said housing locking means prevents said housing from being moved from said third housing position to said second housing position, thereby preventing said needle from thereafter being re-exposed and re-accessed, said hook-like projection lockingly engaging said needle when said housing is in said third housing position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The safety needle package according to claim 10 wherein said housing is hingedly attached to said needle hub by a living hinge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The safety needle package according to claim 13 wherein said housing is provided with a longitudinal needle access aperture in the longitudinal side of said housing opposite the longitudinal side of said housing connected to said hinge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety needle package according to claim 14 wherein said securing means further comprise a longitudinal cover section attached to said housing and disposed over said needle access aperture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The safety needle package according to claim 15 wherein said longitudinal cover extends over and is attached to said base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The safety needle package according to claim 15 wherein said longitudinal cover section is provided with a gripping tab.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety needle package according to claim 15 wherein said securing means further comprise a peripheral cover section between said housing and said base other than at said hinge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The safety needle package according to claim 18 wherein said longitudinal and peripheral cover sections provide a sterile seal between said housing and said base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The safety needle package according to claim 12 wherein said housing is hingedly attached to said needle hub by a living hinge.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The safety needle package according to claim 20 wherein said housing is provided with a longitudinal needle access aperture in the longitudinal side of said housing opposite the longitudinal side of said housing connected to said hinge.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety needle package according to claim 21 wherein said securing means further comprise a longitudinal cover section attached to said housing and disposed over said needle access aperture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The safety needle package according to claim 22 wherein said longitudinal cover extends over and is attached to said base.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The safety needle package according to claim 22 wherein said longitudinal cover section is provided with a gripping tab.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety needle package according to claim 22 wherein said securing means further comprise a peripheral cover section between said housing and said base other than at said hinge.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The safety needle package according to claim 25 wherein said longitudinal and peripheral cover sections provide a sterile seal between said housing and said base.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
283 words
A method for preventing accidental contact with a needle comprising the steps of; (i) providing a safety needle package including: a base secured to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle attached thereto; a housing hingedly attached to said needle hub, said housing assuming a first housing postion longitudinally enclosing said needle prior to use of said needle, a second housing position hingedly rotated away from said needle and exposing said needle for use, and third housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle after use of said needle; removable securing means for removably securing said housing in said first housing position by preventing rotation of said housing about said hinge prior to removal of said removable securing means, said housing being freely rotatable about said hinge and movable from said first housing position to said second housing position after said removable securing means is removed; and housing locking means for securing said housing in said third housing position enclosing said needle after use of said needle so that said housing cannot be moved from said third housing position to said second housing position, thereby preventing said needle from thereafter being re-exposed and re-accessed; (ii) removing said removable securing means; (iii) rotating said hinged housing from said first housing position to said second housing position to expose said needle for use; (iv) rotating said housing from said second housing position to said third housing position after said needle has been used; (v) engaging said housing locking means to securely lock said housing in said third housing so that said housing cannot thereafter be moved from said third housing position to said second housing position thereby preventing said safety needle package from being reopened.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
283 words
A method for preventing accidental contact with a needle comprising the steps of; (i) providing a safety needle package including: a base secured to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle attached thereto; a housing hingedly attached to said needle hub, said housing assuming a first housing postion longitudinally enclosing said needle prior to use of said needle, a second housing position hingedly rotated away from said needle and exposing said needle for use, and third housing position longitudinally enclosing said needle after use of said needle; removable securing means for removably securing said housing in said first housing position by preventing rotation of said housing about said hinge prior to removal of said removable securing means, said housing being freely rotatable about said hinge and movable from said first housing position to said second housing position after said removable securing means is removed; and housing locking means for securing said housing in said third housing position enclosing said needle after use of said needle so that said housing cannot be moved from said third housing position to said second housing position, thereby preventing said needle from thereafter being re-exposed and re-accessed; (ii) removing said removable securing means; (iii) rotating said hinged housing from said first housing position to said second housing position to expose said needle for use; (iv) rotating said housing from said second housing position to said third housing position after said needle has been used; (v) engaging said housing locking means to securely lock said housing in said third housing so that said housing cannot thereafter be moved from said third housing position to said second housing position thereby preventing said safety needle package from being reopened.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-11 | 1990-11-10 | 1991-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-11 | 1994-11-10 | 1995-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-11 | 1998-11-10 | 1999-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |