Shield for an hypodermic syringe injection needle

Claim 1

A shield for the injection needle of an hypodermic syringe, comprising: (a) a movable shield sleeve having top, bottom and sides; (b) said sleeve including a channel extending therethrough from said top to said bottom and having upper and lower portions for normally positioning the sharpened end of the injection needle in said upper portion; (c) said sleeve including an opening extending from one side of said sleeve and intersecting said channel and stopping short of the other side of said sleeve and positioned between said upper and lower portions; (d) said sleeve opening having a plunger positioned therein; (e) said plunger having an opening therein alignable with said channel; (f) said plunger being movable between a normal blocking position in which said plunger opening is misaligned with respect to said channel, and an aligned position in which said plunger opening is aligned with respect to said channel; (g) means for shifting said plunger in said sleeve opening so as to move said plunger opening from said normal blocking position to said aligned position to permit said needle to move through said plunger opening, thereby permitting said needle to be exposed a substantial distance below said bottom of said sleeve for purposes of injection; (h) automatic means associated with said syringe and said sleeve on said top and movable therewith for permitting said sleeve to move relative to said needle to permit said needle to be automatically retracted into said sleeve upper portion after said needle has been exposed a substantial distance below said bottom of said sleeve for injection; and (i) automatic means for automatically bringing said plunger to said normal blocking position subsequent to retraction of said needle in said sleeve and from said plunger opening.