Safety syringe with collapsible needle guard

Claim 1

A safety syringe comprising: an elongated tubular barrel having a proximal and a distal end and having a generally cylindrical external surface and having a needle retaining portion at the distal end; a plunger telescopically received within at least a portion of said tubular barrel and having one end extending beyond the barrel proximal end; a needle affixed to and extending from said barrel distal end; and a tubular protective sheath affixed at one end to the external surface of said barrel and surrounding at least a substantial portion of said barrel portion having said plunger and extending to normally encompass said needle, at least a substantial portion of the protective sheath having elastically resilient accordion-like circumferential pleats formed therein, the protective sheath having a proximal end affixed to said tubular barrel external surface and a distal end having an opening therein of at least sufficient internal dimension to telescopically envelop said needle, the distal end of said protective sheath being displaceable upon the application of external force toward said proximal end to overcome the elastically resilient action of said circumferential pleats and to at least partially compress said circumferential pleats surrounding said barrel portion having said plunger therein to expose said needle and in the absence of external displacing force to, at all times, envelop said needle.