WO1990006145A1

WO1990006145A1 - A syringe cover

Info

Publication number: WO1990006145A1
Application number: PCT/AU1989/000509
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Henry Adam Butler; Alexander Stewart Richardson
Original assignee: Butler John H A
Priority date: 1988-11-28
Filing date: 1989-11-24
Publication date: 1990-06-14
Also published as: GB2231802A; GB9014001D0

Abstract

Cover (104) to extend over needle (103) of syringe. Cover (104) includes hollow body (107) which can be elongated, surrounds portion of syringe. Body (107) may have entrance portion movable from contracted configuration, possibly plurality of leaves, to flared configuration providing funnel entry to body for needle. Alternatively, cover may consist of pair of cover portions with co-operating recesses defining cavity to cover tip of needle. Portions may clip together in a closed position. As further alternatives, elongated body may be (a) movable from retracted position in which tip of needle projects through one end to extended position which shields tip of needle, with mounting on syringe to secure cover to syringe (b) provided with side aperture enabling transverse insertion of syringe into cover (c) provided with pair of resilient arms deflectable to position to engage syringe within cover (d) provided with resilient arm (108) terminating at lip (109) to cover tip of needle (103) and mounted on syringe so as to be movable to and from position exposing tip of needle (103).

Description

A SYRINGE COVER TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to hypodermic syringes and more particularly to covers to surround the needle of a hypodermic syringe.

BACKGROUND ART The disposal of hypodermic syringes presents a problem since the needles, which may be contaminated, can puncture the skin of a person attempting to dispose of the syringe. Although there are available covers which are inserted over the needle, such covers have a reasonably narrow entry and therefore it is not uncommon for the person holding the cover to acidentally puncture their skin with a needle.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In a first form, the present invention is a cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover having an elongated hollow body terminating at one end with an opening through which the syringe projects into the interior of said body and wherein- said cover is adapted to be movably mounted on said syringe so as to be movable from a retracted position extending over said syringe in which said needle projects beyond the other end of said body, and an extended position shielding the extremity of said needle.

In a second form, the present invention is a cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover consisting of a hollow body to extend over the needle tip, said body having an entrance portion which is movable from a contracted configuration to surround a portion of the syringe, to a flared configuration providing a funnel entry to said body to facilitate entry of the needle into said body while shielding a user's hand holding the cover. In a third form, the present invention is a cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover consisting of a hollow elongated body terminating at one end with an opening through which the syringe is to extend so as to be received within said body with the extremity of said needle covered, and wherein said body is provided with a side aperture enabling transverse insertion of said syringe into said body.

In a fourth form, the present invention is a cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover having an elongated hollow body within which a portion of the syringe projects together with the syringe needle, a pair of resilient arms projecting generally outwardly of said body away from the longitudinal axis of the syringe, which resilient arms are deflectable to ^'a position to engage the syringe to retain the cover mounted on said syringe.

In a fifth form, the present invention is a cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover consisting of a pair of cover portions which are generally co-extensive, said cover portions being pivotally attached so as to be angularly movable between a displaced position and a generally abutting closed position, and wherein said cover portions have cooperating recesses which in the closed position define a cavity to receive the leading portion of the syringe so as to cover the extremity of the syringe needle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a hypodermic syringe and cover therefor;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the cover and syringe of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a cover for the needle of a hypodermic syringe;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a hypodermic syringe; Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of the syringe and cover of Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic part sectioned side elevation of a cover for a hypodermic syringe and syringe received therein;

Figure 7 is a schematic part sectioned side elevation of the cover and syringe of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of the cover and syringe of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a cover for a hypodermic syringe needle, and a hypodermic syringe;

Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of the cover of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of a hypodermic syringe and cover therefor; Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of the cover and syringe of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a schematic side elevation of a hypodermic syringe and cover therefor;

Figure 14 is a schematic side elevation of the syringe and cover of Fi gure 13 ;

Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of the cover and syringe of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a schematic perspective view of a hypodermic syringe and cover therefor;

Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view of the syringe of Figure 16; Figure 18 is a schematic side elevation of a hypodermic syringe and cover therefor;

Figure 19 is a schematic side elevation of the syringe and cover of Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a schematic perspective view of a further cover for a hypodermic syringe; and

Figure 21 is a schematic perspective view of the cover of Figure 20. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a hypodermic syringe 10 having a body 11 providing a needle mounting 12. The needle mounting 12 receives a needle assembly 13 including a needle 14.

To enclose the needle 14 there is provided a cover 15. The cover 15 has a hollow base 16 to which there is attached a funnel assembly 17 consisting of a plurality of leaves 18 which overlap and are "nested" when the cover 15 is initially attached to the syringe 10. This initial position is shown in Figure la. Preferably two of the leaves 18 would be provided with loops 19 which are received about the needle mounting 12 so as to retain the leaves 18 in a nested (folded) configuration.

When the syringe 10 is withdrawn from within the cover 15, the leaves 18 are released and moved to a flared position as best seen in Figures lc, Id and Figure 2. Preferably the leaves would be formed of a resilient material, with the material being resi1iently stressed when in the folded configuration. When released the leaves 18 would move outwardly.

The base 16 is also provided with an annular ridge 20 which "snap" engages within an annular recess 21 when the syringe is being disposed of. Preferably the syringe assembly 13 would be removable from the mounting 12 and would be retained in the base 16 as best seen in Figure Id. Since the leaves 18 are flared outwardly once the syringe 10 has been removed, insertion of the needle assembly 13 into the base 16 is safer since the leaves 18 would protect the user's hand.

In Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a syringe 30 having a body 31 providing a needle mounting 32. Received on the needle mounting is a needle assembly 33 including a needle 34.

To surround the needle 34 there is provided a cover 35 having a side aperture 36 with a configuration to match the side profile of the needle mounting 33 and needle 34. The cover 35 is also provided with a rear aperture 36 through which the needle mounting 32 projects.

Initially the needle 34 would be retained in the cover 35 as shown in Figure 5a. To use the syringe 30, the syringe is withdrawn to move the needle assembly 33 through the rear aperture 35. After use, the needle assembly 33 is moved through the side aperture 35 so that the extremities 37 resiliently part and allow the mounting 32 to pass therebetween. Once the assembly 33 is in the cover the detent 38 prevents the assembly 33 from being withdrawn from within the cover 35.

In Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a syringe 60 which is received within a cover 61. The needle 60 has a needle body 62 providing a needle mounting 63. The needle mounting 63 receives a needle assembly 64 including a needle 65.

The cover 61 includes a cover body 66 from which there projects a pair of resilient arms 67 terminating with loops 68. Initially, when the syringe 60 is stored in the cover 61, the loops 68 are placed about the body 62. When the syringe 60 is removed from within the cover 61, the arms 67 extend radially outwardly as best seen in Figure 8. When the needle assembly 64 is being inserted in the cover 61, the arms 68 are gripped so that the user's hand is displaced fro -the cover 61 and therefore the needle 65.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is schematically depicted a cover 70 for a syringe 71. The syringe 71 has a needle assembly 72 provided with a needle 73.

The cover 70 is formed- of a_resilient material and is provided with a base 74 and a funnel portion 75. The funnel portion 75 has enlarged sections 76 to accommodate the needle assembly 72. The cover 70 is resiliently biased to the configuration of Figure TO. However, upon the user applying pressure to the extremities 77 the funnel portion 75 opens to thereby protect the user's hand as the syringe 70 is returned to the cover 70.

In Figures 10 and 11 there is schematically depicted a syringe 80 having a needle assembly 81 providing a needle 82. A cover 83 is provided to encompass the needle 82 and mounting 81. The cover 82 consists of a pair of generally planar cover portions 84 each provided with a recess 85 which recesses 85 co-operate to provide a chamber shaped to receive the needle assembly 81. More particularly the recesses 85 co-operate to provide an annular recess 86 which engages an annular ridge 87 on the needle assembly 81 so that upon the cover 83 being closed (Figure 12) the recess 86 engages the projection 87 so that the needle assembly 81 is retained within the cover 83. Preferably one of the cover portions 84 is provided with flaps 88 each with a barb 89, which flaps are received within recesses 90 to retain the cover 83 in a closed configuration. In Figures 13 to 15 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a syringe 90 providing a needle assembly 91 having a needle 92. Located over the leading portion of the syringe 90 is a needle cover 93. The needle cover 93 is movable longitudinally of the syringe from a use position shown in Figures 13 to 15, and a protection position shown in Figure 14. Preferably the cover 93 has a pair of resilient arms 94 which engage an abutment surface 95 on the needle assembly 91, to prevent movement of the cover 93 to a position exposing the needle 91. It is still further preferred that the cover 93 have a second pair of resilient arms 95 which engage within a recess 96 to prevent removal of the cover from the syringe 90. In Figures 16 and 17 there is schematically depicted a syringe 100 having a needle assembly 101. The needle assembly 101 includes a needle carrier 102 attached to a needle 103.

Mounted on the needle assembly 101 is a needle cover 104. The needle carrier has a helical slot 105 extending angularly about and longitudinally of the longitudinal axis of the syringe. Engaged within the slot 105 is a projection 106 of the cover 104. Upon twisting the cover 104, the cover will be moved from a position exposing the needle 103, to a position covering the needle as best seen in Figure 16b.

The cover 104 has a hallow base 107 of cylindrical form, and providing the projection 106. The base 107 surrounds a portion of the syringe 100. Extending forwardly of the base 107 is a resilient arm 108 terminating with a lip 109. The arm 108 is resiliently deflectable from a portion abutting the needle 103, as seen in Fig. 16a, to a portion with the lip 109 covering the tip of the needle 103, as seen in Fig. 16b. The slot 105 may be formed in the needle carrier 102, or in a sleeve fixed to the carrier 102. The lip 109 is concave and is retracted to a covering portion, as seen in Fig. 16c, by rotation of the cover in the opposite direction.

In Figures 18 and 19 there is schematically depicted a syringe 110 having a needle assembly 111 with a needle 112.

The syringe 110 has a body 113 provided at its forward end with a pair of cover portions 114. The cover portions 114 are pivotally attached to the body 113 and are pivotable relative thereto to a cover position as best seen in Figure 19. Preferably the cover portions 114 have engaging sections 115 which retain the cover portions 114 in a closed position as shown in Figure 19.

In Figures 20 and 21 there is schematically depicted a cover 120 for a syringe. The cover 120 has a base portion 121 which receives the needle, and from which there extends a funnel portion 122. The funnel portion 122 has a plurality of sections 123 which are pivotally attached to enable the side walls 124 to be moved toward each other so as to encompass the leading portion of the syringe. Preferably the funnel portion 122 would be formed of resilient material so that the funnel portion 122 is resiliently biased to the configuration shown in Figure 21. Preferably, the walls 124 would have handles 125 to be gripped by a user so as to move the walls 124 apart enabling insertion of the syringe.

Claims

CLAJMS:

1. A cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover having an elongated hollow body terminating at one end with an opening through which the syringe projects into the interior of said body and wherein said cover is adapted to be ovably mounted on said syringe so as to be movable from a retracted position extending over said syringe in which said needle projects beyond the other end of said body, and an extended position shielding the extremity of said needle.

2. The cover of claim 1, further including a mounting portion on said syringe, and wherein said body is movably mounted on said mounting portion so that in use said cover is secured to the syringe via said mounting portion.

3. The cover of claim 2, wherein said mounting portion and said cover are provided with a cooperating slot and projection, with movement therebetween determining the extended and retracted positions of said body.

4. The cover of claim 3, wherein said slot is formed in said mounting portion, and extends angularly and longidutinally thereof relative to the longitudinal axis of the syringe, and said projection is provided on said body.

5. The syringe of claim 4, wherein the other end of said body is deflectable transversely relative to said longitudinal axis between a position spaced laterally of the longitudinal axis of said syringe, when said body is in said retracted position, and a position intersecting said longitudinal axis when said body is in said extended position, so as to extend across the extremity of said needle.

6. The cover of claim 1, wherein said body is provided with abutment surfaces which cooperate with the syringe to define the extended and retracted positions of said body.

7. The cover of claim 6, wherein at least one of said abutment surfaces is resiliently movable so as to act as a catch to retain said cover in its extended position.

8. A cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover consisting of a hollow body to extend over the needle tip, said body having an entrance portion which is movable from a contracted configuration to surround a portion of the syringe, to a flared configuration providing a funnel entry to said body to facilitate entry of the needle into said body while shielding a user's hand holding the cover.

9. The cover of claim 8, wherein said entrance portion is provided by a plurality of leaves which are nested in the contracted configuration, and which are splayed actually outward relative to the longitudinal axis of the syringe, in the flared configuration.

10. The cover of claim 9, further including means to cooperate with the syringe in retaining the leaves in the nested configuration.

11. The cover of claim 8, wherein said entrance portion is provided by a pair of funnel portions which both extend longitudinally of and angularly about the longitudinal axis of the syringe, which funnel portions are located adjacent each other in the contracted position, and extend away from each other in the flared position.

12. The cover of claim 11, wherein said funnel portions have enlarged sections to receive a portion of the syringe.

13. A cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover consisting of a hollow elongated body terminating at one end with an opening through which the syringe is to extend so as to be received within said body with the extremity of said needle covered, and wherein said body is provided with a side aperture enabling transverse insertion of said syringe into said body.

14. The cover of claim 13,- wherein said side aperture extends from said opening, and said side aperture is configured to enable insertion of said syringe, and inward movement of the needle longitudinally of the cover to securely locate the needle within the cover.

15. The cover of claim 14, wherein said body is provided with resilient portions bordering said transverse opening, which are deflected apart to enable insertion of the syringe into said body, but inhibit removal of the syringe.

16. A cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover having an elongated hollow body within which a portion of the syringe projects together with the syringe needle, a pair of resilient arms projecting generally outwardly of said body away from the longitudinal axis of the syringe, which resilient arms are deflectable to a position to engage the syringe to retain the cover mounted on said syringe.

17. The cover of claim 16, wherein said arms have extremities adapted to be gripped by a user to support said body during an insertion of the needle into said body.

18. A cover to extend over a needle of a syringe, said cover consisting of a pair of cover portions which are generally co-extensive, said cover portions being pivotally attached so as to be angularly movable between a displaced position and a generally abutting closed position, and wherein said cover portions have cooperating recesses which in the closed -im¬ position define a cavity to receive the leading portion of the syringe so as to cover the extremity of the syringe needle.

19. The cover of claim 18, further including clip means to retain the cover portions In the closed position.

20. A syringe cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.