Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present i.nvent:ion relates generally to
receptacLes, containers and -the like, and, more particularly,
to recep-tacl.es :Eor safe storage and ultimate di.sposal. of
potentially injurious or contami.nated implements such as used
scalpel blades, hypodermic need].es and like devices which
pose a risk of causing infection or even disease by exposure
-to such implemen-ts.
With -the adven-t of disposable medical implemen-ts
such as surgical -tools, hypodermic needles, scalpel blades
and o-ther sharp implemen-ts, a need has developed for a
receptacle to safely store such implements after use without
risk of exposing people -t:o injury, in:Eection or disease by
improper handling, until proper disposal can be made. The
-tragic outbreak of the highly contagious AIDS disease has
dramatically highlighted the need for safer handling,
; storage and disposal of such implements.
In the case of disposable hypodermic needles, it had
been common practice to break or cut the needles prior -to
discarding the needle and syringe in order to reduce the size
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1 of the o~erall needle/syringe device and to eliminate the sharp
2 poin~ from the needle ~o reduce the risk o~ injury which might
3 ~1 o~herwise resul~ from handling. In breaking or cutting the
4 I needles, however, it was determined that a substantial danger
~1 existed of accidental puncture during the breaking or cutting
6 1l operation, thus exposing the holder to possible injury and,
7 il further, to possible infection.or disease. In addition, any
~ 1l residual medicatlon in ~he needle was susceptible to
g 1l splattering onto the person or his clothes and there -~as a
l¦ danger that potentially harmful fumes could be inhaled.
Furthermore, the blades of the cutting tool became a breeding
12 ¦I ground for germs, bacteria and other disease-causing
13 ~¦ micro-organisms to which th~ unsuspecting person cutting the
14 ¦~ needle is unnecessarily exposed.
15 ll Recently, an even greater danger has been recognized
16 ll in connection with the handling and dismantling of used needles
17 1 and other sharp medical implements. It is now recognized that
18 ¦ certain diseases, most notably Hepatitis B, can be transmitted
19 1! ~Y covert percutaneous --i.e., by merely contacting the
20 il contaminated needle or implement.
21 1~, As a result of the foregoing dangers, the preferred
22 ~I current practice is to dispose of such devices intact. Often,
23 , the needles are now re-capped after use with the protective
2~ ¦ sheaths used during shipment from the manufactur.er, in order to 1,
25 ¦¦ prevent injury while carrying the device to a suitable disposal
26 ~ u~it. This practice, however, oten results in puncture wounds
27 ,I su~fered while re-capping the needle point.
28 11 Although certain proposals have been advanced for
29 1 eliminating some o the risks involved in the handling, storage
! and disposal of hypodermic needles and other sharp medical
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imp:Lements, they gerlerally do not overcome all oE the dangers.
O:E-ten, they become the source o o-ther problems. E'or
example, there are several specially designed conta:iners for
storing used hypodermic needles, including some made of all
pl.as-tic and some made oi- all cardboard, as identified, for
example, my (John Bruno) Canadian Paten-t Application fi58,881,
filed July 13, 1984.
Al-though such specially designed devices provide
adequate results under cer-tain circums-tances, they do suffer
certain disadvan-tages. For example, -the plastic devices, being
made of plastic, can be relatively expensive -to use as a
disposable storage container. In addi-tion, the plas-tic and
cardboard devices generally have thin or single-layer side
walls which do not provide any added margin of safety agains-t
possible punctures or pokethrough. Fur-thermore, in all the
con-tainers, either the entire syringe/needle or -the syringe
wi-th the needle stub is dropped ver-tically into the containers,
-thus creating a haphazard distribution of needles in the
container. Such distribu-tion usually results in an
inefficiently filled container and can be the cause of
possible injury to the user because of the haphazard arrange- :
ments of implements.
Another available device for the storage and disposal
of used hypodermic needles is -that sold under the designation
~MED~-SAFE~ tTrade Mark) by Bec-ton Dickenson & Co. of Ru-therford,
New Jersey. This device comprises a plastic jug-like con- :
tainer having a detachable circular cover which is cut with a
~starburst~ pat-tern to form a plurality of radially inwardly
extending flaps. Th:is device suEfers similar drawbacks to
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1 ~ ~hose descibed above, including the haphazard distribution of
2 implements dropped into the container. In addition, as used
3 implements are pushed through the "starburst" arrangement of
4 flaps, any medicines or other potentially contaminable liquid
; 5 l on the devices are apt to remain on the upper surfaces of the
6 , cover, thereby ~orming a breeding ground for germs, viruses and
1 infectious diseases. Also, as implements are forced through
8 ll the "starburst" flaps, contact is invariably made with such
g residual lit~uids onL t:~e flaps.
lO '' As set out in my aforesaid co-pending application, the
11 receptacle disclosed therein (also sold under the mark
,i
~ "D.D.BOX" by D.D.30x Inc. of Paterson, ~ew Jersey and ~iyhland
13 'I Beach, Florida) overcomes virtually all of the foregoing
14 '~i drawbac~s. However, even with the advantages achieved by such
L5 ll receptacle, hospital administrators still express a desire for
16 ll ~urther safety eatures in storage/disposal receptacles,
17 l generally. For example, hos~ital personnel express a desire
1~ ,, for a storage/ disposal container which provides protection
l9 ' against injury from or contact with discarded implements even
~' whexe the container has been overfilled, and which provides
21 `, complete protection against poke-through of needles or other
22 `' implements stored therein. Continuing concern is also
.3 , expressed for increasing the protection agains~ the risk of
24 , disease transmitted by covert percutaneous, and for a means to
,`l prevent access to or contact with the implements stored in the
26 container, Also, it is desired that even though the container
11
27 ,I mayb~ intended to be disposable, it should nonetheless be
~a I decorative so that it will be attrastive to look at, especially
29 l when placed in patient rooms and other places frequented by
3~ I patients, ~isitors and, or course, hospital personnel.
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1 Accordin~ly, it is an object of the present invention
2 to provide a new and improved receptacle for storage and
3 , disposal of hypodermic needles, scalpels and other sharp or
4 ,', pointed implements which pose a health risk by reason of
I injury, puncture or even mere contact (hereinater reerred to
6 '' collectively as "potentially injurious implements", or simply
7 ,¦ "disposable implements"). It is another object of the present
8 1 invention to provide a new and improved receptacle for storing
4 l' potentially injurious implements, which is sturdy and resistant
1I to puncture by the implements retained therein, yet permits
11 'I con~enient and complete disposal o~ the implements.
12 1 It is also an object of the invention to provide a new
13 11 and improved receptacle for storage and disposal of potentially
14 1! injurious implements, which is adapted ~o rec~ive implements in
15 ll a compact side-by-side hori20ntal configuration for maximum
16 '~ storage capacity. It is another object of the invention to
7 l¦ provide such a recep~acle which further prevents any implements
8 lll stored therein from falling out after they have been inserted
19 ~ll t~Lerein, and which provides a permanently sealable disposable
container which can be conveniently discarded in an appropriate
21 i! disposal facility. In addition, it is an object of the
22 ll invention to provide such a receptacle which provides
~ ?3 ¦ protection against contact with or injury from such implements.
: 24 1l It is yet a further objec~ of the present invention to
ll provide a new and improved receptacle for storing potentially
2$ ~ injurious implements, which is compact, and can be conveniently ¦
27 ¦ mounted to any wall or other desired structure, yet can also be
decora~ed for producing an attractive receptacle which can be
29 ,1 installed in doctor offices, patient rooms or other hospital
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1 I It is still a further object of the presen~ invention
2 'I to provide a new and improved receptacle for storage and
3 ~ disposal of potentially injurious implemen~s, which provides
4 ll comple~e disposability ye~ provides a completely secure
container that can be loc~ed ~o prevent access by unauthorized
6 ~ persons. As a result, the receptacle can be safely installed
7 l¦ in doctor ofices, patient rooms, etc. without Eear of entry by
8 )I unauthoriæed persons.
g ll The foregoing specific objects and advantages of the
ll invention are illustrative of those which can be achieved by
the present invention and are not intended to be exhaustive or
12 '¦ limiting of the possible advantages which can be realized.
13 'I Thus, these and other objects and advantages of the invention
14 ¦I will be apparent from the description herein or can be learned
lS ll from practicing the invention, both as embodied herein or as
lS 1l. modified in view o~ any variations which may be apparent to
17 il those ski~led in the art. Accordingly, the present inven~ion
resides in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,
19 1I combinations and improvements h~rein shown and described.
20 'I
21 ll SUt~lARY OF THE INVENTION
22 I Briefly described, the present invention comprises a
23 ' receptacle assembly for the deposit, storage and ultimate
24 I disposal of disposable medical implemen~s, which includes a
box-like permanen~ receptacle member adapted to retain a liner,
26 ll or disposable receptacle member which conforms generally to the
27 ll coniguration of the permanent receptacle member, for receiving
~8 ,¦ and holding used hypodermic needles, scalpels and like
29 l¦ potentially injurious implemen~s, as well as the permanent
l~ receptacle member itsel. Advantageously, both receptacle
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I
l ~ members are relatively elongate, and the tcp portions of both
2 ll receptacle members are adapted to provide access to their
3 , interiors for recei~ing the implemen~s therein. As preferably
4 1 embodied, the top portions o said receptacle members are
I proportioned such that there is provided a limited access
6 ~ receiving chamber into which the implements are first dropped
7 ¦, before being fully received in the disposable receptacle
B l member, preferably by an angularly inwardly projecting
9 1 trap-door closure panel which is generally biased ~owards an
I opposite wall member to close the top of the disposable
11 i receptacle member but which can be pushed open to allow an
12 ll implement to drop into the disposable receptacle me~ber for
13 1¦ safe storage and ultimate disposal.
l~ ¦ Advantageously and as pre~erably embodied, the top
15 ll portion of the permanent recep~able member includes one or more
1~ il openings proportioned to receive the various sizes of
17 1 implements to be stored therein yet substantially ~o prevent
acces~ to the receiving chamber by a person's hand. The top of
l9 ll ~he permanent receptacle member also includes a inger access
20 ll opening ~preferably smaller than and dif~erent from the
21 ¦¦ implement-drop opening to allow only limited access by a
22 ~l¦ person's hand) to provide limited access by the person's
23 ll fingers to the closure panel of the disposable receptacle for
~4 ¦ opening the panel and thereby causing any implement therean to
drop into the dispusable receptacle member.
26 , Ad~antaseously, the permanent receptacle member is
27 ,, made of metal (preferably, aluminum for light weight) or other
28 1 generally impenetrable rna~erial, while the disposable
29 Z recep~acle member may be made of corrugated cardboard,
stifened paper or otner relati~ely inexpensive but relatively
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1 ~ rigid material adapted to resist punc~ure by a needle point.
~ ,i In this way, the disposable receptacle member will provide
3 ,l enough puncture resistance to allow it to be safely removed
4 1I from the permanent receptacle member and carried to an
l appropriate disposal unit for ultimate disposal . Howevex, the
6 ''I permanent member provides complete assurance ayainst any
7 11 possible poke-through during use, and, it permits the entire
8 1l receptacle to be secured (as by locking it) against access by
~ l~ unauthorized persons.
1 Thus, the permanent receptacle member can be
11 permanen~ly installed at the immediate location(s~ where
12 1 potentially injurious disposal implements are frequently used.
13 1 When so installed, th~ receptacle according to the present
1 14 ¦ invention eliminates the need for a person otherwise to carry a
1 used implement (e.g., a used hypodermic needle) to a disposal
L~ ,l unit which may be located distant from its place of usage (e.g.
17 1 a patient's room), with the consequent risk of injury from or
18 , contact with the implement while it is being carried to a
I L9 ¦ ~isposal unit.
It will similarly be appreciated that, because of the
21 ,I nature of the permanent receptacle member, the receptacle
22 ,¦ assembly accordin~ to the present invention can be decorated to
` 23 1¦ complement the furnishings of the room in which the receptacle
1 24 1¦ is installed for an attractive ap~earance. (This can also help
~; dis~uise the un~tion of the receptacle from persons who might
26 1¦ otherwise be searching or used syringes to put to unlawful
; 27 Ij use.) The disposable receptacle member would, of course, be
2~ ,1 imprinted with a suitable legend, including the universal
29 1¦ s~mbol for contaminated sharps, to warn authorized persons of
30 1¦ the dangerous nature of the implements stored in the receptacle.
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In addition, the permanent receptacle can be locked to
prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the receptacle.
It will ~hus be readily apparent from the foregoing
4 ~ general descrip~ion, as well as the following detailed
~ descrip~ion, that the objects and advan~ages specifically
; ~ , enumerated herein are achieved by the invention as embodied
7 li herein~ For example, by providing a permanent receptacle
8 'I member which acts as a protective shell for the disposable
9 l¦ receptacle member, a safe and durable receptacle is provided
lQ i! for safely receiving, storing a~d eve~tually disposing of
potentially i~jurious implements. In addition, the biased top
12 ll¦ closure panel o~ the dispasable receptacle provides a "trap
13 I door" which, as part of the receiving chamber, minimizes the
14 ll amount of contact a person must have wi~h th~ implements when
15 ll disposing of them.
16 `i By providing openings in the top portion of the
17 ,, permanent receptacle member, ass~rance is provided that a
1~ ¦ person's hand will not touch a used implement released into the
L9 l~ receiving chamber when opening the closure panel of the
20 ll disposable member, yet safe storage for used implements is
21 I provided in the receiving chamber in the event that the
22 , disposable receptacle is inad~er~ently overfilled. However,
; 73 I the disposable receptacle also preferably includes an extra top
24 I closure panel which can be sealed over the trou~h-like recess
,l in the disposable receptacle for safely enclosing any
26 ~ implements which have overfilled the disposable receptacle. It ¦
27 ll also ensures ~hat any implements which may become disloged will
28 1, remain safely sealed within the disposable member.
29 l¦ It will be appreciated by those skilled in the ar~
,~ that the foregoing brief description and the following detailed
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1 description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention, but
2 are not intended to be restrictive thereof. Thus, the
3 l accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a
~ part hereof, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention
, and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain
6 l the principles o~ the invention
7 'I
8 ll BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
9 li FI&U~E 1 is a an isometric view o an embodiment of a
1~ receptacle assembly according to the present invention.
11 il FIGU~E 2 is a front isometris view of ~he permanent
12 ~¦ receptacle member of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, in the open
13 'I con~iguration.
14 ! FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2
~ i.llustrating installation of an embodiment of a disposable
16 ¦ receptacle member as part of the receptacle assembly according
17 ', ~o the invention,
lS il FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of Figures 1-3,
19 l showing operation of the receptacle assembly according to the
20 1¦ present invention,
21 ll FIGURE 5 is an isometric view, with partial cut-away,
,!
~2 !1 of a disposable receptaclP member (with the permanent
23 i~ receptacle member removed for claxity) illustrating the deposit
24 ll and storage of implements within the receptacle assembly
25 1l according to the invention.
26 ,I FIGURE 6 is an isometric view, similar to Figures 1-4,
27 ll of a preferred embodiment of disposable receptacle member in
28 ,1 accordance with to the present invention.
~9 'I FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along section lines
7-7 of FIGU~E 6.
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FIGUR~ ~3 is a sect;orlal view taken alonc~ section
Lines 8--8 o.E FIGURE 7.
L~IGU~E 9 is a view similar to -that oE FIGURE 6, with
partia:l cut-away, illustrating cl.osure of the disposable
receptacle member for Einal disposal, according to the present
nven-t lon .
FIGURE 10 is a view of the top of a modified version
of permanent receptacle member showing another aspect of the
present invention.
FIGURE 11 is a partial sec-tional view taken along
lines 11-11 of FIGURE 10 (looking up from within), fur-ther
illustrating the structure of the feature shown in FIGUR~ 10.
FIGURE 12 is a side view, partially in section, of the
embodiment of FIGURES 10 and 11 illustra-ting operation of the
structure shown in FIGURES 10 and. 11.
FIGURE 13 is a view, similar to that of FIGURES 1-4
of a modified embodiment of a permanent receptacle member
according to the present invention.
Turning now to the accompanying drawings wherein like
reference charac-ters refer to like parts throughout -the various
views, there is shown in Figures 1-9, a preferred embodiment of
the receptacle assembly ~indicated generally at 10) according
to the present inven-tion. As here embodied, receptacle
assembly 10 comprises a permanent receptacle member which forms
an outer housing or shell Eor a disposable receptacle member
which, advan-tageously, may be a disposable container sub-
stantially of the -type disclosed in the aforesaid Canadian
Patent Appli.cation S.N. 458,881.
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Re:Ee.r:ring mo:re part;.cularly to FIG~RES :L-~, there are
shown var:ious ;.llustrclt;.ons arl embodiment of permanent
receptacle rnember Eor recep-table assembly 10 according to the
present invention. As here embodied, recep-tacle assemb:Ly 10
incl.udes a permanent receptacle member (indicated genera:Lly at
100) which, advantageously, is adapted to form a housing for,
and conform generally to -the shape of, the disposab]e
receptacle member tindicated yenerally at 11) which will be
described more fully below. Permanent receptacle 100 includes
a back wall 102 which can be adapted to be attached to a wall
(preferably by screws inserted -through holes 103) or other
suitable mounting structure. Projecting outwardly from
: backwall 102 are sidewalls 104 and 106 and bot-tom wall 108.
Advan-tageously, a frorlt wall/door (indicated at 110) is
h:;ngedly attached a-t -the front of recep-tacle member 100 there,
along the front edye o:E bottom wall 108) and is configured so
as to substantially close off -the front-edges of the side and
bottom walls to form a fully enclosed permanent receptacle
member.
As here preferably embodied, the upper portion of
perrnanent receptacle 100 is can-ted to provide, as will be
~ explained i.n grea-ter detail hereinafter, a receiving chamber;~ within the receptacle assembly. To -this end, each of the upper
. ends of side wal.ls 10~ and 106 have upwardly -tapering front
:~ edges (:ind:icated at 105 and 107, respectively, in Figures 2 and
3), and front wall 110 includes an angularly canted upper
portion (indicated at llOa) which extends at-about the same
angu:La.r pitch as the angle of taper of front edges 105 and
.
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107. Thus, when front wall 110 is rotated upwardly as
, indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, it will fully close the
,I permanent receptacle 100, and it also provides the receiving
4 1l means for the permanen~ receptacle member, as will be explained
, more fully below.
6 iI Referring specifically to FIGURE 3, when front wall
7 'l 110 of the permanent receptacle member 100 is opened,
8 1I recep~acle 100 is ready to receive a disposable receptacle
9 1 member 11. (As already indicated, the disposable member
1 preferably has the same general configuration as the permanent
11 1 receptacle member 110 to permit it to be fully enclosed
12 ~I therein.) Wi~h the front wall opened, the disposable member can
13 1I simply be placed within the permanent receptacle member and
14 1! retained in place by closing the front wall member.
,1 In order to permit used disposable implements to be
16 ~' inserted into the receptacle assembly, one or more openings are
17 l formed at the top of permanent member 100 to allow disca~ded
18 l~ implements to be dropped into the receptacle assembly. As here
19 ¦I preferably embodied, a first elongatQ opening 112 is formed in
1 canted upper portion llOa. The elongate opening 112 is
21 1~ advantageously limited in size, and is positioned and
1 22 propor~ioned so as to permit insertion of a predetermined
,I maximum size of used disposable implement, wnile substantially
24 !¦ preventing a person's fingers from reaching in to touch a used
implement which may be lying in the recessed trough of the
26 ¦~ disposable member (indicated at 15 in Figure 5 and 6, as will
27 1l be explained more fully below). For example, opening 112 may
28 1l be about 8 inches long and about 1 inch wide to allow entry of
29 ll most popular size hypodermic needle/syrin~es up to about 30 cc.
~ Moreover, opening 112 is advantageously positioned as
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high up on canted portion llOa as practical for maximizing the
distance between opening 112 and the bottom of trough 15. As
~l illus-trated in Figure g, the permanent receptacle permits used
4 ll disposable implements (such as ~he needle/syringe indicated at
'I A) to be dropped horizontally into the receptacle, for saest
6 l~ handling, through opening 112. At the same time, while
7 i1 needle/syringe A lays at the bottom of trough 15, it remains
8 i generally out of reach by a person who might try to touch it by
g lll reaching his or her fingers through opening 112.
¦I For larger size needles or implemen~s, a limited
diameter opening (indicated at 114) is formed in one (or
1~ ll preferably both) of the side walls 104~ 106, in the upper
13 l¦ segment bounded by the canted edge segments 105, 107. For
14 Il example, the opening(s) 114 can be approxima~ely 2" in diameter
15 1I to accommodate hypodermic needles with oversize syringes
16 (indica~ed at B in Figure 4) up to about 50 cc., yet will
17 ll pre~ent a person's hands from touching an implement lying
18 ¦, wi~hin trough 15. (Although all used implements could be
19 1 inserted into the receptacle through opening 114, use of
opening 112 is preferred for depositing the disposable
21 ' implements because it allows them to be simply and sa~ely
22 ll dropped in a horizontal orientation.)
il
~.3 1l Advantageously, permanent receptacle member 100
24 i includes means or securing the receptacle assembly 10 against
2S ,l unauthorized access to the disposable receptacle member 10
26 ¦¦ contained within permanent receptacle member 100. As here
27 ¦! preferably embodied, the securing means comprise an
28 1 interlocking tongue and slot arrangement, with tongue-like tab
29 1 116 projecting upwardly from a canted side wall edge (here,
~ edge 107) to project through a slo~ 118 formed in upper canted
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portion 110a o ~ron~ wall/door 110 when front wall/door 110 is
fully closed. Tongue 116 also includes aperture 116a formed
l therein for receiving the shackle of a lock for completely
4 ` securing the receptacle assembly. The tongue and slot
arrangement could be located on the other side or on both sides
as indicated i~ phantom in Figure 4.
7 I To assemble the receptacle unit according to the
~ I present invention, the front wall/door 110 is pulled downwardly
9 ,¦ to expose the interior of ~erm,anent ~ece~t~cle member 110, as
1l indica~ed in FIG. 2. A fresh disposable receptacle member 10
(described more fully below) ls placed within the interior of
12 ~¦ the permanent receptacle member, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The
13 ll front wall/door 110 is thçn rotated upwardly, as indicated in
14 I FIG. 4, until its upper canted portion 110a generally abuts the
j can~ed side edges 10S, 107, and the tongue 116 projects through
16 ll slot 118, to close the receptacle unit. Once the receptacle is
7 ll closed, the shackle of a padlock or like locking device
18 ll (indicated at 120) is inserted through aperture 116a to secure
19 ,I the receptacle assembly against unauthorized entry.
~l Advantageously, canted side edges 105, 107 and canted
21 ,l upper portion 110a extend at abaut 45 with respect to the back
~2 i' wall 102 and the remainder o front/wall door 110, respectively. '~
23 'll As prefera~ly embodied, the length o~ slot 118 and the
24 '1 height o tongue 116 are advantageously pro~ortioned such that
, the slot will "snap" over the top of the tongue in order to
26 I permit complete closure o the permanent receptacle member~
27 ,I That is, as the slot initially approaches the tongue, one of
j~ i
28 jl its end edges will at l~ast rub against the corresponding edge
29 1l of the tongue during a portion of the rotational travel of
~all/door 110. To accommodate such "snaD" action, the outward
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end o tongue 116 is preferably rounded, as best illus~rated in
FIGU~ES 2-3.
! ~
i It will thus be understood that a force of sufficient
magnitude must be exerted in order to force slot 118 over
tongue 116. By the same token, a similar but reverse direction
force is required to open the front wall~door. Consequently,
I even if no securing device is used (such as lock 120), the
receptacle assembly will remain reliably closed to keep the
disposable receptacle, and the implements stored therein,
llj s~fely enclosed within the receptacle assembly.
eferring now to Figures 5-9, there is shown a
12 ll preferr~d embodiment of a disposable receptacle member for the
13 ll receptacle ass~mbly according to the present invention. As ¦
14 l¦ indicated above, the disposable recaptacle is, ad~antageously,
¦ essentially the same as the disposable container disclosed in ¦
16 I my aforesaid co-pending application, except for certain
17 I modifications disclosed herein to facilitat~ use wi~h permanent
~ receptacle member 100. For convenience, the reference numbers
19 1l used hPrein are the same as those used to designate the same or I :;
'I like parts in the disposable receptacle disclosed in my
aforesaid co-pending application.
22 1~ As here preferably embodied, disposable receptacle
23 li member 11 includes front wall panel 12, a back wall panel 14
24 ¦ and a pair o~ oppositely disposed side wall panels, 16 and 18,
25 lll which maintain the front and bac~ wall panels in spaced apar~
26 l relation~ Bottcm wall assembly 20 (advantageously a
27 1I double-walled member as explained in greater detail in my
28 l, aforesaid co-~ending application) seals off the bottom of
29 ll disposable recep~acle 11 to form a hollow receptacle for
~I discar~ed implements. The double walled bottom assembly may
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thus include a pair of bottom panel members (54,66) spaced
apart by spacer panels (60,68) and may be secured together by
an interloc~ing tab and slot (72a and 74, respectively). (Tabs
50a and SOb, formed at the ends of the sidewall panels may be
folded up into the receptacle at the edges of the bottom
; assembly). It will be understood however that instead of
forming disposable receptacle 11 with a double walled bottom
¦ assembly ~0, a moisture proof bottom liner made, e.g., of
, styrafoam, (not shown) could be used to collect any liquids
` 10 associated with the discarded implements.
As preferably embodied, the top of disposable
12 ~,l receptacle 11 is formed wi~h closure means which can be readily
opened to permit the deposit of implements to be discarded, yet
14 1 will o~herwise remain closed at all o~her times to prevent any
l implements therein from ~alling out. To this end, flap-like
16 li top closure panel 22 is hingedly joined to the top edge of
17 1 front wall 12 and, preferably, extends angularly inwardly into
18 ¦ the receptacle chamber, Advantageously, the width of panel 22
19 il (i.e., the distance from its hinged connection with panel 12 to
1 its inward free end edge, or distal edge) is greater than the
21 .~ corresponding depth of the container (i.e., the distance
22 ll between ~he front and bac~ wall panels) to ensure that its
?3 ~ inward, or distal, edge resides within receptacle 11 at an
24 ll angle (preferably of substan~ial slope) with respect to the top
l, edges of the wall panels. In t~is way, panel 22 forms a sloped
26 1 entxy trough (indicated at 15) for initially receiving
1 ~7 ll discarded implements and, subsequently, for ensuring tha~ the
28 ll implements safely drop into the receptacle in a horizontal
29 l¦ orientation for storage in side-by-side relation.
30 ~1 Also as indica~ed in my aforesaid co-pending .
~ 17 -
~1 1
.:
, ~L2'~ ;;Y7~
application, panel 22 provides a barrier or pre~enting
implements from falling out o the container once they are
¦ deposited therein. Advantagecusly, the hinged joinder of panel
4 22 with ~he top edge of front panel 12 is self-biased so that
I the dis~al edge of panel 22 is constantly urged upwardly to
6 'l maintain closure of the container. It will thus be understood
7 ll that the material making up the hinged connection should be
8 ll generally resilient (or could be reinforced with a piece of
g l¦ tape preferably applied before closure panel 22 is olded into
I lO ¦I the container) to withstand repeated opening and closing.
~ Also advantageously, back wall panel 14 includes an
12 ¦ upstanding panel (indicated at 14a) which ~rojects beyond th~
13 i top edges of the other container walls. Upstanding panel 14a
14 1 here provides an additional closure member ~or sealing the
container after it is filled. Panel 14a can simply be folded
16 i down onto the top edges of the other wall panels and therefore
17 ¦ secured (as by ~aping panels 14a adjacent panel 1~) to fully
la ll~close the disposable r~ceptacle once it is sufficiently illed
' I
19 ll with discarded implements. Alternatively, a pair o tabs 14b
)¦ formed along the upper edge of panel 14a can be inserted into a
21 ! corresponding pair of slots (each indicated at 14d) formed iIl
22 il the opposite upper edge as indicated in Figure 9. In addition,
~3 l¦ a portion of panel 14a can be suitably cut or scored to form
24 ~ handle 14c by which the disposable receptacle member can be
'1 safely carried for proper disposal after it has been filled and
26 ~I closed~
27 I Ad~antageously and as preerably embodied, the
28 ll disposable recep~acle member is made of a single sheet of
29 ,I relatively inexpensive but relatively puncture-resistant
`~ material such as corrugated paper or cardboard, stiffened paper
~ 1l 1
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. ~ .. . ' ' ' '
7~
or even some plastic materials, as described in detail in my
aoresaid co-pending patent application. Where corrugated
paper is used, B-flute grade is preferred. Except for expense,
corrugated plastic may be preferred when ~he rec~ptable
4 ,
assembly is to be used in locations or applications where it
,I will be exposed to wa~er or liquids. It will also be
,~ understood that the disposable re~eptacle member can be made
il from a single sheet of material as disclosed in my aforesaid
9 il copending application.
~1 As preferably embodied, and as disclosed in my
11 l¦ aforesaid co-pending application, the entry opening of
12 ll disposable receptacle member 11 is governed by upwardly biased,
13 ,l angularly inwardly extending closure panel ~2. Closure panel
4 '' 22 is pushed inwardly to open ~he disposable receptacle member
'I and allow a used implement to drop into receptacle 10, as
16 I indicated ln Fig, 5. Also as disclosed in my co-pending
17 ,l application, each of the side panels, 16 and 18, are formed
18 'I with identical, but reversed, tab members ~indicated at 42a and
19 ~¦ 42b, respectively, and delineated from the side wall panels by
!¦ score lines 44) which act as guides for the openinq and closing
21 ,' action of closure panel 22. To this end, each tab 42a and d2b
22 ~l is formed with a generally L-shaped cut-out or notch (indicated
23 ~l at 43~ which form a stop edge (43a) and a clearance edge t43b)
24 ~ that in~ersect at an angle of about 75 to about 90 with
2S 1 resp~ct to each other, all as described in greater detail in my
26 ll aforesaid copending application. It will be understood that
2~ lj stop edges 43a define ~he upward limit of travel for closure
28 I¦; panel 22 and should advantageously be proportioned so that the
~9 1I distal edge of panel ~2 is at least closely adjacent, or
30 ll abutting, panel 1~ when panel ~2 rests against s~op edges 43a.
, 19
1265`770
1 1 Also as described in my a~oresaid co-pendillg
2 'l application, the sides of closure panel 22 are preferably
3 ,I tapered, with a step 22a to provide a narrower inner segment of
4 Il the closure panel. This narrowing facilitates the interfit
l between closure panel 22 and the notches formed in ~he side
6 il tabs ~2a and 42b and helps reduce friction between closure
7 1¦ panel 22 and the side tabs 42a and 42b to ensure proper closure
8 ¦ of the disposable receptacle 10.
9 1 It will b~ understood that since tabs ~2a and 42b are ¦
! urged upwardly against the side edges of closure panel 22, they
11 ~ close any gap which otherwise might exist between the side
1 12 edges of panel 22 and the side wall panels 16 and 18, and thus
13 ~ seal the implements within the container. It will further be
1~ ¦ unders~ood that tapered side edges of panel 22 facilitate its
¦¦ swinging movement over side tabs 4~a and 42b. In addition,
16 ,~, indenta~ions 22a serve to recess the innermost edges of panel
17 ll 22 which actually slide over the tahs, thereby to reduce the
~ friction generated by the movement of panel 22. The
19 ll iuxtaposition of closure panel 22 and side tabs 42a and 42b
20 1¦ thus create trough-like recess 15 for receiving:used implements.
21 l~ for disposal.
22 ¦~ Once assembled with a fresh disposable receptacle 11
23 l¦ secured within permanent receptacle 100, the receptacle
~: ¦ assembly according to the invention provides a safe and simple
2S means for handling and storage of used implements for
26 ¦ subse~uent disposal. A~ter use, each disposable implement ~o
~i 27 1 be discarded, such as a hypodermic needle, is simply deposited
28 1 into receptacle 10 by holding it horizontally and dropping it
29 ll ~hrough opening 112 (as illustrated by needle A in Figure 4).
I 3 I The im~lement automatically drops in~o the receiving chamber
'.
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1~ 65~J70
1 ~ formed by upwardly canted front wall/do~r portion llOa and the
2 ~ll trough-like recess 15 formed at the top of disposable
3 ¦ receptacle 11. ThP needle automatically falls into the deepest
4 I portion of the trough which is preferably adjacent back wall
l¦ 102 so that the needle rests farthest from both openings, 112
6 ¦¦ and 114. The person then simply inserts his or her fingers
7 , into opening 114 by a sufficient amount to touch panel ~2 and
8 ll push the panel downwardly until the needle simply drops, by its
9 11 own weight, into the interior of disposable receptacle 11.
¦ FI~URE 5 illustrates this procedure but with permanent
11 receptacle 100 removed for ease of illustration.
12 Once the disposable receptacle is filled, the
13 1¦ disposable receptacle member can be removed from the receptacle
14 ¦¦ assembly. To remove r0ceptacle 11, the lock 120, if used, is
15 1¦ unlocXed and removed by an authorized person, and the front
16 ~¦ panel/door 110 is urged open. (As indicated above, su~ficien~
17 1I force must be exerted to force slot 118 over locking tongue
18 ! }16.) Front panel/door 110 is then ~ully opened to expose the
19 ¦ filled disposable receptacle member. The addi~ional top panel
¦! 14a preferably should be lolded down and secured (as by
21 ¦1 inserting ta~s 14b into slots l~d and, if possi~le, taping i~
22 l¦ closed as ~ell to provide a secure additional closure means)~
23 1 The disposable insert can then be safely li~ted out of the
~ 4 1 permanent receptacle by the handle member 14c and carried ~o
; 25 !I the ultimate disposal unit or station.
~6
27
~8
~. ~ .. . ~,
~6~r~
l ~I In order to ensure that a person's hand can ex~end
2 ~l only a limited amount into the receiving chamber, second
3 ll opening 114 can be about 4 inches long and about one inch
4 ,I high. In addition, opening 114 is advantageously located at
~ ll the point of joinder of front wall/door 110 and its can~ed
6 ,I portion 110a, which is also adjacent the ~op edge of disposable
7 ll receptacle ll. In this way, closure panel 22 will be
8 1¦ immediately accessible to a person's hand so there will be no
9 1I reason to try to reach deeper into the receptacle chamber.
¦ Turning now to FIGURES 10-l~, there is shown another
ll I aspect of the present invention, by which ~he receptacle
12 ', assem'aly can be adapted to safely dismantle and store large
13 1 needles for which removal of the needle is required or
14 ¦¦ desired. An example of such a needle device is thb blaad
15 ¦I taking device sold u~der the designation "VACUTAINER" by Becton
16 Dickenson, which includes a relatively elongate needle coupled
17 !~ to a vile or syrin~e. Because the vile portion is repeatedly
18 1' used, it is important to remove the needle a~ter use to
i9 11 eliminate any danger of puncture by or contact with the needle.
20 ¦l In order to provide for the removal of the n edle
21 l¦ portion from any such device, the canted upper portion 110a of
22 l¦ front wall/door is formed with an additional opening (here,
23 generally tear-drop shaped opening 130) into which the needle
24 c;an be inserted. Grasping means are associated with opening
¦ 130 to grasp the needle sa that it can be removed from the
26 1 syringe or vile portion (as by rotating the syringe until the
27 j needle drops o~).
As here embodied, an L-shaped arm member 132 is
~9 ¦¦ pivotally attached (by, e.g., a screw or rivet 134) to the
~¦ underside of canted upper partion 110a. One leg (indicated at
~ 11 ,, .
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,1 ~
3~a) of the L~shaped member is adapted ~o bear against the
2 ,I needle, while the o~her leg 132b can conveniently be used for
3 ! moving the bearing leg 132a in~o and out of engagement with the
4 ,I needle. To facilitate the grasping function, leg 132a includes
l, a flange portion (indicated a~ 133) which is bent out of the
6 I plane of leg 132a ~o project into opening 130. Flange 133
7 1l serves not only to provide a bearing surface area for grasping
8 1¦ ~he needle hub but it also limi~s the rotational movement o
9 1¦ ~he L-shaped me~ber. Leg 132b similarly incLudes a downwardly
¦ projec~ing ~ab 13S to facilitate moving the L-shaped member
11 1 into and out of abutting engagement with the needle to be
12 ¦ removed.
13 ¦ In operation, then, the needle to be removed is
14 j inserted into tear-drop opening 130. The bearing leg 132a is
1 then rota~ed tc graspingly engage the needle by rotating member
$6 1l 132 in the direction of the arrow in Figures 10 and 11. With
17 '~ the leg 132a urged against the needle hub indicated at 136 in
18 ,¦ Figure 1~, the syringe (138) is twisted until it is released
19 l; from the needle, Thereafter, the leg 132a can be released and
li the needle will drop into the trough at the top o disposable
21 1 insert 11. The s~rin~e can then be droped through opening 112
22 1~ ~or opening 114 if it is oversiæed), a~d panel ~2 pushed down,
73 1¦ as described above, to saely store the device for subsequent
24 l¦ disposal. In this way, a person does not have to touch the
2S ¦ needle at all durlng either the needle removal or the needle
26 ¦I disposal opera~ions.
27 i! As indicated above, the permanent and disposable
28 1I receptacles are general:Ly the same size, except that the
29 ,¦ permanent receptacle will generally be taller by about the
3~ !I vertical distance of upp~r canted panel llOa. Thus, as
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1 !
1 disclosed in my aforesaid co-pendinq patent application, the
~ I inner disposable receptacle can be as large as about 20 inches
3 I tall, 10 inches wide and 3 inches deep. In those instances,
4 the degree of opening of the front wall/door (indicated at
l¦ 110') may, advantageously, be limited by chain 140. In this
6 ¦ way, the elongated fron~ wall door 110 need not he rotated a
7 , full 180 (and thereby protrude into the room which may be .
~ I awkward or inconvenient) in order to replace the disposable
9 i receptacle. Of course, such chain can be used with any size
¦ receptable assembly.
11 , Also ad~antagously, the canted panel llOa may also
12 include slots or ven~s (indicated at 142) to facilitate visual
13 1 inspection of the trough at the top of ~he disposable
14 1' receptacle 11. As preferably embodied, each slot 142 is very
small as ~o allow only visual access to the interior of the
16 ¦ permanent receptacle while preventing access by a person's
17 ~I figures. For example, the slots can be about 1 3/8 inches long
18 ll ahd about 1/4 inch wide.
19 il It will be appreciated by those sk}lled in the art
~ that the present invention in its broader aspects is not
21 ¦ limited to the particular embodiments shown and described
22 ll herein, and that variations may be made which are within the
23 l¦ scope o~ the accompanying claims without departing from ~he
24 l¦ principle of the invention and without sacrificing its chief
' advantages.
?6 i
27 'll
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24 -
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