Sharps container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10321968-B2
Application number	US-201514921586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2015
Priority date	Oct 23, 2015
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

A container for disposal of medical waste is provided that comprises a receptacle with an open top. A lid is attached to the receptacle to cover the open top of the receptacle. The lid has an elongated opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle. A closure flap is connected to the lid to selectively close the lid opening. The closure flap is movable between an open position, a closed position and a locked position. The closure flap is attached to the lid by axial hubs that extend from each side of the closure flap through openings in the side walls of the lid. Covers attached to the outside of the side wall of the lid and engaged with the closure flap axial hub. The container may also include a locking external cabinet that encloses the receptacle and can be mounted to a wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container for disposal of medical waste comprising:
a receptacle having an open top, a bottom wall and a side wall;
a lid attached to the receptacle, the lid comprising:
a top wall,
a back wall,
a front wall having an elongated opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle, and
a side wall having a side wall opening extending through the side wall;
a closure flap movable between an open position, a closed position and a locked position, the closure flap having an axial hub extending from a side of the closure flap through the side wall opening, wherein the axial hub comprises an annular opening; and
a non-rotating cover attached to the outside of the side wall of the lid, the cover comprising an annular bushing that engages with the annular opening of the closure flap axial hub;
wherein the closure flap is a barrier restricting access by a user to an interior of the receptacle and lid assembly, and the closure flap is sized such that when the closure flap is in the open position a lower portion of the closure flap sweeps immediately adjacent to an interior portion of the lid back wall and restricts access by a user to an interior of the receptacle and lid assembly; and
wherein the closure flap rotates relative to the non-rotating cover.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure flap axial hub comprises a bearing surface.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the side wall opening comprises an arcuate portion.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the arcuate portion extends in an arc of 180 degrees or less.

5. The container of claim 3 wherein the arcuate portion extends in an arc of greater than 180 degrees.

6. The container of claim 3 wherein the axial hub bearing surface contacts the side wall opening circular portion.

7. The container of claim 5 wherein the axial hub bearing surface engages with the side wall opening circular portion with a snap fit.

8. The container of claim 6 wherein the closure flap axial hub further comprises a flange.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the flange diameter is greater than the bearing surface diameter.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein the flange diameter is greater than the side wall opening circular portion diameter.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein the non-rotating cover annular bushing extends into the axial hub annular opening.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid side wall further comprises a second opening, and the non-rotating cover comprises a locking tab that engages the second opening and secures the cover to the side wall.

13. A container for disposal of medical waste comprising:
a receptacle having an open top, a bottom wall and a side wall;
a lid attached to the receptacle, the lid comprising:
a top wall,
a back wall,
a front wall having a substantially vertical elongated opening sized to permit the introduction of medical waste into the receptacle and a substantially horizontal shelf, and
a side wall having a side wall opening extending through the side wall;

a closure flap movable between an open position, a closed position and a locked position, the closure flap having an axial hub extending from a side of the closure flap through the side wall opening; and
a non-rotating cover attached to the outside of the side wall of the lid, the cover enclosing the closure flap axial hub;
wherein the closure flap is a barrier restricting access by a user to an interior of the receptacle and lid assembly, and the closure flap is sized such that when the closure flap is in the open position a lower portion of the closure flap sweeps immediately adjacent to an interior portion of the lid back wall and restricts access by a user to an interior of the receptacle and lid assembly.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the closure flap further comprises a upper portion extending upwardly from the axial hub when the closure flap is in the closed position and a lower portion extending downwardly from the axial hub when the closure flap is in the closed position.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein a portion of the closure flap upper portion contacts the front wall shelf when the closure flap is in the open position.

16. The container of claim 14 wherein the closure flap upper portion and lower portion are substantially in the same plane.

17. The container of claim 13 further comprising an exterior cabinet that surrounds at least a portion of the receptacle, wherein the exterior cabinet covers the non-rotating cover.

Assignees

• Medline Ind Inc

Inventors

• Burgess James
• Bedoe Scott
• Tian Hongmeng

Classifications

• A61B50/37

  for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels · CPC title

• A61B2050/375

  for sponges · CPC title

• A61B2050/005

  with a lid or cover · CPC title

• A61B50/36 Primary

  for collecting or disposing of used articles · CPC title

• A61B50/362

  for sharps · CPC title