| US 7,516,844 B2 | ||
| Sharps container for used pen needle assemblies | ||
| Thomas E. Erickson, Crosslake, Minn. (US); James J Erickson, Mound, Minn. (US); and Timothy A. Bachman, Saint Paul, Minn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Ultimed, Inc., St. Paul, Minn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jun. 07, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/862,544. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0269320 A1, Dec. 08, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. B65D 83/10 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 206—366 [206/365] | 13 Claims |
| 1. A container for storing a large number of used pen needle assemblies, said container comprising:
a. an open-topped receptacle sized to hold a plurality of used pen needle assemblies;
b. a cover member sized to fully cover said open-topped receptacle and including a top surface and a bottom surface; and
c. a manually movable hatch means positioned in an opening in said top surface of said cover member, said hatch means comprising:
(i) a top portion having a first edge thereof and pivot means spaced from said first edge, said pivot means being rotatably
connected to said cover member and defining a rotational axis for rotation of said hatch means relative to said top surface
of said cover member,
(ii) a curved bottom portion, having a first edge thereof spaced from said pivot means, integral with said top portion and
extending at a pre-selected angle relative to said top portion,
(iii) axially spaced-apart side portions connected to said top and bottom portions, said top, bottom and side portions collectively
defining a cup-like receiving means sized to receive only a single pen needle assembly; said hatch means being manually rotatable
between a closed position whereat said top portion is substantially contiguous with said top surface of said cover member
and an open position whereat said top portion is displaced with respect to said top surface of said cover member; and
d. baffle means integral with said top surface of said cover member and extending at a pre-selected angle thereto, said baffle
means having surface means substantially matching a pre-selected portion of said hatch means, and said baffle means being
oriented and positioned with respect to said hatch means so, when said hatch means is rotated about said rotational axis,
as aforesaid, to said open position, said baffle means and said pre-selected portion of said hatch means are in close proximity,
wherein when said hatch means is in said open position, said bottom portion and side portions of said hatch means and a top
portion of said baffle means cooperatively define four walls of a cavity below the top surface of the cover member sized to
receive only a single pen needle assembly, further wherein when said hatch means is in the open position, said first edge
of said curved bottom portion is positioned below the bottom surface of the cover member thereby exposing said top portion
of said baffle means.
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