Closable, disposable, foldup container for used medical materials

• US 4,674,676 A
• Filed: 11/04/1985
• Issued: 06/23/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Devon Industries, Inc. (Nissha Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Devon Industries, Inc. (Nissha Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sandel, Dan, Hoftman, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US06/794,683
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 229/31 R, 229/31 FS, 229/24, 229/25, 229/26, 229/44 R, 229/45 R, 229/39 R, 229/186, 229/188, 229/142, 229/149, 229/150, 229/174, 206/363, 206/366, 206/620, 206/438, 206/807, 220/1 T
• US Class Current: 229/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/244 and the gussets folds connected to the outside of the container body B65D5/247, B65D5/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/247 and being maintained in erected condition by integral mechanical locking means formed on, or coacting with, the gusset folds, e.g. locking tabs, tongue and slit B65D5/248 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/665 the lid being held in closed position by self-locking integral flaps or tabs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/907 Trash box

Abstract

An inexpensive, foldup container for holding and disposing of used medical materials is die-stamped from a single piece of cardboard material and crimped along a plurality of lines to define a plurality of rectangular panels hingably-attached to one another which fold together to form a rectangular carton having an aperture in the top guarded by a barrier flap which permits the one-way disposal of used medical materials, such as disposable sharps and dressings, and further includes a hinged cover which can be locked shut over the disposal opening to retain the contents within the container and to resist tampering during the disposal process. The container may be provided in a partially assembled, flat configuration for storing and shipping.

Claims

1. A closable, foldup container for holding and disposing of used medical materials, comprising:

a flat profiled cut-out consisting of a single piece of semi-rigid sheet material,

said cut-out being compression crimped along a plurality of lines to define edges of a plurality of panels therein, hingably-attached to each other along said crimp lines,

said panels including a bottom panel, a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, a top panel, a closure panel and a plurality of gusset panels,

said front, rear and side panels each having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of side edges, each said bottom edge being hingably-attached along one of said crimp lines to an edge of said bottom panel for folding upward thereabout, each said panel side edge meeting an adjacent said panel side edge when upstanding to define four vertical corners of said container,

each said gusset panel being hingably-attached along one of said crimp lines to one of said side edges of each of said front, rear and side panels and to an adjacent said gusset panel along an intermediate one of said crimp lines, such that each pair of said adjacent gusset panels folds together inwardly along said intermediate crimp line and lies flat against one of said side panels when said front, rear and side panels are folded upwardly together for vertically reinforcing said container and sealing said container'"'"'s vertical corners,

one of said gusset panels in each said gusset panel pair having a tab for interleaving between the opposing said gusset panel pair when said container is folded up, for holding said gusset panels against said side panels,

said top panel having a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of said edges, said top panel front edge being hingably-attached along one of said crimp lines of said front panel top edge to fold back over said side panel top edges,

each said side panel having a closure flap hingably-attached along one of said crimp lines to said side panel'"'"'s upper edge to tuck beneath said top panel,

said top panel having a closure flap hingably-attached along one of said crimp lines at said top panel'"'"'s rear edge to tuck down between said side panel closure flaps and said rear panel,

said top panel closure flap having an outer surface adhesively-attached to an adjacent inner surface of said rear panel before said side panels are folded up, for provision of said container in a partially-assembled, flat condition,

each said top panel side edge having a locking tab thereon for insertion into said container, each said side panel closure flap having a locking aperture therethrough at said side panel upper edge to receive one of said locking tabs, for holding said container upstanding when said container is folded up,

said top panel being cut through along a closed profile except for a portion consisting of a straight line to define a disposal aperture through said top panel guarded by a barrier flap hingably-attached to said top panel along said straight line within said aperture, to permit said barrier flap to hinge inwardly into said container and disposal of said used medical materials through said aperture into said container,

said closure panel having a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges, said rear edge being hingably-attached along one of said crimp lines to said rear panel upper edge to fold forward over said top panel to cover said disposal aperture and close said container for disposal, said closure panel front edge having a locking tab thereon for insertion into said container to lock said closure panel in place for resistance to tampering, said top panel having a locking aperture therethrough at said front panel upper edge to receive said closure panel locking tab, to hold said closure panel closed.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein:

said sheet of semi-rigid material is coated on at least one side with a coating from the following group;

wax and clear plastic.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein:

said barrier flap hinge line contains a plurality of perforations to permit said barrier flap to be selectively torn away.