Retractable protective needle sheath

• US 5,151,089 A
• Filed: 05/16/1990
• Issued: 09/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony A. Decaro, Wayne E. Perry, William D. Kirk III
• Original Assignee: Anthony A. Decaro, Wayne E. Perry, William D. Kirk III
• Inventors: Perry, Wayne E., DeCaro, Anthony A., Kirk, William D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US07/524,009
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 604/192, 604/263, 604/198, 604/187
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3246 being squeezably deformable for locking or unlocking purposes, e.g. with elliptical cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3216 Caps placed transversally onto the needle, e.g. pivotally attached to the needle base

Abstract

A protective needle sheath is described herein which prevents accidental skin puncture and contact by the sharpened end and shaft of a hypodermic needle. The protective sheath is pivoted with a support base molded as part of the syringe or needle assembly, or capable of being fitted to a needle assembly. A retractable arm is pivotally secured to the support base by a live hinge. The retractable arm being capable of moving from a position in which the needle is encased in a needle channel in the arm, to a position exposing the needle. The retractable arm is moved by applying force to an arm actuator attached to the arm. The needle is locked within the needle channel by friction lock tabs located in the needle channel. The lock tabs are released by applying force to squeeze tabs attached to the arm.

Claims

1. A protective needle sheath for enclosing a needle including a shaft with a puncturing end comprised of:

(a) A base means;

(b) A retractable arm secured to the base by a pivot means wherein said retractable arm extends beyond the puncturing end of the needle shaft and said retractable arm includes a needle channel for encasing the needle;

(c) An arm actuator secured to the retractable arm to rotate the retractable arm about the pivot means from a closed position wherein the retractable arm encases the needle to an open position wherein the needle is not encased by the retractable arm;

(d) A clasping means attached to the retractable arm for clasping the retractable arm to the needle shaft when the retractable arm is in the closed position, wherein the clasping means includes friction locking tabs located on each side of the needle channel; and

(e) Squeeze tabs secured to the retractable arm which when compressed unclasp the friction locking tabs from the needle shaft when the retractable arm is in a closed position.

2. The protective needle sheath of claim 1 wherein a means for securing the retractable arm in the open position to the base is attached to the arm actuator.

3. The protective needle sheath of claim 1 wherein the retractable arm rotates about the pivot means over at least about 120°

.

4. The protective needle sheath of claim 1 wherein the base is affixed to a syringe.

5. The protective needle sheath of claim 1 which is formed from a plastic.

6. The protective needle sheath in claim 1 wherein the retractable arm is secured in the open position by a lock slot which interlocks with the arm actuator.

7. The protective needle sheath of claim 1 wherein said friction locking tabs allows the needle shaft to be encased by the retractable arm without engaging the clasping means and locking the needle into the retractable arm.