Protective cap for hypodermic syringe

• US 5,496,288 A
• Filed: 09/23/1992
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Sweeney, Niall
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US07/950,113
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 604/187, 604/238, 604/263, 604/403, 220/254, 220/337, 220/339
• US Class Current: 604/263
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3106 Plugs for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/16 Devices preventing loss of removable closure members

Abstract

A protective cap is provided for a hypodermic syringe. The protective cap is hingedly connected to the distal end of the hypodermic syringe for rotation relative thereto. In a first rotational orientation the protective cap sealingly engages a passageway extending through the distal end of the hypodermic syringe. In a second rotational orientation the protective cap enables complete access to the passageway extending through the distal end of the hypodermic syringe and into the chamber. The protective cap can be separately mounted to the hypodermic syringe or unitarily formed therewith. Preferably, the protective cap is configured to enable easy one-handed and opening and closure by a health care worker.

Claims

1. A hypodermic syringe barrel having a protective cap comprising:

a syringe barrel having a distal end, a chamber wall adjacent the distal end defining a cylindrical fluid-receiving chamber and a longitudinal axis, said distal end of said syringe barrel having a fluid passageway extending therethrough and communicating with said chamber;

said protective cap including a generally tubular collar having opposed proximal and distal ends and an inner surface extending therebetween, said inner surface being dimensioned and configured for fixed retention on said distal end of said syringe barrel;

a hinge extending from said collar; and

a cover joined to said hinge for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said syringe barrel between an open position where said cover is spaced from said syringe barrel and a closed position where said cover protectively covers said distal end of said syringe barrel, said cover including an inner face having at least one projection for sealing engagement with said distal end of said syringe barrel, said projection comprising an elongate center projection sealingly engageable in said passageway at said distal end of said syringe barrel.

2. The syringe barrel of claim 1, wherein said cover further comprises an outer projection for sealing engagement around at least a portion of said distal end of said syringe barrel.

3. The syringe barrel of claim 2, wherein said outer projection is generally concentrically disposed around said center projection of said cover, said outer projection being discontinuous on portions aligned with said hinge to facilitate hinged rotation of said cover between said open and said closed positions.

4. A hypodermic syringe barrel having a protective cap comprising:

said barrel having a distal end, a chamber wall extending proximally from said distal end, said chamber wall defining a chamber and a longitudinal axis, said distal end of the syringe barrel comprising a tip having a passageway extending therethrough and in fluid communication with said chamber, a sleeve rigidly disposed at said distal end of said syringe barrel in concentric spaced relation around said tip;

said protective cap including a generally cylindrical collar having opposed proximal and distal ends and a generally cylindrical inner surface extending therebetween, said inner surface including engagement means for fixedly attaching said cylindrical collar on said sleeve of said syringe barrel;

a hinge unitarily formed at said distal end of said collar, said hinge defining a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said syringe barrel; and

a cover unitary with said hinge for rotation between an open position where said cover is spaced from said syringe barrel to a closed position where said cover seals said passageway through said tip from the environment.

5. The syringe barrel of claim 4, wherein said cover includes a center projection disposed and dimensioned for sealing engagement in said passageway of said tip and an outer projection dimensioned and disposed for sealing engagement with said tip between said tip and said sleeve at said distal end of said syringe barrel.

6. The syringe barrel of claim 5, wherein said outer projection defines a segment of a cylinder having a discontinuity on portions thereof aligned with said hinge to enable rotation of aid cover about said hinge between said open position and said closed position.

7. A hypodermic syringe barrel comprising:

a distal end, a chamber wall extending from said distal end, said chamber wall defining a cylindrical chamber and a longitudinal axis, said distal end of said syringe barrel including an elongate tip aligned with said longitudinal axis having a passageway extending therethrough and communicating with said chamber, said distal end further including a sleeve unitary therewith and disposed in spaced concentric relationship around said tip, a cover connected by a hinge to said sleeve for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said syringe barrel, said cover having at least one projection being disposed and dimensioned for sealing engagement in said passageway.

8. A hypodermic syringe barrel having a protective cap comprising:

a syringe barrel having a distal end, a chamber wall adjacent the distal end defining a cylindrical fluid-receiving chamber and a longitudinal axis, said distal end of said syringe barrel having a fluid passageway extending therethrough and communicating with said chamber;

said protective cap including a generally tubular collar having opposed proximal and distal ends and an inner surface extending therebetween, said inner surface being dimensioned and configured for fixed retention on said distal end of said syringe barrel;

a hinge extending from said collar; and

a cover joined to said hinge for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said syringe barrel between an open position where said cover is spaced from said syringe barrel and a closed position where said cover protectively covers said distal end of said syringe barrel, said hinge of said protective cap including biasing means for urging said cover into either of said open or said closed positions relative to said collar.