Wallet

• US 6,651,813 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clearpac Limited
• Original Assignee: Clearpac Limited
• Inventors: Vallans, Sidney John, Wheatley, Keith Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): MOHANDESI, JILA M
• Application Number:
  US09/964,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 206/363-370, 206/63.3, 206/380, 206/523, 206/562-565, 220/4.24, 220/4.22, 220/4.23, 220/837, 220/839, 220/359.1, 220/359.4
• US Class Current: 206/366
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3002 including foam blocks for retaining sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/311 Cases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps

Abstract

A wallet for the safe disposal of sharp implements including a closeable cover member. Implement receiving means is provided on the cover member to receive at least one sharp implement. When one or more sharp implements are received in the receiving means, the cover member can be closed over the receiving means to hold the implements in the wallet. The cover member may comprise first and second portions. At least the first portion may define a recess in which the implement receiving means is arranged. Each of the first and second portions may include inner and outer parts. Each outer part is in the form of a flange which are adapted to engage each other when the cover member is closed. A hinge member may extend outwardly from the cover member. A part of the second portion arranged over the implement receiving means may be formed of a transparent material.

Claims

1. A wallet for the safe disposal of a sharp implement, the wallet comprising:

a closeable cover member, comprising first and second portions, each having an inwardly facing surface, at least the first portion having a recess defined by the surface;

an implement receiving means on the cover member to receive at least one sharp implement, the implement receiving means being arranged in the recess in the first portion; and

a hinge means provided between the first and second portions, the hinge means comprising a region between the first and second portions defining a slit therein, the slit having a curved central region and oppositely outwardly extending end regions, the end regions extending along a line delimiting the first and second portions of the cover member;

wherein when one or more sharp implements are received in the receiving means, the cover member can be closed over the receiving means to hold the implements in the wallet.

2. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein the second portion defines a recess, the recess in the second portion providing a space for the implements to be received in the implement receiving means.

3. A wallet according to claim 2 wherein each portion of the cover member comprises an inner part and an outer part, the inner part defining the recess, and the outer part comprising a flange, the flange of the first portion engaging the flange of the second portion when the cover member is in the closed condition.

4. A wallet according to claim 3 wherein the flanges of the first and second portions lie in substantially face to face engagement with each other when the cover member is in the closed position.

5. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein the hinge means comprises a hinge member which extends outwardly from the first and second portions to allow the first and second portions to be arranged in said face to face engagement in the closed position.

6. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein the hinge means includes a plurality of said slits which extend one after the other along said region.

7. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein the slit is so defined by said region that, when the cover member is closed, the curved region extends outwardly therefrom generally in the plane of the first or second cover members.

8. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein the first portion of the cover member has an adhesive covering at least part of its inwardly facing surface.

9. A wallet according to claim 8 wherein the adhesive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

10. A wallet according to claim 9 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is provided in the form of a tape.

11. A wallet according to claim 9 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is in the form of a double sided tape.

12. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein a part of the second portion, which is arranged over the implement receiving means when the cover member is in the closed condition, is transparent.

13. A wallet according to claim 12 wherein the cover member is made of transparent material.

14. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein the cover member is made of a rigid material.

15. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein the cover member is formed of a polyterephthalic diol-ester.

16. A wallet according to claim 1 wherein the implement receiving means is formed of a resilient material.

17. A wallet according to claim 16 wherein the implement receiving means is in the form of a pad of a foam material.

18. A wallet according to claim 1 including securing means to secure the wallet to a support.

19. A wallet according to claim 18 wherein the securing means comprises adhesive means to enable the wallet to be adhered to the support.

20. A wallet according to claim 19 wherein the adhesive means comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.