Pharmaceutical waste container system

• US 7,918,337 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamara Hitson
• Original Assignee: Tamara Hitson
• Inventors: Hitson, Tamara
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman; Bryon P
• Application Number:
  US12/472,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20090294312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 206/205, 206/366, 206/370, 220501-502, 220/908, 220/908.3, 232 431- 435
• US Class Current: 206/366
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0056 about a lateral axis in the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/006 perpendicular to the lid plane, e.g. by a downward movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/10 with refuse filling means, e.g. air-locks

Abstract

A pharmaceutical waste disposal device comprises an upper portion adapted for receiving pharmaceutical waste and a lower portion adapted for collecting the pharmaceutical waste, the lower portion being selectively and removably engagable with the upper portion. The upper portion includes a housing surrounding an internal rotating wheel and a lid slideably engaged with the housing. Additionally, the rotating wheel includes collection areas adapted for collecting pharmaceutical waste placed in the upper portion. The lid includes a lower pivoting flap adapted for contacting and rotating the wheel upon closing the lid to transfer the pharmaceutical waste to the lower portion. Further, the rotating wheel is sized and positioned within the housing in a manner to substantially prevent access to the pharmaceutical waste collected in the lower portion.

Claims

1. A pharmaceutical waste disposal device, comprising:

an upper portion adapted for receiving pharmaceutical waste and a lower portion adapted for collecting the pharmaceutical waste, the lower portion being selectively and removably engagable with the upper portion;

wherein the upper portion includes;

a hollow housing having an interior surface defining an internal cavity, an exterior surface, a length and a width, the housing defining respective top and bottom openings in communication with the internal cavity, the housing being configured to selectively engage with the lower portion, the top opening being divisible into adjacent respective first and second portions, the first and second portions each extending the length of the housing and collectively extending the width of the housing;

a rotating wheel positioned within the housing, wherein the rotating wheel includes a plurality of paddles extending radially from a central rotating shaft, each of the paddles having a proximal edge rigidly engaged with the shaft and an opposite distal edge;

a non-movable cover engaged with the housing at the top opening and positioned to cover the first portion of the top opening;

a sliding lid engaged with the housing at the top opening and positioned to selectively cover the second portion of the top opening when at a closed position, the lid being configured to slide underneath the non-movable cover to an open position to reveal the second portion and provide access to the internal cavity therethrough, the sliding lid being configured to slide along the width of the housing, the sliding lid having opposing respective top and bottom surfaces; and

a flap hingedly engaged with the sliding lid adjacent the bottom surface of the lid, wherein the flap includes a pivot edge hingedly engaged with the sliding lid and an opposite free edge movable within the internal cavity, the pivot edge being positioned closer to the non-moveable cover than the free edge when at the closed position, the flap being configured to pivot downward from the bottom surface an angular distance to a pivoted position, whereby sliding the lid from the open position toward the closed position causes the free edge to contact at least one of the paddles and urge the paddle to rotate the wheel to deposit pharmaceutical waste accumulated on the wheel into the lower portion;

wherein the lower portion includes a hollow housing defining an internal cavity and a top opening in communication with the internal cavity, wherein the hollow housing of the lower portion is configured to selectively engage with the hollow housing of the upper portion so that the internal cavity of the upper portion is in communication with the internal cavity of the lower portion when the top and lower portions are engaged.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a turning knob positioned on the exterior surface of the housing of the upper portion, the knob being operatively coupled with the central rotating shaft and operable to rotate the rotating wheel when turned by a user.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the central rotating shaft extends the length of the housing of the upper portion and each of the paddles has a length extending substantially the length of the housing of the upper portion to substantially prevent access to the interior cavity of the lower portion through the top opening of the upper portion.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance from the distal edge of one of the paddles to the distal edge of the radially opposite paddle is substantially equal to the width of the housing of the upper portion.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sliding lid includes opposing sliding edges and each of the sliding edges includes at least one roller configured to translate within a corresponding guide rail disposed on the housing of the upper portion.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sliding lid includes opposing sliding edges configured to translate within corresponding channels defined in the housing of the upper portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotating wheel includes angled tabs extending from each of the distal edges of the paddles, the angled tabs being configured to catch the free edge of the flap to maintain contact between the flap and the respective paddle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the lower portion contains an amount of dissolving liquid operable to at least partially dissolve the pharmaceutical waste collected in the lower portion.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotating wheel includes rubber tips positioned at the distal edges of the paddles, the rubber tips configured to slide along part of the interior surface of the housing of the upper portion.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the angular distance is less than 45 degrees.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the flap is composed of a substantially rigid material.

12. A method, comprising:

sliding open the lid of a pharmaceutical waste container, the waste container having an upper portion for receiving pharmaceutical waste and a lower portion for collecting the pharmaceutical waste, the upper portion of the container having an internal rotating wheel, the lid being selectively engageable with the wheel such that sliding the lid closed operates to rotate the wheel;

depositing pharmaceutical waste into the upper portion of the waste container; and

sliding the lid of the waste container closed, thereby rotating the wheel to transfer the deposited pharmaceutical waste into the lower portion of the container.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

removing the lower portion of the container from engagement with the upper portion; and

discarding the pharmaceutical waste collected in the lower portion of the container.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising disposing of the lower portion of the container and providing a second, unused lower portion and engaging the second, unused lower portion with the upper portion of the container.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising re-engaging the lower portion of the container with the upper portion of the container.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising turning a knob on the pharmaceutical waste container to rotate the wheel.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising placing an amount of dissolving liquid in the lower portion of the container to at least partially dissolve the deposited pharmaceutical waste.

18. A pharmaceutical waste disposal device, comprising:

an upper portion adapted for receiving pharmaceutical waste and a lower portion adapted for collecting the pharmaceutical waste, the lower portion being selectively and removably engagable with the upper portion;

wherein the upper portion includes a housing surrounding an internal rotating wheel and a lid slideably engaged with the housing, wherein the rotating wheel includes collection areas adapted for collecting pharmaceutical waste placed in the upper portion, wherein the lid includes a lower pivoting flap adapted for contacting and rotating the wheel upon sliding closing of the lid to transfer the pharmaceutical waste to the lower portion;

wherein the rotating wheel is sized and positioned within the housing in a manner to substantially prevent access to the pharmaceutical waste collected in the lower portion.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the rotating wheel includes a plurality of paddles extending radially from a central rotating shaft, each of the paddles having a proximal edge rigidly engaged with the shaft.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising a turning knob operatively coupled with the central rotating shaft and operable to rotate the wheel when the knob is turned.