Tool for destroying hypodermic syringes

Claim 2

In a tool for irreversibly disabling both the needle portions and the barrel portions of disposable hypodermic syringes, the combination of: a tube having a forward end and a rearward end; a receptacle to receive severed parts of the hypodermic syringes; passage means placing the forward end of the tube in communication with the receptacle; said tube, passage means and receptacle forming a closed space to confine the severed parts of the hypodermic syringes; the forward end of the tube having at least one aperture to receive needle portions of the hypodermic syringes and having at least one larger aperture to receive the leading ends of the barrel portions of hypodermic syrinGes after the needle portions are severed; a plunger slidably mounted in the tube to cooperate with the edges of said apertures to shear the needle portions of the hypodermic syringes and to shear the leading ends of the barrel portions of the hypodermic syringes; said plunger being manually retractable through the rear end of the tube; spring means to oppose retraction of the plunger and to store energy to drive the plunger through a shearing stroke; and support means to releasably engage and immobilize the tube.

Claim 3

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said support means holds the tube in a position more nearly horizontal than vertical and said passage means includes an elbow having a first leg connected to the forward end of the tube and a second downwardly extending leg connected to the receptacle.

Claim 4

A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes an exterior upright guard rearwardly of said apertures to intercept any material that may be projected exteriorly rearwardly by the shearing action of the plunger.

Claim 5

In a tool for irreversibly disabling both the needle portions and the barrel portions of disposable hypodermic syringes, the combination of: a tube having a forward end and a rearward end; said tube having at least one radial aperture near its forward end to receive the needle portions of the hypodermic syringes and having at least one larger aperture near its forward end to receive the ends of the barrel portions of the hypodermic syringes; passage means cooperative with the forward end of the tube to form therewith an enclosed space to confine the severed parts of the hypodermic syringes; a plunger slidingly mounted in the tube and having a leading shearing edge to cooperate with the edges of said apertures to shear the needle portions of syringes and the leading ends of the barrel portions of the syringes; said plunger being manually retractable from a normal idle position to a position extending rearward of the tube; a drive spring to oppose manual retraction of the plunger and to store energy to drive the plunger forward through a shearing stroke; and a buffer spring to cushion the end of the shearing stroke of the plunger; said drive spring and buffer spring being constructed and arranged to divide the stroke of the plunger into an acceleration stage to give the plunger momentum for shearing action and a deceleration stage to a limit position beyond said apertures to propel the severed parts towards said passage means.

Claim 6

In a tool for irreversibly disabling both the needle portions and the barrel portions of disposable hypodermic syringes, the combination of: a tube having a forward end and a rearward end; said tube having at least one radial aperture near its forward end to receive the needle portions of the hypodermic syringes and having at least one larger aperture near its forward end to receive the ends of the barrel portions of the hypodermic syringes; passage means cooperative with the forward end of the tube to form therewith an enclosed space to confine the severed parts of the hypodermic syringes; a plunger slidingly mounted in the tube and having a leading shearing edge to cooperate with the edges of said apertures to shear the needle portions of syringes and the leading ends of the barrel portions of the syringes; said plunger being manually retractable from a normal idle position to a position extending rearward of the tube; a drive spring to oppose manual retraction of the plunger and to store energy to drive the plunger forward through a shearing stroke; and a buffer spring to cushion the end of the shearing stroke of the plunger; said drive spring and buffer spring being constructed and arranged to divide the stroke of the plunger into an acceleration stage to give the plunger momentum for shearing action and a deceleration stage to a limit position beyond said apertures to propel the severed parts towards said passage means.

Claim 7

A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said passage means has a brink near said limit position towards which the plunger propels the severed parts and over which the said severed parts may drop into a collection zone.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said tube is inclined to urge fluid in the tube gravitationally towards said brink.

Claim 9

A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said shearing edge of the plunger extends around the circumference of the plunger and the plunger is free to rotate to distribute wear around the circumferential shearing edge.

Claim 10

A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said two springs oppose each other in balanced stress at said normal position of the plunger.