Hypodermic syringe with needle guide

Claim 1

A syringe assembly comprising a tubular member, a rupturable closure sealing the forward end of the tubular member an elongate hollow hypodermic needle, and collapsible hub member formed of flexible material connected at one end to the forward end of the tubular member, the other end being of reduced cross section with a passage therethrough through which an intermediate portion of the needle extends for conjoint movement therewith, with the rearward end of the needle terminating a short distance in advance of the rupturable closure when the hub member is in uncollapsed position and penetrating through the rupturable closure when in collapsed position, the improvement which comprises a tubular guide member having an open end in telescoping engagement with the forward end portion of the tubular member to enable relative sliding movement in the axial direction, the other end having an inwardly extending bottom wall portion terminating in a sleeve section into which the reduced cross section of the hub member extends for engagement therewith, an elongate cover dimensioned to have a length greater than the length of the needle extending outwardly of the hub, said cover being closed at one end and open at the other end with the opening being dimensioned slidably to be received on the sleeve section of the bottom wall of the tubular guide, and an operative engagement between the other end of said tubular guide member and the other end of the collapsible member for conjoint movement therewith for axial guidance of the hub and needle during displacement to collapsed position, means for latching the hub in collapsed position to retain the hub member in collapsed position with the needle extending through the rupturable closure while the needle cover is removed from the sleeve section to expose the needle.